Page 16 of Relentless
He hated that she did so much for him and that he couldn’t reciprocate or participate. She’d waved off his protests enough times, though, that he didn’t bother now. He did, however, add another note to his mental list of all the things he’d dofor heronce he was mobile. He’d take her away for a long weekend to somewhere she didn’t have to do anything for anyone. He’d have to convince her of that one. But the way she’d ogled him earlier gave him hope that he was making progress on that front.
“There are a few things in my basket,” he replied, and she headed in that direction. Once she disappeared into his room, he pulled out his phone.
Ethan:Kara wants to go for a hike this afternoon. Any chance you can suggest joining her?
Sabina:Did you find something last night?
Ethan:Nothing concrete, but I have a list of questions a mile long. I’ll talk to Chad about it when he comes by. In the meantime, I’d prefer if she wasn’t alone
Sabina:I’ll text her now. I’ll bring Killian along, too. He just got back from the job in DC. Stretching his legs with a nice hike will be right up his alley
Ethan smiled. He loved his cousin-in-law.
Ethan:Thanks. You’re the best
Sabina:I am. But so is she(winking emoji)
Ethan:She is, but still not going there with you
Sabina: (sigh)Why must you be so difficult?
Ethan:Not difficult, discreet
Sabina:This from the man who played Magic Mike on one of the Youth Day Parade floats
Ethan:What can I say, I support community theater
He chuckled at the memory of the event a few months earlier. The community theater group had approached him and asked if he’d help with their float. He’d assumed they’d meant thebuildingof it, and he’d agreed. It hadn’t been what they’d meant. His cousins teased him endlessly about riding in the parade half-dressed and with a bow tie. But he liked to point out that the ploy had worked. Attendance throughout the summer was at an all-time high.
Sabina:Just FYI, Kara’s not much of a bow tie kind of woman
Ethan:While I appreciate your “help,” kindly butt out
Sabina:Not possible. She’s my sister
Ethan:Then bug her
Sabina:It’s funny that you think I haven’t
That got Ethan’s attention. He didn’t want to know the specifics of their conversations, but he did wonder what Sabina might be saying to her sister. He could only hope that her conversations encouraged Kara to explore the chemistry between them.
Ethan:Call your sister and invite her hiking
Sabina:Already did that while your dirty little mind wondered what Kara and I say when we talk about you
He laughed, glad that Sabina was Chad’s to deal with.
Ethan:Have a good hike. I’m going to finish my coffee and ignore any more texts from you
Sabina:Chicken
Ethan:Ignoring you
Sabina:I don’t think that word means what you think it means
“My sister just texted,” Kara said, walking out of the laundry room. “She says since Chad’s coming over for a few hours we should go do something together.”
Ethan felt a pang of guilt for orchestrating Sabina’s suggestion. And for not telling Kara about his suspicions. It felt…not quite dishonest, but sneaky. Not a good feeling when he thought about what he wanted with her in the long run. He truly didn’t want to scare her over something that could be nothing. But his moral compass was telling him that keeping it from her wasn’t right.
