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“What is that?” I demand, knowing exactly what it is. The blood drains from my face as I scour the poolside for my clothing.
“The garage,” Pike replies nonchalantly. “Sounds like Flint is home.”
CHAPTER 11
Flint
Stress prevents me from noticing everyone’s odd behavior at first, my mind on the minor disaster that continues to brew in New York as I saunter into the house. The smell of Cypress Gardens always puts me at ease, the distinction between the New York bustle and the small-town quaintness never escaping my notice.
“Hello?” I call out.
“Flint! You’re home!” Aspen stumbles, hurrying toward me, almost spilling out of her black and white bikini. I stare at her, bewildered for a moment to see her so scantily dressed, but when Caden appears beside her in his swimsuit, I brush off my confusion.
It’s late. Lily’s in bed. Aspen is free to do what she wants with herself, as long as she’s monitoring our girl. And I know she has been.
“Finally, yes,” I concede, flashing her a taut smile and dropping my keys on the kitchen island.
Zoe appears out of nowhere, like always, and Aspen takes a physical step back, her complexion waning at the sight of our housekeeper. She looks as if she’s forgotten Zoe lives there.
Zoe grins at me. “Hey, Flint. You hungry?”
“No,” I sigh. “I ate on the jet. I just want to take a hot shower and go to sleep. How’s everything here?”
I direct my question at Caden. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Pike slinking through the back door and heading toward the front of the house. “Hi, Pike!”
He freezes but doesn’t turn as he gives me a half-wave before hurrying out of the kitchen and out of sight.
“All right. I’m signing off then,” Zoe announces, looking at Aspen and Caden. “Unless you need anything.”
“Nope,” Caden snickers and covers the guffaw with a cough.
Aspen pales more, and suddenly, I smell it in the air. The unmistakable scent of sex lingers between Aspen and Caden.
That’s why Pike hightailed it out of here.
Swallowing a smile of my own, I turn away. Missing out on more fun again, it seems. The damn company is going to be the death of me. Allister is going to kill me if he doesn’t learn to run things on his end.
“Okay, goodnight, gents, lady,” Zoe chirps, disappearing into the garden apartment she shares with Ryan.
“Does that apartment face the pool?” Aspen mumbles to Caden, but I hear the question loud and clear.
I turn around, too tired for her embarrassment right now. “I’m going to bed,” I tell them. “But Aspen, you and I will need to have a discussion in the morning.”
“Okay.” Her eyes widen with worry, like she’s in trouble. “Good night.”
Leaving them on the main floor, I head upstairs, my mental and physical exhaustion wearing me down. But I can’t go to my room until I’ve seen Lily.
As always, she’s kicked off all the covers and lays starfish over the top of her unicorn and frog comforter, tiny toes dangling off the bed.
I collect all her little limbs and put her back under the covers, careful not to wake her as I tuck her in and brush a soft kiss over her forehead.
A part of me wants to collapse in the armchair in the corner of her room, one I’ve passed out in many a night reading to her already. I’ve been gone too long, and I miss her. But she’s asleep, and I don’t want to risk waking her.
Instead, I make it the last few feet to my room and throw open the double doors to my front room. To my utter amazement, Aspen sits there, still in her bikini, blinking innocently at me.
“What are you doing in here?” I growl lightly. “You can’t just come into my room without permission.”
She appears properly reprimanded and rises from the tan armchair, modestly covering herself as she looks away.
