Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
As I get to the bottom of the stairs, I hear someone moving around. I let out a little growl. I wanted to be the first of us girls up so I could set the table and make everything pretty.
But when I round the corner into the kitchen, Katherine’s at the counter, scrolling through her phone, a cup of coffee in front of her. She turns and sees me and her eyes light up. “Good morning! I’ve been awake since Ed left for fishing. I couldn’t go back to sleep. I’m too excited about having the entire day in this beautiful place. You couldn’t have picked anything better.”
I wrap my arms around her in a hug. “I’m so happy you’re happy. But I can’t take any credit for the house or location. That was all Hunter.”
Katherine’s eyes sparkle. Instantly, I wish I hadn’t mentioned his name. I grab myself a cup of coffee and turn on the oven, like I don’t notice how Katherine is just itching to talk about Hunter.
“You seem very comfortable together,” Katherine says.
It’s not a question and doesn’t require an answer. I head to the refrigerator and pull out some fruit to make the fruit salad.
“Are you comfortable together?” Katherine asks, noticing her error in not asking me a direct question.
I pull out a chopping board and start to prepare the pineapple. “It’s early days,” I say. “Very early days and not at all serious. He’s busy with Portis. I’m busy with my job. It’s probably going to be over next Wednesday—”
“Don’t say that. It couldn’t be more perfect, having you two date. The four of us—”
“You need to dial back the obsession with the foursome. The four of us aren’t a thing. Hunter and I have just been thrown together to organize this weekend. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be in each other’s lives.”
“That’s not true,” she protests. “You’re my sister and he’s Ed’s best friend. You’re both in each other’s lives for good.”
I smile at Katherine. As much as I want everything perfect so Katherine’s happy, Katherine wants my happiness just as much. Was that what Hunter meant last night? Does he think I give everything up for Katherine and she’s not appreciative?
“He’s very good looking,” Katherine says.
“So you said,” I remind her.
She rolls her eyes at me and slides off her stool. “Do you want a hand prepping that?”
“Nope. I’m going to put the croissants in when the oven’s warm, then set the table. I already have the muffins, but I think some people will want eggs—”
“If they want eggs, they can get them themselves,” Katherine replies. “You’re not the hired chef.” Does Hunter see this side of Katherine? The protective side? The side that doesn’t want me to do as much?
“I can’t wait for the private chef tonight,” I reply.
“Me neither. And during the day today, I just want to walk on the beach, collect shells, maybe a little shopping after lunch with a cocktail.”
“Perfect,” I reply. “Just to warn you, I brought a couple of glue guns and some other art supplies, along with some ideas from Pinterest for stuff we could do with the shells we collect.”
She smiles. “You’re always prepared. What’s the plan? Gluing them to our asses?”
“If that’s your kink, I’m here to support you.”
“Is Hunter kinky?” she asks. “I get that vibe from him.”
My stomach roils, and I’m sure I’m beet red. “You get the kinky vibe from him? What does that mean?” My mind slides to Hunter in bed next to me last night. The way his T-shirt hugged his body like it was a size too small. The wisps of hair peeking out from the neck. I wonder how his skin would feel against mine.
Hot. Hard. Rough.
“You know,” she says. “I can imagine he’s quite the domineering type in bed.”
I laugh. “Have you been imagining it?”
“Stop!” she says. “No, but I wasn’t a virgin when I met Ed. I’ve had other lovers.”
“Lovers?” I ask. “You mean boyfriends?”
“Boyfriends who I slept with.” Katherine had precisely two “lovers” before Ed, and one was a one-night stand.
“And the ones like Hunter were kinky?” I ask.
“I’m not saying I slept with anyone like Hunter. It’s just . . . is he?”
I laugh again. “I don’t know. We haven’t slept together yet.” I don’t know why I say it—it just slips out. Maybe the line between what’s real and what’s fake has faded and I’m just speaking the truth.
We haven’t slept together.
Yet.
Yet.
Yet.
The word echoes in my head.
“Really?” Katherine shrieks. “Why the hell not?”
He could have made a move last night. We were both lying next to each other without many clothes on. But he didn’t even try. Maybe he doesn’t like me. Except, I think he does. At least he likes me sometimes.
I shrug. “No particular reason.”
“Well, it’s not because of the lack of chemistry,” she says. “Because we all saw there was plenty of that around the fire last night. I’m surprised the two of you didn’t combust.”