“Who gave you that shitty haircut?”Kyle asked.
“Some asshole,” Paul replied with a grin.“Maybe I should return the favor.”
Kyle ran a hand over his own dark head.“No thanks.I’m losing enough off the top without your help.”
Paul didn’t see any evidence of thinning in his brother’s wavy brown hair.Kyle had blue eyes, like Paul, and a tall, athletic build.Unlike Paul, Kyle accentuated his physique with gym visits and designer clothes.
“Come in and see what I’ve done with the place,” Paul said.
Kyle followed him inside to inspect the interior.He’d already told his brother about switching cabins with Vanessa.At least the unit had A/C, and a working bathroom.There wasn’t much to look at, other than the two sleeping mats on the living room floor.They talked about the remodel for a few minutes.They’d both worked for a construction company in college, so Kyle knew the basics, but he had no nostalgic feelings about it.He’d also distanced himself from their cattle ranch upbringing.Paul, on the other hand, was proud of his cowboy roots and still enjoyed manual labor.
“As soon as I resurface the floors, they’re going to deliver kitchen cabinets,” Paul said.“Then I’ll start on the bedrooms.”
“You’re pacing yourself, right?”
“Of course,” Paul said, as if he’d never pushed his body too hard.
Kyle made a snorting sound.“Where’s your hot neighbor?”
Paul hesitated, weighing his response.He hadn’t mentioned his affair with Vanessa.It wasn’t a secret so much as a new development, and he wasn’t comfortable sharing the details.He didn’t want Kyle interrogating her.Paul didn’t want his smooth-talking, good-looking brother anywhere near her.But if he acted weird about Vanessa or tried to prevent them from meeting, Kyle would get suspicious.
“She’s selling lemonade down the street,” Paul said.
“Let’s go,” Kyle said immediately.“I’m parched.”
As they walked the short distance, Paul considered the changes to his cover story.Vanessa knew Kyle was a cop, and she thought they had different fathers.He doubted either of these topics would come up over lemonade, so he stayed quiet.It was better to throw the dice than rouse Kyle’s curiosity about how much time he’d spent with Vanessa.
The lemonade stand had two customers—a father and son.Someone had added a smiling face to Emily’s carefully painted lemon, and the lettering was adorable.Paul spotted Jackson in the background, sitting in the shade at a picnic table and staring at his phone.Vanessa had set up a green umbrella to protect herself and Emily from the blazing sun.A pitcher of icy lemonade was visible on the table Paul had built, which he had to admit, appeared sturdy.They had beach chairs, but they weren’t sitting.
The real draw at the lemonade stand was Vanessa herself.She was wearing her denim shorts with a basic white T-shirt and her hair pulled into a high ponytail.She looked fresh-faced and honey-sweet.Every straight man in a twenty-mile radius was going to buy a lemonade just to get a closer look at her.
She spoke Spanish to the current customers with a sunny smile.Emily handed the little boy a cup of lemonade.Then it was Paul’s turn.
“Mr.Paul, we’re selling lots!”
“I can see that,” Paul said, glancing at Vanessa.“This is my brother, Kyle.”
Kyle shook her hand with an appreciative gleam in his eyes.Then he launched into a conversation in Spanish, showing off his language skills.Vanessa laughed at something he said as she poured lemonade into two cups.
Paul removed two dollars from his pocket to pay Emily.“Are you watching out for the lemon pirates?”
“Uncle Jack is,” Emily said.
Paul noted that Jackson had pocketed his phone.He gave Paul a slight nod of acknowledgment.
“What’s this about lemon pirates?”Kyle asked Emily.
“They steal lemons,” Emily said.“They took Penelope yesterday.”
The doll was sitting in the lawn chair, holding an empty cup.
Kyle crouched down to Emily’s level.“The lemon pirates are amateurs,” he declared.“There’s a far more dangerous crew in this area.”
“Who?”
“The pickle pirates.”
Emily giggled with glee.“Pickle pirates?”
