Page 78 of Keep On Loving You

What the actual?—

“Kat.” Craig waved her over. “Kane’s here. Come say hi.”

She quickly scanned the yard. All her siblings and their partners were beaming, as if they were in on some kind of joke.

More like a setup.

Her gaze landed on Andy, who wasn’t even bothering to hide the scowl on his face. He glanced in her direction, raised his eyebrows, and with a shake of his head, disappeared inside.

It was totally a setup.

And there was nothing to be done about it except be social. And hopefully, make it clear she wasn’t interested. So much for relaxing. With a groan, Kat stood from her lounge chair and made her way around the pool to where Kane was currently surrounded by her family as if he were her date coming to pick her up for prom.

“Hey. What are you doing here?”

“Your family invited me.” He flashed her his handsome grin. “I hope that’s okay?”

She shrugged noncommittally. “The more the merrier. Knowing this group, there’s plenty of food.”

Lucy giggled.

Oh yes. They were definitely in on this together.

“These are for you.” Kane handed her the bouquet. “And I brought wine.”

“Why don’t I open that and bring you both a glass?” Asher swept in and snatched the bottle out of Kane’s hands.

It took everything Kat had not to roll her eyes.

She shook her head. Might as well get dinner over with. “Why don’t we sit down? I’m sure dinner will be ready soon.”

And then the focus will be off me, and whatever this is, she wanted to add. Instead, Kat pasted a smile on her face that she hoped looked friendly and in no way encouraging of what was obviously a hookup, and led him to the table.

“The burgers are delicious,” Kane said a few minutes later after they were all served and had settled into what Kat hoped would be a boring family dinner. “Thanks for including me.”

“Of course.” Asher sounded way too friendly and over-the-top.

Kat shot him a look but her brother wouldn’t look in her direction.

“We’re happy to have you.”

“Hey, you know what we haven’t talked about in the last few months?” Craig sat up in his chair.

He was working hard to pretend he’d just come up with an idea, but Kat wasn’t fooled. Something was going on.

“What would that be?” She narrowed her eyes and looked at each of her siblings in turn. Only Charli would meet her gaze. She smiled encouragingly at Kat. “What’s going on?” Kat asked her.

It was Chase who spoke up. “We were all talking about the love bonus.”

“Love bonus?”

“All of us found love when it was our turn to carry out Dad’s requirement,” Chase continued, as if she hadn’tspoken. “And here we are a few months into your turn, Kat, and you —”

“Oh no.” She held up her hands as if she could stop the freight train that was already in motion.

“Love bonus?” Kane looked confused.

Kat might have spared a moment to feel bad for the man if she wasn’t so busy trying to control the rage toward her siblings.

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