Reality Check: Larsson Siblings, #4
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About this ebook
Liv
Unemployed, homeless and pregnant - not how I intended to spend this Thanksgiving.
To be fair, I quit my job, and no one could have predicted the flood in my apartment.
The baby? Well, that's on me.
A tipsy hook-up at my brother's wedding, a failed condom, and suddenly I'm stuck with my nemesis, Ian Campbell.
The man is infuriating - he looks like a red-haired Big Foot, is built like a lumberjack, and acts like a refined laird of some crumbling castle.
He's confusing, irritating and... kissable?
No, no way. There is absolutely no possible universe in which I'm falling for the Sasquatch... right?
Ian
Liv 'The Harpy' Larsson is pregnant with my baby. How the good god did that happen?
I mean, I know how it happened. Those memories don't seem to want to quit.
But now she's in my house. And my car. And at my work. And we're going to pregnancy classes and buying diapers, and she's suddenly not so much a harpy as happy.
Wait. No. Do I like Liv? Is this... love?
Warning: This book is inspired by reality TV, strong scotch, and lumberjacks. So, get thee a man, a camera, and settle in — this read will have you questioning if hate is really such a bad thing.
Read more from Evie Mitchell
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Titles in the series (5)
Thunder Thighs: Larsson Siblings, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Clean Sweep: Larsson Siblings, #2 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The X-List: Larsson Siblings, #3 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Reality Check: Larsson Siblings, #4 Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The Christmas Contract: Larsson Siblings, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
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Reality Check - Evie Mitchell
PROLOGUE
Liv
August 15
A nd so,
I said, holding up my glass and tilting it toward the happy couple. In summary, welcome to the family, Ella. Sorry, you got stuck with my useless lump of a brother. But at least you get me.
Laughter exploded around the tent while Gunnar, the groom in question, rolled his eyes, subtly flipping me the bird.
To Ella and Gunnar!
I declared, ignoring my brother’s antics.
To Ella and Gunnar!
The room toasted, glasses clinking, laughter, and conversation swelling.
I sat down, lifting my glass to take a sip of the sparkling wine, heart aching with gladness, hope, love, and a little envy that my brother had finally found his one.
My younger sister, Astrid, leaned over, laughter on her lips. Great speech.
Thanks. I thought you'd enjoy the roasting.
The wedding ceremony had taken place in Gunnar and Ella's yard, the altar positioned out to face the ocean. It had been beautiful, sentimental, and above all, them. My brother and his beautiful bride pledging to love one another forever under a clear blue sky.
The reception had kicked off immediately. A large tent covered in garlands and fairy lights provided some protection from the afternoon sun. Now that darkness had fallen, the long picnic tables that were covered in white fabric and pretty lights created a magical backdrop for this perfect night.
The caterers were food vans, and guests were invited to help themselves. There were no assigned tables, no formal placemats, just good food, great music, and lots of laughs.
Great wedding.
A plate of food landed beside me with a thump, the accompanying body settling onto the bench seat taking up any available space.
Really?
I asked, raising an eyebrow at the intruder as he squirmed his way in, his thigh pressing against mine. "You couldn't have found another table? Any other table?"
Ian Campbell grinned at me, his teeth flashing through the red hair of his unkempt beard. Look around, love. There's not a space to be had.
I glanced about, seeing the truth of his words. With gritted teeth, I turned away, reaching for my wine glass.
He lifted a slider, managing not to drop a bite in his crazy beard.
How's the junk TV going?
he asked a moment later, spearing a forkful of potato salad.
I arched an eyebrow. Excuse me?
Since when do you care?
Ye're still doing those reality TV shows, yeah?
I crossed my arms, bristling. I didn't realize we were small-talk kind of people.
Settle down, Harpy.
He lifted his beer, taking a sip. I'm just being polite.
Don't. It doesn't look good on you.
He chuckled, turning to give me his full attention.
Are you saying something else does?
Yes.
I pushed to a stand, giving him my chilliest smile, the one I saved for misogynists, criminals, and people who didn’t like puppies. And Ian. Death looks great on you.
I turned on my heel, walking away as Ian's laughter followed me.
I made it to the dance floor just as the singer cleared his throat, drawing attention to the small stage.
And now, the first dance. If the bride and groom will take the floor?
I watched my brother lead his bride to the dance floor, blinking back tears as they began to sway to a cover of Unconditional by Freya Ridings.
They're gorgeous,
Astrid whispered beside me, wiping tears from her cheek.
Yeah, they are.
I leaned into her, wrapping my arms around her middle. They’re perfect.
As the song wound up, we all clapped, laughing as Gunnar tipped Ella back in a graceful dip before pulling her back into his arms for a kiss.
We cheered and catcalled, Ian raising two fingers to his mouth to let out an earsplitting wolf whistle.
With a smile a mile wide, Ella swept her arm out, inviting us to join them on the dance floor.
I looked around, catching sight of my father leading my mother onto the cleared space. My heart gave a little flop as he pulled mom close, holding her tight.
Oh, to have a love like theirs.
Forty years on they still looked at each other with hearts in their eyes.
The singer started back up, doing a slowed down less country and more soulful rock cover of Kane Brown's Thunder in the Rain.
Come on.
My brother, Erik, lifted Laura's hand, pressing a kiss to his fiancé's knuckles. Let's dance.
On his other side, Gabby, my youngest sibling fiancé, led him onto the dance floor, cajoling Rune with a shimmy of her shoulders, setting her breasts jiggling. With a sigh and a roll of his eyes, he pulled her into his arms, bending to kiss her.
Astrid leaned closer, sighing. It sucks to be the single ones.
Preach.
I wanna dance too.
Come on then,
I told her, linking our fingers. Let's dance.
Stepping out with a laugh, we slung arms around each other, swaying together in time to the music.
This playlist is very country!
Astrid called as the singer transitioned into Sam Hunt's Body Like A Back Road.
I nodded, laughing as Rune allowed Gabby to grind up against him, his body moving from side to side in what I could only call an awkward white guy shuffle. Beside him, the local Sheriff and his wife, Honey, ground together, their bodies pure magic as they performed a kind of flamenco-cross-country swing.
Come on.
A hand caught mine, skilfully spinning me away from Astrid and into the thick chest of a giant. Let's give the good Sheriff a run for his money.
I'd later blame this moment on shock – really, it was the only reasonable explanation for what happened next.
Ian and I danced. We moved around the dance floor in tandem, our bodies coming together in a way that felt intimate and sensual. We were in sync, perfectly so.
I hated it even as I loved it. The two emotions coalescing into a frustrating burn.
The world fell away as he guided me around the dancefloor, his body pressed to mine.
Just because you can dance doesn't mean I like you,
I told him as Ian twirled me out and pulled me back in.
You know I'd never presume that ye'd find me even the least bit palatable.
He grinned, twisting me this way and then that, his hands warm and confident on my hips. Even I'm not that stupid.
And therein lay the problem. Ian Campbell wasn't stupid. Not even a fraction. Not even close. The man completed degrees in his spare time, for goodness sake. And he did them for fun. Fun!
Ye ready, lass?
I blinked. For?
The finale.
He