Page 1 of Sweet Harmony

Chapter One

“Kira!”

The front doorslammed, and heavy footsteps tromped down the hallway. Her heartpounded and she ignored the look Grace gave her.

“What?” Shehoped she sounded casual – wait did she sound too casual?

“Can I use yourshower?”

He popped intothe kitchen, already beginning to strip off his shirt and shesoaked in the sight of his sweaty, naked chest as he grinned at herbest friend. “Hey, Grace.”

“Hi, Daniel.Why are you always half-naked?” Grace asked as Kira set the knifedown and tried not to lick her lips. Or drool.

“The ladieslove it,” Daniel said with another grin. He wiped the sweat off hischest and his perfect abs with his shirt before shifting the duffelbag on his shoulder. “Do you mind, Kira? The guys and I wereplaying ball and I lost track of time. I need to be at thefirehouse in twenty minutes and your place is on the way.”

“They have ashower at the station,” Grace said.

“Yeah, butthere’s no line-up for Kira’s shower.”

“Maybe she’salready got someone in her shower.”

Daniel laughedbefore crossing the kitchen and slinging his arm around Kira’sshoulders. “You bring some guy home from the bar last night,doll?”

Her traitorousbody was already trying to lean into him, and Kira forced herselfto stand perfectly still as Daniel stared at her. She could feelthe heat of his body against hers and she wanted to rest her headagainst his shoulder. At 5’10” he was only a few inches taller thanher and their bodies fit together perfectly. She wouldn’t have tocrane her neck to kiss him and it would make having sex in theshower super easy.

Do not startthinking about sex in the shower with Daniel. Do not start thinkingabout –

“Well, do you?”Daniel said teasingly.

“No, of coursenot,” she replied. “Go ahead and use it, you know where the towelsare.”

“Thanks, doll.”He gave her a playful slap on the ass before leaving thekitchen.

Kira’s cheeksflushed and she stared down at herself, mostly in an effort toavoid Grace’s gaze.

“Shit,” shemuttered. Her shirt was stained with watermelon juice and there wasa grease spot on her yoga pants. Why did she always look her worstwhen Daniel was around?

“You reallyshouldn’t have given him a key,” Grace said as Kira left thehalf-cut watermelon on the counter and sank into a kitchenchair.

“He’s myfriend,” Kira said. “You have a key to my place.”

“Yeah, and Idon’t use it to take advantage of you and your shower, your fridge,your sixty-inch TV, your -”

“He’s nottaking advantage of me.” Kira ran a hand through her blondehair.

“Honey,” Graceleaned forward and took her hand, “Daniel’s been taking advantageof your crush on him since we were in high school.”

“Keep yourvoice down.” Kira glanced at the doorway.

“Honey, if heisn’t interested by now then he’s never going to be.”

Kira gave Gracea hurt look. “Why would you say that? You’re supposed to be myfriend and -”

They bothlooked up as the front door slammed again and another set of heavyfootsteps trod down the hallway. “Kira, did I leave my wallet herelast night?”

Her brotherGideon appeared in the kitchen. Seven years older than her, hisheight, dark hair and large body were the complete opposite to hershort and slender body, blonde hair and blue eyes. He favouredtheir father in looks while Kira took after their mother’sside.

“Yeah, it’s ontop of the fridge,” Kira said.

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