Page 37 of Chasing the Sun

If Bryce was hot, his brother was sizzling in a different way. He ran a hand through his hair, which was messy from the helmet, though she suspected he regularly wore it that way. He had a close-trimmed beard that was currently all the rage, and his face was bronzed from the Florida sun. He was wearing a tight black T-shirt, faded jeans with rips in the knees, and a rugged pair of riding boots.

Molly had wrapped her arms around his legs, and he bent over to give her a squeeze.

“How’s the most beautiful girl in the world?” he asked.

“You always say that!” Molly replied with a giggle.

Chloe guessed that Seb made all the girls giggle. Then he looked up and noticed her, his mouth breaking into a wide smile. Naturally, his teeth were just as perfect as Bryce’s, and she wondered if Seb got the family discount.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Seb said, ruffling Molly’s hair.

Chloe walked toward them, suppressing the urge to smooth a hand over her own hair. She and Molly had gone for a swim earlier, and she’d let it dry naturally. Had she known they’d be having company, she might have at least combed it.

“You must be Chloe,” he said, extending his hand.

“And you’re obviously Bryce’s brother.”

“Sebastian. The better-looking one,” he said as he shook her hand.

Chloe smiled. He was charming and much more relaxed than his older brother. She was pretty sure he was single too…

“So, how do you like Naples?” he asked.

“What’s not to like?”

“My brother?”

Molly had wandered off and was sniffing some flowers that grew next to the driveway.

“I wouldn’t dare say anything bad about my employer,” Chloe responded.

“Smart girl.”

“Speaking of my employer, he isn’t home yet.”

“I didn’t expect him to be. I just stopped by to see my niece and meet you.”

He was a smooth one, this guy, but she liked him already. Just then, Victoria pulled up behind his motorcycle. Molly stopped what she was doing and ran over to greet her.

Chloe stood back and waited to see what Seb would do. When Victoria stepped out of the car, he immediately went over and gave her a hug. So, Bryce wasn’t the only one who maintained a cordial relationship with her. Chloe was still finding it hard to grasp the concept of friendly exes.

They all chatted for a few minutes, and then Seb and Chloe hugged Molly goodbye. After Victoria pulled away, he turned to Chloe and said, “I never really liked her.”

Her eyes went wide. “Really?”

“Don’t get me wrong, she’s a nice person. I just never thought she was right for Bryce.”

“Oh.” She was dying to ask why, but she didn’t want to appear overly interested in her boss’s personal life. After their last semi-intimate conversation about chemistry, she’d been trying to keep her distance. So far, she’d been doing a decent job of it. She’d stopped swimming near the time he might come home, and she hadn’t snuck downstairs to use the hot tub late at night. The weekend after he’d stayed over at his friend’s house, she’d spent the two days at Elle’s just to give him some time alone with Molly. This weekend posed a problem, though, because Elle and Jamie were booked and she’d be alone with Bryce unless she came up with an alternative.

“Would you like to come in for a few minutes? Bryce should be home soon.”

“Sure. Then we can get to know each other a little better.”

Uh-oh.

“Something to drink?” she asked as he followed her into the kitchen.

“I don’t suppose my brother stocks any beer?”