Southern Desire (Southern Heart 2)

“He’s out,” I whisper.

“So is she.” I feel him move to stand, and then he’s gently lifting Walker from my arms. “I’ll lay him down.”

My eyes follow him as he places Walker in his playpen. He holds out his hand for me to take, and I don’t ask questions, just put my hand in his and allow him to pull me to stand in front of him. “Lie with me,” he whispers. He leads us to the chaise lounge, climbs on, and pats the space next to him.

I look over at Lex. “It’s fine, Whit. Even if she were to wake up, it’s not like Evan and McKinley have not done this very thing.”

I nod and settle in beside him. He wraps his arms around me and releases a deep breath. “I’m tired.” He yawns.

“Sleep, I’ll listen for them.”

He buries his face in my neck, and I close my eyes, relishing the feel of being back in his arms. I don’t know what it means, but I don’t care. I’m turning over a new leaf, just like Mom wanted me to. I’m not going to worry about what might happen; instead, I am going to enjoy the morsels of time he gives me.

Lying there, I soak up his warmth for the second time in as many days. Looking at the clock, I see that we’ve been here almost three hours. They will be back soon, and I don’t want them to find us like this. Very carefully, I slide out from his hold and slip into the kitchen. There are a few dishes in the sink, so as quietly as I can, I wash them and set them in the drainer to dry. I wipe off all the counters and then head back to the living room. There are toys scattered about, so I tiptoe through and pick them up. I’m full of nervous energy and McKinley has to be worn out, working and taking care of two little ones. I know Evan helps, but this is something I can do. Maybe she will get to sit a few minutes today instead of feeling like she has a laundry list of things to do.

I’m placing the last Barbie in the basket by the couch when the door opens. “Hey,” McKinley says, her voice low. She looks around. “You cleaned up?”

“They were all sleeping. I needed something to keep me busy.”

“You’re not tired?” I know she wants to ask more but doesn’t.

“No, after I got home this morning I slept most of the day.”

She grins. “This morning, huh?”

My face heats.

“Did you happen to spend the night with my brother?”

I take a seat on the couch beside the chaise. Aaron’s hand snakes out and rests on my leg. “Leave her alone, Kinley,” he grumbles.

She laughs. “What? I’m just making conversation.”

“You’re just being nosey,” Evan says, joining us. His arms are loaded down with bags. “Put those muscles to use, Mills, and grab some bags.” He chuckles all the way down the hall.

“Yeah, Mills,” Aaron says.

“Uh . . . you must have forgotten that I’m a Chamberlin now. He was talking to you.”

Aaron leans over and hugs my waist. “Don’t make me go,” he pleads.

“Oh, come on, you big baby.” I poke him in the side and he yelps. “Shhh, you’ll wake the kids.”

He sits up. Leaning in, he captures my face and plants a loud, wet kiss right on my lips. In front of his sister!

“Payback’s a bitch.” He smirks as he stands to help Evan with the groceries.

“Did that just happen?” McKinley asks, her eyes wide with shock.

“McKinley, I’m sorry. I know I’m your employee and I understand if you have to let me go because of this, but I just—”

“Wait.” She holds up her hand to stop me. “I’m good with it, but I’m just shocked. I’ve never seen this side of him. Aaron doesn’t do”—she points at me—“playful. He doesn’t bring girls around. Holy shit, you’ve tamed the beast.” She laughs.

“I know I work for you—”

“Whitney, it’s fine. Trust me. You’re good for him.”

“I-I don’t know about that. We just. . . . I don’t know what we are,” I confess.

“You’re the one.” She grins.

The one? No. “We’re friends,” I say, because really I don’t know what else to call it.

“You have your theory, and I have mine. I know my brother.”

“Hey, I forgot to show you all something. I’ll be right back,” Aaron says, heading back outside. I know he’s going to get the picture.

“Check this out,” he says, holding the canvas up for them.

“Wow, that’s a great shot,” McKinley says. She turns to me. “You take this?”

“Yeah, when we went to the show a few weeks back.”

“This is awesome. We need a copy for the office out in the barn,” she tells Evan.

“Here is a bag full of shots she took that day.” Aaron hands them the bag.

The four of us settle around the kitchen table as they look through the shots. “We should blow a few of these up for the studio, maybe give our clients some ideas to broaden their horizons,” McKinley suggests.

I feel a surge of pride that she likes them that much. She also said “our” clients; she’s always treated me as her equal, not her employee, since day one. I love my job, and that’s why I was so worried about how she would take the me-and-Aaron thing, whatever that thing is. I should have listened to him though. She’s not the least bit upset.

“You guys want to stay for dinner?” McKinley asks.

Aaron looks over at me. “Whit?”

“Uh, yeah, if you want.”

He places his arm on the back of my chair, bringing him closer to me. “Yeah, we’ll stay. Thanks,” he tells her.

“You need help, baby?” Evan asks McKinley.

“No, you all go do guy stuff, give me thirty minutes. I promised Lex we would have spaghetti.”

He kisses her. “Love you,” he whispers. I look down at my hands, clasped on the table. “You mind helping me out in the barn really quick?” he asks Aaron.

“Sure, man.” Leaning over, he kisses my bare shoulder. “Be right back.”

“See what I mean? Aaron doesn’t do that.” She points to my shoulder.

I fight back my smile.

“Right, live in denial.” She laughs. “How were the kids?”

We spend the next twenty minutes talking about how Lex has both Aaron and Evan wrapped around her little finger. I make the salad while she takes care of the spaghetti. The kids wake up, and I take care of getting Lex set up at the table while she feeds Walker. That’s how the guys find us.