“That renovation you did on the Lopez kitchen was amazing.”
Davis tried to shrug off the compliment. “Thanks.”
“Hey, Garrett.” Ashley, one of the elite and rich girls he’d gone to school with, shimmied up next to him, smiling wide. In school, she’d never given him the time of day. And not much had changed since then. Unfortunately, this was your typical twin mistaken identity situation Davis had grown used to.
He cleared his throat, and fidgeted with the sleeves of his sweater, yanking them over his knuckles further. “Sorry, but you got the wrong twin…again.”
Theagainpart was the kicker.
Ashley cupped a hand over her mouth and giggled into it before saying, “Oops, sorry.”
“Not a problem,” he replied.
She sauntered away, but not without giving him the once over first and grinning.
Hmm…that was new.
“Oof. How often does that happen?” Leo asked.
“More often than you might think.”
He supposed he should take it as a compliment. Lately, more and more, women especially, were mistaking him for his more attractive twin, Garrett. He hadn’t given Garrett that label, it had been attached to him at a young age while Davis was labeled studious. The brothers had the same six-foot, muscular frame, but Davis hid his beneath bulky flannels and sweaters while Garrett wore workout clothing and tailored suits. They styled their similar shade of dark brown hair differently as well. Davis preferred his hair longer and messy and a continual three-day-beard on his face. Garrett kept his hair short and his face clean-shaven.
Commotion sounded out from the rowdy table and Davis exhaled a deep sigh. “Any chance you wanna help me get that drunk tourist an Uber?”
Leo glanced over his shoulder. “Ha! Are you kidding? A chance to kick out a tourist—I’m your guy.”
Relief expanded in Davis’s chest. He had every intention of following Leo, ready to handle the situation like he’d told Kelsey he would, but the screams that sounded from behind theEmployees Onlyswinging door didn’t give him the opportunity. Instead, they prompted his feet to propel in that direction, a nod over his shoulder to Leo on his way.
Davis pushed through the swinging kitchen door, bold letters above statingEmployees Only. His eyes frantically searched the space.
“Kelsey? Where are you?” Davis hollered.
“I’m back here,” she called out.
Davis tore off toward the back, his eyes scanning the space to the left where the office was and then to the right where the sinks were. There, he finally spotted Kelsey kneeling on the floor near the sink. With her clothes soaking wet, and a wrench in her hand, water continued to spray at her.
For a fraction of a second, he was at a loss for words, his gaze fixated on—dare he say it—the sexy woman standing before him. He shook away the thought. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Just trying to fix the leaky shut-off.”
“Here, let me help you.” He reached for her, and she slipped her hand into his awaiting one. The water sprayed at his face and chest as he helped Kelsey off the floor where she was perched underneath the sink. As her feet slipped against the slick, wet floor, he gripped her hand tighter and yanked her up further, causing her chest to collide with his. Instinctively, his eyes swept over her, finding her soaked white t-shirt transparent and accentuating her breasts as she pressed against him.
Swallowing hard, he jerked his attention to her face. “Sorry…I…you okay?” he asked again.
What the hell was he doing?
This was Kelsey. His best friend. He didn’t check her out. Even if lately, there’d been this faint, sort of weird pinchy-achy-feeling in his chest each time she was in his presence.
Kelsey lifted her chin, her wet lashes sweeping up until her eyes stilled on his. Water droplets ran down the bridge of her nose and over her full lips. She drew her lower lip in between her teeth, and he unconsciously did the same, biting his firmly and holding his breath. The alluring way she looked in that moment, so fascinating and inviting tempted him, making him feel reckless. Like he might do something foolish. Like kiss her.
Which was incredibly idiotic.
“I’m fine. Just a little wet.” Kelsey snorted a laugh, breaking him from his animalistic trance when she took a small step backward.
Davis cleared his throat. The sensual moment they’d just shared could’ve derailed their friendship, damaging it beyond repair if he’d followed through with his unfamiliar urge. He was grateful and tried to get things back on track.
Fast.
