Page 47 of Vengeful Guard

I laugh. “That’s kind of what I need to talk to you about.”

“Hold up. You better spill.”

“Not until you get your ass over there,” I say in a sing-song voice, feeling a lot more like my usual self.

“I’ll meet you at the mansion. I’ll take a taxi there.”

“Fine, I’ll see you there.”

I put on my bikini, just a simple two-piece, nothing fancy like Lara has. She has a bunch of string bikinis and expensive coverups, but I’m happy to order mine online. After all, I have much more curves than she does. Those overly expensive places only sell to size zero to four or something.

I’m a seven-eight for sure. But I’ve never minded my curves.

As I head downstairs, Kael freezes in the middle of the living room after putting on his shirt.

“You’re not wearing that.”

I chuckle. “That's funny. I don’t remember getting the memo that you’re my stylist now. Until I do, you don’t get to tell me what to wear.”

“Paige…” His face is stone-cold, his jaw clenched.

What’s the deal with him, anyway?

I head outside and get in the passenger seat of his car. If he wants to throw a tantrum, let him, but he’s still driving me there.

We head over to the mansion, and I wave hello to Marisol as she sets the table.

“You eating with us, sweetheart?”

I shake my head. “Just wanted to do some laps. I invited Sophie over.”

She nods, and Kael and I walk out back to the pool house.

“You gonna swim?” I ask Kael, and he shrugs.

“Maybe.”

“You bring your suit?”

He lifts one eyebrow. “Don’t need it. I don’t mind swimming in my boxers. They reveal less than that bikini.”

I can’t help but flush a little and look away.

Sophie arrives in about thirty minutes, and she comes out in a cute little one-piece with cutouts around the hips.

“You look adorable,” I coo, and look at Kael. “Can you go inside, please? We need girl talk.”

I expect Kael to argue, but again, he just nods.

I huff out a breath. I definitely don’t like this version of Kael. He’s cold, almost rigid. Like a statue.

That’s not my Kael.

What the hell? Where did that come from?

Sophie nudges me with her elbow. “So... How’s living with your brother’s hot best friend?”

I grin. “That’s what I needed to talk to you about.” I look left and right. “He...well...he made me come.”

---