The Wells Brothers: Luke Read online

  “But I should be wary?”

  “Just be yourself.”

  “What am I looking for?”

  “You ask too many questions.”

  “Yeah, but what or who am I looking for?”

  “Plants, garden paths, your job.”

  “My job is landscaping, not security.”

  “Glad you know the difference.”

  “Do I get extra pay for doing your work?”

  “Have fun.” Aaron hung up.

  Luke looked from the phone to Dog. “Mr Cryptic himself.”

  Dog’s tongue continued to loll out.

  “Come on, let’s get our gear from the veranda and then start checking out the place.” Luke headed out of his room only to almost trip over his duffle bag and small bag lying in the hallway just outside his door. “What the…?” For several bewildered seconds he gazed at the bags before realising that someone had brought them in for him.

  Mikki or Elspeth? Picking the gear up, he dumped it on the stretcher and went out to the ute to collect the dog food and bowls, plus Dog’s blanket, bringing them all inside. The blanket went on the floor near the stretcher, the dog food and bowls into the kitchen. He filled one of the bowls with water and placed it in the corner of the kitchen away from the main traffic area. Dog happily slurped up some water before sitting to look up expectantly at Luke.

  The kitchen was deserted, silence in the house. It was a big house. Luke cocked his head to one side, straining to hear female voices. No sound. The women could be anywhere inside this behemoth and no sound would carry.

  Not good if they fell through a rotted floorboard and hurt themselves.

  Going out into the huge main room, Luke called out, “Elspeth? Mikki!”

  No answer.

  Maybe they weren’t inside, maybe they were - wait, voices came from the direction of the servants’ quarters. Luke headed back down the bleak corridor to see Elspeth disappear back into the kitchen. Entering, he found it empty but the back door was open. Continuing through, he found himself in an old cobble-stoned area. A few feet off was parked an expensive SUV, obviously Elspeth’s, because Mikki drove a small, cheap hatchback.

  The women were taking several bags from the back of the SUV. Crossing over to help, he started to take the biggest bag from Mikki only to have her dodge him.

  “I’m fine.”

  “That looks heavy-”

  “It’s not. Really.” She took off into the house.

  Shaking his head, Luke took the other bag from Elspeth.

  “Thank you, sweetie.” She smiled happily. “This is going to be fun, I just know it.”

  He wasn’t so sure about that, but she was technically his client, he was here, the women were here and there was nothing for it but to grin and bear it. Besides, Elspeth was nice and he had these awesome grounds to plan. It really wasn’t that bad now that he’d had some time to get over the initial shock of finding that he was sharing the week with a couple of sheilas.

  Feeling a lot better, he carried the bag through to the small servant’s room Mikki and Elspeth were sharing, placing it inside the door. In the kitchen Mikki passed him with what looked like an equally heavy bag.

  Again she shook her head when he went to take it from her. “I can carry it.”

  “Mikki, it looks heavy.”

  “It’s not.”

  “Your knuckles are practically dragging on the ground.”

  “It’s fine.” She staggered past him, leaning heavily to one side as the weight of the big suitcase dragged on her arm.

  “Oh for - give me that.” He grabbed the handle.

  She tugged back.

  “Mikki-”

  “I said I can carry it!”

  Exasperated, he threw up his hands. “Fine. Go ahead. Bust your spleen.”

  She was straining as she went through the doorway into the hall, but not once did she falter. At least, not until he heard the bag drop on the wooden floor.

  Bloody stubborn woman. Luke strode through and grabbed the suitcase.

  “Hey!” She made to snatch it back, only to be foiled by Luke simply placing his free hand on her shoulder and holding her back as he took the weight of the case.

  “Back off, lady.”

  “I never asked for your help,” she said heatedly.

  “I know.” He strode down the hall. “What the hell have you got in here? The kitchen already has a sink.”

  Without answering, she leaned around him and made another try for the suitcase.

  He simply put one arm out to block her. “What is your problem?”

  “I don’t want you whining afterwards,” she retorted.

  Placing the bag on the inside of the room, he turned to face her, bracing his hands on his hips. “Whining? Why would I whine?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Her eyes held a flicker of annoyance. “Maybe that I made you my fetch-and-carry boy?”

  Crap. Looked like she’d heard his conversation with Aaron when she’d dropped his bags off in the hallway. “Ah.” Because that sounded intelligent. Now he felt like a dick. He hadn’t been brought up to offend the fairer sex, but to treat them with respect. Even if they did have the knack of pushing his buttons. “Mikki, I-”

  “Let’s get this straight right now, Luke. You’re here to do your job, not to help us with ours. We won’t be asking you for anything, we won’t be interfering in your stuff. So don’t fret your little heart over it, okay?”

  “Mikki-”

  “Good.” She swung away.

  Not good. And not happening. Grabbing her arm firmly, he swung her right back to face him.

  Her expression was haughty. “Problem?”

  Yeah, you. “Will you just listen without getting on your high horse?”

  “What?”

  “I’m sorry, okay?” Releasing her arm, he gave it an absentminded pat. “It was a lousy thing to say.” At her disbelieving expression, he sighed. “I wasn’t expecting company. I thought I’d be alone out here.”

  “We won’t disturb you,” she said stiffly.

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I’m sorry we buggered up your solitary plans, but we have work to do, too.”

  “I know.”

  “So I’ll try to steer clear of yo- mmph!” She glared at him over the hand he’d placed over her mouth.

  Hells bells, she was fiery. “Just keep your lips together for a minute, lady.” Leaning down to place himself on eye level with her, Luke removed his hand but held one finger in front of her freckled nose when her mouth opened. “Zip it and listen.”

  Her eyes narrowed but she remained silent, those lush lips pressed tightly together.

  “I can see that stupid comment you overheard me make in the heat of the moment hurt you, okay?” Luke shook his head. “It was a dickhead thing to say and I’m sorry. I’m okay to help you shift heavy things, I- don’t,” he warned when her eyes flashed and her lips parted. Nodding in satisfaction when she mulishly closed her mouth again, he continued, “No Wells man ever leaves a woman doing heavy shit, got it? You need anything heavy shifted, you call me. I won’t have you or Elspeth busting a gut trying to move something because you’re too boneheaded to ask me for help.”

  Mikki gasped in outrage. “Boneheaded?”

  Immediately, Luke firmly placed his finger across her lips.

  They were nice lips, plump and soft and warm and moist against his finger. No time to ponder that, man, you need to sort this sheila out before she pulls something just to prove a point. “I said it, I didn’t mean it, and I’m sorry. Just accept it, okay?”

  She glared at him.

  Luke quirked an eyebrow.

  They stayed like that for a long ten seconds. With interest he watched a myriad of emotions cross her pretty face - anger, indignation, realisation, grudging acceptance, and finally resignation. The woman would never make a good poker player, she was way too expressive.

  Slowly, she nodded. “Okay.”

  “Good.�
�� He straightened. “Now let’s get the last of the bags.”

  She might have given in and accepted his apology, but her reluctance was there to see in her stiff posture. “No need. Everything left is light.”

  “I bet.” Grinning, he slung an arm around her shoulders and propelled her forward. “Come on, Mikki, stop sulking and smile.”

  ~*~

  Typical Luke Wells, the man thought he could charm his way through anything.

  Tugged into his side, all that lean, hard muscle pressed against her, the faint scent of soap and man invading her nose, Mikki sighed inwardly. He had a right to be so cock-sure, his charm did get him through most things.

  Every woman she’d ever seen him with had fallen under his happy, roguish charm. He laughed, he winked, he gave them an appreciative look, he treated them with care and consideration, and they melted like butter under a hot sun. Whichever woman he was currently dating - she’d lost count of how many, he seemed to have a revolving door of them - hung on his every word, his arm, and practically off his neck.

  Now here he was, after making her feel like a user when she’d had no bloody intention of being any such thing, tucking her under his arm and grinning happily.

  She ought to kick his arse. No, instead she let him lead her down the hallway, through the kitchen and out into the cobbled courtyard where Aunt Elspeth had her head stuck in the back of the SUV.

  Quickly extracting herself from Luke’s nicely muscled arm, Mikki moved over to the SUV. “What else?”

  “Nothing much.” Elspeth continued searching through a big shoulder bag.

  Mikki glanced over her shoulder to see Luke standing, his legs braced apart and thumb tucked into the waistband of his jeans, the other hand lowering the sunglasses slightly as he peered over the top of them at the surrounding scenery.

  Man, he was something to look at though. She’d always appreciated his form and face, because that was the artistic side of her.

  Mental snort. Right. She didn’t have an artistic bone in her body. Face it, Mikki, you, like every other woman with a pair of eyes, just plain lusts after that body and face.

  Seriously, who wouldn’t? Luke oozed sex appeal. His dark hair was slightly tousled in the breeze, one thick hank of it flopping over his brow before he shoved it carelessly back, long fingers sliding through the thick strands. He had dark stubble on a strong jaw, a straight nose, firm lips with a surprising fullness to them that somehow seemed manly all at the same time. He was tall, she barely reached his shoulders, and man, those were some shoulders. Even though he was trim from hard work, that same manual labour had given him some pretty impressive muscle that rippled over his shoulders, down to what she knew was a six pack abdomen, and through into lean hips and muscled thighs. Impressive biceps and triceps, strength in the corded forearms, calloused hands. There he stood, relaxed, sexy, and pretty damned yummy.

  Like his current pose didn’t make him appear even more roguish, especially when he turned that gaze onto her with his sunglasses partially down his nose. A slow grin curved that sexy mouth as he adjusted the glasses to cover his twinkling eyes. “You wanted something?”

  His clothes off wouldn’t be a bad idea. “Not a thing.”

  “You looked like you were contemplating something…” He trailed off suggestively, yet somehow managed to retain an air of innocence, what with his raised eyebrows.

  But that grin was pure sin. The bastard knew she’d been ogling him.

  “Not much worth looking at.” Coolly, Mikki turned to lean in beside her aunt, reaching in for the last bag.

  No sooner had she pulled it out than there was warmth behind her and a long arm reached past her to snag the bag. “Allow me.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I know.” Effortlessly, he plucked the bag from her hold and strode away.

  Elspeth sighed. “Such a gentleman. Isn’t he a gentleman?”

  Mikki took one look at her admiring face and groaned. “Seriously?”

  “What?” Elspeth looked at her.

  “You too?”

  “Me too, what?”

  Seeing the perplexed look on her face, Mikki sighed. “Nothing.”

  As usual, Elspeth didn’t push the issue. Instead, she sat on the edge of the boot and looked around. “Isn’t this great? This mansion, the grounds, the isolation?”

  Sitting beside her, Mikki agreed. “Totally awesome.”

  “I have such plans for this place.” Almost dreamily, Elspeth waved her hand around languidly. “Horse stables for riding in the countryside, a swimming pool for pool parties, some horse and gigs for those wishing a more sedate ride, ponies, a little area where we can have some orphaned ‘roos we can hand rear and release into the paddocks along with some other rescue animals who need a safe haven but aren’t able to be released into the wild -”

  “Are we talking raptors and such?”

  “No, dear, you know - orphaned lambs brought up and unable to be released with the flocks because they’re so humanised, cows, rescue animals. Donkeys, things like that. Animals that perhaps the RSPCA need a good home for.”

  “Dogs and cats?”

  “Well, of course we need a couple of cats around, and a dog or two.”

  “Can’t have a mansion without some pets,” Mikki agreed.

  “And the mansion is big enough that those with allergies won’t necessarily have to mix with the animals, hence the swimming and such.”

  Mikki looked at her. “And what is the ‘and such’?”

  “Thought you’d never ask! I’ve had some ideas.” Hopping off the back of the SUV, Elspeth grabbed Mikki’s shirt sleeve and tugged. “Come with me.”

  The ground was uneven in parts, the old driveway overgrown in areas, bare dirt in others, but it was easy to follow around the mansion.

  “Now, I’m not having this driveway going all the way around so close to the house like it is,” Elspeth confided as they strode along. “I want gardens either side of the mansion with a wide pathway going through it. The driveway will be further back from the house with another wide pathway leading to the steps. Of course we’ll need to get a ramp put in for wheelchair access, not to mention a lift to the second and third floor.”

  Mikki glanced back at the steps leading up onto the wide veranda. “Plenty of room for a ramp.”

  “Which is good, because I want a gradual incline, not a small, steep one.”

  “Thinking of the person pushing the chair? You are so thoughtful.”

  “Cheeky.” Elspeth gave Mikki a dig in the ribs with her rather sharp elbow. “It also makes good business sense. The easier we make it for everyone and cater to most needs, the better for business.”

  “Compassion and finance going hand-in-hand, I like it.” Mikki grinned. “Who said it couldn’t be done had never met you.”

  “Well, sweetie, one doesn’t like to boast.” Elspeth smoothed down her skirt. “But what the heck, am I good or what?”

  Laughing, they continued around the corner of the house to walk down the side which seemed to stretch forever. On the far left side was the remains of some kind of garden. There was an abundance of dead bushes, weeds high enough to choke a horse, and if she peered closely enough, the remains of a rusting fence which had mostly fallen to the ground.

  “Wow, they fenced in their gardens?”

  “Possibly. I haven’t done a lot of research on how the grounds actually looked, just seen a few old photos. I’m leaving that up to Luke to research and show me the original photos or plans, as well as his plans to re-do, re-fashion and alter them as he thinks.”

  To be fair, Luke was the man for the job. He had a flair for giving clients exactly what they wanted, and Mikki knew from Izzy, who was married to Luke’s cousin, Jason, that Luke offered alternative ideas if the need arose which his clients often accepted. His services weren’t highly desired for no reason.

  “Now, on the left here somewhere, I want something like an orangerie and-”

  “A what?” Mikk
i queried.

  “An orangerie, only not for oranges.”

  Mikki stared at her. “Oranges?”

  “An orangerie, dear,” Elspeth explained patiently, “is a building mostly of glass which was generally attached to the outside of the house where oranges were grown. I want a couple of buildings similar, one for outdoor teas, the other for painting.”

  “Glass houses, then?”

  “Kind of. I discussed the idea with Harris Wells and he’s researching it.”

  “Sounds way too complicated,” Mikki replied. “Just bung a couple up wherever and Bob’s your uncle.”

  “And Fanny won’t be your aunt because good lighting is imperative for painting or sculpturing or whatever we choose to do in there.” Elspeth paused, tapping her bottom lip thoughtfully. “Maybe I should add a couple more, have one for painting, one for sculpturing, maybe another for-”

  Mikki winked. “Maybe one with solid walls so you can’t see the nude models.”

  “This is an expensive holiday resort in a mansion where we are trying to recreate the Victorian era without the Hellfire Club, dear.”

  “But maybe elements of the Hellfire Club would add some pizzazz,” Mikki said cheerfully. “Just think of it - the hunt, the hounds baying, the maiden fleeing in the night knowing that if she’s caught by those dastardly Club members her honour will be besmirched, her virginity taken, and she’ll be dragged down to the depths of their secret caves to be initiated into their orgies.”

  Elspeth raised both eyebrows. “Did the Hellfire Club have orgies?”

  “Hell if I know, but they weren’t top-notch blokes, that’s for sure.”

  “You volunteering to be that maiden?” a voice drawled from right behind her.

  Startled, Mikki jumped before swinging around to face Luke’s smirk. “I wouldn’t flee, I’d kick their arses and make them cry for their mummies.”

  “No doubt,” he agreed, standing there in his easy slouch, thumbs hooked into the pockets of his jeans. “But was the Hellfire Club in the Victorian times? Or the Edwardian times?”

  “I’m impressed you even know about the Club, much less the eras.”

  “Of course I know about the club.” Leaning forward confidingly, he winked. “I’m all for an orgy with young maidens.”