Page 34 of No Summer Hotter than You

I assumed I’d clam up if anyone asked this, but here I was just lying so easily even I thought they were truths for a split second.

“Damn. I didn’t know you were spitting out poetry these days like your brother. Sounds like you’re in it deep for sure.” Tyson glanced at Shoua with a huge grin. “Do you hear the words coming out of this man’s mouth just because of you?”

She laughed. “What can I say? Julie and I just have that kind of effect on the Hughes twins.”

Her hand reached up for my face. Although I knew it was coming, the tiniest touch of her soft lips against my jaw caused me to stand there stupidly. I probably looked like a dumbass in headlights. I hadn’t expected her to give me a peck like that and, instead of her being the one who was stiff and awkward, it was me.

Underneath my fingertips, I could feel her heart race just as mine started drumming with the same intensity. Thankfully, Tyson didn’t seem to catch on to the look on my face. But Jonathan did, and he was beaming with the widest, most irritating smirk ever.

I was completely lost in our performance until I felt two pairs of eyes on me and remembered exactly why we were doing this. When I glanced up, Evelyn and Kelvin looked at me square in the eyes. Evelyn looked like she was ready to fight. Her cousin, on the other hand, showed no emotion. Except for whatever that was brewing underneath those dark irises. His beady eyes were glued on Shoua as a creepy, unnerving smile stretched across his face.

I immediately wrapped my arms tighter around her as my heart thudded a tad harder than before. But Kelvin? He wanted Shoua, and the way he watched her in stillness and silence, like a predator watching their prey, left me unsettled.

CHAPTER 14

shoua

There seemed to be something on Anthony’s mind, and I wasn’t sure what. Ever since Saturday night, he had woken up early every morning for a long run around our neighborhood. This Thursday morning was no different. I had just finished my usual makeup routine for work in the bathroom, when Anthony came barging into my house with his loud knocks.

He was half-naked, wearing nothing but a pair of low-hanging black shorts—showcasing his strong upper body and chiseled lower abs. There was a slick film of sweat all over him, making his sun-kissed skin glisten into a light golden glow under the bathroom light. He was huffing and puffing hard from his run, drawing my attention to the taut muscles of his pecs.

“Can I shower here?” he asked as I quickly averted my gaze to his face to avoid ogling. His brows crinkled together with what seemed to be lingering irritation.

“Why? What’s wrong with yours?”

“I’m out of body wash.” His face pulled into a grimace. “I forgot to get it at the grocery store.”

This was unusual for Anthony. He never forgets these types of things, especially for someone who took personal hygiene seriously. This was completely out of character for him; he always restocked his pine scented body wash in bulk whenever he dwindled down to just a few.

I stepped out of the bathroom, and he quickly stepped in. The shower turned on the moment he locked the door behind him. I busied myself by laying out my outfit for the day on my bed. I decided to go with a gray sleeveless top and matching slacks with a cute belt. I considered wearing all black to avoid showing off all the sweat stains I would have just between walking from my car to the office. But there was no way in hell I was going to do that with the heat forecasted to reach 112 degrees today.

Anthony stepped out of the bathroom just as I came out of my room. I was still in my PJs since I didn’t want to get bacon grease sputtering onto my top or slacks, but this man . . . Well, he was standing there with his wet, slicked back hair and my lilac towel hanging around his waist as low as his shorts were earlier. The said shorts and gray boxer briefs he wore were folded neatly in his hand.

I gawked and he caught sight of it, smirking in return.

“What’s yours is mine and mine is yours, right?” he teased, pretending to adjust my towel up his hips just a tad.

I immediately snapped out of it with the cock of my brow at him. The sweet scent of my peaches and nectarines body wash lingered strongly over his damp skin. It was almost as if I branded him as mine.

“Sir, that’s still my towel you’re using,” I stated.

“Sorry, I forgot where your extra towels were. So, I used yours.” He put up his hands in defense.

I scoffed. “You’re just lazy. They’re in the cabinet, and you know that.”

“I’ll make it up to you. I swear!”

I gave him an exhausted blink. “Sounds like that’s all you’ve been telling me lately.”

“Damn, someone’s digging her words in deep this morning.” Anthony’s eyes flickered brightly with amusement. He reclined against the bathroom doorframe, flexing his strong arms, and slowly grinned. “Someone’s grumpy this morning. What’s wrong, Shoua? Need some coffee?”

“Nope. It’s you. Something’s bothering you.” Anthony’s back immediately straightened rigid, and I eyed him closely. “What’s wrong, Anthony?”

“Nothing.”

I knew I hit a nerve when he slipped right past me toward my bedroom. He brought over some extra clothes after last week when he was too lazy to go home to sleep. So, as soon as he came out dressed in a simple white tee and worn-out, paint-stained jeans, I started speaking up again.

“You’ve been waking up extra early for the last four days to run for an hour around our neighborhood.”

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