Page 46 of Summer Heat
He raised a brow. "You don't believe me?"
I shook my head. "Um. No. Just because everyone else is dating someone doesn't mean that I'm next."
I heard a noise from Kinsley, who must have reappeared during our conversation. She was fighting a smile from where she stood behind the camera.
I gave her a look, but that made her smile wider. Great. Now she thought we were amusing.
"Of course it does. It's only a matter of time."
"I'm the last remaining of the hottest Kingston bachelors on the island, and I have no intention of being claimed."
"Coop said you haven't been going out as much."
"How would he know? He's shacked up with Ivy and their kid." Bitterness trailed into my tone, which I hated. I didn't want anyone to know that it had sucked when he hooked up with Ivy. He didn't have as much time for me anymore.
Hudson rolled his eyes. "He's your twin. Of course he knows you better than anyone else."
I gestured at the shower. "Are you going to flap your lips all day, or are you going to work?"
Hudson was quiet for a few more minutes, and then he asked, "Are you seeing anyone?"
I paused and glared at him. Then I turned to the camera, carefully avoiding Kinsley's gaze. "I'm keeping my options open." Then I turned back to him. "There. Are you happy now?"
Hudson had a self-satisfied smile on his face. "That means you're open to finding love."
I placed my hands on my hips. "That's not what I meant."
"Keep telling yourself that. Love shows up when you least expect it anyway."
I groaned, giving up on the conversation. I wasn't going to tell him that I was interested in Kinsley. Not with her standing there, watching us.
"I'm going to make lunch," Kinsley said before disappearing.
Hudson handed me the tile. "If you need some advice about how to snag a certain single mom who's staying at your place?—"
I ripped the tile out of his hands a little harder than necessary. "No one's dating the single mom."
"Are you sure about that? I thought it was a temporary living situation, but now it seems like it's more permanent." He picked up the rubber duck with a tux that Maya must have hid in here.
"Where did you find that? I've been looking for it everywhere."
Hudson gave me a weird look. "It was behind the door."
My heart warmed at the thought of Maya hiding it with the idea of me finding it while she was gone.
"What's so important about this duck?" Hudson lifted it in the air, and I snatched it from his hand, tucking it into my pocket.
"That's between me and Maya."
"You're getting close to her."
"You know I like kids." I kept my gaze on the tile we'd already placed, grabbing another one.
"What about Kinsley? Anything going on there?"
I was grateful he'd dropped the questions about Maya. That little girl held my heart in her hands. "She's helping me with the renovation and filming. That's it."
"Then she can move to a new place, one with a better landlord."
