No other woman had ever compared to her.
He doubted any ever would.
I’m going to fucking end up like Neil. He made a frustrated growl deep in his chest. I need to slow down before we crash and burn again.
“I hope I didn’t make the situation worse.” Kenzi hugged his arm.
Lance laid his hand on his sister’s. “You didn’t.” He noticed Dax watching them and asked, “I need to talk to Dax, though.”
Kenzi looked across at Dax with love in her eyes. “I think that’s a good idea, but don’t sugarcoat anything. He’d rather know the truth, even if it’s not pretty.”
Finally, something Dax and I are in complete agreement over.
Before Lance had a chance to do anything, though, Willa came over to join him. Her cheeks were flushed from laughing with his family, and it was difficult to think about anything past how he felt when she smiled and laced her fingers through his. “I was telling your parents about the first apartment Lexi and I rented together. Do you remember it, Kenzi?”
Kenzi smiled and made a small square with both of her hands. “It was so tiny you used to joke that people had to take numbers if more than one wanted to visit.”
Willa chuckled. “I had this old trunk I’d bought at a yard sale. I thought it would be the perfect post-college storage solution until we couldn’t find a place for it in the apartment.”
“So you tried to wedge it in the closet,” Kenzi said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Laughing harder, Willa met Lance’s eyes. “And I got my arms stuck between it and the wall.”
Drawn into the fun of the memory, Lance let everything else fall away. “What did you do?”
“My cell phone was in my back pocket.”
“So, she hopped up and down until it fell out,” Kenzi added.
“Which was not an easy feat, but I did it,” Willa said with pride. “Then I kicked off my shoes and socks—”
“And called me,” Kenzi finished, laughing so hard she was gasping for air. “I think I still have that photo saved somewhere.”
Waving a finger in warning, Willa warned, “What kind of friend takes a picture before they rescue you? Your sister, Lance, that’s who. Bring it on, Kenzi. Payback will be fun. I have quite a collection of blackmail photos of you.”
“She does,” Kenzi said with a laugh. “She gets photo happy sometimes. Which was why I had to take the opportunity when it was presented.” She held her side. “Oh, God, I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. What brought up that story?”
Willa shrugged. “Sophie asked me if I liked where I was living. I told her that it is a lot better than some of the places we’ve rented. It’s double the size of our last place. I don’t know why I remembered the day with the trunk, but I did. She thought it was hilarious.”
Kenzi chuckled again. “She adores you. I saw Grant laughing. Tell me he didn’t—”
“Offer to look over my stock portfolio and give suggestions? He can’t help himself.” Willa met Lance’s eyes again, and her smile widened. “Grant never understood that Lexi and I are Kenzi’s poor friends. I’d show him my bank account balance, but I’m afraid he’d have a heart attack.”
Lance frowned. He didn’t like the idea of Willa struggling financially. He almost asked her if Dax was paying her a good salary but decided against it. He considered offering her money, but thought that might not go over well, either.
Slow. Remember. Take it slow.
As she spoke, she leaned against him and the side of her breast brushed against his arm and the devil in him won. His blood started pounding, and he found it difficult to concentrate on anything other than how good she felt—how good she would taste.
I’m definitely going to hell.
Unless I’m already there.
Chapter Thirteen
An hour later, Willa turned in the passenger seat of Lance’s car and rested her head in a way that allowed her to watch him as he drove. The night had gone better than she’d hoped it could. Yes, it had started off feeling stilted, but after the meal everyone had relaxed. Her worry that Dax would say something abated, and she’d actually had fun. Lance had smiled and laughed with her.
So why do I get the feeling he’s not happy with me?
When Lance had picked her up that morning he’d mentioned that he rented a house on Cape Cod for the weekend. He said it was right on the beach, which was why he’d chosen the place. That and the indoor pool. He’d followed up that statement by asking her if she’d ever gone swimming naked. Her answer that she hadn’t had put a lusty smile on his face and a blush on hers.