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“That sounds ridiculously unhealthy.”
“We probably burned a thousand calories apiece competing for orgasms on the beach last night. I’m pretty sure unhealthy is acceptable.”
“Cinnamon roll French toast it is, then.” Pierce has just started cracking eggs when the doorbell rings.
“Who stops by this early on a Sunday morning?” he grumbles.
“It’s already noon.” I point out.
“Oh. Still. This is our time, and someone is rudely interfering. I’ll go tell them to shove off, shall I?”
I can’t tell if he’s serious or not as he tosses a dishtowel on the island and heads for the door.
“Took you long enough!” The female voice makes me bristle, until I realize it’s familiar.
“Uh, not that it isn’t nice to see you guys, but what are you doing here?” Pierce runs a hand through his hair and gives me an I have no idea what’s going on look.
“Law invited us. He said you got the house you were after and that we should come by for lunch.” Amalie waltzes into the kitchen, looking fabulously flawless in contrast to my appearance. Her blond hair falls in perfect waves over her shoulders. She’s wearing a butter-yellow sundress and has a huge orange beach bag slung over her shoulder. Her nails boast a French manicure. She exudes polish and poise. And I exude last night’s sex on the beach.
I’m sure my expression is electroshock-like. I can feel exactly how wide my eyes are and I’m gripping the counter in order to keep me from doing something rash—like bolting.
I glance frantically over her shoulder at Pierce, giving him a what in the actual heck look. Because I’m covered in bug bites, wearing her borrowed clothes, after having been screwed six ways from Sunday by her brother.
A wide grin breaks across Amalie’s face and she does jazz hands. “Oh my God!” She turns to her brother. “I was so right!” Then she turns to another man. One I hadn’t noticed until now, although I’m not exactly sure how I missed him, considering he looks like a cross between a model, a mobster, and a superhero. “Remember how I told you about that woman who gave Pierce shit at the restaurant? This is her! This is Rian!”
The man in question has dark hair, almost black, and eyes so blue they look like they can’t possibly be that color naturally. What is it with these guys and their eyes?
He’s as tall as Pierce, and just as broad. Maybe even a little broader. Built like a linebacker. He’s wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a T-shirt that shows off a very intricate, colorful full-sleeve tattoo.
His eerily perfect blue eyes dart questioningly to Pierce and settle on me as his eyebrow quirks up. A small smirk pops a dimple in his left cheek, and he lifts a hand in greeting. “Hi, Rian.”
“This is my fiancé, Lex.” Amalie rests her cheek on his bicep and pats his chest then flits around the island and pulls me into a hug. “I had no idea you were going to be here today! I’m so excited to see you! I told Pierce he should ask you out and here you are.” She cocks her head to the side as she takes in my outfit, her teeth catching her bottom lip. “I think I have a shirt exactly like this.”
I close my eyes and will myself to sink into the floor, but when I open them, I’m still sitting on the stool and she’s put two and two together. “Oh my God!” She claps her hands. “Oh my God! Did you two”—she looks back and forth between us—“Oh! Look at how red your face is! You so did! Are you two dating now? Can we do double dates?” She’s back to clapping. “This means you might actually have a plus-one by the time we set a date for the wedding!”
“Amie, baby, you’re scaring her,” Lex says, but he looks highly entertained. He turns that panty-incinerating smile on me. “You probably shouldn’t give my fiancée your phone number. She’s a little obsessed with you, if you couldn’t already tell.”
“She’s not alone,” Pierce says from the other side of the kitchen, a warm smile locked firmly in place.
I’m not sure what exactly I’ve gotten myself into, but I think I might like it.
CHAPTER 17
WHEELING AND DEALING
RIAN
Brunch with Pierce’s sister and her ridiculously hot fiancé is an entertaining experience. Amalie is a talker, and I learn about their very interesting beginnings. It’s kind of like a soap opera. She was married to Lex’s cousin for less than twelve hours before he cheated on her—which is insane, because she’s not only gorgeous, but funny and sweet and generally awesome.
I also learn that Pierce can make a mean cinnamon roll French toast. He seems more than happy to have me in his kitchen, wearing his sister’s clothes while she regales me with her relationship history.
Eventually my sister calls, giving me the out I don’t necessarily need, but want. I excuse myself to the deck to take the call.
“Oh good, you’re alive.” Her voice full of sarcasm.
“You sound so genuine in your concern,” I reply.
Amalie sticks her head out the door. “Would you like another coffee, Rian?”
“I’m good, thanks,” I reply.
“Who was that?”
“Pierce’s sister.”
“Say what now? You’re hanging with the family? What’s next, are the two of you moving in together?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, we’re just dating,” I mutter, surprised how easy that was to say aloud.
“Dating, huh? What happened to your ‘I won’t ever date a hot guy again’ insanity?”
“He’s only here for the summer, so we’re having some fun together.”
“Uh-huh. You coming back sometime today or should I meet you at home?”
“I’m coming back. Don’t leave without me.” I don’t want Pierce to offer to drive me home. I’m not ready for him to see where I live. Besides, I like his sister, but this is a lot, very, very fast. I mean, brunch with family members is more than I’ve done in years.
Pierce walks me down to the beach. My dress, shoes, and purse are tucked into a bag that says sweet in bold letters on the front. I adjust the strap on my shoulder and face him.
“I’ll drop your sister’s clothes off before Marley and I go home this afternoon.”
“If that works for you, sure.” He’s still wearing that ridiculous half smirk, as if he can tell I’m suddenly uncomfortable. We have the whole house-financing situation left to deal with and now that I’m dating him, separating business from pleasure seems a bit more challenging.
“I should have all the necessary paperwork for you and Lawson tomorrow.”
“Should we schedule a meeting to go over it?”
“Well, Marley typically takes care of that.”
His smile grows wider. “You can’t avoid me, now that we’re dating. You know that, right?”
“I’m not trying to avoid you. I’m just telling you how it usually works. The house deal has nothing to do with us dating.” I’m not used to liking someone this much this quickly. I keep reminding myself that Pierce is only here temporarily, and he seems pretty tied to his job in New York even if he’d rather not be, so what we’re doing right now is as serious as it’s going to get.
“Okay, well, house deal aside, I’m taking you out for dinner this week, so make sure you have some free time.” He cups the back of my neck and bends to kiss me. And not chastely. His tongue is in my mouth and our chests meet, his other arm snakes around my waist, keeping me locked against him. He comes back to nip at my bottom lip a couple more times before he finally releases me. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
