Page 6 of One Hot Texas Summer (The Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)

She definitely needed to go on a date or something.

Maybe she should head up to Houston, look up an old work colleague and go out and have some fun.

Yet, the second she finished the thought she discarded it.

Nothing good would come of visiting the past. Her dad had always told her to look forward because it was a vast openness just ready to be filled with wonderful adventures.

He believed the past was in the rearview mirror for a reason.

“Kelly? Would you like to come inside and have some iced tea before we walk the grounds?”

Get a grip, Kelly. Think business. Not your woeful dating life.

“Sure, that would be great.” She plastered on a smile and gripped her tablet a little tighter.

Tate walked beside her, and she concentrated on keeping her breaths nice and even.

“After you,” he said as he stood to the side to allow her to enter the house.

A cool breeze from the air conditioner flowed over her and she was grateful for it.

She needed something to cool her down. She could blame the sudden spike in her body’s temperature on the warm Texas sun, but she’d be lying to herself.

The strange heat zipping through her was caused by the man beside her.

Even after she’d just given herself a mental lecture, her body had vastly different ideas.

“Oh, wow, this is gorgeous, Tate,” Kelly gushed as she gazed at the foyer.

The area was open and a grand staircase was off to the right, leading up to the second floor. The cathedral ceilings gave the house an open and welcoming feeling. The hardwood floors gleamed and she caught the slight hint of lemon furniture polish lingering in the air.

“Thanks. We had the floors sanded and re-varnished last year. They were scratched up pretty bad. With three boys, it was pretty hard to keep them looking good.”

“Well, whoever did it, they did a fantastic job.”

“Thanks, we’re happy with it. Follow me, the kitchen is this way.”

There was something about the house that called to Kelly.

She couldn’t name what it was, but it was like the house was opening itself up to her and inviting her in.

As they walked to the kitchen, she spied a large living room off to the left and a couple of closed doors to the right.

They probably led to a half bathroom and, most likely, Tate’s father’s office.

“Here we are.”

Kelly stopped and stared. The kitchen was a gourmet chef’s delight.

The white quartz countertops glistened from the afternoon sun streaming through the windows, the beams hitting the sparkles embedded in the rock.

All the appliances were stainless steel, and there wasn’t a hint of a fingerprint on any of their gray surfaces.

“How the heck is this room so clean?” she asked.

Tate laughed as he walked over to the fridge and extracted a glass jug with amber-colored liquid in it. “Mrs. Bates was in today and she cleaned the house. Trust me, if you’d come over yesterday, you’d have seen dirty countertops and dusty surfaces.”

Kelly set her stuff down on the counter and hopped up on one of the black leather stools. “Well, that makes me feel a little better. Although, I suppose it’s only you and Tyler here so the mess should be minimal.”

Tate reached up to get some glasses, and she admired the pull of the cotton T-shirt he was wearing across his broad shoulders. Working in an orchard kept the man in shape. He’d come about his muscles honestly and not in a gym.

“Tyler is the messy one. I’m the angel.” He winked as he placed two tumblers on the counter.

“Of course you are. And I’m the world’s best florist.” She finished with a roll of her eyes.

“You are.”

“What?”

Tate pushed her iced tea toward her. Her fingers closed around the glass and his fingers brushed against hers, halting her movement. She raised her eyebrow in a silent query.

“An amazing florist,” he said, his blue eyes serious and intense. She could lose herself in their depths. A hint of something lingered in the background, something she couldn’t quite identify.

Kelly ducked her head to hide her reaction. “Thank you. I love what I do.”

“I can tell. It helps when you have that sort of passion for what you do for a living.”

“How about you? Do you love what you do, Tate?”

“Yeah. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” Tate released the light grip he had on her fingers, and she took a long swallow from the glass.

A myriad of flavors burst on her tongue. The tartness of the tea, the sweetness of the sugar and the overwhelming taste of peaches.

“Peach tea,” she said delightedly and took another swallow.

“Did you expect anything else? This is Prentice Peach Farm after all,” Tate teased her as he lifted his own glass to his lips.

She couldn’t look away even if she wanted to. His long fingers held the glass. His pink, plump lips caressed the rim and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed.

Her tongue darted out to wet her suddenly parched lips, and his eyes flared wide.

Holy shit, she should run. Turn around and walk out right now because they were heading into dangerous territory.

All she wanted to do was reach out, take the glass from him, and press her lips against his.

Without a doubt, he would taste of peaches.

Not just from the tea but because peaches were an integral part of who he was.

A door slammed and they both jumped, the spell that had encased them broken.

Kelly gulped down the rest of her drink, looking up to see Tyler strolling into the kitchen, phone in his hand.

“Hey, Tate, who owns the Chevy Traverse out front?” He tapped away, not lifting his head to see who it was for himself.

“It’s mine,” she said.

He looked up, surprise lighting his features. “Oh, hey, Kelly, good to see you. Are you here about the festival?”

“Yep. I am.”

Tyler nodded and, grabbing Tate’s glass, he drained the contents.

“Dude, what are you, thirteen again? Get your own damn glass.” Tate smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

The two brothers were similar in height, Tate maybe a fraction taller. They shared the same blue eyes. Where Tate’s hair was a rich mahogany brown, Tyler’s was jet-black. She could tell they were brothers, but any relationship they had appeared to be strained.

“It was easier to grab your glass than get another one dirty.” As if to prove his point, he grabbed the pitcher and topped up the tumbler.

Kelly had always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. Someone she could share confidences with. Have fun with. But seeing the tension between the two Prentice brothers, she was kind of glad she was an only child.

“So, Tate, shall we take a look around the grounds? See if we can settle on the locations of where the stands are going to be set up?” She injected a brightness in her voice, hoping it would alleviate the mood that had fallen over them.

“Yes, let’s.” Tate made his way around the counter and stopped at her side. “Shall we?”

“It was good to see you again, Tyler. Next time, grab your own glass—that was really gross and unnecessary.”

Tate snorted beside her. “You just got told, bro.”

Tyler had the good grace to look embarrassed. “You’re right. Sorry. I promise I’ll do better. Have fun, kids.”

“Oh, you were so close to almost making me believe you were sincere,” she joked.

Tyler winked and grabbed an apple out of the bowl on the opposite counter. “I aim to please.”

Throughout this interaction, Tate’s shoulder muscles got tighter and tighter until she thought his shirt would split.

His annoyance radiated out of him. She almost believed he was jealous of his brother.

Well, he had nothing to worry about. Yes, Tyler was good-looking, but he didn’t set her heart racing like Tate did.

Her dreams at night weren’t of her and Tyler tangling the sheets.

No, the man who visited her in her dreams stood right beside her.

And, oh, shit.

As much as she wanted to deny it, as much as she didn’t want to believe it possible, everything in her was telling her different.

She was attracted to Tate Prentice.