“I’ll do what you think is best,” I say, earning a surprised sound out of Malcolm.
“Okay, then. Think about the interview. I’ve already talked to the front office about it, and everyone is in agreement that it would be your choice. There is absolutely no pressure, one way or the other.”
“I’ll think about it, but I do not want Paisley involved at all. I don’t even want her name mentioned—at no press calls, no interviews, nothing, and if she is brought up, I’ll leave.”
“Okay, I’ll?—”
“I’m serious, Malcolm. My sister is completely off-limits.”
He actually appears proud of me when he says, “Of course. I’ll make sure of it.”
Then he pats my shoulder and finally shifts, allowing me to reach the driver’s side of my car. I slip into the seat as he offers me a wave with one hand, busy lifting his cell phone to his ear with the other, already relaying this conversation to the PR firm. I guess no matter how much he may act like my friend, he’s still on the payroll, my babysitter.
I crank the air and blast some Kendrick as I make the twenty-five-minute drive back to Center City, parking as a text from Valerie arrives. She’s in Manhattan for a few days and wants to know if I can visit for a night or two.
Even if I wanted to, I can’t leave my sister.
She’s more than shown me she can take care of herself, but I’m not comfortable leaving her overnight on her own. I’ll needto figure something out for games since Nadine will be going back to Jersey soon, but I’m hoping she might be willing to help me find a replacement before then.
I shoot a text back to Valerie that I won’t be able to make it then head upstairs, where I spy my sister on the terrace through the glass doors. I stop to pet Jelly and Bean, though I’ve been referring to them as Rocky and Balboa, before stepping outside. Only to stop short.
Laid out on a beach towel, Nadine has her top off, and I can’t see anything because she’s on her stomach reading something on an iPad. But, still.
Shouldn’t she be, like, covered up?
“Shouldn’t you be covered up?” I ask, waving my hand around at her.
She angles her head back, scrunching up her face. “What?”
“You’re…” I trail off, my attention catching on her dewy tan and the line on her left ass cheek, delineating where her bikini bottom has ridden up, revealing the difference of where the sun has touched and not touched.
She carefully moves, clasping the ends of her bathing suit top and tying it at her neck before rolling over to face me. “Didn’t realize you were such a prude. Sorry.”
“I’m not a prude.” Far from it, actually. “But you’re supposed to be watching my sister.”
Said sister is fast asleep, mouth hanging open, head lolled to the side, where she’s laid out on a lounge chair, rolled-up towel behind her head.
“Took your Amex out for another walk today,” Nadine explains as she stands, smelling of coconut and looking like a goddess with her wavy hair and sun-kissed skin. Her bikini isn’t all that revealing, but it highlights the curve of her waist and roundness of her hips. Does great things for her breasts.
I’d be able to hold them in my hands, cover them completely, and I’m suddenly aching to know what color her nipples are, if she’d like me biting them.
“Got her a new bathing suit.” She points to Paisley in a one-piece, then to herself. “And I didn’t want to be left out, so… Thanks for the bonus.”
“Yeah,” I grunt because it was worth it. Whatever it cost. She could spend it. All my money. “Did you, uh…” I scratch at my jaw, forcing my gaze past her to the skyline. “Check out the pool?”
“We did. For a bit.”
“Good. That’s good.”
She starts to clean up, bending over right in front of me, and I wonder if she’s doing it on purpose. Tormenting me like this.
Proving that I’ve been wrong my entire life, thinking the best part of a woman is her breasts.
Because, no.
It’s her ass.
And thighs.
