Page 51 of Twice as Tempting

Chapter 17

When Kelly peeked out her window and saw Damian walk out of his apartment the next day just before noon, she went out to meet him.

“Hey,” she called.

“Hey,” Damian said, and he gave her an appreciative once-over. “What’s in the container?”

“Homemade chocolate-chip cookies,” she said proudly. “I didn’t want to show up empty handed.” While Kelly didn’t like to cook, she did enjoy baking and had often made treats for the two of them.

As they drove away, Damian asked, “Did you bring your bathing suit?”

“No. You never said anything about swimming.”

“I mentioned the boat, remember?”

“Oh, that’s right. Well, the thing is, I don’t own a bathing suit that would be appropriate for a family gathering.”

Damian chuckled and shook his head. “This isn’t the 1800s, Kell. The bathing suit you wore yesterday would have been fine.”

Kelly scowled. “If we go out on the boat, I’ll just have to stay dry, that’s all.”

A few minutes later, they pulled down the long driveway that led to Damian’s childhood home and parked next to Zack’s Range Rover. Kelly heard Gracie’s squeal of delight as she raced toward them from the side of the house.

“Uncle Damian! Aunt Kelly! You’re here!” she yelled.

Damian held out his arms to her, and Gracie leapt into them. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek repeatedly.

Watching them gave Kelly a flicker of longing that surprised her and made her feel off-kilter. While she loved Emma’s children, she hadn’t really given much thought to having her own. She had been too busy playing the field and enjoying the single life to concern herself with marriage and children. But seeing how natural Damian was with his nieces tugged at her, and then… Gracie lunged at Kelly’s legs, almost toppling her to the ground.

Kelly giggled at Gracie’s exuberance and hugged her tight. “Where is everyone?” she asked once Gracie let go.

“In the backyard. C’mon.”

Damian shot Kelly a smile, and they followed Gracie around to the back of the house. Kelly took in the idyllic scene and was instantly glad she came. Zack and Emma sat close together on white Adirondack chairs, cooing at Ava, who wore a floral sundress and matching sunhat. The baby was only one month old, but she already had an extensive wardrobe, thanks in part to Aunt Kelly!

Joe Kostas was manning a large stainless-steel grill that had smoke rising from it and that emitted the mouth-watering scents of hamburgers and hot dogs. A long knotty pine picnic table set with a red and white checked tablecloth was covered with side dishes that Alex had probably been preparing for hours.

Just then, the hostess made an appearance, bustling out of the patio door carrying red-white-and-blue themed paper plates, cups, and napkins.

“Here, Mom. Let me help you with that,” Damian said, and he rushed to her aid.

“Suck-up,” Zack teased.

Alex frowned. “Language,” she scolded. And then she turned to Kelly. “Hello, dear. You’re looking lovely as always.” Alex kissed her on both cheeks with her usual flair.

“Thanks. I brought cookies,” Kelly said and handed Alex the container.

“Good thing, Kelly, because we might not have enough food,” Joe said, and he winked at her.

The Kostas family loved to rib each other, and they especially liked to tease Alex about the mountains of food that she always prepared.

“Oh, shush,” Alex said to Joe on her way back into the house.

Kelly and Damian made their way over to Emma and Zack and took the two matching chairs across from them. What a perfect day, Kelly reflected as she glanced out at the lake. The temperature was near eighty degrees, and there was a mix of sun and clouds with a slight breeze—typical Labor Day weather for Michigan. She pulled up on the hem of her tank dress to get some sun on her legs and caught Damian’s sideways glance.

Apparently, Zack noticed too, and he didn’t pass up the opportunity to needle his younger brother. “Dude, you’re so obvious.”

“Whatever,” Damian muttered.