Page 87 of Summer Heat
Shep
I screwed up.
I'd been in a panic ever since I realized that Kinsley had walked out of the bar and went home by herself. I tried to let down the women nicely, thinking that it was good for the show and our business. But I'd hurt Kinsley, and I hated it.
Why had I ever decided to keep us a secret? I wasn't even sure we'd had another conversation about our relationship being hidden after that first night together.
Dad didn't want me to date her, but what about what I wanted?
Why did I always have to think about the business first? I wanted it to be successful. I wanted to create a legacy for the kids in the family. But I deserved to be happy too.
Unfortunately, I had pushed Kinsley away, and apparently, she was looking at rental properties. I focused on the kitchen with my brothers, trying not to think too hard about where she was.
"Ivy said she's showing Maya properties today," Cooper said casually while we worked to carefully remove the cabinets.
"That's what I heard." My jaw was tight.
"She's in a hurry to move out?" Hudson asked.
"I think the wedding has her spooked. She doesn't want people to talk about us living together. It would be weird since I'm her employer."
"Is it though? She's a family friend. We're just helping her out," Cooper said.
"Dad seems to think it's a problem for island gossip. He talked to me on Friday about it."
This was all my fault because I didn't know how to express my feelings unless it was through the physical.
"Are you going to miss them when they're gone? You seemed close to Maya." Hudson looked down at me from his spot on top of the ladder.
The ache in my chest hadn't gone away since I read her note. "I've gotten close to both of them."
"You used to fight with Kinsley all the time, and now you seem friendly," Cooper continued, and I wondered where he was going with this.
"I think she softened toward me."
Hudson focused his attention on the upper cabinets where he was attempting to pull them from the wall. "Was it because of the way you took care of her and her daughter?"
I nodded. "And I offered them a place to stay."
"And you treated them well," Cooper said.
"I like to think so." Was it hot in here, or was it just me?
Cooper looked at me. "Is there anything else going on between you?"
I stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"You seem distracted. You're checking your phone every few seconds."
I shrugged. "I wanted to see if she found a place."
Cooper's brow furrowed. "This is more than that. I'm getting I fucked up vibes from you, and you're waiting to hear from her as if you screwed up something with her.
I wiped the sweat from my brow. "I don't know why you'd think that."
Hudson climbed down from the ladder and leaned against the lower cabinet.
Cooper snorted. "You hooked up with her, didn't you? And Dad is worried it's going to screw up the dynamic at work."
