Better than Sexy (The Sexy 3)

He blew out a long breath, relieved they didn’t have an issue. He hadn’t thought about having kids in a long time, and he knew that, for her, now wasn’t the right time. Not with her career about to take off. Although he was shocked the fear he’d expect to experience had never kicked in. Vivi pregnant with his kid didn’t scare him. Huh. Hell of a thing to think about.

“I’m clean,” he said. “I just want you to know you can trust me. We had physicals for life insurance policies.” He and his partners.

“Thank you. Me, too. Yearly physical.” She blushed, the discussion obviously not one she felt comfortable having. “Way to kill the moment?”

He shook his head, pulling her up from the chair and into his arms. “Nothing could ever kill the moment with you.” He slid his hands to her waist and kissed her lips.

She shot him a grateful smile, then slid out of his embrace and reached for the towel, wrapping it around her waist. “Is there a guest shower?” she asked.

“Of course. Come on. You can use the one I shared with Levi growing up.” He was shocked his brother’s name slipped so easily off his tongue. Something about being with Vivi eased the jagged edges of pain he’d normally feel even mentioning his twin.

They cleaned up around the pool, her grabbing her suit bottoms off the deck, him taking in the sunscreen and the other towels.

First Vivi showered, then Landon took a quick one, and when he dressed and stepped out of the bathroom, he searched and found Vivi in the laundry room, throwing the towels into the machine. “Give me yours from the shower. I can do everything at once.”

He grinned and tossed the damp towels into the machine. “I planned on running a wash myself.”

“It’s fine. You can fold it all when we’re finished.” She winked at him and turned on the washer. “I just didn’t want to leave work for your mom.”

“Thank you,” he murmured.

With the laundry in process, he grasped her hand and led her through the house and into the den, where they could watch TV until they were ready to leave.

He sat down on the couch, his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close against him. It felt right to have her curled close to him, he thought, breathing in the scent of the strawberry shampoo that they’d used on their hair.

Without warning, the garage door leading to the house opened with a creak and footsteps sounded. “Landon? Are you here? We saw your car parked in the driveway!” his mother called.

“Oh my God.” Vivi bolted up from her seat, pulling out of his arms and standing by the sofa. “They’re here. Your parents are here,” she said, wide-eyed and obviously panicked.

“In the den, Mom!” He rose and grasped Vivi’s hand. She stood before him, damp hair falling over her shoulders, wearing her long tee shirt and flip-flops … no underwear, not that his parents would see or know. At least he had on his swimsuit, which was fast-drying. “Calm down.”

He reached out and squeezed her hands just as his mother entered the room, his father by her side.

“Landon, what a nice surprise!” his mother, Carrie, said, looking well, her brunette hair growing longer each time he saw her.

“I could say the same. I thought you were going away for the weekend,” he said, surprised to see them.

His father, Samuel, waved a hand dismissively and ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “I’d had enough of being with people,” he said of the conference he and his mom had gone to for his work. “We came home early. What are you … two doing here?” He pointedly looked at Vivi.

Because Landon never brought women to his parents’ home.

“We wanted to go for a swim.” Grasping Vivi’s hand, he squeezed reassuringly. “Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Vivi Zane.”

She stepped forward to shake their hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Her parents took her hand in turn.

“The pleasure is ours, young lady,” Landon’s father said.

Ripping off a Band-Aid was the best way to go, or so his mom had always said. “Vivi is…”

“I work at Landon’s club,” Vivi quickly chimed in, causing Landon to narrow his gaze.

She glanced at him imploringly, and he read her plea in her expression. Please don’t tell them who I am. Lying didn’t sit well with him, but he completely understood her fear. He might not tell his parents now, but for sure he would when they were alone, giving them time to adjust to the situation before he brought Vivi around them again, knowing she was Vic’s sister.

He would have been up-front now, but he respected her shame and embarrassment about Vic’s actions. It was his job to convince her that she wasn’t her brother and didn’t carry his behavior on her shoulders. Of course, given his initial reaction, he was being hypocritical, but he’d come around. And he hoped his parents would as well.