Chapter 9 #2
“She’s lovely,” Autumn agrees. “I keep trying to set her up on dates but she says she’s sworn off men.”
“I don’t blame her,” I say, thinking about West and my annoyance with him.
We head down the hill and follow the little path to Liberty’s one and only beach bar.
The Salty Dog sits at the edge of the sand, its sign swinging in the breeze. The scent of coffee and sea air wafts from the open doors.
Inside, Skyler – our sister-in-law and the only woman I know who can control Hudson – is behind the bar, baby Milo on one hip an espresso shot in the other.
She inherited the place from her dad, and somewhere along the way discovered Jesse, ferryman by day, bartender by night, is actually her half-brother. And now they run the place together.
She gives me a huge grin when she sees me.
“The prodigal sister is back! Come here.” She rushes toward me, managing to give me a big hug without squashing the baby. I lean down to tickle Milo’s cheeks. God, he’s an adorable baby.
“He looks like you,” I tell her as Milo gurgles happily at me.
“Don’t tell Hudson that. He swears he’s his doppelg?nger.”
I lean closer to my nephew. “Ignore your daddy,” I tell him. “You don’t look like an ogre at all.”
Skyler coughs out a laugh. “I hear you’re staying for a while.”
“She’s going to be here for the birth,” Autumn tells her, touching her own stomach. And I realize I’m pretty much surrounded by babies.
Which is why I nearly jump for joy when I spot my other sister-in-law, Francie in the corner. Headphones on, hair in a messy knot, fingers flying across her keyboard like she’s possessed by a horny literary demon.
Francie is married to Asher. And she’s a kick ass writer. Which is what she’s doing right now, sitting at an isolated table, headphones on, her eyes trained on the screen of her laptop.
“Asher’s decided to upgrade the security system at their place,” Skyler says, nodding over at her. “And she’s at a very important place in her manuscript.”
“Does it involve a sex scene?” Autumn asks, running over to where her best friend is typing like a maniac.
Francie glances up as we approach, tugging her headphones down to rest around her neck.
“Hey,” she says, giving us a grin. “Your brother is driving me crazy. He’s recalibrating motion sensors and muttering about server ping rates. I swear, if I hear the word firewall one more time I might set one.” She has a half-eaten cookie on a plate next to her.
Autumn slides into the chair opposite her. “Please tell me that has chocolate in it,” she says, sounding like a woman on the edge.
“It’s yours,” Francie says, pushing it toward her. Autumn takes a huge bite.
I settle in beside them with a sigh of relief. “She’s suffering from muffin deficit. Mylene’s was closed due to sabotage.”
Francie doesn’t even blink. “Eileen again?”
“Unconfirmed. But Sadie’s betting on it.” Autumn steals another piece of cookie. “So, who’s having sex on the page right now?”
Skyler walks over, Milo in one hand, resting on her hip and two mismatched mugs in the other.
“I heard gossip. That’s my cue.” She slides the mugs down like a bartender in an old western.
“House blend, extra strong for Eden. No caffeine for you,” she says to Autumn.
“You only get the terrible stuff I had to drink for nine months. You’re welcome. ”
“I’ll take it,” Autumn says, inhaling hers like it’s oxygen.
Skyler takes a seat at the table next to me. “So, I’m sleep-deprived and bored. Who’s going to entertain me with a scandal?”
All eyes swivel to me.
“What?” I frown.
“You spent the night at West’s house. The man is walking gossip. Has he had a threesome with two models in the hot tub yet?”
I wrinkle my nose. “Ugh, I hope not.”
“Please,” Francie says, shaking her head. “It’s probably happened. Didn’t he date a model last year?”
Autumn nods. “Stella somebody. Said she was having some publicity problems. But I bet they were doing the horizontal tango.”
They start gossiping about West’s dating life, and I sip my coffee slowly, trying not to listen.
But my stomach feels tight and my face is way too warm.
It’s stupid, because West has always dated beautiful women.
And yeah, there are rumors that sometimes he dates – consensually – more than one woman at a time.
“Remember that heiress?” Autumn says. “The one who had those huge boobs?”
“Anna Grace. Yeah, she was awful.” Francie nods. “Didn’t she try to run over your foot that time she came to visit?” she asks Autumn.
I grit my teeth. I think I remember Anna from a few years ago when I visited. Perfect lipstick, designer wardrobe, and a voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard.
“I used to think Hudson was highly sexed,” Skyler says, shaking her head. “Until I met West.”
Both Autumn and I grimace at the same time. Nobody wants to hear that description of their brother.
Francie glances at me with sympathy. “You know, if he does bring women back, you can always come stay with Asher and me.”
“And listen to them having sex instead,” Skyler says, deadpan.
“Can we talk about something other than sex?” I suggest, glancing at Milo, who’s snoring softly in his mom’s lap. “I don’t want my nephew being corrupted by dirty talk.”
Skyler laughs, just as the bar door opens with a cheerful jingle.
Hudson steps inside first, tall and broad and grinning at the sight of us.
“Looks like trouble found its way to one table,” he says, walking over with a diaper bag slung over his shoulder.
He kisses Skyler and Milo, then looks at me with crinkles in his eyes.
“Welcome home, kid,” he says softly, kissing my brow.
My throat tightens. Hudson has always been like a father to me. More than our own ever was. “It’s good to see you.” I hug him tightly.
Autumn lights up. “Hey! Did you bring some of those muffins from your meeting at the resort?” she asks him.
I barely register his reply, because a second later, West walks in. And suddenly everything feels too warm. My cheeks start to heat, like everybody knows about our stupid situation.
He’s in one of his usual suits, shirt open at the collar, hair pushed back like he didn’t have time to care, and yet somehow still looks unfairly good. Like a man who has everything under control.
His gaze sweeps around the bar and lands on us.
On me.
And for one charged second, neither of us says a word.
“Morning, ladies,” he says, cool and smooth as he walks over to the table.
Autumn grins. “Hey West. We were just talking about you.”
He raises an eyebrow, still looking at me. “All good I hope.”
God, I hate the way he makes me squirm.
“If having threesomes in the jacuzzi is good, then you’re golden,” I tell him.
The table goes dead silent. Autumn’s eyes widen, Skyler chokes on her coffee. Hudson murmurs something about inappropriate.
But West just smiles at me. Slow and knowing. Like he enjoys a challenge.
Then he leans in, close enough to brush his cheek against mine in what must look like a casual hello. Like any man greeting his best friend’s little sister. Like we didn’t kiss in a chapel after saying I do.
“Nice to see you, too, Eden,” he murmurs, his lips barely grazing my skin.
Then he stands. “I’m heading home now. I’ll give you a ride,” he says. “Unless you prefer a broomstick?”
Autumn snorts.
“It’s okay. I think I’ll stay here.” I give him my sweetest, wifey smile. “It’s boring at the house.”
His gaze darkens. “I need to go over your new job with you.”
I open my mouth to point out that he completely forgot about me this morning. And then I realize that everybody’s looking at me. Hudson, in particular, looks really hopeful I’ll capitulate.
And because I actually want a word with this man alone – more than one word, a lot of them, and most of them not for delicate ears – I slide my chair back, slow and deliberate, and grab my bag.
“Fine,” I say, as calmly as I can. “But I’m choosing the music.”
He puts his palm against my back. “Sure,” he murmurs, just for me. “But I’ll be in the driver’s seat.”
Of course he gets the last word. He always does.