In Good Company (Pembroke Hills #1)

by Kat Singleton

“I was just wondering if the way you stared at my abs earlier meant you shared the same ...

My eyes go wide, and my body jolts with embarrassment. I feel hot all over, and it isn’t because of the summer sun or the way he looks at me. It’s from embarrassment. He did catch me. Hurriedly, I grab my oversized sunglasses from my bag and slip them on....

“I have no idea what you’re tal...

I mumble, my heart racing at being caug...

“I’ll take that as a yes, then...

This is torture. I’ve already been struggling to fight my attraction to Lucy, and being around her all day in a bikini might be one of the worst ideas I’ve ever had. And I never have bad ideas.

She wears a baby pink bikini that I can’t stop staring at. I’ve never been a fan of pink before, but it might now be my favorite color. The two little pink ties at her waist. The tiny triangles that hide parts of her I’m suddenly desperate to see. The color her cheeks turn from the little comments I make. I squeeze my eyes shut as she walks in front of me, deep in conversation with Camille about something. I need to look away from her. I need to not be attracted to her.

I’ve noticed over the past few weeks that if she’s not right next to me, giving me the soft smile I’m so fond of, I miss her presence. I’m getting far too used to the way she blushes when she talks back to me or the way conversation is so easy with her.

I take a step closer to her, trying not to think about the fact she’s wearing nothing but a bikini.

taking another step forward. My heart thumps erratically inside my chest at being alone in here with her, which is odd because I’ve been alone with her plenty of times. It’s just that those times, we weren’t wearing next to nothing.

I cross my arms over my chest as I come to a stop on the other side of the counter from her. My head feels fuzzy, and I’m wanting to make terrible decisions now that I’m alone with her, so I keep my distance, knowing that’s the safest choice for both of

The word “friend” sounds odd coming out of my mouth, but I don’t know what else to call her. Friend seems like a safe word, even though the thoughts running through my mind right now are not ones I’m used to having about my friends.

I stare at her for a moment. The air in this pool house feels thick. It feels small and cramped despite the open floor plan. Neither one of us speaks. Each second that passes by makes the surrounding air seem even more electrified. What would happen if I just closed the distance between us? If I kissed her, would I regret it? I doubt it, but I keep my feet planted so I don’t risk it. I should leave, but I don’t want to. I’ve had to share her with everyone else since the charity golf event, and although I shouldn’t, I want her to myself, if only just for a few minutes. I sigh, pulling my gaze from Lucy’s for a moment, needing a second to gather my thoughts. There’s one thing that’s been on my mind a lot. I just haven’t known if I should ask her or not.

Maybe my deep attraction to her is burning through my veins, making me feel far warmer than I should.

I know I shouldn’t, but I round the kitchen counter and stop a few feet away from her. I’m still going to keep a bit of distance and not do anything that’d make her uncomfortable, but I want to be as close to her as possible when I ask her the question that’s been plaguing my mind for weeks so I can read her every reaction.

Lucy’s eyes go wide before she turns to face the sink. With her back now to me, my stomach sinks. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked the question. I close the distance between us. Worry sets deep in my bones that I’ve upset her.

I begin, reaching out to comfort her. I let my hand drop before our skin connects.

Cal takes another step closer. My heart leaps in my chest with adrenaline. He’s so close that our bodies are almost touching. It wouldn’t feel so intimate if either of us wore more clothing, but the lack of anything more than swimsuits between us makes the proximity so much…more.

His eyes cut from mine and travel over my skin. My breath hitches. He’s so close, and the pool house is so quiet that I wonder if he can hear the pounding of my heart. My skin breaks out in goosebumps under his intense stare.

Before I can finish my protest, he presses two of his fingers to my lips. The pads are rough against my sensitive skin. He drags them across slowly, making my pulse spike and my thighs shake with desire.

his voice husky.

I can’t say anything. Not with him this close. Time seems to stand still as his eyes stay locked with mine. The sun shines in through the small window behind me. Luckily, the pool house faces in a directio...

“L...

Cal groans, his gaze falling to my lips. I can’t help it. My lips part in desire at the sound of my name in his husky voice. He traces over my lips, i...

“We shoul...

I mutter, knowing exactly what’s going through his mind. It’s the same thing that’s going through mine. All I can think about is kissing him. What would his lips feel like against mine? Would they be strong and demanding or soft and gentle? Cal’s fingers move from my lips, but they don’t leave my body. They run down my throat. He presses his fingertips to my racing pulse and leaves them there for a moment. I should be embarrassed that he can o...

“We shouldn’t d...

His tone is normally confident and full of conviction. Right now, it isn’t. It sounds like he doesn’t even...

“Yeah, we sho...

I echo, my back arching with pleasure when he runs his fingertips along t...

“This pink bikini has taunted me ...

stares, tracing along the string betwe...

“I’m s...

I whisper, not knowing what else to say. This is inappropriate for so many reasons. But I want to kiss him—desperately. The rough skin of his fingertips drags along my ribs as he continues to torture me in the most delicious of ways. Screams of joy and laughter break out from outside the pool house, but neither Cal nor I move to stop. We’re both too caught up in what’s happening right here betw...

“These strings especially. The thought that one simple tug at either bow on your hip and they’d be off drove me wild....

I close my eyes, trying to muster up the courage to stop this. Not because that’s what I want but becau...

“...

I whisper, my voic...

“What about O...

Cal’s fingers disappear from my skin in an instant. I open my eyes to find his face closer to mine. The crystal-blue color of his eyes ...

“What abou...

I shift on my feet, wondering if I shouldn’t have said his brother’s name at all. It’s the effect Cal has on me. I can’t think straight and said the first excuse t...

“L...

My name comes out like a growl. He leans closer, grabbing the counter on either side of my hips. God, he’s so close. He smells like sunscreen and his colo...

“W...

“Don’t talk about my brother when I’m seconds away from finally kissing you after I’ve been thinking about doin...

Before I can respond, he grabs me by the hips and places me on the edge of the counter. It’s cold against my skin, but his heated stare does plenty to keep me warm. My skin flushes as his words sink in. Has he really been thinking about kissing me for that long? Should I feel bad for wanting the s...

“You’ve wanted to kiss me bef...

My words come out breathier than I intended them to, but I can’t help it. My heart beats so fast and so erratically it feels like it might just beat right out of my chest. It feels like my thoughts are jumbled, and the only thing that makes sense is the heated l...

“Much to my dism...