Page 14 of Summer Heat
I shifted so that my knee was folded underneath me. "And what would that be?"
He gave me a look. "That I make impulsive decisions that I don't think through."
"Your parents wouldn't approve of me living with you?" I asked.
Shep glanced over at me, his hand gripping the wheel. "Mom will love it. It's Dad that will say I'm being irresponsible. He's always looking for evidence that I'm a screwup."
"I'm sorry." I wasn't sure what to say about that.
"But if you're there, he won't be able to say anything. Besides, Mom adores having more guests over, and she loves you and Maya."
"I like your mom too. We can go if it will be easier for you." I didn't like the idea that his dad wouldn’t like me living here. He was my boss after all. I wondered if me living with Shep was going to be a problem for him.
I hadn't anticipated becoming more immersed with the Kingston family, but it didn't seem like I had a choice. I wanted to make things easy for Shep since he was going out of his way to help us.
At home, we unloaded our things, and I started the laundry while Maya played in her room with her new toys. I'd encouraged her to keep her toys in her room and not scatter them about the house. Shep had been patient with us so far, but I wasn't sure how far his good will would extend.
Once Maya's new bedding was on the bed, and it looked more like hers, we got ready to go to Shep's parents' house. I was friends with some of his brothers' girlfriends and fiancées, but I'd never been invited for dinner.
At the house, I unloaded Maya, feeling nervous about what they would think about our new living situation. Would they assume I was taking advantage of Shep? That I was using him somehow?
These were my employers after all. I probably shouldn't blur the lines. I'd need to rent a hotel room until I could find something with the help of a Realtor. It wouldn't be easy to live in a hotel with a small child.
Shep was doing me a huge favor, and I didn't want to do anything to mess it up.
His parents' home was an adorable Cape Cod style home on stilts backing to the beach. On the porch, Shep opened the door without knocking, and we stepped inside.
We were immediately bombarded with noise. It sounded like it was coming from deep in the house, possibly the kitchen.
He led the way down the hall and into the open kitchen that had floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean.
Joy's face brightened when she saw Shep, drawing him in for a hug. When she pulled back, her eyes widened. "I didn't realize you were bringing guests."
"Kinsley's house flooded—" There were a few gasps from the other guests. "And I offered her a place to stay temporarily."
I swallowed hard. How temporary was this living situation? He hadn't said anything to me about a time limit. If his family gave him a hard time, I'd need to move sooner than I anticipated.
Jon appeared next to Joy. "Your landlord never fixed the leaking pipe?"
"No," I said.
Shep tensed next to me. "When she got home, her place had standing water. Since it's only a one-story house, everything was ruined. I helped her pack her clothes, and then we went to the store to buy all new items."
"Good thing you called Shep," Joy said. "He has plenty of bedrooms for you and Maya to stay in until you can get back on your feet. Let me show you the toys my grandchildren love." Joy took Maya's hand and led her to the bin of toys in the adjacent family room where Cooper and Ivy's son, Henry, and Dalton's daughter, Lilliana, were already playing.
I was hoping that Maya could be a buffer between me and his family, but it looked like I was on my own.
"I wasn't expecting him to offer us a place to stay. I just thought he'd be able to help us."
"He is the only one that's single, and has plenty of space for visitors," Hudson said, leaning on the counter.
Shep raised a brow. "Are you saying I don't have a life?"
Joy held up a hand. "All that matters is that you called Shep and he was there for you. You and Maya couldn't have stayed in that house, and what was the alternative? One of the hotels having a vacancy? That's not very likely during the busy season."
The island was the busiest between January through April. Though it had tourists year-round, it tended to slow down in the fall.
Jon's brow furrowed. "Ivy can help you find a new place."
