Page 17 of Love Me Reckless

“But you’re right. I should have one,” she says with such certainty that my nuts tingle. I like how determined she gets. Why does she seem so convinced she has to hide it?

“Maybe you and Zach could help with the security part?” Her emerald eyes flash with challenge. “After all, he’s a cop, andyou’re a mechanic. Between the two of you, we’d be able to get out of pretty much any kind of trouble.”

My chest tightens. Shit, I had been sort of metaphorically playing along. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t picture driving her to a minimart somewhere so she could boost a pack of gum, or sitting with her in a bar watching her get plastered then driving her safely home and tucking her into bed afterward. But that’s not the same as actually being there.

Why would she want me?

“You don’t want to?” Her look turns pained.

“I’d be honored,” I manage because no fucking way can I turn her down. She’s taking a huge risk right now sharing these things with me, and from the difficulty she experienced doing so, I don’t think she’s shared them with anyone else.

I’m going to find out why. Maybe there’s something I can do to fix it.

From the lakeshore, the swimmers are heading back from the lake, their laughter and banter echoing through the trees.

“Well,” Kirilee says, as if shutting down her desires is as easy as closing a door. “I should call my brother for a ride.”

“I can take you,” I protest.

Kirilee gives me a sassy wink. “And let my new partner in crime get murdered before we’ve even started?”

A figure darkens the doorway behind her. “No need for murder. But you’d better get your clothes on.”

Chapter Five

KIRILEE

I slipmy toes from the water and swivel so I can pop to my feet. “Grayson, hey.”

He gives me a dark look. It’s a warning. He flicks his gaze to Sawyer, who is sizing up my brother, arms crossed over his chest.

“Hey,” Grayson says.

“This is Sawyer.” I never did get his last name, and somehow that makes my misconduct tonight seem even more brash. “Sawyer, this is my brother, Grayson.”

“Nice to meet you,” Sawyer says, hopping up to sit on the rim of the tub. In the low lights outside, the beads of water on his muscular torso glisten like silver beads.

“Likewise,” Grayson says, then turns to me. “The door was locked, but I heard voices.”

“Just having a little soak,” I say, like I do this kind of thing every day.

The group from the water returns, dropping into the hot tub in pairs. I start to introduce Grayson to everyone but it’s a blur and I don’t remember everyone’s names. Another strike against me.

“Let’s go,” Grayson says over the rising din coming from the hottub. Teasing and hoots and flirting. They’re high energy and so confident I want to drink the ambiance like an elixir.

“Thanks for having me,” I announce to the group, cutting my gaze to Sawyer for one last hit of his calm brown eyes.

“Aw, stay!” someone calls from the hot tub as I wrap up in a towel and gather my clothes from the peg.

“We’ve got an extra pair of trunks, Grayson!” someone else calls.

There are so many bodies in the hot tub the water sloshes over the deck anytime someone moves.

Grayson gives them a quick smile. “Thanks, but we’re going.”

“Bye, Kirilee!” Sarah calls out, followed by more goodbyes.

Inside the house, Grayson leads me to the bathroom. I duck inside and quickly change, my breaths fast in my throat. Grayson didn’t come to ruin my fun, so I’m not mad at him. He’s trying to keep me safe from Dad’s wrath. Dad’s hard on him, too, but in a different way. We look out for each other, and I’d be lost without him.

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