Page 56 of Mr. July

“Bun… you’re killing me. I have nothing but honorable intentions toward your granddaughter.”

“Honorable my ass.” Hunter coughed into his fist.

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you trying to play footsies with my twin under the table.” I spoke without even breaking eye contact with Bunny.

“She started it.”

“That was my foot.” Bunny chimed in.

“I always wanted a sugar mama,” Hunter smiled.

“With your trust fund?” Charlie shook her head.

“I’ll be your sugar daddy any day of the week.”

“How about baby daddy?”

“Hell, no.” I waved my arms in the air forming an imaginary X.

“I have good genes. I’d be an excellent choice.”

I rolled my eyes. “Can the three of you look after Daisy while I’m on my date and Bunny—make sure Hunter doesn’t seduce my twin.”

“We don’t need a babysitter, bro.”

“No more repeats of the summer of 2010.”

“Bring her by later. I didn’t get a chance to meet her last night.”

“Where were you anyway?”

“I met some girls from UNC… we went for a night swim.”

“Naked?” Charlie snorted.

“Jealous?”

My twin’s cheeks heated. After my date with Ryan, I was seriously going to kick Hunter’s ass. He flirts with Char but never does more than talk a good game.

“I might bring her by. We’ll see how late it is. Oh, and Bunny—I’ve decided to work remotely for the next few weeks. You can Fed- Ex anything I might need here.”

“You’re sending me home on Monday but staying behind?”

“That about sums it up.”

“My poor Ryan has no idea what she’s in for.”

“If she takes after you at all, I’m sure she’ll handle me just fine.” I gathered a blanket, a candle, a good bottle of wine and headed to my car. I had ordered a nice spread to go from the best restaurant here. Thirty minutes later I was parking at her place.

I jogged up the back steps, knocked twice at her door, a bouquet of white peonies in hand.

The door swung open. Ryan didn’t look like she was dressed for a date, but my heart picked up speed just the same. Her hair was in a low ponytail. Her eyes red and a bit swollen.

“What’s wrong?” I placed the flowers on the railing.

“You took her.”

My shoulders dropped. “I can’t help it. I fell in love. It was like that.” I snapped my fingers while giving a soft smile. “I’ll treat her like a queen. Hunter even took her out on his surfboard. She loved it. Char brushed her for about an hour and your gran well, she keeps sneaking her treats.”

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