Breaking Even (Sterling Shore 5)

“How did they even know the girls were here?”

He smiles proudly as he stretches. “I sent them all a text. I sent one to Kade first, knowing it would take him the longest to get here. Then I waited until the girls started making sense to text the others. And voila. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Thank you,” I say quickly.

“Let’s watch TV and order a pizza. I wanted to go to Silk tonight, but fuck that. I’m exhausted.”

He wanted to go to Silk with me?

My dorky grin would probably give me away, so I mask it with a respectable one instead, discreetly clearing my throat. His arm drops around my shoulders as we head to the couch to watch whatever movie he brought over with the snake.

That snake better not still be in my room.

Chapter 7

RYE

A soft, warm body is on top of me, and I wake up as my hands slide down Brin’s back. She’s sleeping peacefully with her head tucked into the crook of my neck, and the light pours through the window as she stirs just barely.

How long have we been asleep? Is it really morning? And why the hell do I just want to stay under her and go back to sleep?

I can’t seem to stay away. Being around her is the best part of my day lately, and that’s bad. Very bad.

Her hand slides up my chest as she snuggles in closer, and I smile as I tighten my hold around her waist. She looks so small right now, but she packs a lot of punch. I’m starting to think she packs more of a punch than I realized, because I really don’t want to leave her right now.

“Good morning,” a whispered voice says, and I jerk a little, quickly trying to get still when Brin mumbles something in her sleep.

I look over my shoulder as Brin continues to breathe evenly, staying asleep.

Maggie is grinning behind her cup of coffee, her eyes alight with an enigmatic sparkle. Oh shit. What time is it?

“She has to get up in thirty minutes to get ready for work,” she says, smiling as she sips her coffee.

“I need to get to work, too. We’re supposed to get her car finished today,” I say while trying to climb off the couch without waking Brin up, shifting her little by little off my chest.

I never go to work this early, but today I’m pretty excited. I can’t wait to give her back her car.

“How much is her car going to cost?”

I smile when Brin presses a kiss to my chest. She’s pretty damn sweet when she sleeps.

“Nothing.”

I finally manage to get her moved to the couch, and I brush her hair away from her face as I stand up.

“Nothing?” Maggie asks, sounding intrigued. “It has to cost something. You couldn’t have possibly had all those parts to spare. Along with paint and stuff.”

Brin thinks she pays half the rent here, but this neighborhood is ridiculously priced. Maggie has family money, and I assume she makes Brin think she’s contributing just as much as she is.

Maggie’s a damn good person. Brin’s pride won’t allow her to think she owes anyone anything.

“Something tells me you understand why I need her to believe I’m not spending a dime on this. I’d appreciate it if you helped me out.”

She shrugs, her smile only growing.

“I helped you sneak in to rig our fridge with blue dye. Of course I’ll help you with this.”

I bend over and grab my shoes, and then drop to the chair across from the couch, trying and failing not to look at the sleeping girl with her back turned to me. I’ve really got to get a grip.