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I blink up at him, already breathless. “What are you?—”

He cups the back of my neck and kisses me.

And not a polite peck or a teasing brush of lips for Bennett’s eyes.

No, this is a full-on, spine-melting, tongue-slick kiss that makes my toes curl in my shoes and my knees sway. One of those kisses that leaves no room for doubt about who I belong to.

When he finally pulls back, his voice is low and rough. “Be good.”

“I make no promises,” I murmur, dazed.

His eyes sweep over me like he wants to kiss me again. Like he wants to say fuck it and take me back to bed. “I’ll see you tonight,” he tells me, like he already has plans for me.

And then he’s gone, walking back to the Aston Martin like he didn’t just kiss the sanity out of me, and I climb into the SUV in a total daze.

I sit there for a moment, clutching the keys, trying to remember how to breathe.

Yeah, Bennett made the right call going with West. I can’t even remember how to drive this damn thing.

A couple of hours later I’m standing with one of the resort contractors, nodding politely while he explains the intricacies of the gray water system, trying not to point out that I actually have a degree in this stuff.

Not that I think he’d listen. He’s too busy mansplaining to care about my education, and I’m too distracted wondering what West and Bennett are doing.

By the time I arrived at the resort, they’d already disappeared into the admin suite for back-to-back meetings, and while I’m supposed to be finishing the sustainability survey, all I can think about is him.

This project matters to West.A lot. And maybe it shouldn’t make my chest warm to see how seriously he’s taking it. How patient he was when Bennett asked about load-bearing walls at dinner last night. How he handed him the resort schedule and promised that Bennett would learn a lot while he’s here.

It’s kind of… sweet. Unfairly sweet. Because I really don’t like the way my chest feels when I think about him.

“So then we’re gonna have the inlet here,” the contractor says. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I snatch at it excitedly, fully expecting it to be West checking up on me.

But no. It’s not him. It’s much worse.

The Fitzgerald family group chat is lighting up like a dumpster fire.

“I’m so sorry,” I say, smiling sweetly. “I should take this. Thanks for explaining how it all works.”

Before he can offer any more insights, I turn away, shielding my eyes from the sun, as I read the messages that are turning into my worst nightmare.

AUTUMN:So… anybody want to see a photo I took yesterday? Or know what our baby sister’s been up to?

I blink. What’s she talking about? But then I see the photo attachment.

It’s of me and Bennett. On the beach yesterday. I’m in a bikini, laughing with the wind in my hair. Bennett is looking at me with wide eyes. It’s actually a nice picture if it weren’t so creepy that my sister took it in secret.

HUDSON:Who’s that with her? Is it the guy who arrived at the barbecue unannounced the other day?

AUTUMN:Yep. Apparently he’s West’s intern. Not that I can get anything out of West. Or Eden. She’s been ignoring my calls.

I frown. West has seen this? When? Why didn’t he mention it.

ASHER:Want me to run a background check on him? Or go warn him to behave around our kid sister. She’s only nine after all.

I roll my eyes. God, they’re annoying. Not one of them has noticed I’ve grown up.

ZACH:That seems like a good idea to me.

I let out a growl and jab my thumbs against the screen.