After I changed, I headed to the fridge and took a swig of the open pinot grigio I’d shelved on the inside of the door right from the bottle.
I shut my eyes and leaned against my counter, pissed at ruining what should be an amazing time in my life with a brick of dread across my chest.
“So, you really like my sister?” I heard Taylor ask Silas before I headed into the living room. Backing up a couple of steps, I went back to the counter and waited for Silas’s response.
“I do. A lot. She’s incredible.”
“She is.”
I smiled at the stern octave in my sister’s voice, one I hadn’t heard before.
“You can’t hurt her. She has never brought a guy here. So you must mean something to her.”
“I’d never hurt her, Taylor. This sneaking around sucks, and I’m looking for a way around it. She’s lucky to have a good sister to protect her.”
I heard the smile in Silas’s voice.
“All she’s done is take care of me. She needs someone to take care of her.”
Taylor’s voice was small this time, and I hated the guilt coating her words.
“I know,” Silas said, his voice soft. “And all I want to do is take care of her. Even though she’ll fight me, I promise I’ll find a way.”
I bit my lip as I tried to swallow the lump resurging in my throat.
“I’m guessing dinner is on the way,” Silas said, craning his head toward the kitchen and catching my gaze, reaching into his pocket. “Tell me how much.”
My cheeks heated as I grinned back at him. If we had to sneak around for however long, I needed to get better at it.
“Thirty minutes,” I said, holding up my phone before he snatched it away to read the total amount on the screen. He reached into his wallet and handed me a lot more than the total, but I’d fight him on that later.
“Stop worrying about me, kiddo,” I said, tapping my toe against Taylor’s ankle as I sat between them. “That’s my job.”
“I can worry if I want,” she said, straightening from the couch and shifting toward the hallway, her eyes darting back and forth between us. “Call me when dinner’s here. I won’t come out until it is.”
I caught her smirk as she headed to her room and shut the door.
“Is it sad when your thirteen-year-old sister is your wingwoman?” I said, sputtering out a laugh as I dropped my head into my hands.
Silas grabbed my legs and swung them around until I was lying flat on the couch, and he climbed over me, gazing down at me with a wicked grin.
“Now, give me the kiss I’ve wanted all damn day,” he growled before slanting his mouth over mine. I sighed into the kiss, wrapping my legs around his waist as he rocked into me.
“Fuck, you taste good,” he murmured against my lips as he eased back. “I can’t keep going too long, or else I’ll have to eat with a pillow on my lap.”
I burst out laughing and buried my head into his chest.
“Sorry for eavesdropping. It was cute hearing you both talk about me.”
“Taylor is a good kid. She loves you and appreciates you.” My eyes fluttered as he sifted his fingers through my hair.
“I know she does.”
“And I’m pretty crazy about you too,” he said, grazing his lips along my jaw.
“I sort of had that impression. And back at you,’ I whispered. “I’d hoped she wouldn’t grow up as fast as I had to, but I guess that’s what happens when you have a parent with the maturity of a child.”
“You’reher parent. And you’re doing a great job.”
