As we got back into Max’s truck a little while later, my phone went off.
Cane: I miss you.
Me: I miss you, too.
The sun had begun to set in the west, casting shadows across the backyard. Kari and I sat by the pool watching Max push a broom across the pool floor. After our hike, we had stopped for lunch at the Mexican restaurant where I had first met Cane.
I was in the same boat leaving Blanca’s as I was in the last time—quietly hoping for a call from Cane Alexander.
A light breeze tickled our skin as we sat stretched out on the chaiselounges. The sun was hidden by the acacia trees in the yard and I felt my body began to relax.
I closed my eyes and listened to the pool swirl, the water splashing against the sides as Max pushed the pool broom across the floor.
“Why do you have an automatic pool cleaner if you have to clean the thing yourself anyway?” he asked.
“You don’t have to,” Kari said, tipping down her sunglasses. “You’re just picky.”
“We need to move somewhere that doesn’t require having a pool for survival.” Max submerged himself in the water and came back up hot and wet, his tattoos glistening with water droplets.
“Move?” This was news to me.
“Not specifically.” Kari looked at Max for help.
“We have been talking about moving in together.” I could tell by the nonchalant tone in his voice that he was testing me out, seeing how I would respond.
“Oh,” I said, surprised. “I didn’t know that.”
“We aren’t sure or anything,” Kari said hurriedly. “Just something we’ve been throwing out there.”
I looked at my sister and Max as they shared a smile. “I actually think that’s great.” I set my e-reader down. I couldn’t concentrate on Blake and Cam right now, anyway. “Are you getting a new place or moving in here or Max’s or what?”
“We don’t know. I said we were just thinking about it,” Kari said laughing.
I watched Max work his way around the pool, his muscles pushing and pulling. “I have been checking out apartments online, too. I need to just pull the trigger on one.”
Max looked at me. “Have you talked to Cane about that?”
“I would have to talk to Cane at all before I could talk to him about that.” I raised my eyebrows, challenging Max to a response.
I watched him force a swallow before swinging his eyes to the side gate. “What’s up, Alexander?”
My breath caught in my throat as my eyes followed Max’s eyes to the side gate.
Looking rumpled and without the cocky swagger he usually had, Cane came around the corner. He flashed Max a wave before his eyes found me.
He walked over with a determined look on his face, taking his sunglasses off and training his eyes on me. He bent down and buried his face in the side of my neck, kissing me lightly behind the ear.
“Hey,” he whispered.
He pulled away to study my face before sitting on the edge of my chair.
“Did you get Howard’s call?” Cane turned toward Max.
Max’s forehead creased as he stopped pushing the broom. “No. Why?”
“We had a boatload of copper pipe go missing from the Benjamin site sometime last night.” Cane’s face was awash in frustration.
“You’re kidding me.” Max shook his head, the laughter in his eyes from a few minutes prior now evaporated. “What the fuck?”
