Page 6 of Princess and Country

Six months later

Tonight, I was having dinner at the Hills’. Like most Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I was sitting alone at the kitchen counter working on a project, Carter busy helping his daddy in the garage and his mama on the phone in her home office. Jeff came home fifteen minutes ago and went straight upstairs. He didn’t even say hi as he walked past me. I watched his back as he padded away and furrowed my eyebrows. This was rude. We weren’t friends like Carter and me, but I still considered him family.

Kind of.

With glue, Styrofoam balls, paint, and wooden sticks, I was putting the last few touches on Carter and my science project, a three-dimensional DNA model. Carter assembled the entire thing last night to surprise me. And it looked better than I ever thought it would.

He must have worked on this for hours. Did he even sleep?

Jeff came downstairs in a white towel hanging low around his hips, and his dark hair—the same shade as Carter’s but shorter—wet, pearls of water dripping over his bare chest. The moment he appeared, my eyes bulged, and I almost fell off my stool. I did my best not to ogle at him and sipped my water to hide what I was sure were bright-red, flaming cheeks. But how could I keep my gaze from traveling to his muscled chest? I noticed the small tattoo over his left pec—some sort of symbol—and wondered what it meant. When did he get inked? I knew nothing about this grown-up version of Jeff Hills. Was the tattoo there last summer when we all spent a weekend at the beach? No. I would have noticed it. Wouldn’t I? Even if I hated tattoos, on Jeff, the inking looked fierce. And hot.

Forbidden.

And badass.

Jeff sauntered across the kitchen, and I admired every inch of him. Not as tall as Carter, but close enough, he had broader shoulders, and his skin was golden, like he’d spent the day under the sun. He worked out a lot, and it showed. He grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and my eyes drifted to the damp footprints he left in his wake. Jeff pivoted on his heels, and I held my breath when he looked my way. His gaze burned my skin. I failed at reading his expression. His eyes, darker than usual, turned almost black. For a long second, he scanned the length of me, chugging the entire bottle in one gulp. I swallowed hard, staring at the working column of his throat, my eyes following a drop of water as it made its way down his neck.

As he padded out of the kitchen, Jeff winked my way, his face still unreadable, and I thought I’d melt on the tiled white floor. I fanned myself with my hand, trying to find my composure. My insides turned into a scorching puddle of molten wax.

What just happened?

I dragged a shaky hand over my face, unsure of what I’d just witnessed.

Carter joined me as his brother disappeared upstairs, brushing my upper arm with his long fingers. “You okay? You’re flushed. Are you having a fever?” His hand found my forehead. “No. You’re fine. What’s wrong?”

My pulse picked up. I hated lying to him. We were always honest with each other. Carter told me all about that time Addison cornered him in the locker room after gym class and kissed him. I confided in him when I got my period and when I needed to buy a bra for the first time. But this? I couldn’t find it in me to tell him about my heated encounter with Jeff. Never would I allow myself to go crazy over my best friend’s older brother. This was just wrong. And it would crush Carter’s heart. And his heart was precious and rare. Like a priceless diamond.

At fifteen, I now knew what Mama meant this entire time when she said Carter’s heart was in the right place.

“It’s hot in here,” I said. Lame. Pathetic. In my head, I slapped myself as the words came out.

Carter shrugged. “I’ll adjust the air-conditioning. Next time, don’t be silly, ask Mama or Jeff if I’m not around. Or do it yourself. It’s super easy.” Carter rose to his feet and toyed with the temperature control. “There. All set.” He took his place at the kitchen counter beside me. “Sorry, I’m late. Let’s finish this project before dinner.” I nodded, agreeing with the more-than-welcome change of subject.

During dinner, I deliberately sat beside Jeff, at the table, opposite Carter. I wouldn’t be distracted or get caught staring at his brother if we sat on the same side of the table.

“Can you pass me the salt?” Jeff asked me once we all dug into our food.

Our fingers brushed, and some electric current traveled through me. I sucked in a breath and heard Jeff do the same. The saltshaker fell from my grip, and in a quick movement, I dropped my hand in my lap, hoping to hide my trembling fingers.

What’s happening to me?

My heart banged in my chest, and I feared it would land on the table for everyone to see.

Carter kicked my shin from under the table.

“Are you okay?” he mouthed.

I mouthed a “yes,” keeping my gaze low. Why was Carter always so perceptive to everything concerning me? He knew me like nobody else did. He could read me even when I was struggling to come to terms with my own emotions.

I forced a small smile his way, and he returned it.

My eyes said, I’m okay,and I crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping he couldn’t figure it out.

His said, You can tell me if something’s bothering you, along with a fleeting expression I had a hard time figuring out. Could he tell I was smitten with his brother? I had no idea.

Jeff pressed his thigh against mine under the table, and I was pretty sure my heart stopped. I died right there. Was he messing with me on purpose? Did he feel the electricity between us when we touched?

“Hey, Mama, dinner is amazing tonight,” Jeff said. “I’m glad I didn’t skip it like I was supposed to. I think I should eat here, with all of you, more often.” His thigh pressed harder against mine. Was that a cocky grin on his lips? I drowned my uneasiness with a sip of water but ended up choking. Tears welled in my eyes as I coughed, my lungs burning. Jeff turned his upper body toward me and rubbed my back. With gentleness. His warmth shot through me. When my cough subsided, I cocked my head his way.