Page 79 of Blue Jean Summer

“It’s not nearly enough,” I whispered against her lips.

Catherine’s eyes were heavy and dazed. She nodded with distance in those baby blues. “Okay.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? You’ll accept it?”

Her smile went from demure to mischievous. “I mean, it is my dream car.”

I chuckled and got out, circling the hood to open her door. “Come on, Mrs. Wilder. I think we’ve earned some sleep and a lazy day tomorrow.”

We crept through the darkened house and up the stairs, rounded the corner, and came to an abrupt halt.

Lewis was waiting between his and Catherine’s bedroom doors, arms crossed. “Well, well, well.” He pushed off the wall and slowly clapped. “That was some show.”

“It was a nice wedding, wasn’t it?” Catherine said sweetly, putting on the facade of the bubbly bride. “We’re so glad you and your wife could join us to celebrate.”

Lewis harrumphed. “Cut the crap, blondie. You’re just mad I stuck your grant request in the shredder.”

“You better watch the way you speak to my wife,” I barked.

Catherine didn’t look fazed, but the way she slid her hand into mine wasn’t lost on me. “Are you heading out?”

“Heading out?” Lewis cackled. “Why would I head out? I’m going to hang around the estate for a while. After all, my grandfather always made sure I was welcome here.”

“You are welcome here,” I said sincerely. “We’re still brothers.”

“Half brothers,” Lewis corrected with a sneer of haughty derision.

“I think Hallie’s planning a big brunch tomorrow. You’re welcome to join us,” Catherine offered.

“Excellent.” Lewis clapped his hands together. “Then I hope it doesn’t bother you that I’ll be right on the other side of the wall.” He tapped the space between Catherine’s and his bedrooms. “All night long.”

Catherine’s grip on my hand tightened.

“You see, I expected you two to be off on your honeymoon, defiling some tacky hotel suite outside of the Dulles airport before you jet off to a cliché beach resort in the Caribbean.” He scoffed. “At least, that’s what real newlyweds would do.”

“Is that what you and your wife did?” I countered with a bit of snark in my voice.

Lewis cackled. “Her? That’s just some woman I paid to marry me in Vegas. I don’t need a big ceremony to convince people I’m married. The paper is all that matters, and now I have one too.” He jabbed a finger in my direction. “So you better watch your back. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Catherine said. “But congratulations to you both. I can’t wait to meet my new sister-in-law.”

I was supposed to walk into my bedroom. Catherine was supposed to walk into hers. Boundaries. Rules. That’s what we had planned on. This was the point where we were supposed to get off scot-free.

But from the way Lewis was staring us down, I knew he would use every minuscule reason he could find to call our bluff.

And I couldn’t risk that.

I kissed Catherine’s temple. “Ready for bed, sweetheart?”

Her eyes met mine. Silent questions danced between us both.

What the fuck do we do now?

Your room or mine?

Does one of us sleep on the balcony?

Is he going to be listening? Gross.