“That’s a level of hot.”
He pins me with another look, then smiles and shakes his head as he shuts the engine off.
But he doesn’t immediately get out of the truck.
Oh, no.
The man gives me a slow once-over that has my nipples pebbling and my panties getting wetter.
Like he too would rather we’d been invited to this cookout another night, and like he too intends to tease and flirt with me all night long.
“Grab those apples and the Chex Mix, would you? Then I can tell your brothers you helped.”
I’m laughing as I unbuckle and twist in my seat to look for the groceries in the back seat. As I’m twisted, another car pulls up behind us.
Two people are in front.
But neither is Decker.
And suddenly nothing’s funny anymore.
“Oh, shit,” I whisper.
Rhys glances behind us too, but I don’t enjoy the way our shoulders are connecting the way I should.
Not when he’s spotting the same thing I’m looking at.
His smile turns grim, and he grabs his phone.
“Tell me that’s not the triplets’ parents,” I say.
“You seem like too big a fan of the truth for me to tell that lie.”
I glance at him.
If he’s amused, worried, or feeling anything other than calm, his poker face isn’t giving it away.
While he checks his phone, I check mine too.
I have six messages from Lucky that have come in since Rhys pulled over for my last photos.
Shit.Jack invited Mom and Dad.
This will be fine.Right? Don’t tell them.
I don’t knowhow the fuck Jack missed that you were coming. Just be cool, okay?
If you got sick,I’d understand. Not that I want you to be sick. I’m just fucking nervous.
We do wantto see you tonight. Awkward isn’t our specialty though. Not when it’s our awkward. We love it when it’s someone else’s awkward. Possibly we’re dicks.
Letme know when you get this. Remember who you are—my friend who flunked out of nursing school and needed a job.
I textLucky back that I won’t mess this up, then glance at Rhys.
His gaze meets mine, and I swear there’s a hint of amusement lingering with the recognition that tonight is going to be very, very awkward.
“Show time,” he says. “Don’t fuck up.”
