Page 27 of Summer Kisses

"We don't have to have dinner together every night. We just need to pretend in front of other people," I said as a way of creating necessary boundaries.

Brady was quiet, placing the kabobs on the serving dish, then carrying it over to the table. "I think this will work if we're all in. It won't be acting then."

I pursed my lips. "Maybe."

"Besides, we're friends. Living together will be natural. Maybe when this is over, you can move into Dalton's room and save up for your beach house." He used tongs to place the kabob on my plate.

I dished out the salad into two bowls. "We both know I'll never be able to afford a real beach house."

Brady frowned. "It's unfortunate that housing has gotten so expensive."

"It would be weird if we were still living together after we broke up." And then I frowned. "I could live with one of my friends. At least until all of them pair off and get married."

Brady sat across from me. "I still believe you can have anything you want."

Everything I wanted was right here. Brady, Max, this house. If I focused on that, I was content.

We bit into our kabobs.

"This is delicious."

"We can work out a schedule for dinner. Either one of us handling it or cooking something together."

"That sounds nice." I'd been living alone for a long time. It would be an adjustment living with someone, coordinating our lives.

"I have to be at work early," Brady said. "I'm usually gone by six thirty or so."

"I'm going to walk on the beach with Max every morning and evening." Who knew how long I would have this opportunity?

"I can join you in the evenings."

"I'm sure you'll want to go out and hang out with your brothers."

"Not every night."

"What else will change?" I asked quietly, feeling nervous about our relationship. "This won't ruin our friendship, will it?"

Brady sobered and reached across the table to hold my hand. "I won't let that happen."

That only placated me slightly. No one could promise that. "We'll work hard to maintain our friendship, which means having movie nights."

He grinned. "I'm game for that."

We finished eating while the fan whirled overhead. Then we cleaned up together. It felt very domestic. I grabbed Max's leash. "I'm going to take him for a walk."

"I'll go with you," Brady insisted, and my heart warmed.

How was I going to survive even a few weeks of this? Sharing a home with him was making this attraction to him harder to manage.

We walked the narrow path to the beach. "I'll never get tired of this."

Brady nodded, his hands in his pockets. "Even though we grew up here, I don't take it for granted."

Max ran in front of us, sniffing one thing or the other.

Brady pulled his hand out for the leash. "Let me."

I gave it to him, and then he reached for my hand, tucking it into his.

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