Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(52)

“Hey, guys. How’s everyone doing?” Kline made his way around the bar. “I stopped by to do that inventory you asked me to do. I never got to it last night because we were packed from open to close.”

He was a good guy. A reliable employee. Just not good enough for Lila. And the poor bastard wasn’t even with her, but he was going to get the wrath of Travis.

“Thanks for doing that.” I nodded.

“It’s good you’re here. We were just talking about Lila,” Travis said, his voice hard.

“Oh, yeah? What about?”

“About the fact that she’s leaving at the beginning of September. This is temporary.”

Kline nodded as he reached for the clipboard behind the bar and glanced over at me before his eyes moved back to Travis. He could just tell him right now that nothing was going on, and why the hell wouldn’t he?

“I know. She’s been very clear about that.”

“Good. So don’t get any ideas about changing that. You got it?” Travis pushed to his feet and squared his shoulders. It was hard not to laugh because he was such a fucking brute sometimes, but beneath it all was a really good man.

A man who loved his sister fiercely.

“Yeah. I got it. This is temporary between us, too.” Kline shrugged, and a part of me wondered why he didn’t just say it and get Travis off his back.

“Then we’ll get along just fine. But if you hurt her, I will hunt you down. And your boss here, he’ll probably beat me to the punch.”

“Okay, Rambo. I think he gets it.” I chuckled, and Kline shook his head with disbelief before turning back to his clipboard.

“I’ll see you later.” Travis held his hand over his head and waved as he pushed out the door.

I turned to look at Kline. I couldn’t get a read on the guy. There was no reason for him to act like he was with her if he wasn’t. Was I missing something?

He looked up at me and raised a brow. “You owe me one. That dude is crazy.”

I shoved my hands in my pockets. “So, why’d you go along with it?”

“Because she’s a great girl; she deserves to do whatever she wants to do right now. So, if me going along with it takes some heat off her, I can live with that. As long as Danielle doesn’t get wind of it and think something’s really going on. Plus, I’ve got a pretty cool boss, and I think he’d appreciate me playing along. Unless I’m totally misreading things?”

Fuck. Was it that obvious?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I smirked. Because nothing was going on. We hadn’t acted on it outside of that one night down at the cove.

Unless you counted me sitting in the bathroom while she bathed, which I suppose could be considered inappropriate.

And the night I slept in her bed.

And the millions of times I’ve fantasized about her…

“Sure, you don’t. And don’t worry about it. Your secret is safe with me!” he yelled, and he was still laughing as I made my way down to my office.

My secret sure as shit wouldn’t be safe if he kept shouting like that.

Not that there even was a secret at this point.

My cell vibrated, and I looked down to see my sibling group text that was constant, and I’d missed a shit ton of messages while I’d been talking to Travis, so I took a minute to get caught up on the Reynolds family drama of the day.

Brinkley



When is everyone heading to the city for the wedding? Kaeran doesn’t want to go too early because you guys make him so damn nervous.





Kaeran was her boyfriend, and none of us were big fans of the guy.

Cage



That’s a stupid reason, which is very fitting for his stupid name.





I barked out a laugh because my brother was a grumpy dude, but no one made me laugh as much as Cage did.

Brinkley



Glass freaking houses. Your name is Cage. It’s hardly common.





Finn



I see we’re all cheery this morning. Tell KAREN to relax. His panties seem to be wound tight.





Cage



<Preach emoji>





Brinkley



Why isn’t there a middle finger emoji?





Finn



There is. Update your phone. <middle finger emoji>





Brinkley



Learn something new every day. <eye roll emoji>





Georgia



Happy Monday, guys. I just got to class, but it hasn’t started yet. We get to paint some naked dude today, and I can’t think of a better way to start my day. <eggplant emoji>





Finn



Atta girl. Way to live up your last few months of college. What I wouldn’t give to go back.





Cage



I see you’re taking your classes very seriously, Georgie. Life isn’t all paintings and penises, you know. And, Finn, you took six years to graduate, so stop whining.





Brinkley