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“No,” Maddox assures me. “I’d fuck you if I didn’t consider you family now.”
“Not a visual I want, Maddox.” I giggle at him and start vigorously cleaning my teeth. “I’ll be out soon anyway, I need to look for a new job, or beg for my old one back.”
“I’ll have a word with my dad.”
“No!” I blurt, dribbling foamy toothpaste down my chin. “Please, don’t. It’ll make things awkward.”
“He needs to chillax.”
“I know, but he won’t if you start on at him.” I splash water on my face and turn to him. He hands me a towel, I thank him and dab my cheeks and nose gently. “Let me deal with this myself, okay?”
“Fine, but if he gets too much for you just tell me and I’ll sort him out.”
My arms wrap around his waist as I drop the towel onto the ground and we hug in the middle of the bathroom.
“What time is it?” I ask quietly, inhaling his scent. He’s showered already, I can smell his peppery shower gel and a spritz of aftershave.
“Noon.”
“Shit,” I murmur and release him. “And where’s your dad so I can avoid him?”
“In his office probably.”
He’s not in his office, I discover when I creep into the kitchen for food, wearing a white vest and the same shorts I wore last night. They’re clean enough and the rest of my clothes are in the dryer. I chucked them in last night before I went out.
I don’t greet him as he eats a slice of toast and reads a newspaper. I do however look at him and narrow my eyes when his come to mine.
“Morning,” he tries but I turn away from him and grab a yogurt from the fridge.
Just as I pull myself up onto the counter, mostly because I know he hates it, a man walks in from outside. I didn’t spot him before but I do now and my lips part.
He’s delicious, muscular, with dark skin and hazel eyes. He’s tall too, nearly as tall as Sargent and Maddox but not quite.
When he sees me, he crosses the distance, wearing a light gray vest that covers nothing and white board shorts that cover too much.
“You must be the girl, it’s a pleasure. I’m Devon but everybody calls me Dev.” His smile is as charming as his tone. “I don’t think I can recall your name though?”
I notice how he said, the girl. Likely because that’s what Sargent always calls me. God forbid he should actually be polite. It’s nice that he has polite friends at least.
“Tempest.” I place my hand into his and try not to blush. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Your name is Tempest?” Sargent asks, looking between me and his friend. Or I assume they’re friends, they look to be around the same age. I can see him trying to fight a smile.
“You have a problem with my name now too?” I snap, hating that he has the power to irritate me so easily.
“I think it’s a beautiful name.” Devon catches my eyes and his easy smile makes my frown melt away. “Are you named after the play or the storm?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, shrugging.
His smile remains in place. “Have you ever seen the play?”
“Unfortunately, no, but it’s on my bucket list.”
“Oh yeah? What else is on your bucket list?” he asks, sounding genuinely interested. Before I can reply though, he flips the conversation. “So, let me just get my ducks in a row here… You’re Maddox’s girlfriend, right?”
I laugh at that. “No. Definitely not.”
“So, you’re single?”
“Devon,” Sargent snarls and Devon raises his hands defensively.
“I’m just scooping the gossip.” He chuckles moving away and sitting on a stool a few down from Sargent who is glaring at me. “I must have misheard. This asshole told me you were his son’s girl?”
I shake my head. “No, Mad and I have never been like that. We were always just friends and hopefully always will be.”
His thick, black brows almost hit his hairline of tight, black curls. “Well isn’t that an interesting development?”
“What is?” Maddox finally joins me, getting his own yogurt from the fridge and spoon from the drawer by my thigh.
“He thinks we’re together,” I say, pointing at Devon with my thumb.
Maddox rolls his eyes. “Who doesn’t when they first meet us? Just ask Dad, we sleep in separate beds and everything.”
“In that case, are you free tonight?” Devon asks good-naturedly.
“Fuck off, Dev, you’re like twice her age,” Maddox laughs, pulling himself up onto the counter beside me.
“Behave yourself, Dev,” Sargent warns but Devon seems to think they’re both hilarious. “Are you joining us outside, Maddox?”
“No, I’ve got that fucking freight to oversee at the docks, remember?”
Sargent nods. “I’d almost forgotten. You sure you can handle it?”
“It’s just inventory before sailing.” Maddox hops down and tosses his empty yogurt pot into the recycling bin. “I’ll be fine. I’ll call you if I need anything.”
