Well, well. Wasn’t that interesting.
“Hi, Sarah!” Carrie gave a cute little finger-wiggle at Sarah who gave an even cuter finger-wiggle back, wearing a gruesomely overbright smile, which went right over Carrie’s head.
“And hel-lo, Derek.” She looked him up and down in a way that made him want to put his shirt back on. “You are lookin’ fine this morning.”
“Derek’s helping the Bossons out with their firewood supply,” Kevin said. “I was about to take over.”
Like hell.
“So, Kev-i-i-n.” Carrie sashayed over to him, and tiptoed her fingers up his arm, sticking her face up close to his. “How’s my wild man this morning? You tired from last night or ready for more?”
The last sentence came out in a stage whisper that everyone heard. Kevin’s face turned cranberry-red. He stuttered out a few syllables. Somehow Derek managed not to pump his fist and shout, yes!
Sarah froze and blinked at Carrie, then at Kevin. Then back. Her eyes narrowed into furious slits. “What the hell is going on here?”
“What?” Carrie gaped at her in wide-eyed surprise. “Oh, no. Y’all aren’t dating him are you?”
“No, I’m not dating him.”
“So what’s the problem?” She looked so bewildered Derek nearly felt sorry for her. But yesterday she’d been all over Joe, now Kevin, so he doubted she cared much for anyone but herself.
“Uh, so, Carrie.” Kevin pried her fingers off his biceps. “What are your plans this morning?”
Carrie beamed and tucked her arm all the way through his. “Whatever you’re doing.”
“You know, Kevin, in case you feel like a long walk...” Sarah smiled with dangerous sweetness. “There’s this short pier on the other side of the island.”
Kevin had the sense to look mortified.
“Ooh, maybe we’ll do that.” Carrie pulled him around, clearly missing the insult, which Derek remembered as one of Sarah’s father’s favorites. “Come on, Kev. See y’all later!”
The second the two of them disappeared between the trees, Sarah abandoned all pretense at civility. “What the hell was that?”
Derek did everything he could to look appalled and furious, but he was ready to sing hallelujah. Not only had Addie not been with Kevin last night, Kevin had shown his true colors to Sarah, who would waste no time passing the information along to her best friend. And that would very nicely take care of Kevin. “Looks like they’re an item.”
“He was supposed to be with Addie last night.”
“Addie was exactly where she was supposed to be.”
Sarah glared at him, then stalked over and poked him in the chest. “Listen to me.”
He caught her finger. “Hey. Hands off the merchandise.”
“You listening to me?”
He suppressed a smile. He liked Sarah. “I’m listening.”
“Why didn’t you sleep with me that night? No bullshit.”
“Because you were drunk, because you’re my best friend’s sister and because I had nothing to give you beyond that one night. No bullshit.”
She was quiet awhile, digesting that. Actually he’d never seen her hold so still. “So are you really not a player?”
“I’m not.” He held her gaze. “Never had the time or inclination.”
“Why did I overhear my brother talking as if you were?”
Derek kept himself from rolling his eyes. That again. “Because he likes the cliché of sailors. Woman in every port, ha-ha-ha. It’s our little joke. Not very funny, but we’re guys. We like that stuff.”
Sarah nodded, still frowning, but clearly calmer. Derek picked up his shirt and put it back on. He was done chopping wood.
“You like Addie don’t you?”
“I do.” He was surprised by the question, surprised by his immediate answer and by the emotion in his voice. Yes, he liked her. Against all logic, a woman he barely knew, he liked her a whole hell of a lot.
Sarah twisted her lip. Started to speak, changed her mind. Folded her arms across her chest and glared at him some more.
He gave her a brotherly punch on the shoulder. “Spit it out, Sarah.”