“You and Skye were awfully fast.” Holden fixes himself a rum and coke. Turns to me. “Tell me you got the job done.”
I flip him off.
He smiles. Turns to Daisy. “See, this is the kind of guy you want to avoid.”
“Is it?” she asks.
He nods. “He gets all pissy if you question his ability to make a woman come. That kind of insecurity—it’s a sign he can’t rise to the occasion.”
“He can’t…” She clears her throat.
“No, he was waving the white flag.” Holden laughs. “Black flag I guess, given the attire.”
“Do you have pictures?” she asks.
Upstairs, a door closes. Skye’s heels tap the hardwood floor.
She descends the stairs slowly. Like she’s a princess showing off her ornate dress. I guess she is.
She’s wearing something new. Hot pink with tiny black polka dots. It hugs her curvy body. Falls just below her knees.
Her blue eyes fix on me.
“Fuck, he’s already hard, isn’t he?” Holden asks.
Daisy rises to her tiptoes to whisper something in his ear.
He whispers back.
She laughs.
“Are you jealous we didn’t invite you?” Skye steps onto the main floor.
“Always.” He releases Daisy for long enough to fix Skye a Moscow Mule.
Skye takes it. Nods thanks. “Aw, baby, you know it’s only because you don’t have the stamina.”
“Oh?” Holden raises a brow. “You think I can’t make it?”
She nods. “It’s sad. I mean, it’s flattering, that you want me so badly you come in thirty seconds. But I need a guy who lasts long enough—”
“Skye, baby, are you daring me?” he asks.
“What if I am?” she asks.
“Then I’m gonna have to show you just how long I last.” He sets his glass on the counter. Reaches for his jeans. One hand on the button. The other on the zipper. “Now, we have to set the terms.”
“Oh?” She takes a long sip. Lets out a deep groan. That oh my God, I need more groan.
My balls tighten.
I try to shake it off. Fail.
Try to look her in the eyes.
Fail harder.
I don’t know what to say. How to explain what happened in that photo shoot. How to deal with how badly I want to kiss her again.
If Holden hadn’t interrupted—
I can still say it’s acting. That it’s nothing. That I’m not going out of my mind, wanting her out of that tight outfit—
I can say it.
But it’s bullshit.
“Are you taking that off—” He motions to her snug pink dress. “Or just tempting me with how tight it is?”
Daisy frowns.
“You need all the help you can get, Holden,” Skye says. “I wouldn’t want to speed you up.”
“I can do this on hard mode, baby,” he says. “Show me those tits again. I’ll be there fast.”
Skye’s cheeks flush. “You… uh…” She clears her throat. “I actually need to get dinner, so, uh—”
“Maybe you should go together,” Daisy offers.
She wants to be alone with my brother. In an empty house.
I don’t think so.
“Uh, well…” Skye stammers. “We should probably order something, for, uh—”
The door saves her from finishing her sentence.
The handle turns. Ariel steps inside. She looks at Holden and shakes her head. “You’re too old for her.”
Skye laughs. “I think that’s the appeal.”
Daisy turns bright red. “No, I… We… Excuse me.” She rushes to the bathroom.
“Poor girl. She has no idea what she’s getting into.” Ariel crosses the room to me. Pulls me into a tight hug. “Are you okay? You look flushed.”
Holden chuckles. “He and Skye were rolling around in their underwear.”
Ariel squeals. “Really? You finally realized it and—” She takes in our expressions. “Never mind.”
“How are you feeling?” My gaze goes to her stomach. She’s showing more every day. I guess that’s what happens at this stage of pregnancy. She’s due in mid-August. It’s less than three months away.
Three months until I’m an uncle.
I’m sure Chase is way too over-protective. That she can’t stand the thought of another guy trying to protect her. But I don’t care.
I’m not letting anything happen to my niece.
“Good. Uh…” Her cheeks flush. “Things you don’t want to hear.”
“Horny?” Holden asks.
“Why are you asking if your sister is horny?” I ask.
“Because that’s clearly what she means. And, once again, I don’t live in some fantasy world where my sister is the only pregnant virgin since Mary,” Holden says.
Skye laughs. “Is Chase coming?”
“Later. He’s closing the shop.” Ariel looks from Skye to me. “You were in lingerie?”
“For my Instagram,” Skye says. “A company wanted to pay me for photos.”
“That’s amazing.” Ariel smiles. “And you went with Forest as your model?”
“Well, um… we’re kinda…” Skye looks to me. Her cheeks flame as soon as her eyes meet mine. “You didn’t tell her?”
“Why would I?” I ask.
“Tell me?” Ariel frowns. “You don’t think I can keep a secret.”
“No, I know you can,” Skye says. “But, uh… Forest and I are faking a relationship. For the time being.”
“Oh, because he can’t handle Mackenzie getting married?” Ariel asks, completely earnest. My sister does not understand normal social mores like tact.