Crank (The Gibson Boys 1)

WALKER: Wow. Okay.

ME: You asked.

WALKER: I didn’t, actually.

ME: No, you did. You always ask without asking. It’s part of your charm, I’m beginning to see.

WALKER: No one has ever said I’m charming.

ME: I didn’t either. ;)

WALKER: Go back to doing what you were doing. I’m going to bed. You exhaust me.

ME: Must’ve been all those dirty thoughts you’ve been thinking about me all evening.

WALKER: Maybe.

ME: See? That’s a yes.

WALKER: I had fun with you today.

ME: I had fun playing in your treehouse.

WALKER: I’m not about to touch that. See you tomorrow, Slugger.

ME: Night.

Giggling out loud, I can’t remember feeling this dopey over a boy since high school. Jake McGowan was the love of my life at fifteen and when he’d slip me a folded note between biology and algebra, this is how I would feel. Giddy.

“What’s wrong with me?” I sigh. Grabbing my purse, I turn to leave the car when I look up and melt right back down into the seat.

Walker is looking at me, a shy smile gracing his handsome face. I wonder how long he’s been watching me and what stupid faces I made and how fast I can get in the building to see him.

I’m out of the car and almost to the door when my phone rings in my hand. When I look down, it’s my brother, Graham. It takes all of three seconds to know I have to answer it. Graham never calls unless it’s important.

“Hey,” I say, waving at Walker through the door so he knows why I didn’t come in, then stepping off to the side. “What’s up?”

“Good morning to you too.”

“I’m sorry. Good morning, G,” I say as sweetly as I can muster. “How are you, big brother? Are things well at the homestead?”

“Homestead? What has Illinois done to you?” he chuckles.

“More than you want to know.”

The sound of his chair rolling around the floor of his office can be heard in the background. “Noted. What’s the plan? Camilla said you were wrapping up things there soon.”

“Delaney is getting the last of her stuff out of the house today. She finished her last project a couple of days ago, so it’s just me in charge. Does that scare you?”

“A little.” He pauses just like our father does before he changes the subject. “What’s happening with you? Are you coming back to Savannah?”

It’s a loaded question. I can hear the follow-ups now if I answer it truthfully and I don’t want to get into all of that today, standing outside of Crank.

“I’m not sure.”

“What are you not sure about?” he asks.

“I might stay up here for a little while, actually.”

“For what?” He says it like it’s the most ridiculous thing anyone has ever said.

“Because I want to.”

“Well, Dad and I were talking . . .” He clears his throat. “What would you think about coming home and getting your feet wet at Landry Holdings?”

The question stuns me so much I can’t move. “What?”

“I know it sounds a little random—”

“A little random?” I laugh. “You won’t even free up enough of my trust fund to let me start my own real business doing what I know. Yet you are wanting me to come work with you?”

“You’ve done really well at managing things up there with what little you had to go on. Dad and I were going over your numbers and were impressed with your business aptitude, quite frankly.”

“Whoa, wait up. Did you just say I impressed you?”

“Don’t let it go to your head, Sienna.”

“Say it again.”

“Sienna,” he grumbles.

“Say it again,” I insist.

“Your numbers were strong. The profit was lagging, but that’s typical for a small business not yet off the ground. You budgeted very, very well, had interesting marketing concepts. I really think, as dumb of an idea as this design company was to start with, you could build something out of it had you not located it in a soybean field.”

My cheeks ache from smiling so big at Graham’s compliment, something that doesn’t happen often. If ever. “G, I don’t know what to say.”

“Just think about it. I really think you could be an asset around here and you know how I like Landry’s to be involved in Landry businesses. I think it sets a good example, keeps us strong.”

“I . . . Wow. What a start to the day,” I laugh. “I’m . . . I don’t know what to say. Yeah, I’ll think about it. When do you need to know?”

“You’re always welcome here, obviously. But we’re expanding the Operations Division right now with Landry Security booming. Ford has his hands full over there. I’d essentially like you on board when we go live with the new changes there. I expect that to happen in the next couple of weeks.”

“You do know I know nothing traditionally about business, right? Or security. Or . . . anything.”