Page 55 of One Touch

I looked at Beckett. “Well, then. That was fun.”

He stepped forward into my space. He loomed over me and kept his voice low. “Are you okay?”

I hummed. “Besides blurting out that I had sex with my brother’s best friend at a family dinner? Yep. Fantastic.”

His large palm smoothed down my arm. “Hey, it’ll be fine. I’ll talk with him.”

I finally looked up at him. Beckett’s gray eyes bore into me, and flashes of our night together flipped through my mind. I stepped back to give myself some space to breathe.

“It was sweet of you to bring Tootie flowers.”

A smirk lifted the corner of Beckett’s lips. “I used to bring some to your mom from time to time.”

My heart did a little tumble, and I tamped down the irrational disappointment that the wildflowers weren’t really for me.

“I also didn’t want Duke to break my nose again.”

I smiled. “He did not.”

“The hell he didn’t! First summer we met. I can’t believe you didn’t know that.”

“Apparently some of us Sullivans are better at keeping secrets than others.” I sighed and looked around. “Well, I think I successfully ruined dinner, but there might be some cobbler left over. Do you want some?”

Beckett shook his head. “No, it’s all right. I do have a question for you, though.”

When I lifted my eyebrows, he continued: “There’s a lighting manufacturer in the city. I have an appointment to look at some options for the back entryway and thought you might want to come along. We’d be gone overnight.” My stomach clenched in anticipation and he lifted a shoulder. “You know, for the Instagram page.”

I slowly nodded. “For the page.”

He grinned. “Of course.”

Worry gnawed at me as I thought about my brothers and the shit show that had just gone down in the backyard.

Cat’s already out of the bag, I guess.

I shrugged.“I’d love to. When do we leave?”

Beckett looked at his watch and smiled. “Be ready tomorrow at seven.”

I scowled at him. “In the morning?”

Beckett leaned down, his face only inches from mine. “Yes, Princess.” The deep grumble of his voice sent chills racing through me. He pecked a kiss on my cheek before turning his back and stalking toward his truck. “Don’t be late.”

My hand covered the spot where I could still feel his lips on me. I turned to see my family standing on the top step of the porch. Wyatt scowled. Tootie wore a smug smile. Lark, Lee, and Penny all grinned down at me.

Shit.

TWENTY

BECKETT

I knewthere was no way in hell Kate would be ready by 7:00 a.m., so I made a loop through town to stop in at the Sugar Bowl. It was crawling with people, which was expected, since it was a Saturday morning and the Sugar Bowl was known to have the best pastries in town.

When it was my turn, I stepped up to the register, and the blonde woman, Sylvie, offered a tight smile.

“Welcome to the Sugar Bowl. What can I get started for you?” Her tentative smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Do you know Kate Sullivan?” I asked.

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