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North

I can hear some sort of shuffling going on in the kitchen so I make my way over, wondering what the hell kind of mischief my shithead brother's gotten himself into now. Sometimes I feel like the older one. When I walk in I see someone standing on the counter below one of windows, pulling on the curtain.

Someone definitely not Luke, but probably just as idiotic.

Someone who also looks like a girl.

The fuck?

"What the hell are you doing in here?"

She teeters on the edge of the countertop, arms flailing, the curtain pulling away and breaking off in her grasp as she starts to tilt over backwards. I shouldn't've startled her like that. I quickly come up from behind and grab her by the hips, stopping her motion briefly before picking her up and putting her down on the ground. She sways off-balance, blinking rapidly through the sun that's now directly on her face. It reflects off her eyes, making them look larger than an owl's. Her pale hair looks silver, spread about her face wildly, and her lips are parted.

Hell. What've I walked into?

Her eyes are wide—I see now that they're this brilliant shade of green—and they look terrified or surprised or both I don't fucking know. But I don't want her scared of me, whoever she is.

"Are you hurt?" My voice comes out deeper than I intended, gruff.

She shakes her head. Too quickly.

Shit. Still scared.

I loosen my hold on her just a little and move until we're both in the light, so she can see me clearer, and try to ask her name.

"Who are you?"

Well fuck. Way to make her even more terrified.

"I'm . . ." Her voice squeaks. "I'm Sang."

Wait, what? Sang? As in the same "Sang" Si texted me about last night? The same "Sang" who texted me herself last night to save her number? That same Sang?

I hope I'm not gaping at her, because I'm stunned, and I want to kill that fucker Silas for not telling me. What did he say? "We have a new friend in the group"? I thought it was just another dog we picked up dammit. We don't need another dog. But a bird? That changes things. Significantly.

I refocus my gaze on her. "How did you get in here?" I ask.

"Luke let me in," she squeaks again.

I pause, considering. I really don't want her scared of me, but she's still not saying much, just staring at me, and all I can think is, she's pretty. Gorgeous, in fact. Even terrified she looks fucking gorgeous. And I'm fucking screwed. Screwed. Then the overhead lights turn on, and I glance up briefly before looking back down. I have to resist the urge to move closer right when she stretches her little neck up, before facing me.

"Sorry I scared you," I say. "I'm North."

"Luke's brother?"

She looks skeptical. Yeah, we're not biologically related, so we look nothing alike. "We're step brothers. We're still family," I add.

Which makes me wonder next how much she knows. And why she's with us in the first place. Why Kota picked her. This sweet girl. What can possibly be wrong with her to end up with our bunch of fuck ups?

Sang nods then, kind of vigorous. "No, I get it. I just . . . He told me about the diner. I think it'll be great."

Really? "My brother has unrealistic ideas." I turn around and walk towards the stove, bending over to check the inside. I feel Sang behind me, and my body stiffens almost instinctively, waiting.

"It could be fixed up," she says softly.

"It'll take a lot of work."

"But once it's done . . ."

I release the oven door and it closes with a loud bang. Sang yelps. Fuck I keep scaring her. "It might not work. Most restaurants fail within a year," I add.

She's silent for a time, and just as I think I've had her stumped she says, "A good one can stay open for a long time." Her slender hand plays along the base of her neck, and I follow them with my eyes, suddenly fascinated by fingers. "I suppose it depends on how good the food is."

What? She thinks I'm doubting my Uncle's cooking? "My uncle's the best," I reply.

"Then what are you worried about? People will taste how good it is and they'll love it. I mean, if you work hard and put your heard into it, who wouldn't love it?"

Who the fuck is this girl? And why aren't there more like her, I wonder. Her optimism's getting to me. If Luke said something like that, I'd punch out his lights as well as the moronic smug grin off his puppy face. But Sang's words make me hope, and it's dangerous and nice at the same time.

"Hey! You found her." Luke comes up behind Sang, and she turns. His gaze falls on the broken curtain. "What happened to the curtain?"

"She broke it," I say.

Sang turns red. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

I frown at her. I wasn't looking for an apology. She should be more worried of falling from that high up. "It's no big deal. Just be more careful next time," I assure her.

"I like it like that. I wouldn't want anything blocking the natural light."

My eyes flicker back and forth between Sang and my brother, and I notice that she's more at ease with him than with me. I don't know how to make her comfortable, and I desperately want to. Shit. I really am screwed.

Sang's expression changes, and I only notice because I'm watching her closely as she pulls out her phone and glances down. "It's Kota. He's wondering if I can come over."

"We should go talk to him. There's not much else to do here. We'll have to start with cleaning it up."

"We need to take a few walls down. We probably should gut the place before we spend too much time sweeping the floor," I say.

Luke's face gets that toddler look like before he gets some idea, brilliant in his mind, always idiotic in mine. "Let's break some walls," he cries, pumping a fist. I can't hold back an eye roll as I follow him out, making sure Sang is close behind as we make our way out of the building. I stop at my bike standing parked on its side, the two of them beside me.

"Is that yours?" says Sang suddenly.

I lift a brow. "Uh huh," I manage. Fucking smooth.

And then my idiotic brother voices the worst idea ever. "Take her for a ride. I'll walk."

Little shit. I ought to pound him into the ground. I turn to Sang, and holy shit she's a fucking tomato. "What? You mean you'd let me?"

An uncomfortable itch begins at my neck, and I try to rub it off with a hand. "If you want . . ."

She's smiling. This wide, sappy-ass grin like someone just handed her the world on a plate studded with diamonds or something. It's contagious, and I feel a smirk coming.

Luke grins. "I'll turn the lights out and lock up." He veers off back towards the church, and then I'm left alone with Sang. I'm just about to climb up when another uneasy thought comes to mind.

"You'll hang to hang on to me," I hedge. Some hazy part of my brain's hoping she won't care. I want her to hold on to me.

"Is that bad?" Sang's confusion adds to my own. What kind of a question is that?

"I was just warning you," I try again.

"Why?"

Why? What the fuck does that mean, why? I don't understand this girl at all. But she looks almost scared again, and that isn't what I want, so I shut up before I say something stupid and get on the bike instead. "Come on." I hold out a hand. I teach her how to get on the bike, and she drops her hand in mine. It's soft. Really fucking soft. And small. Tiny. Delicate. Like the rest of her.

Instantly I shut my mind down as she slips in behind me.

"Wrap your arms around my waist." Did my voice sound a little rough? I clear my throat, trying to do it quietly. Sang looks down, her face red as her arms wrap around me. Her palms press on my abdomen, and I have this inexplicable urge to feel her hands on my bare skin.

"Hang on." The bike roars to life, and her hands clutch a little tighter, her face tucked between my shoulder blade. We head out onto the road, and I try to focus on driving instead of on the girl behind me whose body molds perfectly against mine.

My mind wanders.

And suddenly her hands are falling away. I quickly move a hand away from the handle to grab one of hers, and clasp it tight as I press it flat on my chest. My body instinctively reacts, every muscle stiffening. Fuck. Her hands are soft. This was a bad idea. But I find I don't give a fuck.

Kota's driveway nears and I reluctantly release Sang's hand to make the turn. Then I cut the engine and lean back a ways.

"Swing your leg around to get it off." My voice comes out a throaty husk. Sang's warmth leaves my back and I turn my head to the side just in time to see her getting off, her skirt slipping up tight against her thighs.

Fuck.

I avert my eyes. I can't take much more of this. The expression on her face from the damn kitchen still floats in my vision.

Instead I climb off the bike. "You okay?" I ask her.

A blanket of scarlet diffuses across her cheeks, but her green eyes are shining. I've never seen anyone look so damn happy after a bike ride.

Then she says, "My legs are tingly."

Tingly. I can't help a smirk. "Mine, too," I reply.

A/N: Here's North's take on meeting Sang, guys! He was a toughie to write, because while he acts like a total Grumpy Bear, he is actually a total softie underneath for those he cares about, and he cares A LOT about Sang, even though in the beginning he's (I think) trying really hard not to. But Sang's just too irresistible for her own damn good :D Anyways, I've been reading all the reviews as they come, and I'd like to thank each and every single one of my reviewers who make me so, so happy. Seriously. Like, I LOVE writing, but it makes my writing-happy heart even more ecstatic when you guys review. Reading each one - even criticisms, because at least you guys care enough in some way or another to leave a comment - is like my own personal mini dose of a happy pill. So thanks for all the encouragement, everyone! Till next time!