Page 15 of The Reluctant Flirt (Outer Banks #2)

“The right shoes can make everything different.”

– Jimmy Choo

“Why am I getting a weird feeling you’re setting me up?”

Aspen asked, frowning over her glass. They’d just finished a meal of shrimp and grits that Sierra was known for. She’d sprung for a good bottle of white, which was perfectly chilled, dry, and fruity. The dessert was simple but satisfying—chocolate chip cookies.

Sierra had always enjoyed cooking for her sister, even as she teased about Aspen’s lack of talent in the kitchen. After their parents passed, it was a way Sierra made sure they bonded. A good meal was a purpose to chat and share; to linger and spend time with one another. It became an important part of their relationship and a way to continue taking care of her sister.

“Why? Because I want to spoil you a bit and update you on engagement plans?”

Aspen took a sip of wine and narrowed her gaze.

“No, because you haven’t insulted me once tonight which means you’re saving it up for a confession.”

Crap. Nothing was worse than a sibling who knew all your secrets. Sierra pushed over a cookie and gave a dazzling smile.

“You’re paranoid. Try the cookie.”

Aspen regarded the tray like it was laced with poison.

“Hell, no. I’m not about to let you hypnotize me with your sugary treats. I want to be sober for this.”

“These aren’t pot cookies, Aspen. I’ll leave that move to Marco.”

Aspen laughed.

“That was a trippy book signing, right? Funny, Marco hasn’t been doing much weed anymore. I think he’s still trying to woo Mal.”

Her jaw unhinged.

“What! That’s ridiculous—there’s a ten-year age difference! Maleficent would never date Marco.”

“Why not? Age gap is the hottest thing in the romance genre right now, and Marco is more charming than you give him credit for.”

“Now my mind is officially blown.”

Montgomery strolled in to check on leftovers and circled Aspen’s feet.

“No, baby, you ate already. I’ll give you a treat later.”

Aspen knelt and gave the cat some love. He allowed her to stroke and pet him, crooning how handsome he was, and when his ego was full, he flicked his tail and prowled out.

“He’s the sweetest thing. It’s as if he knows you saved him, and he’ll do anything for you and the people you love.”

“Right? He did well in Flirt so I’m bringing him in a few more times to test things. Some of the customers jumped at first, but he didn’t hiss once! If he becomes a regular, I’ll post a sign so people know to expect him around.”

“Love it. Did Kane end up dropping off those gifts he bought? It was so cute—he seemed excited for you.”

She dropped her gaze.

“Umm, yeah. I think I’ll have one of these cookies.”

She took a few bites and decided to dive right in since Kane was mentioned. Why drag out her misery to the end of the night? Better to get it over with.

“You were right about me having something important to tell you.”

“Finally. Tell me.”

“I slept with Kane.”

The ear-splitting shriek made her almost fall off the chair, but she should’ve been prepared. A combination of shock, temper, and marvel flickered over her sister’s face. Sierra glanced over at Montgomery to make sure he didn’t get upset, but he’d already disappeared into the sun room. She braced herself for the next outburst.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Oh, my God, I should’ve known you two were hiding sexual tension behind hate. I should retire as a writer for not recognizing what was right in front of me the whole time. When did this happen? This week? A month ago? Are you having a secret affair? Was it good? Forget that—I imagine it’s the best sex you ever had in your life. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sierra bit her lip and spoke carefully.

“Well, do you remember when I visited you in New York right after I got divorced?”

Aspen scrunched up her face.

“What does that have anything to do with this?”

“Humor me. Do you remember? You had that book event and left me alone one night and suggested a few bars for me to go and have a drink?”

“Umm, yeah. I guess?”

“I met Kane at the bar, and we had a one-night stand.”

The second round of screaming commenced. This time, Sierra expected it and covered her ears until the noise died down.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You met Kane before and never told me?”

Sierra sighed.

“Yeah. I thought it was just a one-night stand and decided to keep it a secret. We never even exchanged names. I was such a wreck after the divorce, and we connected, and one thing led to another. I ran away in the morning and never thought we’d see each other again. Until you introduced me to him here.”

Aspen’s brown eyes were so wide that they were about to pop out of her head.

“This is too trippy. Wait—I don’t understand. Why didn’t you just tell the truth when you met each other? You raced out of the room with a headache! And Kane left right after and seemed like a mess! And I can’t seem to stop yelling in exclamation points!”

Sierra couldn’t help it. She laughed and then began to tear up after realizing how hard it was to keep a big piece of her life from her sister. How it almost didn’t seem real because Aspen didn’t know.

“I panicked. I never thought I’d see him again, and I wanted to run away and not deal with it. Later on, the idea of sharing something so personal that I’d tucked away and tried to forget was overwhelming.”

Aspen shook her head hard as if to clear it. Then stared at her for a long while.

“You pretended not to know each other for months? This isn’t like you, Sierra. You’re the most direct, let’s-deal-with-this-shit-now type of person I know. Which means…”

Sierra winced. She sensed what was coming.

“Which means you have real feelings for Kane! You never got over him. And you don’t know how to handle it!”

The truth more than hurt. It irritated the crap out of her. “Maybe,”

she said grudgingly.

“Not maybe. Definitely. How does he feel about you?”

She squirmed in her seat.

“He wants to give us a chance.”

Aspen blinked.

“Why don’t you look thrilled by that? A guy you fell for blasts back into your life and wants a second chance to see what you could be to each other, and you look like you lost your best friend?”

“I don’t know! When we first met, I realized we were two different people. He was obsessed with money and power, and I needed to rebuild my life. We lived in separate states. There was no way it could work. Am I supposed to just drop everything and open my life to a possible chance with a man who was in jail and may not have changed? A chance to get annihilated and hurt for no reason? A chance to make things even worse with all of us if it blows up and will be awkward and awful forever and ever when we’re all together?”

Aspen smiled.

“Yes. Exactly that.”

Sierra jumped from the chair and took a few steps back, as if her sister was about to pounce on her.

“Why? That makes no sense!”

“Because love doesn’t make sense, babe. It’s a prickly, painful, agonizing mess. But if it works the way it’s supposed to, love is the best damn thing in the world. And you know this. Which makes me want to ask another question.”

Sarcasm dripped from her voice.

“What, oh, wise one?”

“What’s really holding you back?”

But Sierra wasn’t ready to face her sister’s question. Or answer it. Instead, she shoved another cookie in her mouth to stop any words from leaking out. Aspen watched with those wise owl eyes she’d seemed to have inherited after she went through her own journey with Brick. Great. Now, Sierra would always be fighting to prove she still knew more as the oldest.

“I don’t want to talk about it,”

she mumbled in between chews.

“It’s not love, and you’re trying to drag me into one of your books. I refuse to become a character to make you more money.”

Aspen grinned.

“Okay, I’ll let you off the hook for now. But this is a lot to process. I don’t have to keep this a secret, right? I’m assuming I can tell Brick?”

“Kane’s telling him tonight.”

“Good. Are you both going to begin dating? Or at least pretending not to hate each other any longer?”

Sierra blew out a breath.

“I guess? He wants to date and move forward to see what happens. If we do, I need you to back me up when the gossip hits town. It’ll be a lot for me to handle.”

“Got it. I’m pretty much an expert at being the center of gossip around here after dating Brick. As for the jail thing, it’s a pretty simple solution. Ask him the hard questions. Be open. Don’t bullshit yourself anymore because you’re scared.”

Sierra rolled her eyes.

“Stop trying to be the wise mentor in this scene, okay? I just want my sister.”

“Fine.”

“Aspen?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you forgive me for not telling you?”

Sierra meant it to come out jokingly, but it didn’t. It was as if telling the truth opened up another piece inside of her that needed space and breath. Like it was the next step on a journey of risk. Because once Aspen knew anything, it became real.

Aspen seemed to ponder the question for so long, sweat began to prickle her skin.

“I think I need some time to sit with it. I’m really hurt. You broke our trust.”

The gasp escaped her mouth the same moment Aspen burst into hysterical giggles.

“I’m fucking with you! Of course, I forgive you. You’re allowed to screw up, too, you know.”

“You suck!”

Aspen got up and gave her a hug. Sierra leaned into the comforting warmth, breathing in the vanilla citrus fragrance of her shampoo, the strength in her arms wrapped tight, the feeling of being with the one person who knew all of you and loved you completely. She blinked back the sting of tears.

When they pulled away, Aspen grabbed her wine and settled back in.

“Now, let’s get to the good stuff. Tell me everything. A blow-by-blow account of your sexual escapade that night, you big slut.”

Sierra bit her lip. Repoured her wine. And leaned forward.

“Fine. He did this thing where—”

Kane sat on the couch and faced Brick. Dug was snuggled in his lap, snoring loudly, drool pooling on his nice pants. He thought about moving him but the rat monster creature seemed too deeply happy, so Kane left him alone.

“So, I gotta tell you something.”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

Brick had one eye on the baseball game. They’d shared a pizza, had a beer, and spent the last hour bullshitting. Even though he considered Brick not only his best friend but family, it was uncomfortable sharing secrets. He’d grown up used to not confiding in anyone, with business and his personal life, so opening up was difficult. He hadn’t even told Brick the real story about Derek being in rehab. But he had to start somewhere, and he might as well start tonight.

“I slept with Sierra.”

Brick’s head shot around. Shock crossed his face but he held his tongue. Seemed to think about it.

“No shit? When?”

Kane dragged in a breath.

“Four years ago. We met at a bar in New York. She was visiting Aspen. We never exchanged names and she disappeared in the morning. I didn’t see her again until we met here, and you introduced us.”

He waited. He knew it took Brick some time to process.

“Wait—you knew each other but pretended to be strangers for this long? Why the hell did you do that?”

“She panicked and wanted to keep it a secret. I let her. But now things have changed.”

Brick scratched his head. “How?”

Kane dove in.

“I have feelings for Sierra. Have since that first night, but she ran and there was no chance. Now, I want us to date and see if we can have a relationship.”

“Did Aspen know all this?”

Brick asked, frowning.

“No. Neither of us told anyone. But Sierra is telling Aspen tonight, and I wanted to do the same. I know this complicates things. Not sure how Aspen is going to feel about it.”

His friend gave a quick grin.

“Aspen is a hopeless romantic so she’ll be wishing for the best. How bad you got it? You want a serious shot?”

“I do. I never felt like this before. Beyond the crazy chemistry, I’m pulled toward her all the time, and she fascinates me. Half the time it’s as if I got clubbed. Some of it’s not pretty.”

Now, Brick laughed.

“Sounds about right. No wonder you haven’t been dating anyone. The rumors are running around that you’re hiding a secret relationship. They’ll have a field day when you come out in public. Both of you ready for that?”

His jaw tightened.

“I’m ready. I’ll protect her if she gets any heat.”

“Not worried about Sierra. More worried about you.”

His brow shot up in astonishment.

“Me? Why? I can handle anything.”

“In business, sure. But—”

Brick trailed off, a worried glint in his blue eyes.

“Just tell me.”

Kane waited, knowing he’d be getting some hard truths.

“You’re like a castle with a fucking moat around it, man. You know how long we’ve known each other, and you still barely tell me anything about your past, or the jail thing, or even these feelings for Sierra? I’m not asking to hang every weekend and braid each other’s hair, but maybe you let some people in? Me, Aspen, Sierra. We care about you, no matter what ends up happening.”

It was the most heartfelt speech his friend had ever given him. The hard armor inside his chest softened, and Kane wondered if maybe it was time to make some changes. Especially if he wanted a relationship with Sierra. She deserved more of him.

So did Brick.

“I’m sorry. I’ll do better.”

Brick nodded. “Good.”

They sat in silence for a while.

“Sure you don’t want to try that braiding thing, though? Aspen does love your thick, sexy hair.”

“Fuck you.”

They both laughed. Kane pet Dug and breathed easier.

“You can ask me any question you want. Other than you and Derek, anyone I trusted made me regret it. I’m sure you’re wondering about the backstory.”

Brick scratched his head and looked intrigued.

“Hmm, tempting. Aspen talks a lot about backstory being the key to a good character. There’s one thing I always wondered about.”

“Shoot.”

“You ended up at my house broke, except for those designer clothes you were carrying. But dude, you closed million dollar deals for a while. Where did the rest of the money go?”

Kane winced. It was a damn good question.

“My mentor, John, convinced me to put every dime into a long-term, high-risk annuity. Said I’d be making big money for years, and if this paid off, I could pretty much be a billionaire.”

Brick shook his head.

“Those things rarely pay off and they’re locked tight for any emergencies. What an asshole.”

“I was the asshole for listening. When everything blew up, I had empty accounts. I think that’s exactly what he was planning so I didn’t have anywhere to go afterward.”

“I’m sorry, man.”

His words touched deep.

“Thanks. Anything else you want to know?”

A few moments of silence ticked by. Kane waited to get ready to spill his guts since he expected Brick had a ton of questions.

“Nah. Want another beer?”

“Yeah. That’d be cool.”

Brick got up and went to the kitchen. Kane relaxed and continued petting Dug. Friendship was pretty bad ass. It meant not having to explain every action because there was trust.

Since he got to OBX, he’d been hit with all sorts of challenges, but he had more hope for the future than he had in a long, long time.