Every Sweet Regret (Orchid Valley 2)

Suddenly, the crowd of friends I was so happy to see in my backyard is a frustrating obstacle between me and the thing I want most—to have Stella alone.

“Great party, Kace,” Dean says behind me.

I look away from my phone so quickly that a muscle in my neck throbs. “Hey,” I say, but I’m fixated on Stella’s last text. My dick is half hard and I can barely think straight and . . . there’s her brother. I feel like I should apologize or something. Dean’s not some overprotective asshole who thinks no guy should touch his sister. He respects Stella enough to let her make her own choices, and he generally stays out of her love life—with one or two notable exceptions where someone needed to school Stella on a guy’s true colors. I wouldn’t feel so damn guilty if I were interested in a relationship with her, but I’m not. I’m just another asshole who dreams about those tits and that mouth of hers way too often.

“Having a good time?” I ask, and I’ve never been so glad for my poker face.

Dean reaches into the cooler for a beer, hands it to me, then grabs another. “Yeah. It’s a gorgeous day. I’m glad I came.” He takes a pull of his beer and settles back into his chair. “Amy left early. Did you two argue or something?”

I shake my head. “Nah, we’re good. Hope had a friend’s birthday party she needed to get to.”

He lifts his chin. “Got it. It’s good to see you and Amy getting along.”

“It’s easier than I thought it’d be,” I admit. When Amy told me she was moving out and filing for divorce but wanted us to stay friends, I thought she was crazy. I shrug. “It’s all for Hope.”

“I love that,” he says. “You two are awesome parents.”

“Thanks.”

Dean glances around the party, and even though it’s totally reasonable for him to come over here to hang by me, I wish he hadn’t. I want to get back to my conversation with Stella.

I want to kick everyone out and finally turn the corner on this endless flirtation.

My phone dings with another notification. I don’t look. I’m ready to tell Stella exactly what I want to do to her, but not while her brother’s sitting across from me.

I twist the top off my beer, focusing on my friend, and catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Stella’s heading toward the pool house.

The pool house.

I lean back in my chair and look right at Dean, clearing my throat to get his attention. I don’t want him to see where Stella’s going, just in case he notices me slipping in there as soon as I can excuse myself from this conversation. “You need anything? Did you get enough to eat?”

“Nah, I’m good.” He stares at the table between us and wipes away the condensation from his beer. He’s acting weird as fuck. Or maybe I’m feeling awkward and projecting? Either way, Stella’s waiting for me, and I need to pick up my phone and get a rain check or follow her.

I know what I want to do.

I stand and stretch. “Well, I need to hit the head.”

“Sure.” He takes a sip of his beer and nods. “Catch you after.”

I’ve known this guy all my life, and I know when something’s bugging him. Normally, I’d pry the truth out of him, but right now I have other priorities.

I try to be inconspicuous as I make my way across the patio, but I feel like my secret is written all over my face. The problem with me and Stella is it wouldn’t just affect us. Her brother’s my best friend, and she’s good friends with my sister, Abbi. Then there’s Stella’s best friend, Brinley, who’s like a sister to me, and Brinley’s daughter, Cami, who’s like a niece to me and also close to Stella. And I don’t even want to think about how Amy would react. They worked together a few years ago and Stella made some immature choices, leaving a terrible impression on Amy.

If we screw this up, everyone I care about will be affected as well.

By the time I’m sliding the glass door closed behind me, I’m wondering if this is a terrible idea altogether.

Despite the wall of windows that overlook the pool, the pool house is dark in the afternoons and evenings, and it takes a minute for my eyes to adjust. I don’t turn on a light or call out her name.

I scan the living area of the small structure and the kitchenette against the far wall. After a quick look around, I realize Stella’s not waiting for me in the open. The sleeping loft is currently being used as storage, and I can’t imagine she would’ve sneaked behind the path I roped off—not with all those chipped tiles—so I assume she’s not up there, either. Which leaves the bathroom. The door’s cracked, and after I take two steps in that direction, Stella pokes her head out and grins.