In Good Company (Pembroke Hills #1)

by Kat Singleton

I’m so lost in my own pity party—or maybe it’s an embarrassment party—to realize he’s left his chair. His fingers softly wrap around my wrists as he pulls my hands from my face.

“It isn’t silly,”

he says, his voice softer than I’ve ever heard it. My heart hammers in my chest, but it isn’t because of embarrassment. It’s because Callahan Hastings is standing so close to me I can feel his breath against my cheeks. I can see the different blues of his eyes, how they’re darker around the iris and lighter around the middle. Why does he have to smell so good? Why am I learning that dark hair and light eyes might be my kryptonite? Did he just look at my lips? My mouth suddenly feels dry. I sweep my tongue across my bottom lip to wet it, all too aware of the sudden proximity between Cal and me. He must realize it at the same time because with one quick movement, he’s back in his chair across the table from me. Cal takes a large drink of wine. I sit, trying to process what just happened. Why did my body react like that to Cal? He’s my...

my body was warming under his icy blue gaze.

He winks. My stomach tightens. I realize that despite his hard, grumpy exterior, he’s extremely charming. And that charm is working on me.

butterflies that took flight in my stomach at Cal’s wide smile.

Maybe it wasn’t just her cooking or her presence I missed over the weekend…maybe I missed her.

Before I can say anything, she lifts her hand to her mouth and sucks the whipped cream from her finger. It feels like the air is sucked from my lungs, and I can’t breathe as I watch her tongue peek out to lick more of the whipped cream off her hand. A strangled noise comes from my throat. Lucy’s eyes go wide as her eyes meet mine. Her hand immediately drops to her side.

“Oh my God. That was so unprofessional. I’m sorry. I’ll wash my hands.”

She steps closer to me to reach the sink. I can’t move. I’m replaying the image of her pink tongue flattening against her skin and lapping up the whipped cream. My body heats. My pulse spikes. And what’s highly unprofessional are the thoughts r...

“Say some...

Lucy pleads, finishing washing her hands and wiping them on her apron. It’s obvious she’s taken my silence as anger when it’s the opposite. I’m having very dirty thoughts about a woman on my pa...

Instead of saying anything, I turn on my heel and rush out of the kitchen like a bat out of hell. I need a cold shower. Immediately.

A man with eyes as light as his and hair as dark as his shouldn’t be possible. It’s a lethal combination, paired with the intense way he stares at me as if there isn’t a horde of people around us, that makes my skin heat.

He takes another step closer to me, completely surrounding me in his scent now. He towers over me, having to curve his back slightly so his eyes stay connected with mine. I’m so distracted by his sudden nearness that I briefly forget he asked me a question.

He loops his arms around Lucy and Charlotte before pulling them to his sides. “So which one of you wants to couple with me?” For a moment, I see red. I can’t stomach the mental picture of Lucy riding around with Jude all day, undoubtedly laughing at his stupid jokes and blushing at the way he flirts. Stepping forward, I grab Lucy by the wrist and pull her to me.

“Lucy will be with me.”

The direct tone of my voice leaves no room for discussion. At least, I thought it left no room for discussion. Jude snickers. “What if Lucy wants to be with me?” Lucy takes a tiny step closer to me as my fingers stay firmly wrapped around her wrist. I know that Jude doesn’t actually want to pair with Lucy for the day. Anyone with eyes c...

When she looks at me from over her shoulder with a wide, nervous smile, something weird happens in my chest. The sight of her hesitant smile is stunning, and it’s like I feel it throughout my entire body.

“I hope it doesn’t ruin your day if we lose. I’m a horrible golfer.”

My fingers twitch against her back as I guide her to one of the staff members help...

“I get to spend the day with you. My day could n...

I lean back in the seat, crossing one leg over the other while I think about his answer. I throw a look in his direction, finding his gaze on my legs. His eyes snap to mine immediately, his jaw getting tight after being caught.

I’m learning to love the sound of his laugh—the real one. He has a sarcastic one he uses often, but this real one, the one that rumbles deep in his chest…it’s kind of sexy. Can you find a man’s laugh sexy without finding him sexy? I bite my lip before looking at him out of the corner of my eye. He is sexy, no matter how much I don’t want to admit it.

He taps his fingers against the space between us, his pinky just barely brushing against my bare thigh. I freeze at the feeling of his skin against mine, trying not to let my body shiver in pleasure from the softest touch.

I close the distance between us, trying not to focus on how good she smells. I’m becoming far too fond of her sweet scent. I’m becoming far too fond of her. I reach out and let my fingers trail down her back reassuringly.

I step behind her and line the front of my body to her back. She doesn’t shy away from the closeness of our bodies. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing. Probably bad. I can barely think straight when her ass softly brushes against my cock as she adjusts her position. Air hisses through my teeth as she pushes her hips forward and away from me.

I wrap my arm around her middle and place it against her stomach. Her stomach tightens underneath my touch.

I demand, my throat feeling thick while uttering the word. Before she can say anything else, I push my foot between he...

My hand slides down her stomach before landing on her hip. My other hand follows suit, both my hands resting at the narrow of her hips.

I look over my shoulder to make sure she’s lined up correctly. I lean a little closer, placing my lips close to her ear.

My fingertips trail over her skin and down her arms.

She’s a good student, doing everything I tell her to.

I keep my arms wrapped around her as I grip the top of the golf club. She places her right hand where I tell her.

She sighs, and I can feel it from the press of my front against her back.

I ask, keeping my lips close to her ear because I love the way it makes her shiver. She nods as she adjusts her grip on the club.

Air seems to be ripped from my lungs as she does exactly as she’s told, but the change of her position has her grinding perfectly against me. My entire body is tense as I try not to react. She innocently did exactly what I told her. I need to keep things appropriate between us, but all I can think about is what it’d feel like to have her ass pressed against me with no barrier of fabric between us. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to rid myself of the mental picture of her bent over in front of me. Where are these thoughts coming from? And why are they coming at the most terrible of times?

I clear my throat, hoping she can’t feel the way my cock hardens at the press of our bodies.

she closes the distance between us. She leaps into my arms, and I immediately catch her, pinning her body to mine as her wide, excited eyes meet mine.

“Was that good?”

she asks, her arms wrapping aro...

“That was incr...

I assure her, spinning both our bodies around in celebration. Her legs swing in the air as the cutest giggle leaves h...

I smile, unable to resist directing my gaze to her lips for a brief moment. Our faces are so close it’d be easy to lean in and kiss her, but I can’t, no matter how much I can admit that I want to. There’s nothing I want more at this very moment than to kiss Lucy Rae Owens. I don’t care that she’s my employee for the summer. And I certainly don’t give a damn that she’s my brother’s ex-girlfriend. Nothing matters more than the desperate desire to feel her lips against mine. Her breathing gets shallower, and she leans in just a little closer, her lips slightly parted. I know she’s mine for the taking. It takes everything in me to put her back on the ground. I take a step back and clear my throat. I stuff my hands into my pockets as I try to calm my racing heart.

I should form words and respond to him, but I can’t. My throat suddenly feels swollen and my mouth incredibly dry as I take in the sight in front of me. Cal. Shirtless. Each and every one of his abs is on full display. They even glisten as the sun reflects off what must be sunscreen that he’s applied. My gaze travels down, finding him in a simple pair of navy swim trunks. They hit his lower thigh, giving me the slightest peek of his strong, muscular thighs. A sharp elbow jab to my stomach makes me yelp. I wince, my eyes darting to Charlotte.

The thin layer of fabric between our skin feels like nothing. It’s like his fingertips sear my skin with the slightest pressure

I can feel Cal’s gaze on me, more hot and intense than the summer sun. I try to ignore it for a moment

Finally, I can’t take the feeling of Cal watching me any longer, and my eyes meet his. My heart jumps in my chest at the playful smile that graces his mouth.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I whisper, unable to keep my thoughts to myself. His smile grows wider. He lifts a shoulder in a casual shrug.