Page 46 of The Summer of Us

Being invisible had one advantage. They were so busy talking about hair, baking, and other subjects I had zero opinions on, the food was fair game. I wolfed down most of the tray while I returned emails and checked messages. When I became aware of silence at the table, I lifted my gaze from the phone to find Abby and Sunny staring at me.

“What?”

“Really, Linc, you have to be on your cell phone while having breakfast?” Sunny asked, sounding displeased.

“He’s attached to that thing. Every meal, no matter what.”

“Hey,” I objected. “You two were busy. I was giving you some time to get to know each other.”

“Uh-huh,” Sunny stated, crossing her arms. I tried not to notice how that pushed her breasts together. Then I tried not to think about how much I used to love to touch them. How soft and full they were in my hands. The way her nipple—

“Linc!”

I blinked. “Sorry?”

Abby chuckled and stood. “Could I put my bag upstairs? Then I think Mr. Hornball and I had best get to work.”

“Hey,” I protested again. They were ganging up on me already.

I loved it.

Sunny rose. “Of course.”

I grabbed the bags from the car and followed them upstairs. Abby looked around, taking the larger of the two bedrooms. When I glared at her, she rolled her eyes, hitting my shoulder as she went past me. “As if you’ll be sleeping in this apartment much,” she muttered. “We both know you’ll be next door.”

I had no objections to that idea, but I would let Sunny make that decision. Catching Sunny’s eye, I winked, loving how her cheeks flushed, as if she was having the same thoughts as Abby.

That made my day.

My phone rang and I answered, watching as Abby and Sunny walked around the apartment. “Ned. What’s up?”

“My blood pressure. I got news one of the permits was rejected.”

I frowned. “Which one?”

“The permit from the town to destroy the house.”

“What? Why the hell would they reject it? They still get their taxes, and something will replace the building. If I don’t tear it down, it will fall into disrepair, because I’m not maintaining that monstrosity. Did you tell them that?”

“I can’t get anyone on the phone. I’ll head down and deal with it.”

I scrubbed my eyes. “No, I’ll go to the town hall and talk to the mayor. I’m sure it’s simply an error.”

“All right. Get back to me.”

“I will.”

I hung up. “I have to go. Abby, stay here and settle in. There are some emails I need you to address, and once I get this sorted, I’ll come back. Maybe we’ll work from here today.”

She nodded. “On it.”

I walked down the steps with Sunny, stopping her before she entered the bakery. I laid my hand on her arm. “Thank you.”

“I like her. She keeps you in line.”

“You know what?”

She grinned, one side of her mouth higher than the other, giving her an impish look. “What, Linc?”