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"Well, you know, I'm busy with, uh, my place and finishing off work on the pier."
"What's the real reason?"
Damn it, how did he always see through my bullshit?
"What do you mean?" I asked, blinking at him like a dumbass.
"I know you, Cole. Can’t lie to save your life."
"I'm not lying."
"Something happened with Elara, didn't it?"
Motherfucker.
"What? No! I mean, what could have happened?"
"Fucking hell, man. Your pants are gonna spontaneously combust."
You know what? I looked down at my damn pants, and of course Ethan laughed.
I let out a low, irritated growl before admitting, "Fine. Okay. Elara and I . . . we had a bit of a moment."
"Define 'moment,'" Ethan said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"That's not important," I dismissed quickly.
Ethan crossed his arms. He was absolutely loving seeing me squirm like this. "Feels pretty damn important to me. If I'm gonna be taking on this job, I need the full picture."
"You're going to help?"
"I didn't say that. But you don’t stand a chance unless you spill the beans, brother."
"We kissed."
He nodded sagely. "I see."
"Which is why I don't think it's a good idea for me to spend a bunch of time with her. Ergo, I can't handle the bar reno. Ergo, I'm asking you for a solid."
Ethan's reply surprised me. "Wait, why would it be such a bad idea to spend time with her?"
"Because I don't want anything else to happen between us."
"You don't like her?"
"It's not that simple."
He studied me intently. "Why can't it be that simple?"
"C'mon, you know how it is. Work, the girls, all my other obligations. Last thing I need is another distraction."
"I actually think that’s exactly what you need. Everything you do is for other people. For the girls. For Dad. For the people of Bluehaven Beach. Nothing is ever for you."
"I . . . lift weights."
"Right. So that you’re strong enough to help other people."
"She's ten years younger than me."
