Summer Love_ A Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology - Piper Rayne Page 0,144

breathe as my feet hit the asphalt. Iskander might’ve ruined my running time. I can’t let things go. My mind keeps replaying the time at the inn and the quickie in the closet. The guy knows the how, where, and what to touch to make it just perfect. Remembering how his fingers branded every inch of my skin makes me blush. I’m fucking blushing in the middle of my run, and it has nothing to do with the current activity.

Could this be more embarrassing?

Probably, and I don’t want to think about it because I’m setting myself for another misshapen.

No.

I stop when my watch buzzes. It’s a text from Mr. Matthews.

Mr. M: Take the rest of the weekend off.

Siobhan: The weekend is our busiest time of the week.

Mr. M: Three of my nephews are in town. They can manage well enough.

Siobhan: Am I fired?

Mr. M: Why would you think that? The kids are here because we need more help. I thought that’s what you wanted.

Kids? His nephew is a thirty-some-year-old man. Not a child.

Mr. M: It’s definitely what you and the businesses need.

Mr. M: I’m leaving for Seattle, and I won’t come back until Diego is ready to go home.

Well, they say to be careful what you wish for. I breathe a little easier knowing that I’m not losing my job for now. However, I don’t see any promise that they won’t fire me after I teach them my procedures.

Siobhan: Should I be searching for a new job?

Mr. M: Girl, you need to stop doubting yourself. I told you once and I’ll tell you again, this job is yours for as long as you want it.

Siobhan: Thank you.

Mr. M: Make sure to keep those boys in line. Nydia knows how to handle them. They can be rowdy.

Siobhan: I’ll keep an eye on them.

Nydia and I decide to take a break from everything, even cooking. Against her wishes, I place our food order at the sports bar. She offers to come and pick it up with me. As we walk through Luna Lane, I ask, “How is it possible that Iskander is Mr. Matthew's nephew?”

“Who knows? Their father calls him Uncle Gary. They’ve always called him Uncle Gary. I did until I became an adult and realized we aren’t related,” she explains.

Every day I’m more and more confused about his relationship with Diego Cantú. Are they friends, brothers…maybe they are lovers, and they don’t want anyone to find out? It’s possible.

“What are you thinking?”

I shrug. “They live next to each other. They are partners in everything. It’s weird, don’t you think?”

“You’re looking too much into it,” she says, almost laughing. “Is that a way to deflect the fact that you’re highly attracted to his nephew? You had your fun. Move on and be happy.”

“It was a one-time thing,” I say with conviction.

I hope I’m convincing her because my body doesn’t want to stick with the new program.

No sex with Iskander.

Never again.

“You could’ve ordered food from the diner and avoided him,” Nydia warns me. “He is going to be there.”

She is correct, but on the other hand, “It’s not like I can avoid him for long.”

“There’s that.”

When we arrive, there’s a guy at the hostess desk. “Table for two?” he asks, then looks at Nydia and says, “I heard you had grown. I couldn’t believe it, but look at you.”

“Efren,” she mumbles, looking around the restaurant like she got caught stealing an art piece at the museum and there’s no escape. “You guys are here.”

“He’s not here,” he states. “Myka and Mane won’t be here for a few weeks.”

She nods a couple of times, but her eyes are glued to the bar. I can’t drag her there to grab our bag, but just like her, I don’t want to be here longer than necessary.

“We’re here to pick up an order for—”

“Siobhan,” Iskander interrupts me, handing me a takeout bag. “Can we talk?”

“No, you have work to do, and I am off,” I say with conviction.

My treacherous body is saying, you can go to the office and have just a little bit of fun.

“Efren and Fernando can handle everything while we’re in your office,” he states. “I need just a few minutes.”

“Go,” Nydia says, taking the bag with the food away from me. “If you don’t fix this mess today, you’re going to give yourself an ulcer.”

I make my way through the sports bar with my chin up and a smile in place. Some of the patrons greet me. I wave at them and