Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Esteban
The smell of sizzling meat rises from the grill as I stand beside Austin and Noah, nodding along to whatever Mr. McNeal is saying.
He’s relaxed, completely in his element, a beer in hand and sunglasses pushed up into his thick hair.
For a guy worth who-knows-how-many-millions, he’s surprisingly easygoing.
But we haven’t talked about business. Not once.
It’s been all family stuff, parenting stories, jokes about teenage tantrums, and how Cole refuses to eat vegetables unless they’re fried. Noah and Austin are chiming in, answering every question Mr. McNeal throws their way, laughing like they’ve known him forever. I’m mostly quiet, just waiting.
Because I know my turn is coming.
I can feel it in the way Mr. McNeal keeps glancing my way between bites of burger and sips of beer. Like he’s sizing me up, figuring out what kind of man I am without asking me directly.
And then he turns to me. “So, Esteban,” he says casually, wiping his hands with a napkin. “You planning on having kids once you and Eva get married?”
My whole body goes still.
Out of all the things he could’ve asked—the business, the engagement, my lack of filter—this is the one question I actually want to answer.
Relief floods my chest as I crack a grin. “Yes, sir. I’d love to have at least two.”
Mr. McNeal raises his eyebrows and gives me a nod of approval. “That’s a good number. Not too many, not too few. Just enough to keep you on your toes.”
The others chuckle, and I let myself relax a little.
But only a little.
Because while I’ve been answering polite questions and pretending to be chill, I’ve also been stealing glances at Eva.
She’s over there, stretched out on a lounge chair like some kind of goddess, her skin glowing under the sun, that damn two-piece showing off every perfect curve she has. Her laugh carries over to me every now and then, and I swear it does something to my chest.
When she reached for the sunblock earlier, I almost walked over and offered to help rub it in. Her back, her shoulders, anywhere she’d let me touch.
But then Noah caught my eye.
That man’s been watching me like a hawk ever since we got here. Like he’s waiting for me to screw up.
So instead of walking over to Eva like I wanted, I shoved my hands in my pockets and stared at the grill like I actually cared whether the burgers were medium or well-done.
And now I’m here, stuck between making a good impression and trying not to lose my mind every time Eva shifts on that damn chair.
A while later, after the last burger is flipped and the grill sizzles into silence, we all gather around the long outdoor dining table near the grill. The view from here is insane, lush palms swaying in the breeze, the ocean shimmering behind us like a damn postcard.
Eva slides into the seat beside me, her skin still glowing from the sun, the scent of coconut clinging to her like a tease.
The second she’s close, I feel myself settle.
I reach under the table and lace my fingers with hers. She doesn’t pull away. Instead, she squeezes my hand once, then lets me rub my thumb slowly over her skin.
God, I could get used to this.
She’s laughing with Violet and Josy, and I’m just soaking it in—her voice, the way her hair catches the sunlight, the easy way she fits here with everyone.
My belly’s full, Eva’s hand is in mine, and for a moment, I forget this is all pretend. I forget that we are acting so I can get a business deal. I forget that I’m not supposed to be falling for my best friend’s little sister.
Mr. McNeal leans back in his chair, swirling the ice in his drink, still not bringing up the business. It’s weird. But in a good way. He’s focused on connection, and somehow, I feel like that’s the real test. He wants to see how we are with each other, how we fit in this world.
Then dessert arrives. Chocolate cake. Thick. Rich. The kind that probably weighs a pound per slice, and I let out a low groan without meaning to.
Eva turns toward me, eyebrows raised, her green eyes full of curiosity. “What’s wrong?”
I meet her gaze and grin. “Chocolate cake is my undoing. I’ve already eaten so much I might burst, but now that thing is staring at me like it knows my weaknesses.”
She chuckles, biting her bottom lip before leaning in a little. “Maybe we can take a slice back to our room. You know… for later.”
Her voice is playful, but her eyes, they’re lit with something else.
And maybe I’m imagining it, but I swear she’s flirting with me.
My mind flashes to a very specific image, chocolate cake on her bare stomach, maybe drizzled over her perfect tits, or smeared lower, between her thighs, right near that sweet spot I’ve been dying to taste.
I can see it so clearly—Eva, breathless beneath me, her body arching as I lick up every last crumb, slow and thorough.
But I wouldn’t stop there. I’d eat her until she was trembling and saying my name like a prayer.
Suddenly, I’m not just full, I’m restless. Uncomfortably hard under the table and doing everything in my power not to shift or groan or make a damn fool of myself in front of her and our friends and especially in front of the McNeal’s.
Even though I know I need to stop this train of thought, I don’t.
Call me a masochist or crazy, but I glance at her mouth and raise an eyebrow.
“Are you offering to be the plate?” I ask, my voice low enough that only she can hear it.
Her lips part in surprise, then curve into a slow, wicked smile. She leans in, her hand still in mine, and whispers, “Depends… are you planning to lick it clean?”
Fuck.
I grip her hand tighter under the table, trying to stay composed while my imagination runs wild. “Every inch,” I murmur.
Her breath catches, and I swear her pupils dilate just a little. We’re flirting with fire, and she knows it. But neither of us backs down.
Not yet.
She knows exactly what she’s doing. And I’m not sure if I should thank her or beg her to stop before I say something that can’t be taken back.
Noah clears his throat from across the table. I glance up and see him watching us again, eyes narrowed just slightly.
I sit up straighter, squeeze Eva’s hand again, harder this time, and give her a look that says this isn’t over.
Because tonight, we’re sharing a bed.
And if she keeps looking at me like that, I won’t last the night.
I know I shouldn’t. I know my friendship with Noah is on the line, but I can’t help myself.
Eva is a weakness I didn’t see coming.
It’s not just her body, though that alone could undo a man, it’s everything else.
I like her. The way she smiles when she’s thinking, how she lights up when she talks about something she loves, how her mind moves so fast and sharp it leaves me trying to catch up.
Sometimes I think she’s too good for me, too smart, too driven, too her.
And yet, here she is… flirting with me, teasing, looking at me like I’m the only man in the world.
She’s becoming my favorite person. The one I want to listen to, laugh with, and wake up next to.
And that scares the hell out of me.
We’re about to share a bed for two nights, and I don’t know if I can keep pretending this is fake.
Every time she’s near, I feel my self-control slipping.
She knows exactly what she’s doing, how her voice drops when it’s just us, how her fingers graze mine and linger, how her eyes burn into me like a dare.
She flirts like she wants to be caught.
And I’m not strong enough to keep pretending I don’t want to fuck this up.
But I’ll be a gentleman, at least until she tells me not to be.
As the afternoon fades into early evening, I feel content. Full stomach, good conversation, a slight buzz from the beers and margaritas, and Eva sitting beside me like she belongs there.
I’m lounging back in one of the patio chairs, legs stretched out, laughing at something Austin said about the chaos of parenting.
Mr. McNeal, who insisted we call him Hunter, has been surprisingly chill all day.
No business talk, no pressure. Just easy questions about family, life, how we got into construction.
The man is sharp, observant, and clearly testing the waters before diving into any kind of deal.
I admire that. And it’s been nice to see Noah and Austin let their guard down too.
But the peace doesn’t last forever. As the sky darkens and the string lights overhead start to glow, the babies start to get fussy. Everly lets out a high-pitched wail and Ethan rubs his eyes, whining softly into Violet’s neck.
Hunter glances at his watch, then says with a smile, “Alright, I think that’s our cue to wrap it up. Let’s get these little ones to bed.”
Everyone agrees. Violet and Josy gather the kids. Melissa thanks us all and starts organizing towels and drinks like the gracious host she is. Even Adrian and Cole, who practically have to be dragged out of the pool, are finally ushered inside.
As Eva walks past me with the girls, she squeezes my hand gently. I glance down at our joined fingers, feeling the warmth of it even after she lets go.
Then, just like that, it’s quiet again.
Just me, Austin, and Noah. Except Austin takes the hint quickly when Noah gives him that look and heads back toward the house, leaving us alone by the grill.
Noah leans against the table and crosses his arms. His expression shifts, no longer the laid-back dad cracking jokes over burgers. This is Noah, the big brother. The protector.
“I need to talk to you,” he says, voice firm.
I nod and stand straighter.
“I know this thing with Eva is supposed to be an act,” he starts. “But you’ve been looking at her like you want her and not in the fake way.”
I open my mouth to say something, but he cuts me off.
“Look, I get it. She’s incredible. And if this were real, and with anyone other than my damn sister, I’d probably root for you.
But it’s not. And you’re sleeping in the same room tonight.
” He narrows his eyes. “Be a gentleman, Esteban. If you need to sleep on the floor, do it. If she throws herself at you, you say goodnight and turn around.” After a pause, he adds with a little more edge, “Don’t make me regret trusting you. ”
I swallow hard. Because I do understand. And it kills me that he even has to say it out loud. But I’ve seen the way he looks at Eva. And I know he’d do anything to protect her.
“I hear you,” I say, my voice steady even though my gut is twisting. “I won’t do anything she doesn’t want. I promise.”
Noah stares at me for a beat too long, then nods. “That’s not the point, man. I know she wants you. The point is, don’t take advantage of it just because you can.” And with that, he pushes off the table and walks back toward the house.
Leaving me alone with the weight of every single word.