Baby for my Dad's Best Friend (Seaport Billionaires #2)

13. Kaylee

13

KAYLEE

I want to laugh at how pissed he is, but I’m also in shock.

What crawled up his ass?

Did he forget that this is my house?

I can walk around it naked if I want to.

I can’t decide if he’s mad about the guys not working or because they’re watching me.

Is he jealous?

He marches back inside and instead of pulling my shirt on, I toss it back toward the steps. I put my headphones back in place and return to work.

I work for a couple of hours before calling it a day.

I clean up with the hose, and just as I’m about to bring the cabinet doors inside, the guys come out and carry them inside for me.

I laugh and shake my head as I thank them, knowing good and well that they’ve continued to watch me out here rather than focusing on their work like they should’ve been doing.

I grab my shirt and pull it over my head as I make my way inside.

I lock the back door behind me and stand around chatting with the crew until everyone is ready to take off for the weekend.

I lock up the rest of the house and everyone climbs into their vehicles and drives away.

It’s been hot as hell today.

I’m covered in sweat and sawdust, so the first thing I do when I get home is take a long, cool shower.

I’m just stepping out of the bathroom when Kinsley walks up the stairs. When she sees me, her brows lift, and her smile grows.

“Just the big sister I was looking for.”

I open my bedroom door and step in with her following along behind me.

“What do you want now?” I ask, pulling open my dresser drawer and taking out some panties and a bra as I tighten my hold on the towel wrapped around me.

She shuts my bedroom door and takes a seat on my bed while I continue to dig for comfortable clothes to change into.

“I have a date tonight, but his brother came to town, so will you go out with us and keep his older brother company so I can still have my date?”

I snort. “What?”

She shrugs. “I’m excited about this guy and don’t want to reschedule.”

“What happened to the guys you met the last time I went out with you?”

Her face wrinkles. “I was only interested in one of them.”

“And?”

She rolls her eyes. “Old news. I’ve moved on. Come on; what do you say?” She grabs a pillow and hugs it to her chest while bouncing on my bed.

I shake my head. “Who are these guys?”

“My date’s name is Jeremy and his older brother’s name is Preston.”

“And how old is Preston?”

“Twenty-six. He lives in the city, works in finance or something.” She shrugs.

“Is he cute?”

She grins and pulls her phone out of her back pocket. “I knew you’d ask that, so I had Jeremy send me a picture,” she says, turning around her phone.

I move it closer to my face and stare at his picture, biting my lower lip as I think it over.

He’s pretty cute.

He has dark hair, dark eyes, and a sharp jaw.

He looks tall, tan, and athletic.

His body doesn’t look as toned as, say… Austin’s, but it’s easy to see he takes care of himself.

I shrug and hand the phone back. “Fine. I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

“Yes!” she squeals, hopping up and tossing the pillow back to my bed. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

She hugs me and then pushes me away. “I have to go get ready.” She pulls open the door and steps through before looking back at me. “Look hot, Kaylee. I mean it.”

When she closes the door, I drop my towel and pull on a pair of shorts and a tank top to wear while I do my hair and makeup.

An hour later, my hair is curled, and my makeup is done perfectly.

Of course, Kinsley didn’t approve of my outfit, so she dressed me in her clothes like I’m her doll.

Now, I’m wearing a tiny little cotton dress that hugs every curve on my body.

We hop into her car and drive to the restaurant where we’re supposed to meet up with the guys.

When we arrive, they’re already sitting at the table.

They stand when they notice us walking over, and my date takes my hand in his to shake.

He offers up a flirty smile. “Wow, I thought your sister was lying about how gorgeous you are.”

My face heats with his compliment. “Oh, thank you, but she usually does,” I tease as he moves to pull out my chair for me.

I sit, and he helps to push me up to the table. He takes the seat next to me before leaning in. “So, you’re a teacher?”

I pick up the glass of wine that the waiter just poured. “I am. Second grade. What do you do? Kin said you were in finance?”

He chuckles. “Investment banking.”

“Oh, wow. That’s impressive.” I’m lying. I have no idea what an investment banker is or what they do.

He grins and holds his head a little higher. “Thanks, it’s challenging but also very rewarding.”

“You live in the city?”

He nods. “Jeremy and I were raised there, but our parents moved here when I started college. Jer moved with them, but I stayed to finish college. It’s nice to visit, but I don’t know that I could live here full-time. It’s a little too slow for me.”

I nod. “I’m sure it’s a big change after spending your life in the city. I was born and raised here, so even though I’ve taken trips to the city and spent a weekend here or there, there’s no way I could live there. Too noisy. I can’t hear myself think.”

He chuckles. “And see, it’s too quiet here for me. I won’t be able to sleep until I get back home where I can hear horns honking and sirens blaring past my apartment.”

Kinsley and Jeremy are locked in conversation across from us.

This is a double date, but I’m doing my job by keeping Preston entertained so she can enjoy her time with his brother.

Dinner is great, and our conversation never lags.

We talk about college, movies, books, and the things we like and dislike about country and city living.

We laugh a lot, and by the time dinner is done, I’m surprised by how much fun I’ve had.

When nobody is ready to call it a night, we head to the bar and grill for a round of drinks.

Instead of getting into Kinsley’s car, I climb in with Preston and Jeremy takes my seat with Kin.

I’m surprised by how busy the bar is.

It’s a Friday night and while the place is usually crowded, it’s nowhere near like this.

We get lucky and grab a table just as another small group leaves.

The guys go to the bar to grab drinks while Kin and I save the table.

There’s a band on stage, singing loud country music, and every seat in the place is taken.

There are people on the dance floor, a group of guys around the pool table and dartboard, and all the older usuals are lined up around the bar.

My eyes sweep over the place until they land on the back of Austin’s head.

He’s sitting at the back with his back to me, but I’ve spent the week staring at the back of that head; I know it’s him.

How is it possible that even the back of his head looks sexy?

His shoulders are broad, and his biceps are hard and tan.

His dirty blond hair is shaved short on the sides and longer up top. It’s styled tonight, not as messy as it usually is while he’s at work.

A man sits on one side of him and a woman on the other, but she’s facing away from him, talking to her girlfriend.

Is he alone?

He must feel me staring at him because he starts to turn around, but I quickly return my eyes to Preston, who is closing the distance between us.

I smile as he hands me the drink he ordered. “Thank you,” I say as he sits beside me. I take a sip and lean in a little.

My skin is burning, and my body is overtaken with a round of tingles.

I know he’s watching me.

“Do you want to dance?” Preston asks.

“Sure,” I agree, and we both stand. He reaches out and takes my hand in his, pulling me to the crowded dance floor.

He doesn’t try squeezing between the couples. Instead, he stops on the edge where we can easily be seen.

I want Austin to watch me as I wrap my arms around Preston’s neck.

My hips start to move to the beat, and Preston places his hand on the small of my back, pulling me closer.

“That’s better,” he whispers in my ear. “It’s too bad you hate the city so much. I’ve had a lot of fun with you tonight.”

I look up and meet his eyes. “I’ve had fun with you, too.”

“Maybe I’ll look you up the next time I come to town.” He wets his lips.

I nod and spin around so that my back is against his chest.

I look over my shoulder at him. “I think you should,” I say, wiggling against him. His hands move to my hips, tightening and squeezing.

The butterflies that live in my stomach awaken.

They start to flutter their wings, tickling me from the inside out, but I know it’s not the bulge in his pants that’s causing parts of me to stir.

It’s the way Austin is looking at me.

He’s watching every move.

His sharp jaw is flexed, and his eyes are narrowed. His lips are pressed into a tight line, and the arm that’s dangling over the back of his barstool is tightened into a fist.

Jealousy is all over his face, and I expect him to get up and leave any minute.

One song ends and another starts, and then another, but he doesn’t move.

After a few songs, Preston and I move back to our table and finish our drinks.

I don’t know what to do or if I should say something.

Austin made it clear that he won’t allow anything to happen between us, and I’m making it a point to show him that I’m moving on.

Yet, he still watches me heatedly.

Doesn’t he understand that when he looks at me like that, it keeps me from moving on?

This constant back and forth is exhausting, and I refuse to do it any longer.

He’s either going to give in and allow himself to have something we both want, or he’s going to be really pissed because I won’t wait around forever.