Page 81 of Summer Heat
We always hung out at a beach sidebar and restaurant, the kind where the bar was in the sand and the view was the water.
Inside, I found Kinsley in the kitchen, watching back the film from today. I wrapped my arms around her, resting my chin on her shoulder. "Everyone's going out."
Kinsley touched my hand. "That will be fun."
"I kind of wanted to stay in with you."
"We haven't been out in forever. It's only one night."
Then why did it feel like the beginning of the end for us? I couldn't shake the feeling that the renovation would be over soon, and then it would be time for Elena and Hudson's wedding. "I'm going to jump in the shower."
"I want to edit this video and post it. I think people are going to love the dynamic between you and your brothers."
I rolled my eyes. "I find it hard to believe that anyone would find us entertaining."
"I think it has more to do with the muscles you're using while you work," Kinsley said with amusement tingeing her voice.
I showered and, when I came downstairs, cleaned up the kitchen so there wasn't dust floating through the air. We'd hung tarps to close it off from the rest of the house, but since we'd taken down a wall, it was impossible to cut the space off from the rest of the house.
I heard the water click on upstairs, and I wondered what tonight would bring. I'd have to pretend that we weren't together. She was my employee, not my lover.
When Kinsley came downstairs, she wore a sundress with sandals, and I pulled her into my body, kissing her as if I was deploying for a year. My hand traveled up her inner thigh. "We should stay in."
She kissed me solidly on the mouth. "I like where your mind is at, but we have to make an appearance. Your brothers want to spend time with you outside of work."
I groaned, adjusting my aching dick in my briefs. "Fine."
"You're going to have a great time. I promise."
In the truck, I said, "My dad warned me about getting involved with you. Should we pretend that nothing is going on?"
Kinsley looked out the side window. "For tonight, that's fine."
I wanted to ask about next time, but there was a crushing sensation in my chest I couldn't shake. "I don't like it."
"It's just for one night."
"It's been nice to do whatever we want at home, at least when Maya's not here. Do you think she knows that something's going on?"
"I don't know. But she hasn't said anything," Kinsley admitted.
It was only one night. This evening wouldn't define our relationship. I could keep my hands off her for a few hours. It couldn't be that hard. But I wished that we'd kissed before we arrived, because I couldn't touch her or kiss her for a few hours. Not until we were home again, and I hated it.
I parked, and we walked together around the building toward the bar area out back where there was cornhole and firepits on the beach and picnic tables by the bar. The girls sat at a picnic table and waved Kinsley over.
My brothers stood at the bar.
There were a few women on either side of our group, but since all the brothers were with someone, I assumed there would be fewer women hanging around us tonight, which was just fine with me.
Except when I reached the guys, a woman broke off from her group and touched my arm. "I just love that show you're doing on the renovation to your grandmother's house."
I moved my arm as subtly as I could to knock her hand loose. "Yeah?"
"It makes me want to do my own home renovations. You know what I mean?" She fluttered her eyelashes at me, and I felt a little sick to my stomach.
"I'm hanging out with my brothers tonight."
The woman's gaze flitted to my brothers, who watched us with interest.
