To be honest, I’m not sure how it’s possible that Wolfie doesn’t know. I feel like every emotion and bolt of lust I have about Maren must be written all over my face.
It turns out, grilling for everyone is the perfect thing to do with my hands since they can’t be used for the thing I most desire—groping Maren’s curves. When the food is done, everyone grabs a plate and lines up at the grill on the back deck. Donning a spatula and a smile, I serve up the food. All I’m missing is a chef’s hat and apron.
Maren is one of the last through the line, and when I place the portabella mushroom burger I made just for her onto her plate, she smiles, and I notice how soft her eyes are as she looks at me.
“Thanks, Hayes.”
“Of course.” I nod once.
She doesn’t budge. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
She shifts, looking uncertain. “If I did something wrong back at the beach . . .”
“You didn’t,” I say quickly. “I’m sorry I ran off like that.” I look down, flipping a burger that doesn’t need turning, just so I have something to do with my hands.
“So, you’re not mad at me?” she asks, her voice low.
A pang of guilt zings through me. “No, of course not.”
The last thing I wanted to do was make her feel bad. None of this is her fault.
Before I can figure out how to articulate any of that, Holly appears out of nowhere.
“Can I talk to you?” She meets my eyes with a serious expression.
I open my mouth to reply, but Maren is ducking away with her food, heading off to join her brother and Penelope at the picnic table situated on the lawn under a cluster of birch trees.
“Sure,” I say, grabbing a plate for myself.
“Somewhere private,” Holly adds.
With renewed patience, I turn off the gas to the grill and carry my plate, following Holly around the side of the house. She stops to lean on the porch railing, setting her plate aside.
“If my being here is a distraction, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any problems.”
“It’s fine, Holly. I just . . .” I release a slow breath. “A heads-up would have been nice.”
I haven’t seen or spoken to Holly in more than six months. Once upon a time, we filled a void in each other’s lives. But that was a long time ago. Our chemistry was good . . . until it wasn’t.
Holly made it clear she wasn’t interested in settling down and popping out a few kids. Which was fine, at first. But when I realized our goals were never going to align, I lost interest. She was fun and easy to be with, but I knew I wanted more than just a good time.
Eventually, I wanted a real commitment. A family. And that just wasn’t Holly. But I couldn’t blame her for that. She knew what she wanted and was honest about it.
But coming here today at Wolfie’s merest suggestion? It’s typical Holly, always down for a good time. Maybe she thought I’d be single and horny, and we could just pick up right where we left off.
Hell, maybe that’s why Wolfie invited her, thinking I needed to take the edge off with some casual sex. Too bad that’s the last thing I need right now. I need to focus, and not be thinking with my dick. Especially since it seems intent in getting me in trouble.
Holly nods. “Are you seeing anyone?”
I set my plate down beside hers and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Can we just not do this?”
With a manicured hand on her hip, she gives me a pointed look. “Calm down, Hayes. I’m not trying to start something that you’re not into.”
I inhale and nod. “Good.”
She laughs and shakes her head at me. “Way to dodge the question.”
“I’m single right now, and that’s the way I want it to stay.”
“Understood.” She smiles at me. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
My expression stays blank while Holly continues grinning.
Fucking Holly. I don’t want her getting any ideas about us. This is the last goddamn thing I need right now.
Ignoring the I’m down to fuck if you are gleam in her eyes, I grab my plate. With one last nod in her direction, I stalk away to find someplace quiet to eat.
Miraculously, I manage to successfully avoid Maren for the next few hours.
When she’s inside with Scarlett and Penelope tackling the dishes, I’m outside starting the bonfire. When she’s lying in the hammock on the porch with a book, I’m upstairs taking a shower.
Now I’m sitting outside in a lawn chair near the fire with a cold beer.
“Nice job on the fire,” Scarlett says, rubbing her hands together as she leans closer to the warm glow. Chairs are scattered in a circle, around the fire and everyone is here except for Maren. I have no idea where she is or why she hasn’t joined us.
Holly is sitting directly across from me, her eyes daring me to come over there and ravage her. Not fucking likely.
Connor and Wolfie are bickering about whose cannonball into the lake was more epic, and I’ve just started to feel settled when Maren joins the bonfire.
She glances around, quickly noticing that all the chairs are occupied. Then she looks my way and moves closer. “Is this seat taken?”
I’m about to get up and offer her my chair when Maren casually plops down in my lap like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Although for Maren, maybe it is normal, because she’s always been a touchy-feeling type of person. For me, the feeling is . . . unsettling, because I can never seem
