“You bet.” I smile as he leaves.
I look over at my sister, and she pours the rest of the bottle of red into her glass. “He’s such a great kid, Kat. You did good. A living, breathing reminder that ya did damn good.”
She smiles at me, a little sadness still filling her eyes. “I know. He’s the best parts of me and his father.”
I look around the apartment. “I think we made some headway. This looks lived in now. I really can’t believe everything is unpacked out here. That pile of boxes was pretty intimidating when I came in.”
She looks at me. “Tell me about this job you’re in town for. I didn’t think you’d take a job in a place like this. Most of your clients are in big cities.”
“True, but it’s for the Riggs family. Ever hear of them?”
“Oh, yeah. Everyone knows the Riggs family here, and it doesn't take much time to run into one of them. I’ve been here for a few weeks now, and I’ve heard all the gossip about those boys and their bossy sister. Benny said he met her when he was working in the shop the other day too.” She looks at me, waiting. I know what she’s waiting for.
Kathryn shifts in her chair, staring at me, smiling in her red wine haze. “Benny said she’s smokin’ hot.”
I take a sip of my wine and look at my sister, hoping she can’t read all over my face that I’m in complete agreement with my nephew's assessment. I can’t help thinking about the last time I saw her, flushed after just coming. The way she moaned my name. The way her body moved when she was touching herself. The way I promised her I’d see her do that again. “Oh, yeah? Well, they’re an interesting bunch. I’m staying in their pool house, so I’ve gotten to know the youngest brother pretty well. Law. He’s a good guy.”
“And?”
“And what?” I laugh and shrug my shoulders. “Okay, yes, she’s probably the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, but I’m not about to be stupid and pursue something with her.”I’m a fucking liar.
“Why not?” She laughs.
“What do you mean, why not? She’s the boss on this project, for one. And she’s not the kind of woman you go after unless you plan on sticking around for a while. And I’m not. Plus, Luce would kill me if I fuck up this connection with the Riggs family. Too many casualties and other ventures that it could affect.”
“Okay, well, all I heard there was, ‘She’s beautiful, blah blah blah. I’m scared of catching feelings, blah blah blah.’ Hey!” Picking up the napkin I just launched at her head, she says something I didn’t know I needed to hear. “And since when are you not interested in finding a woman to stick around for? Maybe you stop being this big shot person you’ve created and just be the guy you want to be for a change? You’re not so damaged that you can’t have something great with someone, big brother.”
Leave it to my sister to throw a cold bucket of wisdom on me.
I have nothing more to say, so I kiss her on the forehead, and then head out to pick up a few things to bring to dinner tonight.