Page 38 of Summer Nights

"Can you help with my house this weekend? I want to tear more stuff out."

"Sure." As long as Ivy didn't need me. But I had a feeling she would continue to push me away. I wasn't sure if it was a self-fulfilling-prophecy kind of thing or she really didn't expect anything from me. A lesser man would have been relieved, but I was irritated.

"Kinsley said she might be able to help with a design."

"I didn't realize she was into that kind of thing," I said, my mind still on Ivy.

"Yeah, but she took the office job for stability for her daughter."

How did Shep know more about our front-office worker than I did? "I thought she didn't like you."

"I think she needs the money," Shep said softly.

I gave him a look. "Don't take advantage of her."

Irritation flashed in his eyes. "Why would you think so little of me?"

I raised a brow.

"I'm not as big of an asshole as you think."

"Kinsley's a single mother. I wouldn't mess with her." I didn't know what his endgame was with her. But I thought he saw her as a challenge. She didn't want him, so that made him desire her more. But in reality, he had no intention of more than a one-night stand.

"I wouldn't hurt Kinsley or her daughter."

There was a bite in his tone when he mentioned her daughter "Her daughter's a cutie."

"Yeah, she's the best."

If he wanted to help Kinsley and her daughter by giving her a job, I'd support that. He had good intentions. But he didn't see the string of broken hearts he left in his wake. I didn't want Kinsley to be the next one.

"Hopefully she can help with colors and patterns. I'm hopeless when it comes to this stuff."

"Even though you've worked around this your whole life?" I asked him, wondering if it was that he didn't trust himself, not so much that he couldn't figure it out.

"I need a woman's touch," Shep said in a lighter tone.

"Sure, you do," I said, wondering when he was going to grow up.

"Seriously though. It's been too long."

I paused, letting my screwdriver fall to my side. "Are you saying that you haven't been with a woman in a while?"

Shep gave me a look. "Don't let it get around. I'm telling you because you're my brother."

"Why would you want everyone to think you're a playboy when you're not?"

He shrugged. "I do whatever people expect."

That was probably the only honest thing Shep had ever told me. "What do you want?"

"If I don't hit the bars so many times a week or bring home a woman every now and then, I'm going to lose my reputation."

I raised a brow. "Honestly? You could probably stand to lose it."

"I'm not like you. I'm not a good guy. No one expects much from me beyond a good time."

"That's not true." But my protest was weak. I didn't expect much from him either. I was so used to covering for him, whether it was at school, work, or with our parents.

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