As the two talk, I glance at Cole, note the way he’s looking at me, like I’m going to cut and bail anytime now. I resist the urge to give him the middle finger and tell him to fuck off because my nephews are here so I take a different approach.
“How’s my Hemi?” I ask, my voice low. “Keeping her nice and clean for me?”
“Yours? It’s not yours,” Brandon says. Jesus, that kid doesn’t miss a thing.
I nudge him. “I know buddy, just playing with your Dad.”
“You’re going to come then?” Nina asks Kinsley, and I turn my focus to them.
“If my assistant is back, yeah, I’d love to. I think it would be fun.”
“You talking about the cottage?” I ask.
Nina nods. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.” She wipes her mouth with a napkin. “So tell me what’s going on with you two?”
“You know what’s going on with us,” I say, even though I’m not exactly sure what’s going on with me, because I’m beginning to really like my time with Kins. Beginning to wonder if we could have more after our month together. We’re having fun, I know, and I’m not supposed to be having deeper feelings, but dammit if I can help that. Maybe I’m saying the right things, because we were friends first—and a part of me knows she could be the right girl for me. Maybe I won’t fuck this up, like I fuck everything else up. Then again, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. She’s anti-marriage, right? But could there be a chance she might want to try for more?
“I want the details. I might be able to use it in a book,” she says.
Kinsley laughs. Hard. “No, Nina, your books end with a happily ever after. That’s not what’s going on here. Cason is just helping me out, then we’re done.”
At least that answers my question.
12
Kinsley
“You sure you got this?” I ask, holding my phone to my ear as I pace inside Cason’s big mansion. It was just a few days ago Kat called in sick, and here I am asking if she can take over the running of the truck—again. I haven’t had a break in a year, working seven days a week, and now here I am taking my second vacation this month, and heading to Cason’s cottage—with a handful of wedding receptions for his friends.
“Yes” I got this,” Kat says. “I’m feeling perfectly fine now, and Jason is up for giving me a hand. He might only be seventeen, but he’s an aspiring chef and this will do him good.”
I met her brother Jason. He’s a good kid, and I really shouldn’t worry so much. My truck will be in good hands, but maybe that’s not what I’m worried about though. Maybe I’m worried about going to the lake with Cason, and falling just a little more in love with him. I sigh, and Kat must have misread it.
“Don’t you trust me?”
“For sure I do, Kat.”
“What’s wrong then?”
I lift my gaze when Cason comes into the living room, and my heart beats just a little faster in my chest. He raises his brow, and I nod to let him know the weekend is a go, and Kat is feeling better. He gives me two thumbs up and I chuckle.
“Nothing wrong,” I fib. “I really appreciate this, Kat.”
“You just remember that when you open your new restaurant, and need an assistant.”
I chuckle. “I’m pretty sure there’s a promotion for you and a position for Jason.”
She lets loose a loud whoop, and I hold the phone away from my ear. “Okay, go. Have fun. We got this.”
We end the call, and Cason wraps his arms around me. “Everything in order?”
“All set to go,” I say and he angles his head.
“You sure you’re okay?”
I plaster on my best smile, and put a rope around my emotions, to rein them bad boys in. Cason puts his big hand on my cheek, the sweeping of his thumb stirring those barely leashed feelings growing inside me.
“Just worried about my truck,” I say.