Page 19 of One Touch

“You need to clear out all this shit so we can get started.”

Kate’s jaw worked before she turned her back on me to close the flaps on a box, giving me an unobstructed view of her pert little ass. “Always the charmer.”

“Work starts tomorrow. Get it done.”

Annoyed—at myself or her, I wasn’t sure—I stomped toward the front door, letting the screen slam behind me.

SEVEN

BECKETT

I pulledinto the garage of the beach house and sat in the dark, gathering the courage to go inside. It felt like everything in that house was a constant reminder of the life I hated. I let out a deep sigh as I got out of my truck and trudged up the steps to the door.

As I entered the house, the emptiness hit me hard in the center of my chest. It was a feeling I had become all too familiar with. I tossed my keys on the kitchen counter and collapsed on the couch, staring blankly at the wall in front of me.

My phone rang, and I groaned after seeing it was Mom calling. She had been trying to set me up onmutually beneficialblind dates for weeks now, and I had absolutely no interest in playing her games. She had little interest in my happiness but was highly invested in what a relationship of mine could do for her social standing. I let the call go to voice mail and leaned my head back against the couch, feeling like trash.

More than anything, I was pissed at myself. I had snapped at a crew member, only to find out he was late because his little daughter was sick. The way he apologized tomeand assured me it wouldn’t happen again only made me feel like a bigger asshole.

It also didn’t help my mood that I’d spent all day having to watch Kate strut around in her tiny shorts, smiling at my guys, moving plants, hauling away debris. I had no right thinking about my best friend’s little sister at all, let alone the things that came to mind every time she bent over.

I got up and headed to the bathroom, needing to cool off. As I stood under the hot spray of the shower, I tried to push all thoughts of Kate out of my head. I tried to think of anything else, but flashes of her lips, her long hair curled around my fist, her soft skin under my rough palms, wouldn’t stop.

Closing my eyes, I let my hand slip over my abs. Then lower still until my rock-hard cock was waiting for me. Aching for her.

“Goddamn it.”

I ground my teeth together as I gave myself one long, hard tug. Fuck, it felt good to stroke my cock with her face in my head. Warm water moved over me as I let the images of Kate consume me.

I imagined the tiny little smirk that flashed when I really pissed her off. I wanted to get her riled up and then keep her quiet by putting her on her knees and slipping my dick between those plush lips of hers.

Stroking harder, I braced my other hand on the cool tile across from me. Alone and with no one to hear me, I let her name slip past my lips on a groan, and it felt good.

Too good.

My hips bucked forward as I stroked myself to the mental image of Kate sprawled in front of me. I had a feeling she’d be the kind of woman who’d take it and beg for more. I had always known her to be quiet and demure, but the sharper edges she’d been showing me lately were what really lit my fire. I had a sinking feeling that I could go toe to toe with her and she’d refuse to back down.

Until I got my hands on her.

“Fuck, Princess.”

I stroked myself, over and over, to the image of her until I was spent. I rested my head against the tile and let the rapidly cooling water beat down my back.

As I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist, I sighed. In the span of a few minutes, I had stooped lower than I thought possible, even for me.

I needed to get my shit together. I couldn’t keep living like this, feeling sorry for myself and secretly lusting after Kate. Sure, the idea of fucking Declan’s ex—the ultimate slap in the face—held a certain appeal, but I couldn’t go there with Duke.

I wouldn’t. He was a good man and an even better friend.

I needed to forget all about the curve of Kate’s neck or all the ways I could drag out a satiated, heavy sigh from her. I needed to find a way to get this reno done and forget all about sexy little sisters with fierce eyes and pouty lips.

* * *

“What the hellare you doing up there?” I glared up at Kate as she wobbled on a rickety ladder, leaning far to the left with a paintbrush in her hand. I had turned a corner to find her on the side of the house, ten feet in the air and not a safety precaution in sight.

“Painting samples. Tootie couldn’t decide which shade she liked best, so I’m going to have our followers vote on the exterior paint color. It’s great for engagement. Did you know that we’ve already hit ten thousand followers? I still can’t believe it!”

I stared up at her, feet planted wide and arms crossed. Kate looked down and bit the paintbrush between her teeth before slipping her phone from the back pocket of her jeans. She snapped a picture of me frowning up at her before I could protest.

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