A fresh start.
Not to mention the bees currently taking up residence in my backyard.
The sound of an engine has my gaze straying toward the window as a sensible blue sedan pulls into the driveway.
Hallie.
Even with the distance between us, I can see the dark sunglasses taking up half her face, her brown hair a mess of curls, and I have to wonder if she still wishes her hair was straight like her sister’s. The thought is unsettling; it’s such an odd thing to remember.
Fuck,what is wrong with me?
That happened so long ago. She’s not a teenager and I’m not some lovestruck idiot who believes he’s got the perfect life.
We’re adults.
This doesn’t have to be something awkward.
It doesn’t have to be something it’s not.
Taking a steadying breath, I tap my knuckles on the counter and then cross the small blue and white kitchen to the back door, turning the handle and bracing for the August heat.
But it’s not the heat I should have been worried about.
No.
It’s the woman in front of me with a wide smile and killer legs. The one I haven’t seen in more than a decade.
The one who is going to be living in my house for the next few months and who looks amused as I practically gape at her.
“Well, well, well, Sawyer Kade, we meet again,” she croons, sauntering toward the porch as she pushes her glasses up into her hair, her eyes squinting as they meet mine. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”
Understatement of the fucking year.
“Cute,” I manage, making her lift one shoulder in a small shrug. She’s sexy, feigning innocence, when I’m almost positiveshe’sanything but innocent. And that’s a problem. “Iwasgonna say welcome home but you’re already causin’ trouble.”
“Sounds like you missed me.”
“We can agree to disagree on that,” I tell her, making her throw her head back and laugh, the sound doing something to me—my dick taking notice.
“Probably won’t be the last time.”
“I reckon you might be right.”
2
HALLIE
SawyerfreakingKade.
My stupid juvenile heart is pounding, and try as I might, I can’t seem to peel my eyes from the way his shirt stretches across his chest.
Or the way his sleeves hug his biceps.
Tall and lean and absolutelynotboyish like I remembered him to be, Sawyer Kade isallman now, and I suddenly wish I’d hooked up with someone before coming back here.
Did I charge my vibrator?
I’m going to need to do that.
