Brian glanced over with a smirk. He was two years younger than KC and the spitting image of their mother. With his good looks, brown eyes, and dirty blond hair, he’d won his senior class yearbook category of “Most Handsome”—a fact he never let his other brothers forget.
“Uncle Dan suggested you might need someextra rest. Guess he was right.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Inwardly, KC groaned, choosing not to take the bait. His brother knew Maura was there. And if he’d put together Dan’s little matchmaking effort, that made it worse. No point feeding into it.
Leaving the towel and water on the railing by the stairs, he dropped into a chair long enough to pull on his socks and shoes. “Want to take a run?”
Brian sipped his coffee and then shook his head. “Already did five miles this morning. I’ll hang here and wait for you to get back.”
“Suit yourself.”
“I always do.”
Yeah. That sounded about right.
When he reached the beach, he started at a steady pace along the packed sand, the early morning air filling his lungs as the rhythmic crash of the surf kept time beside him. The energy riding through him had nothing to do with the run and everything to do with the woman he’d left in his bed.
Thoughts of her came back strong—her warmth, her taste, how she’d responded to him once she’d stopped holding back.
Maura wasn’t the type to fall into something likethat lightly. He’d seen it in her hesitation, in the way she watched him, like she was still deciding whether to trust what was happening between them.
And last night, shehadtrusted it, and that mattered more than he wanted to examine too closely.
He swiped a hand across his brow, trying to clear his mind before his thoughts circled back again.
It was pointless—he wasn’t getting her out of his head anytime soon.
An hour later, he made his way back, slowing as the house came into view. Brian was exactly where he’d left him.
His brother tossed him the towel. “Your lady friend hasn’t come out yet. Is she too...ahem... worn out to join us?”
KC glared at him as he dragged the towel over his face. “Watch it.”
Leaning back in his chair, Brian propped his feet up on another one. “So, tell me about this mystery woman Uncle Dan rented the house to.”
He wiped the back of his neck and shrugged, keeping his tone even. “No mystery. Maura was in a bad situation. When she’d had enough, she left. She’s lying low and doesn’t want any trouble finding her. Dan felt sorry for her andoffered the place.”
“Uh-huh.”
He didn’t like the sound of that. “Come on. You know him—always bringing home strays.”
Brian tilted his head, conceding a little. “Of course. But this is the first time you ever got involved with one of those strays.”
His eyes narrowed. “I won’t deny I’m attracted to her, but I’ve only known her for less than a week. Who knows where this is headed? For now, I’m enjoying myself, and so is she. No harm, no foul. So back off.”
Hands went up in surrender. “Okay, bro. I just don’t want you getting pulled into someone else’s problems.”
He glanced toward the house, his expression tightening a fraction before he looked back at his brother. “She left those behind.”
The door behind him opened, and both he and Brian turned as Maura stepped out onto the deck, clearly unaware she’d walked into company.
KC’s mouth curved as he took her in—slightly rumpled, hair tousled from sleep—but she looked rested. Comfortable. And far too tempting for his peace of mind. A pair of black sweatpants and a gray T-shirt did nothing to hide the fact that she’d just rolled out of his bed.
He dragged his gaze back up before it lingered too long. Brian didn’t need the visual, and more importantly, Maura didn’t need the attention.
When she spotted his brother, her step slowed, her easy smile faltering enough to notice.
Both men stood.
