Page 149 of Hidden Nature

“That can wait until after the wild joy settles down some. Besides, all you really have to do is throw him some guy party, show up, and give a toast.”

“You’re getting dangerously close to the boot, Sergeant Cooper.”

“It applies to why I’m here. My sister’s going to marry your brother. That makes us in-laws.”

“Does it?”

“Sort of, anyway. So it’s awkward for you and me to continue to sleep together.”

“How do you figure?”

“My family’s big on gatherings. Not just holidays, but Sunday dinners once or twice a month, summer cookouts, and all of it. It feels awkward for us to have a sexual relationship when our siblings are married—and knowing Drea, probably starting a family within the year. Which adds a mutual niece or nephew to the mix.”

“You can overthink. Probably makes you good at your job, but boy, can you overthink.” He flipped the sandwiches, gave them a little press with the spatula. “You do realize the two of them getting married doesn’t make sex between us incestuous.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She tossed back some wine. “I said ‘awkward.’”

He got plates out from one of the glass-fronted cabinets, thenflipped a sandwich onto each one. After walking with them to the island, he set them down. Then pulled her off the stool, kissed her.

“Doesn’t feel awkward to me.”

“Because you want sex.”

“There is unquestionably that. Add, I find you a very interesting woman, one I enjoy spending time with even without the sex. But I still want that,” he continued as he walked over to what she saw was an enormous and mostly empty walk-in pantry with lowers that matched the island and coffee station.

He brought back a bag of chips.

“I love my brother, and since I’m already solidly in serious like, I’m probably going to end up loving your sister. You love your sister, and you’ll end up loving my brother. And none of that has anything to do with two consenting adults having sex.

“Now eat your sandwich.”

She stared down at her plate. “It’s weird, you have to admit it’s a weird situation.”

“I’ll give you slightly strange. Slightly strange doesn’t bother me or I’d never have bought this house.”

She looked around the kitchen. “It’s going to be a terrific house.”

“It’s on its way.”

Since it was there, and looked good, she picked up the sandwich. “I’m not starting on my kitchen. This makes me want to even though mine’s less than a quarter of this size. But I’m not because I have to start thinking about the exterior as soon as the weather breaks enough for that. The size says I should probably go for white cabinets.”

“Not in that house.”

“No, not in that house. But—not thinking about it.” She bit into the sandwich. “What are you going to do with all this storage, and a pantry as big as—no, bigger than—the room I use as an office?”

Like her, he looked around. “I don’t have a clue.”

She shifted to him. “You’ll figure it out. Figuring things out’s something we have in common.”

“What are you figuring out?”

“Oh, I’ve got multiple things going. On a personal level, what color house do I want, how wide do I want for the front porch I need. Howto handle the inevitable questions when people find out we’re sleeping together. Which they will.”

“How about—just try this on:None of your business.”

“I don’t say that to my family.” She waited a beat. “Would you?”

“To Theo? Unlikely, as he wouldn’t judge.”

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