Page 57 of Summer Love

"What if my house needs some updates?" Shep asked. "I could use an assistant."

I wrapped an arm around Elena's shoulders. "Get your own assistant. This one's mine."

Shep lifted his bottle to his mouth. "I'm going to mingle. Enjoy your evening."

Kinsley's gaze followed him as he approached a group of girls. "He's such a player."

"Everyone thinks they'll be the one to tame him, but I don't see that happening for a long time," I said.

The light in Kinsley's eyes dimmed just a bit. "I'm fairly sure the women he hooks up with know the score."

The music got louder, and more people arrived. The night was perfect with the light of the fire dancing over Elena's face.

At one point, Elena got up to dance with the girls, and I stood next to Brady. "Where's Dalton?"

Brady shook his head. "He's having some girlfriend drama. I try to stay out of it."

"What kind of girlfriend drama?" I liked to be aware of what was going on in my brothers' lives.

Brady sighed. "She might be pregnant."

I whistled low. "That's serious."

"Yeah, he went over there to talk to her and see what's going on. If it's just a scare or whether it's the real deal."

"Is he doing okay?" I made a mental note to check on him later this weekend.

"He's in shock. I don't think he was prepared to be a daddy."

"Does he like this girl?" I asked him, not remembering the details of who he was seeing.

"That's the thing. He was about to break up with her, and now she's pregnant. It made me wonder if she's just saying she's pregnant to keep him around. Like she sensed it coming or something. But Dalton said he'd be careful, make sure she got it confirmed. I don't think he has any reason to doubt it's his. But you never know."

"Did you mention that to him?"

"You know Dalton. He'll do the right thing even if he gets hurt in the process."

"We'll need to be there for him," I said.

"I always am," Brady said, his brow raised.

"You know I'm on your side too."

Brady shrugged. "You're busy with dad and the business."

"I always have time for my brothers."

"Dalton will probably ask her to marry him even though he was about to break up with her. That's the kind of man he is."

"He's almost too trusting."

"Exactly. He has a huge heart."

Brady had always been the one to step up and protect Dalton. This was something he'd need to navigate on his own, but we'd be there to support him, no matter how he chose to deal with the situation. "He'll do the right thing."

"I just hope it's not at his own expense. He shouldn't continue to date her, or even marry her, if she's not the right one."

"No one can tell someone that though. They need to figure it out on their own."

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