Page 26 of Summer Kisses

Max came running down the hall and jumped on the bed, circling a few times before curling up next to Hazel.

"You could never be that."

"You're going to get sick of us," Hazel vowed.

"I promise I won't." I already liked seeing her sitting on my comforter. "If you want to make any changes, feel free. I know my style is the opposite of yours."

Hazel looked around the room. "It's nice. Masculine."

"And your room was feminine. I want you to feel at home here. You can add whatever you want."

"That's nice, but I won't be here for long."

My heart cracked a little. Was I hoping for too much? It didn't even sound like she wanted to be here for very long. Shewas doing this out of obligation. My hopes dashed, I moved toward the door. "I'm going to fire up the grill. I thought we could have chicken and pineapple kabobs."

"That sounds delicious."

Unfortunately, my dick took that to mean she thought I'd be delicious. I adjusted myself as I walked away. I wasn't going to survive her living in my house while she seemed unaffected. I hope I hadn't made a huge mistake.

Hopefully, I'd find out once and for all if there was anything between us.

Chapter Seven

HAZEL

Brady stood at the grill, watching the kabobs cook while I threw together a salad in his kitchen. Even though I lived here now, I still thought of everything as his. This wasn't my kitchen. We weren't new roommates. This was temporary. As soon as his show got the family-friendly designation, then I'd move back to my apartment.

I always thought I'd own a home by now. One that was near the beach if not on it. But my dream drifted further away.

But here, with Brady, I should pretend for a little while that his house was mine. That I lived on the beach. Max seemed to have no problems with that as he was outside sniffing the sand, content to be here with Brady and me.

Brady opened the slider and asked, "Is the salad almost done?"

"Bringing it outside now," I said brightly, determined to act like everything was normal and that I wasn't freaking out about this arrangement.

I was going to be sleeping in the same bed with Brady. Even though it was a king-size mattress, it was inevitable that we'd touch each other in the middle of the night.

Although I wasn't sure I'd be able to relax enough to sleep. I understood why it made more sense to share a bed when his family visited. But I wasn't sure I'd be able to control myself or my attraction to him.

Brady slid the door open for me as I stepped past him, my shoulder brushing his chest. I sucked in a breath, trying to think about anything other than how good it felt to be this close to him. The idea of this being real was a dangerous proposition. One where I was destined to get hurt.

"I opened a white wine for us to celebrate moving in together."

"Do we need to celebrate?" I couldn't help but ask.

Brady's forehead creased. "Of course. We have the engagement party to look forward to, and then the wedding itself."

I rolled my eyes as he poured the wine into two glasses. "Now I know you're teasing."

He lifted his glass and clinked it against mine. "Welcome home, fiancée."

"Fiancée.That has a nice ring to it," I murmured as I sipped the dry wine.

Brady winked at me. "I think so too."

He turned back to the grill, and I wondered how he could be so nonchalant about this. It felt huge to be moving in together, even if it was just a role we were playing.

He turned the kabobs over, the smell making my stomach rumble.

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