Page 51 of My Mistake To Make

I’m standing on the front porch when the dark blue Mini pulls up onto the drive. I shake my head. She bought a fucking Mini.

She climbs out of the driver’s seat, and I swallow hard.Fuck me. Her long legs stretch out sensually, one after the other, and she has no idea what she’s doing to me. She looks beautiful in another sundress, and her hair is not only down and curled slightly, but it’s also a little darker now, not brown exactly, still blond, but not the platinum and purple of before. I loved her hair how it was, but this. Fuck, she’s sexy.

‘I’m sorry, this is private property,’ I joke because apparently, I can’t remember I’m not supposed to like her, and she pushes her sunglasses up onto her head.

‘Good job I know the owner then, I guess.’ She smiles, and I inhale deeply as she approaches. ‘Doug, it looks amazing.’

‘Wait till you see inside.’ My fingers twitch as I almost hold out my hand to her, and I want to kick my own ass.

I let us in the front door, and she gasps as I stand aside to let her pass.

‘My god. It’s a whole new house.’

I watch her turn in the space as she walks around, taking it all in. Hardly any of the cosmetic work has happened yet, but the kitchen has started to go in.

‘I wanted to make sure you had somewhere to cook, so I prioritized the kitchen, also the master bed and bath. If you move in before it’s completely done, it’ll be basic but livable.’

‘I can’t believe it.’ She runs her hands over the kitchen island and gazes around wistfully. ‘When I first saw the house, as much as I wanted to try, I couldn’t see how it could be transformed into something I could actually move into.’

I stand on the other side of the kitchen as she leans forward over the island to run her fingers over it. I can see her legs, her calves tight and pronounced as she reaches up on her tiptoes, the backs of her thighs smooth and exposed as her dress rises. I’d only have to stand behind her right now, and I could reach under her dress, pull her panties down, and see how wet I could get her…Jesus, Doug. Get it together.

‘I love it so much. This quartz is beautiful. I can’t stop touching it.’

I nod as she smiles at me.

‘You took long enough to decide on it, so I hope so.’ I smirk, and she laughs. Jesus, that laugh. ‘You can move in next week if you want to, but we do still have a lot to do, so you need to consider that it will still be a worksite.’

I turn away from her because her smile is fucking blinding.

‘Seriously. Oh my god.’ I can hear the excitement in her voice. ‘Yes, I can’t wait. I am so ready to be away from my noisy neighbors.’

‘What?’

She huffs. ‘The guys in the other cabins. They have parties most nights, loud music, singing, and shouting. Zoe has told them, but they don’t listen. They just wait until the bar is closed, and she’s gone home.’

Are you fucking kidding me?

‘I’ll tell them.’

She shakes her head. ‘No, it’s okay. I’ll be out of there soon, thanks to you. Just a few more nights.’

Nah, fuck that. They’re disrespecting my sister and her business and keeping Cara awake. Not fucking happening.

I let her walk out of the room to check out the rest of the house and pull out my cell to call Zoe.

‘Hey, princess,’ she says, and I roll my eyes. Why do I give a fuck about her again?

‘Hey, I’m at the house with Cara, and she mentioned the dicks in the other cabins are partying at night.’

I hear her groan. ‘Yes, I need them gone, but I also need the money. I keep trying to get them to stop.’

‘I’ll stay at the bar tonight and whenever I don’t have Bo. Maybe they’ll listen to me.’ The small apartment above the bar is basic, but Zoe keeps it clean and ready for use just in case. I’ve considered moving in there, but Zo stays there sometimes when she has a particularly late night and doesn’t want to make the long five-minute trip home, or when she’s too wasted to make the effort, or when… nope, I do not need to think about my sister hooking up. Regardless, above a bar isn’t where I want to create a home for Bowie. ‘Zo, if they need to go, they need to go. It’ll be summer soon, and you’ll make the losses back.’

‘I know, but—’

‘No buts. I’ll stay there and keep an eye on them, but I’m not taking their shit, Zo, and neither are you.’

‘This has more to do with the pretty little birdy in cabin ten than me, but I appreciate you.’

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