by Lily Harlem
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Harry’s frown deepened.
“You’ve just been given a Rolex, must be worth the same as the last one, a hundred grand, and you don’t even seem pleased. That watch is worth more than my apartment back home. If I had that I could sell it and live rent free, not have to work—”
“You don’t work,” Harry scoffed. “You spend your time surfing, on walkabout, sailing and… and riding a damn Harley across the United States.”
“That’s only been the last—”
“Hey, guys.” Olivia stepped between them and pressed each of their chests. “Stop it.”
“But—” Evan said.
“We’re all hot and tired,” she said. “Let’s not squabble. Harry, it’s a lovely watch.”
“Thanks,” he muttered and slipped it on.
“One hundred thousand,” Raul said, “that watch. We have more than that here.” He stood and shook the money, which he’d fanned out in his right hand. “We need to do something with it.”
“Give it to cancer research,” Mason said. “Along with the rest of the cash from Dante.”
“No.” Raul shook his head. “No. No. No.”
Mason frowned. “Aye, you should. If it hadn’t been for us all working in the restaurant you wouldn’t have had the collateral to take into the casino.”
“I understand.” Raul nodded.
“I don’t think you do.” Mason’s tone had darkened.
“Si, I do.” Raul looked around at everyone. “I understand perfectly.”
“That’s just it, one person’s idea of understanding a situation perfectly isn’t always someone else’s.” He turned to Olivia. “What do you think?”
Her temper flared within her like a match being struck. She knew what he was saying and it was nothing to do with the money. “Listen…” She held up her finger. “You and I need to go and talk. I tried to last night but—”
“But you were busy.” A tendon flexed in his jaw and his eyes flashed.
“I wasn’t, not later, then it was you who didn’t want to talk or…” She pulled in a breath. “I regret how it’s happened, Mason, though right now you’re being unreasonable.” She glanced at Paul, not knowing how much to say in front of him.
“I’m unreasonable,” Mason said.
Paul suddenly laughed. “Oh dear, oh dear.” He clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth.
“What is ‘oh dear’?” Olivia snapped at him.
“I can see there’s trouble in paradise.” He grinned.
She had the urge to slap him across the face but didn’t want to let her temper rule her actions, so she shoved her hands deep into her pockets. He didn’t know anything about her relationship with Mason, or her relationship with his other brother, or any of the guys. It was complicated and it was their thing.
“That’s the trouble with trying to juggle so many balls, excuse the pun,” he said. “You’re always going to drop some.”
The heat flaring in her brain turned into a full-on blowtorch and scorched through the blood in her veins. She gritted her teeth. “What did you just say?”
“This lot.” He pointed at Harry and Evan. “You’ve got a playboy billionaire with no concept of money fighting with this surfer dude. A rum-drinking, gambling Spaniard who appears to have a burn on his arm and a whole pile of winnings he’s clinging on to.” He gestured to Lucas and his voice quieted. “It’s clear my brother here is head over heels in love with you… and on that subject, exactly what have you done to him?” He shook his head. “Or rather, what have you taken from him?”
“I haven’t taken anything.” She held out her hands. “Lucas.”
“I’m not talking about a physical thing, or maybe I am.” Paul raised his eyebrows. “Maybe he’s had a new experience with you.”
She pressed her lips together. Her taking Lucas’s virginity was between her and Lucas, Mason a bit too, but really, that stuff was private.
Lucas studied the floor. His body was stiff with tension.
“And as for this brother of mine.” Paul clasped his hand on Mason’s shoulder and gave him a gentle shake. “I can’t remember when I last saw him so pissed off, and certainly not over a woman.”
“I don’t think it’s any of your business,” she said, glancing at Harry and Evan, whose expressions were also darkening. She hoped they weren’t about to kick off at Paul. Everyone seemed to be walking on a knife’s edge when it came to controlling their tempers.
“And never,” Paul raised his eyebrows and again gave Mason a slight shake, “have I known him to be sharing a woman.”
Olivia snatched in a breath. The way he’d said sharing implied she was a cheat, and that wasn’t how it was. No way. “Sharing,” she repeated. “Is that what he told you on the phone?”
“Some of it.”
“But not all of it.” She clenched her jaw so tight she feared for the survival of her teeth. “You can’t just walk into this room, Paul, and have an opinion on my relationship with these five men.”
“I can, and I’ll tell you why, and that’s because two of them are my little brothers.”
“Not so bloody little, and can I just point out that while you’ve been off in…”
“Borneo.”
“Borneo, I’ve been sailing with your brothers, castaway with them and riding across a whole damn continent. I think that puts me in the position to understand what’s going on here a whole lot better than you.”
“So explain.” He folded his arms and tipped his head. “I’m all ears.”
“I don’t have to.” She pulled her hands from her pockets and rammed them on her hips. Puffed up her chest and tilted her chin.
“Mi niña hermosa, you will make your head pop with this worry.” Raul wrapped his arm around her and tugged her away as if he thought she might throw a punch at Paul. “And we have all this money, to spend, to do some good with.” He held it up. “And I know just the thing?”
“You do?” She gripped his t-shirt, she needed to do something with her hands. “What?”
“We will go to Anya’s village in Africa and build a hospital.” He grinned. “It is the best thing for this money.”
Everyone was quiet. Olivia stared up at his handsome face and his sparkling eyes and let his words sink in.
Go to Africa? Build a hospital.
“Jeez, that would be something else.” Harry nodded slowly. “I like it.”
“And it means we can stay together.” Evan held out his palms. “To continue to do good.” He grinned at Harry.
“Together.” Olivia’s heart rate picked up, but this time not from intense irritation but the thought of staying with her men. “Yes. And I have Anya’s cell number. We can set it up.”
“You see, this is great idea.” Raul hugged her closer. “We have plumber, electrician.” He pointed at Mason and Lucas. “Evan can build, Harry can learn.”
“Thanks, buddy.” Harry frowned a little. “I did help with the shelter, you know.”
“I know… but… this is Evan, si. There is much to learn from him.”
Harry’s scowl switched to a smile. “And you can learn to build too, Raul.”
“Si, of course, and cook for you all.” He kissed the top of Olivia’s head. “But not snakes, not often anyway.”
She smiled and squeezed closer to him. Raul was a whirlwind of physical energy, and his thoughts seemed to spin just as fast. But thank goodness he was not only a quick thinker but also a deep thinker. This idea of his was the best yet.
“And what will you do?” Paul directed at Olivia.
“Ah,” Raul said. “This woman is master engineer. We will have no problems if she is with us. You, Paul, you fix bodies that break, si? Olivia, she fixes engines. Any engines, boats, cars, tractors.”
Paul nodded as if for once something about Olivia had impressed him.
Evan looked at Lucas, who had been typically quiet. “What do you think, mate?”
He was silent for a mo
ment, then, “If you guys are going, and Olivia, then aye, count me in. I can do Africa.”
Olivia smiled at him. “Good.”
“Mason?” Evan asked.
Mason said nothing. When his silence extended, a small knot of dread curled in Olivia’s stomach. He had to come. She couldn’t stand it if he didn’t. In fact, would she even want to go if he didn’t?
“We’re a team, a crew,” Harry said. “We stick together, right, buddy?”
“Aye, right.” Mason glanced at Olivia. “But we’re forgetting one important thing.”
“What?” Raul asked. “I have thought of everything, all the way from Las Vegas I have been thinking. It is all I thought.”
Harry sighed. “Yeah, I see what you’re saying, Mason.”
“What?” Raul said again.
“We don’t have any staff for the hospital.” Harry shook his head. “We’ll build it, then what?”
“Staff,” Olivia said. “Surely there’ll be doctors and nurses somewhere in Africa. In Cape Town, Johannesburg.”
Paul cleared his throat.
“But willing to work in those poor conditions?” Evan frowned.
Paul cleared his throat again.
They all turned to him.
“You need a doctor? You’ve got one.” He held up his hands. “Global Medics have approved my sponsorship and I was wondering what to do next. I’ve never been to Africa.” He looked at Olivia. “I’m up for the challenge if you’ll have me.”
About The Challenge
The Challenge is an on-going reverse harem series starring Olivia Bailey and her men. Set in modern times, packed full of adventure and steaming from the page it’s sure to keep you hooked.
If you missed book #1 CASTAWAYS grab it now! And continue the story with book #3 RUNAWAYS. And don’t worry, there’ll be more to follow that…
CASTAWAYS
TEARAWAYS
RUNAWAYS
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Check out Lily Harlem’s website for more information.
About Lily Harlem
Lily Harlem lives in the UK and is an award-winning author of sexy romance. She writes for publishers on both sides of the Atlantic including HarperCollins, Totally Bound, Pride, Evernight, and Stormy Night Publications. Her work regularly receives high praise and industry nominations.
Before turning her hand to writing Lily Harlem worked as a trauma nurse and her latest HarperCollins release, Confessions of a Naughty Night Nurse draws on her many experiences while nursing in London. Lily also self-publishes and The Silk Tie, The Glass Knot, Cold Nights, Hot Bodies, Bite Mark and Shared have been blessed with many 5* reviews – all available on Kindle Unlimited.
If you love sporty romance don’t miss Hot Ice a seven novel 5* series about those sexy bad boys of the ice all available on Kindle Unlimited and the first book FREE when you sign up to her newsletter. Also check out Formula One themed novel Accelerated Passion and sexy soccer story Scored.
Lily writes MF, MM and ménage a trois, her books regularly hit the #1 spot on Amazon Bestseller lists and Breathe You In was named a USA Today Reviewer’s Recommended Read of 2014. Her latest MM novel is Dark Warrior and you can grab Part One of her MM series Caught on Camera for FREE!
Lily also co-authors with Natalie Dae and publishes darker plot lines under the name Harlem Dae - check out That Filthy Book which has been hailed as a novel 'every woman should read' and is available in book stores nationwide. The Sexy as Hell Trilogy, a critically acclaimed boxed set, is available on Amazon and KU.
One thing you can be sure of, whatever book you pick up by Ms Harlem, is it will be wildly romantic and deliciously sexy. Enjoy!
Visit Lily’s website for more details of her other books or her Amazon Author Page. Subscribe to her newsletter to get a FREE ebook and be the first to hear of new releases, and if you enjoy Facebook hop on over there and say hi!
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