The Sister-in-Law: An absolutely gripping summer thriller for 2021 by Pamela Crane (best romance novels of all time .TXT) 📗

Beneath the window, outside in the grass, lay the destroyed drone. Across the yard Elise held the controller with a horrified look on her face. Turning on Lane, I gestured to the cracked window.

‘Do you see why I don’t want them staying here, Lane? They’ve been here for less than ten minutes and are already breaking things!’

Harper advanced on me. ‘Don’t speak about my children that way. It was an accident.’

‘And I’m guessing you don’t have the money to fix it?’

Lane stretched his arms out between us, as if holding us back. But I didn’t need fingernails to cut her when I had sharp words instead. ‘Harper, you may not approve of your brother’s choice in wife, but this is our life. And this is our home. You’re a grown woman. You should be able to take care of your children. That is your job as their mother.’

While my next words were for Lane, my eyes remained fixed on Harper. ‘And Lane, I’m your wife. And if you have any respect for our vows, you’ll realize it’s not good for our marriage to have your sister living with us.’

Lane rested one hand on each of our shoulders. ‘Harp, Candace, I love you both. Yes, things between Candace and I happened pretty quickly, but our love is intense.’ Lane sidled up to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders – right where it should be. ‘We both instantly knew we were meant for each other. I wanted to tell you in person, but things have been chaotic. I’m sorry I didn’t have you there to witness it.’

‘To witness your stupidity?’ Harper shook her head at my husband like he was a child. ‘Lane, you of all people should know how manipulative women are. You lived with me and Mom your whole life. What you did was irresponsible, but what’s done is done. I just wish you would have talked to me first.’

I had to speak up. ‘Don’t talk down to him. He’s an adult who can make decisions for himself.’ I could feel the fight inside me forming.

‘You know how they describe love at first sight?’ Lane said. ‘Well, now I understand what it feels like.’

Harper sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, beautiful women have that effect on men. Look, I want to be happy for you, but I don’t understand why you’d exclude me. I thought we were close, after all we’ve been through together.’

‘Hey, we are close. I’m sorry I didn’t consider your feelings.’ Lane’s voice dropped with apology. I hated that Harper was making Lane feel guilty about the best day of our lives.

‘When did it happen?’ she asked.

‘A week and a half ago. I know it’s a bit of a whirlwind, but we love each other and want to be together. There was no reason not to.’

‘And you couldn’t invite me to be there for it? It hurts, Lane.’ Harper touched her palm to her heart. A tear slid down her cheek, and I wondered if it was as fake as her press-on eyelashes.

‘Sis,’ Lane released me and comforted Harper, ‘I was afraid you’d try to talk me out of it. It was with a Justice of the Peace, nothing fancy. And Candace and I decided together that we only wanted it to be us.’

‘We’ve been through everything together and you didn’t invite me to your wedding. I don’t know what to say. Congratulations, I guess.’

‘Please don’t be angry, Harp. I love this woman,’ he glanced over at me and smiled, ‘and I’ve never been happier.’

Harper hugged Lane, casting a dirty look at me over his shoulder.

Bitch.

‘Well, if you’re happy, that’s all I could ask for my brother. So I guess me staying here is off the table, huh?’

I watched the battle wage inside Lane’s head. Wife or sister. Who would win? If only I would have known the battle was just getting started. When Lane turned to me, I already knew his answer.

‘Candace, we will have forever to be together, but right now my grieving sister needs us. Please try to understand.’

Sister, one. Wife, zero. So that’s how it was going to be.

I would give him a free pass. But there would be no next time. If I stood a chance at winning against his sister, the best thing I could do was keep Lane happy. ‘Okay, I’ll get the spare bedrooms ready for you. I hope you like decorative pillows!’

Harper clapped her hands together, the tear gone as quickly as it came. ‘Thank you. And yes, I love pretty pillows!’

Of course she did. Which meant I was exactly right about what kind of woman Harper Paris was. And so I knew exactly how to drive her away.

Chapter 4

Lane

If this living arrangement didn’t kill me, my wife would. We were barely two hours into Harper’s move into the house proper and already my wife and sister were at each other’s throats.

Your sister has too much stuff, Candace complained in one ear. Your wife is a slob, Harper accused in the other. Cut your hair to an appropriate length for a grown man, Harper criticized. Your sister’s just jealous because you’re cool and she’s an old hag, Candace retorted. Back and forth, the hostility waged with me stuck in the middle between the woman I loved and the sister I needed.

‘There’s more,’ Harper yelled down to me as she headed up the steps carrying two stacked boxes. That was in addition to the four other trips I had already made, lugging suitcases and bags brimming with clothes and toys and stuff. Why did women need so much crap? ‘Check the trunk of the car. And don’t crush the hyacinth on your way down the walkway! I saw you trampled one already.’

The front door was propped open, giving entry to a perfect spring breeze, and the scent of hyacinth – or was it hibiscus? – rode the wind in, filling the house. Through mounds of fresh mulch, green spikes poked their way up