Dirty Little Secrets(58)

Dad gave me a look then, like he saw something in my face, and he shut the garage door. “Son, are you okay with Alix living with you?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Like I said, she’s done a great job since coming to Portland.”

Dad nodded and glanced at the door to the house. “Yes, but you’re talking less like the tolerant yet frustrated stepbrother I’ve come to know for the past five years, and more like someone who has a crush on Alix. I don’t want to cross lines, but are you okay, Kade?”

I stepped back and nodded. “I’m fine. Alix is just a remarkable young woman, you’ve said it yourself.”

Dad’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded before tossing me the keys. “Okay. Just be careful, Kade. You know what that sort of scandal could do to your career.”

“And yours?” I asked, instantly regretting it. “Sorry, Dad.”

Dad shook his head and came around, patting me on the shoulder. “Son, I’m sorry.”

Alix came out of the house, a huge grin on her face. “Hey guys, guess what?”

“What?” I asked at the same time as Dad.

“I’ve maybe already got a buyer for my car!” she said. “You know that other model I’ve worked with, Karla?”

“The Australian girl,” I said, thinking back to the voice I’d heard over the phone. “Yes, I remember her.”

“Well, she just called me when I told her I was coming into town, and she said she would love to talk to me about getting my car! It seems she wants to relocate to the Los Angeles area more permanently, and she is tired of renting cars and using mass transit. So, while she already has an apartment lined up, she wants to come by and give my car a test drive.”

“Great news, honey,” Dad said. “Just make sure she’s willing to sign papers on it. You don’t want a headache with the bank or your insurance company over it.”

“Don’t worry, Kade’s a lawyer, I’m sure he’ll be willing to make sure we get it all done right,” Alix said. “Won’t you, Kade?”

“Okay, just as long as we’re back by four. If she shows up at three thirty wanting a test drive, it’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

“Oh no, she’s heading to my place now,” Alix said. “I just got off the phone with her, she wants to meet us there at two or so.”

“No time to waste then,” I said, going to the Jaguar. “Come on, we’ll beat her there if we leave now. Thanks again for the car, Dad.”

“No problem. Say hello to your friend for me, Alix.”





Chapter 21





Alix




My house was still just as quiet as it had been the last time I’d been there, what seemed like ages ago. My car, which Kade had arranged to be towed from Sydney’s apartment and then detailed, sat outside gleaming like it was fresh off the lot. “It looks good,” I said, running my hand over the hood. “Come on, let’s go inside. The milk should be shot, but I’m pretty sure there’s something in there to drink.”

There was a definite funk to the fridge when I opened it of spoiled milk and a package of chicken that I’d been saving, but other than that the house was in decent shape, needing only an airing out. I popped open the window above the sink, letting in the outside air, and turned on the fan in the dining area. “The real estate company is coming by tomorrow. They’ll bring in cleaners, but still, I’d rather that Karla not come in to a nasty ass milk smell,” I said.

“What time is it?” Kade asked, glancing up at my kitchen clock. “Oh, we’ve still got an hour and a half. I didn’t expect to get here so quickly.”

“We got lucky with traffic,” I replied.

Turning around, I went over to Kade, wrapping my arms around him. “Kade, what’s wrong? Since getting in the car to come over here, you’ve been more tense than normal, a bit quiet. Did I do something to upset you?”

Kade shook his head. “No, Princess. Just . . . Dad said I was acting less like a frustrated stepbrother and more like someone with a crush on you since we landed, and I’ve been worried.”

“About giving our secret away?” I asked, grinning. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the nose. “Well, I hate to tell you, Kade Prescott, but you are much more than just a man with a crush. You are one hundred percent, guaranteed in love with me, and I just happen to reciprocate. That your father, who knows you better than anyone in the world, thinks you’re acting differently is going to be expected. We just have to make sure that we don’t do anything stupid in front of him.”