The Summer Deal (Wildstone #5)(23)

Brynn gasped and automatically wrapped her arms around the dog to keep them both from tipping off the porch swing.

And failed.

“What the hell?” Eli said, just as Brynn and Mini landed on the floor in a tangle of limbs.

Someone hit the porch light. Eyes trying to adjust to the sudden glare, Brynn blinked like an owl.

Or a peeping Tom.

Mini helpfully licked her face.

Finally, Brynn managed to crane her neck out of licking range, and from flat on her back, looked up at two naked men.

“I think we made her speechless,” Max said, and grabbed the two towels slung over the railing.

Eli held out his hand for one of them, but Max flashed a grin and, still holding both towels, walked into the house, passing right by Brynn to do so.

“Nice,” Eli said sarcastically to his brother’s ass, but just shook his head and turned to Brynn. “Remember to tell Mini ‘down,’” he reminded her, offering her a hand up.

She took it, sucking in a breath at the odd bombardment of sensations. His hand was warm and slightly rough with calluses. As for the rest of him, she did her best not to look.

Much.

As soon as she was upright, their gazes met for a single beat, during which he gave her a look she couldn’t quite interpret before he turned away. “Mini, come.”

And then man and dog followed after Max, into the house.

With a grimace, Brynn headed in as well. Mini turned three circles in her huge dog bed and plopped down with a groan, closing her eyes. In two seconds she was snoring at shocking decibels.

Max was leaning against the kitchen counter, covered by one of the towels, sipping a beer. Eli snatched the other and wrapped it around himself. It was a Day-Glo pink and read, I’M HOT, all in bright-white letters. He should’ve looked ridiculous.

He did not.

“Beer?” Max asked her.

“No, thank you.” She was trying not to stare at Eli, she really was. But he had a drop of water on his collar bone, slowly sliding down his pec and heading south, south, south, past his abs and still moving. It was absorbed by the towel sitting low on his hips, and good God, she was still staring, so she jerked her eyes up to the ceiling.

Her first reaction had been decidedly female. Her second reaction, right on its heels, was different, and all amusement fled. Because the last time she’d had a naked roommate, he’d ended up robbing her blind. She cleared her throat. “First of all, I’m really sorry,” she managed. “I know I should’ve told you I was there. And second”—she looked at them both—“I’m wondering if it’s okay if we make a roommate rule.”

Max stopped with his beer halfway to his mouth and looked at her. “Roommate rule?”

“Such as ‘eavesdropping is rude’?” Eli asked mildly.

Brynn blushed. “Yes. Absolutely, yes. But also . . . maybe something about roommates walking around naked and stuff.”

“Good idea,” Max said. “How about if one of us is naked, we should all be naked.” He laughed, clearly amused by himself.

Eli didn’t laugh. He frowned at his brother. “Max.”

Max looked at Brynn’s face, and his own smile faded. “Sorry. I’m just kidding. I wouldn’t—”

“Go to bed, Max,” Eli said.

Max looked at Brynn again, all teasing and joking gone. “Sorry,” he repeated. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She thought maybe she managed a reassuring smile before he tossed his beer into the trash and ambled off down the hall, but she wasn’t sure. She was still somewhat frozen in place. It’d been wrong of her, very wrong, to stay on the porch like she had. All of it—hearing a conversation she shouldn’t have, seeing them strip out of their wet suits—that was all on her, and she felt awful about it. But she hadn’t felt . . . uncomfortable until right now, because they hadn’t done anything wrong. She’d given them the wrong idea.

Eli had set down his own beer after only a sip and was now looking at her, gaze weighted.

“I really am sorry,” she said quietly, feeling nervous and sick. “I should’ve announced myself.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Good question. And when she didn’t, couldn’t, answer, he turned and vanished into the laundry room.





Chapter 8


From eleven-year-old Kinsey’s summer camp journal:

Dear Journal,

Never fear, I still hate you. But other than Eli, you’re my only friend at camp. I don’t want to be here, but my mom’s got a new boyfriend—yeah, another one—and they’re on a stupid trip.

I’m tired, but they keep making us do stuff. We walked up a mountain in the rain and got muddy. I hate muddy. All the boys took off their shoes and socks because they got blisters and then . . . bare boy feet! Gross.

We also had to play dodgeball—worst game on the planet. One of the obnoxious boys kicked Eli “by accident” so I “accidentally” kicked him back. I told Eli that’s what sisters do. But I actually don’t know what sisters do because I don’t have one.

Brynn’s in my cabin. Again. She gets packages from home with special food and letters. I hate her.

And I hate you, Journal. But not as much as I used to.

Kinsey