Текст книги "Easy Love"

Автор книги: Kristen Proby

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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 15 страниц)

“You’re new to town.” He shrugs as if it’s no big thing, but somehow I think it is a big deal. “And I haven’t wandered around in a long while.”

“Does it change much?”

“Not much,” he says with a smile, as the beignets and coffees are delivered. “My father used to bring all six of us here every Saturday morning for as long as I can remember. We came until he passed away.”

He stops talking and frowns, his eyes trained with determination on his beignets.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I say softly. I know his dad passed away two years ago, and I remember the heartbreak of the entire family with the loss of the larger than life patriarch of the family. “Oh, my gosh,” I whisper, eyeing the square doughnuts covered in a heaping pile of powdered sugar. “This is just…”

“The best,” Eli finishes on a groan and eats one of the treats in two bites. He licks his lips, and my ninety-dollar black lace panties are soaking wet.

This man should come with a warning label.

“Are you going to eat them or continue to stare at me?” he asks with a laugh.

I shake my head, pulling myself out of the trance of watching Eli, and take a bite. “Oh, wow.”

“Right?”

“I need these every day.”

“I can arrange that.” His eyes are perfectly sober as he watches me.

“I’m kidding. I’d weigh four hundred pounds within a month.”

“No, you wouldn’t, and I’m not kidding. Say the word, and I’ll get them for you.”

I sit back in my seat and watch him as I chew the doughy goodness. What can I say to that? Instead of responding, I finish my beignets, then drink the delicious frozen coffee and wipe my mouth and brush the fallen powdered sugar off my shirt and pants.

“Ready for what comes next?” he asks and stands, holding his hand out for mine.

“Sure.” He leads me to the sidewalk, settles my hat on my head, and leads me up and down the streets, wandering through gift shops and antique stores, jewelry stores, and even novelty voodoo shops. I soak it all in, looking in every nook and cranny of every store, and Eli patiently waits for me, not saying much, letting me lead him where I want to go.

He’s protective while we’re walking from store to store, sure to keep his hand on the small of my back, but when I’m poking around, he gives me space to explore.

In an antique jewelry store, I find a silver and ivory cameo locket that I must have for my mother for Mother’s Day. When I pull my wallet out to pay, Eli beats me to it, handing the clerk his card.

“Eli, I’m buying this for my mom.”

“She’ll love it.”

“Yes, but you just bought it.”

He raises a brow and watches me with an amused tilt to his lips, as the clerk bags it up and hands it to me. “You’re not paying for anything when you’re with me, cher.”

Before I can respond, he turns and leads me out of the store, and we’re back to the palm readers and musicians before Jackson Square. A woman with deep mocha skin and a bight white smile waves at me, and I immediately sit at her table and pay her before Eli can blink, making him glare at me.

I stick my tongue out at him.

“Well, hello there, I’m Madame Sophia.” She grins and begins to rub hand sanitizer on her hands.

At least she’s a clean palm reader.

“Will I be reading both of your palms, then?”

“No,” Eli replies and shoves both his hands in his pockets. He always does that when he’s uncomfortable.

It’s kind of adorable.

“Scared?” I ask with a grin.

“Skeptical,” he replies, matching my grin and sending me off my axis.

“That’s okay, baby girl, he can just listen. Please give me the hand you’re most comfortable writing with.” I lay my right hand in hers, palm up, and settle in to be entertained.

“Ah,” she whispers and traces her finger around the outside of my palm. “You’re an emotional one, aren’t you, baby girl? You wear your heart on your sleeve.”

I bite my lip and glance up at Eli, who rolls his eyes. I know what he’s thinking: half the population does that.

“A smart one, you are. Oh, look at that! You’re a good liar.” She glances up at me, narrows her eyes, and then looks back down.

I lie for a living.

“Oh, baby girl.” She’s not looking at my palm anymore. Now she’s looking me in the eye, her chocolate brown eyes full of sympathy. “He didn’t deserve you, and you’re better off without him.”

I frown and glance at Eli, then back at Sophia. “I don’t think—”

“But you gonna be just fine,” she continues without a beat. “Sometimes, love be right under your nose, y’know?”

“I don’t think I really need love advice,” I reply nervously. She winks at me, and then returns to my palm.

“Ah, you’re stubborn, but that’s good. You don’t let people take advantage, but you are a sucker for the puppy dog eyes.” She chuckles when I simply blink at her. “Your parents miss you, way over there in Ireland.”

I gasp and move to pull my hand away. “How did you know—?”

“It’s just here,” she replies. “You’ll get a call soon that will change things for you.”

“Change them how?”

“That’s enough,” Eli says, and lays his hand on my shoulder, sending electricity down my chest, making my nipples pucker and Sophia’s eyes widen as she looks between the two of us, her hand still hanging on to mine.

“This is a powerful connection.”

“I said that’s enough. Thank you for your time,” he says and helps me to my feet.

“I don’t think she was done,” I say with a frown, and glance back to see Madam Sophia watching us walk away with a thoughtful frown on her worn face.

“She was done.”

His jaw is clenched and his eyes are narrowed as he leads me down the cobblestone street.

“Eli.”

He doesn’t stop, so I dig in my heels and pull him to a stop next to me.

“I’m fine.”

He tucks my hair behind my ear. “You should be wearing your hat.”

I settle it on my head, tipped a bit too far forward, so he has to bend at the knees to see my face. Finally, he smiles and tips the brim back.

“Why did that freak you out?”

He shrugs. “She was upsetting you.”

She was freaking me out.

“I’m fine,” I repeat stubbornly. He simply smirks and kisses my forehead.

“Are you ready for lunch?”

“More food?”

“You’re in New Orleans, dawlin’. There’s always more food.”

***

“I’m exhausted,” I sigh, as Eli walks me up to my door several hours, many shops, and two meals later.

“In a good way, I hope.”

“Definitely a good way. I had so much fun today.”

He smiles softly and takes my hat off my head, then tucks my hair behind my ear and drags his fingertip down my jawline. “I had fun too.”

“I’m glad you rang my bell at the crack of dawn.”

“I believe it was nine, not the crack of dawn.”

I shrug. “Same difference.”

He chuckles as I fish my keys out of my handbag and unlock my door.

“Do you want to come in?” I ask.

“I have a bit of work to do this evening,” he replies. His eyes look almost…determined.

“Okay, well thanks again.”

He nods as I close the door and toss my hat on the sofa. Holy crap, today was fun. The chemistry is still off the charts, but he was a perfect gentleman the whole day. He barely touched me, but we laughed a lot and he was…friendly.

Huh. Eli Boudreaux and I are friends.

I grin as I walk through my loft, and my iPhone lights up with a FaceTime call from my cousin Rhys. I grin as I press accept and sit out on my balcony to take the call.

“Well, hello, gorgeous. You are a sight for sore eyes.”

“Hey, handsome. Back at you.”

Chapter Six

Eli

“Do you want to come in?” she asks, her green eyes smiling up at me.

Fuck, yes, I want to come in. Which means, I’d better not go in there because I’ve kept my hands off of her all day and my resistance is dying a slow, painful death.

“I have a bit of work to do this evening,” I lie easily. She immediately looks down, disappointment shadowing her eyes, and I feel like the first-class asshole I’m known to be. But I’d be an even bigger asshole if I followed her in and seduced those expensive panties off her.

“Okay, well thanks again.” She offers me another of her sweet smiles, then closes the door behind her and flips the deadbolt lock with a loud click.

I lean my forehead on her door and quietly take a long, deep breath.

I can still smell her.

I walk down her stairs and stroll to my own empty house, thoughts of Kate still running through my head. I don’t remember the last time I took a whole day away from the office, and I certainly don’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much.

Kate’s enthusiasm for everything new is contagious. Her love of the music, the food, hell…even that crazy palm reader. She jumps in with both feet and relishes the experience, making being in her company simply effortless.

And maybe that’s what has me scared shitless.

I’ve taken my home for granted my whole life. My father always pointed out to us that we live in a special place, but until I spent the past week sharing it with Kate, it never occurred to me to truly appreciate it.

Her delight in red beans and rice and a shrimp po’ boy this afternoon brings a smile to my lips. The woman can eat unlike anyone else I’ve ever been with. Most women pick at lettuce and turn their nose up at walking anywhere, not to mention walking for blocks and blocks, wandering through shops full of overpriced gaudy knick-knacks.

Not that I typically pay attention to those sorts of things, as long as they’re fun in bed and don’t get too attached.

But Kate’s different. Yes, I want to tumble her into bed and mess her up more than I want my next breath, but I enjoy her company just as much. Making her smile makes my stomach clench. Listening to her laugh makes my chest ache.

And when she slid her hand in mine and linked our fingers when we crossed the street, it was the easiest touch I’ve ever had.

I walk up the stairs to the master bedroom, toe off my shoes, and stare at my balcony, wondering if she’ll go out to enjoy the rest of her evening.

And if so, would she mind if I join her?

God, I’ve become a pussy.

I just saw her five minutes ago, and I’m already craving her company. And that’s exactly what it is: I crave her. Her body, her thoughts, her smile.

All of her.

She’s made parts of me come alive that have been long dead, and I’m not sure if I can trust this yearning in my gut, yet I can’t stop it.

I cross to the doors and open them, but before I can step out onto the balcony, I can hear her voice. And a man’s.

I shove my hands in my pockets and finger the half-dollar in my right hand.

“Well, hello, gorgeous. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

“Hey, handsome. Back at you.”

“How are you down there in the Big Easy?”

I inch outside and see that her back is to me, and she’s talking via FaceTime on her iPhone.

“Things are great down here. How are you? Are you taking care of yourself? I know you work so hard, and I worry, you know.”

“Stop worrying about me, love. I’m strong as an ox.” I raise a brow at the term of endearment, and feel my breath catch in my throat.

“Stubborn as one, too,” she replies. I can hear the smile in her voice.

“You miss me and you know it.”

“I do,” she replies with a sigh. “I miss you very much. When do I get to see you?”

I turn and quietly let myself back into my house, gently closing the doors behind me. So, she does have someone. I shake my head and laugh ruefully. I’m such a fucking fool. Sharing beignets and palm readings means nothing.

She means nothing.

I can hear her laugh trickle in from my door, and every hair stands up on the back of my neck.

She’s not nothing. She’s the least nothing I’ve ever met in my life. And I can’t have her.

***

“Uncle Eli, I want to go outside and play catch.” My youngest sister’s son, Sam, is staring at me with hopeful hazel eyes, his Chicago Cubs hat planted firmly on his head, baseball mitt and ball in his grubby little boy hands.

“I know you don’t have a hat on in my kitchen,” Mom gives Sam a stern look, and he takes the hat off and lowers his chin to his chest.

“No, ma’am.”

“After dinner,” I inform him, and pull him in for a hug and to ruffle his shaggy dark hair. “You can take both me and Beau on.”

“I throw better than both of you,” Sam says, and grins at Beau, who is chopping vegetables for Mom on the other side of the counter, across from where Sam, Gabby, and I are sitting.

“You don’t throw better than me,” Beau insists with a frown.

“Do too,” Sam says, and eyes the pecan pie sitting on the counter cooling. “Nannan, can I have some pie?”

“Don’t even think about touching that pie until after dinner.” Mom shakes her spatula at Sam, making him grin. “You’re just like your uncles. Always diving into dessert first.”

“I’m a growing boy. Right, Mama?”

Gabby smiles down at her son and kisses his head before he can pull away with a cringe. “You are a growing boy. Growing on my nerves.”

Sam smiles and walks toward the back door. “I’m gonna go toss the ball in the air until dinner.”

“Good plan. Stay close!” Gabby calls, as the screen door slams.

“He’s adorable,” Charly, at the stove next to Mom, says with a grin. “And knows it.”

“He’s seven going on thirty-five,” Beau says with a laugh. “He tried to talk me out of twenty bucks the other day when he dragged the garbage cans down to the road.”

“He what?” Gabby asks with a gasp. “I’ll kill him.”

“Oh, please,” Mom says with a scoff. “Y’all tried to pull off more ‘n that with your daddy ‘n me when you were young.”

“Never got away with it, either,” Charly says happily, and tosses some corn on the cob into a boiling pot. We’ve been wealthy for generations, but we’ve never hired household staff. Mama and Dad always said that there was no reason to live in a house too big for the eight of us to take care of. Mama loves to cook, loved raising us kids, and we had our own share of chores growing up. “Where are Savannah and Dec?”

“Here we are,” Van answers, as she comes into the kitchen, passing hugs and kisses out to everyone.

“You did not!”

I freeze at the sound of her voice, then feel my hands clench into fists and my eyes narrow when Kate and Declan walk into the kitchen, his arm around her shoulders and hers around his waist, leaning into each other and laughing their fucking asses off. It’s the leaning that pisses me off the most. They’re way too cozy for my comfort level.

What is she doing here?

“Kate!” Mama exclaims, and hurries around the kitchen counter to pull Kate in for a hug. “Ah, dawlin’, it’s been too long since I laid eyes on you.”

“You look wonderful, as always,” Kate returns and hugs my mom tightly. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“You’re family, babe. You don’t need an invitation. You’ll come for Sunday dinner while you’re still in town.”

I take a deep breath, but feel my blood boil. She was invited, but she didn’t call me to give her a ride? Instead, she chose to ride with Declan?

What the fuck?

Suddenly, Sam comes running in from outside, letting the screen slam loudly behind him. “Mama! I threw the ball way up high and it hit the oak tree and bounced off the trunk and hit the roof!” He comes to an abrupt stop when he sees Kate, pulls his hat off his head, and shuffles the toe of his worn sneaker on the hardwood floor. “Ma’am.”

“Sam, this is Kate,” Declan says, smiling at our nephew. “She’s a very good friend of the family.”

“It’s a pleasure, ma’am.” He holds out his hand to shake Kate’s, making us all grin. Gabby’s raising Sam very well.

“The pleasure is all mine, Sam. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What were you saying about your baseball?”

Sam smiles widely, the excitement filling his dark brown eyes again. “It hit the roof and then rolled off and I caught it!”

“Good job,” Kate says with a smile. God, her smile kills me every time, even when it’s aimed at someone else.

“Don’t you hit any of my windows, now,” Mom warns and kisses Sam’s head as she passes back into the kitchen.

“No, Nannan,” Sam agrees. “I’m still working off the last window.” He cringes and glances at his mom.

“He broke another window?” Charly asks with a laugh.

“Hey, don’t laugh, that’s the third one in six months,” Gabby replies, but can’t help the smile that forms on her pretty, young face.

“I do chores to pay for them,” Sam informs us all. “When can we have pie?”

“Come on, shorty.” Declan snags Sam’s ball from his mitt. “Let’s go out and toss some.”

“You don’t have a mitt!”

“I’ll make do.” Dec winks at Kate, setting my teeth on edge, and follows Sam outside.

“Lance isn’t coming?” Beau asks Van. She just shakes her head no, and Beau’s gaze meets mine.

Yeah, he and I are going to have to have a conversation with Lance soon. Something’s going on there, and it isn’t good. Seeing Van hurting is killing all of us.

“I got some new shoes in, ladies,” Charly says with a sly smile. “Some really gorgeous, knock you on your behind, beautiful shoes.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow,” Van says and links her arm through Kate’s. “I’ll bring Kate too. We’ll clean you out.”

“Not fair,” Gabby says with a scowl. “This is what sucks about living so far out of town. I don’t get to just walk down the street and shop.”

“I brought you some in your size,” Charly replies and winks at our baby sister. “I can’t have you living in the Bayou with ugly shoes.”

“You’re my favorite sibling. You know that, right?”

“Hey!” Beau scowls at Gabby and wags his sharp knife at her. “I’m the one that lives out there with you, so you’re not alone, and commute in to work every day.”

“I’ve been telling you for months to move into town,” Gabby replies and leans her elbows on the counter.

“I don’t want you out there by yourself either,” I reply. “You and Sam alone in the Bayou makes us all nervous.”

“I’m not alone. I run a very successful bed and breakfast, thank you very much. There are always people around.”

“People we don’t know,” Charly replies, and Mama nods in agreement.

“We love you, babe,” Mama adds and cups Gabby’s face in her hand. “Beau’s keeping you safe.”

“Beau needs to get himself a woman and leave me alone,” Gabby replies, glaring at Beau, who just shakes his head and laughs.

“Tell me about the bed and breakfast,” Kate says and fishes a carrot out of the salad bowl. God, I love her appetite. She looks amazing today in a soft, flowy black skirt and a green button-down top with a black belt cinched around her slim waist. She left her hair down and applied minimal makeup, leaving her gorgeous freckles uncovered, and has clear gloss on her lips.

Fuck, I want to kiss those lips.

“I turned the family plantation house into an inn,” Gabby replies proudly. We’re all fucking proud of her. Inn Boudreaux is thriving and booked solid for months.

“Oh, that’s awesome,” Kate says. “I bet it’s amazing. Is it right on the river?”

“Yes. You can’t see the river because of the levy, but yes. Guests love the old oak trees, and we’ve restored some of the slave quarters and stuff so they can also wander around and learn about the plantation.”

“I’d love to see it,” Kate says, and I immediately decide to take her out there next weekend. She’ll love it. “Maybe I can get my parents to come visit and stay out there. It would be right up their alley.”

“Are they still in Ireland?” Savannah asks.

“Yes, and they love it there. But I miss them.”

“What about Rhys?” Charly asks, as Gabby and I set the table and Mama sets bowls and platters full of way too much food on the table as well. I still at Charly’s question and watch Kate.

“He’s great. Busy. I haven’t seen him in a couple months.”

“He’s adorable,” Charly says with a grin. “In a sexy, delicious kind of way. Is he available?”

“This is Rhys we’re talking about,” Kate says with a laugh. “Who knows? But I was able to FaceTime with him last night, and he looks as great as ever, and still stubborn as heck.”

So, she was FaceTiming with this Rhys guy.

None of my business.

“Boys!” Mama calls out the back door. “Dinner’s ready! Come eat these groceries!”

Kate sits next to me at the table and smiles up at me sweetly, and I find myself returning it, despite this perpetual frustration I can’t shake.

“You okay?” she asks softly.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You haven’t said two words to me since I got here.”

“Hello, Kate.” She narrows her eyes and tilts her head, but before she can ask any further questions, Sam and Declan join us and we all dig in. I glance up to find Charly watching Kate and me with a raised brow, but I shake my head, giving her the silent message to leave it be, and eat silently.

Kate laughs, asking more questions about Gabby’s inn, Charly’s shop, and how Sam likes the second grade, charming my whole family. How has she been friends with Dec and Van for so long and I’d never met her before?

Because you’ve been too busy keeping the business the way Dad wanted you to.

“Eli, you’re more quiet than normal,” Mama says softly, watching me with shrewd eyes. “What’s going on with you?”

I shake my head and wipe my mouth with a napkin. “Just the same old thing, Mama.”

“Hmph,” she replies and glances around the table. “Why do I feel like I’m out of the loop here?”

“You’re not,” I reply with a smile. “Work as usual.”

“You work too much.”

“Not you too,” I reply, and rub my forehead with the tips of my fingers. “I get this lecture from Savannah at least once a week.”

“Well, you’ll be gettin’ it from me too. You’re my baby boy.”

Oh, God.

Kate smirks next to me and hides her smile behind a tall glass of lemonade.

“I’m fine, I promise.”

“He even took the day off yesterday,” Kate adds nonchalantly. Mama’s eyes widen as she looks between Kate and me.

“He did?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“How do you know?”

Don’t say it. I lay my hand on Kate’s thigh, but she ignores me and says it anyway.

“Because he was with me. He showed me around the French Quarter all day. It’s his fault that I’m now addicted to beignets from Café du Monde.”

The table is silent for a few beats, then Mama clears her throat.

“You went to Café du Monde on Saturday mornin’?”

I meet her bright eyes with my own and nod. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ve always wanted to see the French Quarter. It was amazing,” Kate continues, oblivious to the tension between us siblings. They’re all staring at me like I’ve grown a second head.

Finally, in the innocent way that only a seven-year-old can, Sam speaks up.

“Pawpaw used to take us there on Saturdays,” he says, and takes a bite of the corn on the cob, missing some pieces, thanks to the gap in his front teeth. “It was fun.”

“That’s right,” Gabby says and runs her hand over her son’s hair.

Suddenly, Kate lays her hand on my thigh and I glance down into understanding eyes, and it’s all I can take.

“I’m sorry, Mama, but I just remembered that I have some work to catch up on.” I stand quickly and take care of my own dishes, then kiss her cheek. “Thank you for dinner. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Eli—”

But I don’t stop to hear what she has to say. I walk quickly to my car and peel out of the driveway. My heart is beating quickly, and for the first time in more than two years, I’m consumed with emotion.

What in the hell is wrong with me?

And who the fuck is Rhys?

This is all Kate’s fault. Before she showed up with her gorgeous green eyes and touchable red hair, I was fine, consumed by work. I had a routine that worked well for me, with no interruptions.

Certainly no Saturdays spent in the Quarter and evenings listening to Dec’s gigs.

I just need to get laid. That’s all there is to it. It’s been more than a minute since I last enjoyed the company of a warm, willing woman.

Yes, that’s it.

Before long, I’m back at my house, pacing through the silent, empty rooms, my phone in my hand, paging through my contacts list. I’m going to scratch this itch and get over it. Erase Kate from my mind completely.

I pour myself three fingers of brandy, sit behind my desk, and thumb through my electronic black book.

Ah, yes, I could call Amanda. She’s always fun. Tall, leggy. But she has strawberry blonde hair, and that’ll just remind me too much of Kate.

I skip to the next name.

Collette! I met Collette three years ago at a charity function. She’s smart as a whip and likes to be blindfolded. I grin, but then I remember that Collette has freckles on her shoulders, and that won’t do.

Fuck.

Fredericka. I haven’t seen her in a while. She’s curvy in all the right places with the best tits I’ve ever seen.

Scratch that. Kate has the best tits I’ve ever seen.

And I’ve never actually seen them.

I sigh loudly and swallow the rest of the brandy, then smile when I see Stephanie’s name.

Steph and I have had a mutually satisfying arrangement for the better part of five years. She’s long and lean with a runner’s body and an enthusiasm in bed that can’t be matched. She has jet-black hair and chocolate brown eyes with the whitest, smoothest skin I’ve ever seen. She’s not afraid to make noise, and she can suck a cock like no one else.

Yes, I do believe I’ll call Steph.

My thumb hovers over her name, but suddenly I see laughing green eyes smiling up at me as she gets her palm read, her face set in rapture when she first tasted the beignets. God, my dick throbs at the thought of what those eyes will look like when I’m buried so deep inside her I can’t tell where she ends and I begin.

Motherfucker.

I throw my phone across the room, aiming for the couch, so it doesn’t break, then pick up my glass and consider throwing that too, needing to hear the shatter of glass, when Charly’s voice comes from the doorway.

“Sam would be impressed with that arm.”

I whirl and glare at my sister. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Well, I’m not here for your sparkling personality,” she replies, and plants her hands on her hips.

“Look, I’m not really fit for company tonight, Char.”

“Clearly.” She smiles, her hazel eyes softening, and I feel my chest loosen too. “You’re handsome when you’re pissed.”

“Don’t try to charm me.”

She tosses her head back and laughs, then plops down on my couch and rescues my phone from the cushions. “What did your phone do to you?”

“Nothing.”

“Wanna talk about Kate?”

“Fuck no.”

“Wanna talk about anything?”

I glare at her and cross my arms over my chest.

“That may work in the boardroom, but it doesn’t work with me.”

“You’re a pain in my ass.” I sigh and stare at Charly. She’s the second to the youngest, and I’ve been wrapped around her little finger since the day Mama and Dad brought her home from the hospital.

“You love me.”

I simply grunt and then cave under her hard stare and scrub my hands over my face.

“You took her for beignets.”

“Shut up, Char.”

“I’m just saying, you haven’t had beignets since Daddy—”

“I’ve had beignets since Dad died.”

“Yeah, the ones you make your assistant go get for you. But you never go there.”

I raise a brow and smirk at her. “I’m a bit too busy to just run out for beignets when the mood strikes.”

“You know, I may not be the genius of the family, leading the family business into the new millennium, but I’m not slow, Eli.”

“I’m sorry.” I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“Say that you like Kate.”

“It’s not a matter of liking her.”

“Well, why are you here, alone, while she’s right next door, also alone? That’s ridiculous.”

“Because she’s an employee, a friend of the family, and it sounds like she already has someone in her life.”

“Yeah, an asshole of an ex-husband.”

My jaw drops as I stare at Charly. “Rhys?”

“What?” She frowns and shakes her head. “No, Rhys is her cousin. Her very hot, baseball star cousin. Daniel is her asshole of an ex.”

I stand, circle my desk, lean my hips against it, and push my hands into my pockets. “What did he do to her?”

“Oh, no, that’s her story to tell.” Charly shakes her head as she stands and crosses to me, wraps her arms around my waist, and hugs me tight. “Daddy wouldn’t want you to live like this, Eli.”

I cringe, but don’t reply. No one was in that room with Dad and me right before he died. No one else knows what he said.

What, exactly, he expected of me after his death.

“I’m fine, bebe,” I reply, and smile reassuringly as she pulls away.

“But you want me to leave now.”

“No, you know you can stay here for as long as you want.” There are four women in my life that I’d do anything in the world for. My three sisters and my mother.

Scratch that. Five. It seems Kate has wormed her way onto the short list.

“I love you, big brother.”

“I love you too, brat.” I grin as she laughs and walks back out of the room.

“Get some sleep! You look like shit!”

“Thank you!” I call just before the front door closes. She really is a pain in my ass. I pour three more fingers and let myself out onto the balcony, my eyes immediately turning to the left, and sure enough, Kate is sitting out with a glass of wine in her small, perfect hand.

She turns her head, leveling me with a cool glare.

“Problem?” I ask and sink into my chair. She’s sitting only a few feet away, with a simple wrought iron railing separating us. I could reach out and touch her.

But I don’t.

“Yeah, I think there is a problem,” she replies, as calmly as if we’re talking about the weather.

“Would you care to share it?”

She’s quiet for a moment, then sets her wine on the table beside her and turns to face me, and her green eyes, full of anger and frustration, take my breath away.

“I promised myself that I would never again let a man determine the way I feel about myself. I wouldn’t play games. I’m worth more than that.”

I raise a brow. “Agreed.”

She laughs humorlessly and stands to pace around her small balcony.

“You confuse the heck out of me! You were so fun and easy to be with yesterday. I actually thought we were…friends.”

Friends. That particular word leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

“And then I see you today and you barely speak to me, then run out on your own family dinner!”

I stand and lean my hands on the railing, looking her in the eye. “I’m trying to keep my hands off of you, Kate.”

“Oh, please.” She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not irresistible, Eli. Trust me, I know.”

“You’re wrong. You’re practically family—”

“I’m not part of your family.”

“And I didn’t know if you were already taken.”

“I wouldn’t have spent all day with you yesterday, not to mention let you kiss me the way you do, if I were taken.”

“Is your divorce final?”

This makes her pause. “Of course it is.”

“And Rhys is your cousin?”

She scowls. “Are you kidding me right now? You can’t be jealous of my cousin.”

“Oh, dawlin’, it seems I’m jealous of my own fucking brother when it comes to you. I wanted to rip Dec’s arm off his body when y’all came in Mama’s kitchen today.”