Everleigh
The knock came at 10:00 p.m.
She’d met several of her neighbors but most of them seemed to work hard and go to bed early. She looked at the door. That’s when she felt it. It was her family. She should’ve felt them coming a mile away, but they must’ve done something to disguise themselves. They must have found a really good potion because family was hard to conceal.
"Knock knock!" called her mother’s voice. Shockingly enough she didn’t sound angry.
There was no point in hiding. She flung the door open. "You guys found me." It had only taken a week.
Her brother grinned. "You didn’t think sneaking away in the middle of the night would fool us, did you?"
She crossed her arms. "I’m a little surprised it took you a full seven days."
"Ooh, sassy," her female cousin said. "So. You got your own place. Show us around."
"I didn’t actually plan to have any guests yet."
They weren’t acting at all how she had assumed they would. It was throwing her off. They had always been heavy on the guilt. But now they were being lighthearted and not lecturing her at all.
"Where’s Dad?" There was no way her father had sat this one out.
"Oh, he’s out at the truck trying to gather up all the stuff he brought you," her mother said.
Everleigh exhaled. It was going to be a long night.
* * *
Everleigh closedher laptop with a sense of satisfaction as she finished up a client’s contract.
"Thanks, dear." The client, who was a bear shifter, peered around the office. Once she saw it was clear, she leaned into Everleigh’s space. "I’m just so glad your brother sent me this way. It’s so nice to give my money to one of our own."
No. Damn him. Surely he hadn’t. "My brother?" she asked, making sure to keep the smile plastered on her face.
"Yes. He was just so helpful. He told me about all your experience and all the times you’ve helped other shifters find the perfect area for them. And you did that for me." The female hugged her. "I just couldn’t be happier."
She ground her teeth. She wasn’t even going to bother calling her brother. It had only taken her family a week to find out where she worked.
She knew she should appreciate the referral. She knew her clan was loyal and that her family would never give up on her. She knew that and she was grateful. She really was. She just really wanted to make it on her own. Without their interference. So this time she wasn’t going to rail and scream and fight them. She was just going to allow their help and come to terms with it.
Besides, she had a feeling that her brother had turned this into a competition. Her brother turned everything into a bet or a competition. Most of her clan did the same. A way to see how much he could goad her. She wasn’t going to let him be the victor.
She was going to be nonchalant and keep her cool. Never mind that she had never managed it before. But this time she was going to.
Just as she was wrapping up at the office her phone rang. "Hello, Paper Birch Real Estate office. Everleigh speaking. How may I help you?"
"I’m looking to move to Anchorage. But I want some land," a male voice said. He didn’t introduce himself or identify himself in any way. "A lot of land."
The gruff voice definitely belonged to a male. It was deep and it was sexy, and it sent a shiver right down her spine.
She swallowed hard and loosened her collar. A voice had never affected her this way before. "I am sure I can help you find something," she said. "When would you like to come in?"
"Tomorrow," he said.
They worked out the details of the appointment. "I’ll be here," she said. She hung up, but she hadn’t wanted to get off the phone.
The guy with the sexy voice was named Everett , and she looked forward to meeting anyone whose voice sounded like that in person.