Page 66 of One Hot Moment

All the men in the room, including myself, roll our eyes at the women.

They give up their stern expressions and laugh.

I turn to my brother and scowl at him. Yes, all right, it's a fake scowl. "Bindy assured me that you were in a state of severe anxiety and urgently in need of my help. It was all a ruse, wasn't it?"

Rosalyn wraps her arm around my brother's bicep. "It isn't entirely a lie. Hugh, Avery, and I could tell that Kendall wished you could be here all week long to participate in the pre-wedding festivities and also just to spend time with you. He has been missing you, Spencer. Please have a chat with him. Even Rachelle agrees that our boy needs you right now."

My brother winces.

I scratch my head. "Ah, well, in that case...I suppose we can find a private place to...I don't know. Have a drink and talk about...whatever."

"Brilliant!" Rosalyn kisses my cheek. Then she gives Kendall's arse a shove. "Get moving, boys. We ladies have our own arrangements to make. And don't worry, please, we will show your parents and the lovely Sabrina to their rooms upstairs. The others will entertain them. Tabitha will remain downstairs until you and Kendall are done with your chat."

"What others?"

"You'll see, pet."

I glance at my brother, but he simply shrugs. Then he strides toward the door and waves for me to follow him. As the drawing room door shuts behind me, I start jogging to catch up to Kendall. He has longer legs, and he's always preferred to walk at a brisker pace. My brother ushers me into another room, shutting the door behind him. We've wound up inside what seems to be a room that has a glass-enclosed area on two sides, overlooking the patio.

"Is this the solarium?" I ask.

"Yes, it is. You've been to Sommerleigh before, so you should know the layout by now."

"I've been here twice before. And I didn't peek into every room."

Kendall gestures toward a pair of rattan chairs. "Spencer, please sit down."

"Aren't you going to bow? I thought all butlers did that."

His jaw tenses, making a muscle tick there. "Just get your sodding arse on the chair, Spence."

I try not to laugh, but it turns into spluttering. "Yes, sir, Mr. Halfenaked. Or will you be you completely starkers this evening during your dance routine?"

"Making jokes about our surname is asinine."

"Have you informed Hugh of that fact? He makes rude jokes about our surname all the time." I settle onto the rattan chair. "Are you going to stand there towering over me? Or will you take a seat too? After all, I did come here five days early because Bindy swore you were in the throes of a severe anxiety attack. She was very worried about you."

Kendall finally drops his arse onto the chair beside me. Releasing a long, gusty sigh, he slumps in his seat. "I'm sorry Bindy was worried. The situation wasn't as desperate as everyone made it out to be."

"I was worried too, you know."

He jerks his head to look at me, and he stops blinking. "You were concerned? About me?"

"Why is that shocking? You are my brother, and I look up to you. So does Bindy. We were both upset about what you might be going through. That's why I asked my boss to give me the entire week off so I could help you."

"Help me?" Kendall pushes himself up straighter in his chair, clears his throat, and avoids looking at me. "Crikey. I had no idea what you'd been told about my little incident. No wonder you rushed back to Sommerleigh."

I hook one ankle over my other knee and study my brother. "Are you going to tell me what really happened? Or should I hunt down Rachelle and torture the truth out of her?"

"Good luck with that. Rachelle is a force to be reckoned with. When I got pissed, she threw a bucket of cold water on my head."

My laughter echoes inside the solarium. "Yes, she is quite a woman. She and Tabitha have that in common."

"Tabitha?" Kendall's brows knit together over the bridge of his nose. "Who the bloody hell is that? Your new pet cat?"

"No, you cheeky sod. Tabitha is my girlfriend."

Kendall goes perfectly still, his expression blank. For several seconds, he sits there like that. Then he clears his throat. "I've missed a great deal, haven't I? You went to America and fell in love while I was acting like a ruddy arsehole."

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