Taking It Slow - Reese Knightley Page 0,12

smiled back.

A yodel and a splash had him glancing back at the pool just in time to see Wesley do another cannonball into the water.

“Can we swim? Plllllllease?” Jessica begged Liam.

“Where’s your dad?”

Something in Liam’s voice drew his gaze, but other than a slight tightening of Liam’s lips, he couldn’t tell what was wrong.

“Not home,” Adam said.

“Okay, get changed.”

“Yay!”

“Did you tell Mrs. Walters you were here?”

“Yes! She said we can stay until five,” Jessica said.

“Mrs. Walters?” He glanced at Liam and then at the pool where his brother was swimming like a dolphin.

“Their live-in nanny.”

“Can we have burgers too?” Jessica asked, hopeful.

“Yes,” Liam responded and the pair took off toward the guest house. “Don’t run next to the pool,” Liam shouted after them.

Anna appeared with more patties and Spencer took the platter. Carefully, he placed the extra burgers on the grill. Barbecue scents drifted on the wind just as the teenagers reappeared, dashed toward the pool, and jumped into the deep end.

Wesley, treading water, appeared unsure of how to react when faced with the exuberant siblings.

Adam took the initiative and splashed Wesley in the face before laughing and diving deep. Jessica sent a stream of water at Wesley too, but his brother was already moving. Wesley dived, grabbed her ankle, and pulled her under before chasing after Adam.

“Is their father your cousin?”

“No, their mother was, but she was more like a sister. Hence, them calling me uncle.” Liam smiled. “She passed away,” Liam added and turned back to the burgers.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly.

“Thank you,” Liam replied, gazing toward the pool for a moment before turning back to him. “They’re twins, it runs in my family. Their mom was killed in a car accident a few years ago.” Liam flipped all the burgers and continued. “The kids come over as much as they can and visit Anna and Tom.”

“Tom?”

“Anna’s husband.”

“They live here with you?”

“Yes.”

Spencer tossed a look at the guest house.

“No, not the guest house, there’s actual staff quarters inside.”

Staff quarters? Jesus fuck. He felt like he’d stepped into a fairytale.

At his continued silence, Liam added, “My parents requested that they be taken care of in the will. Anna and Tom are like family.”

Who the hell was this guy? A colonel in the Army, a billionaire several times over, a man who shelters his cousin’s kids, and one who gives his housekeeper and her husband a home. Someone who wanted to be his friend.

A warmth swept through his chest and he held the plate so Liam could place cooked burgers on it. He didn’t know exactly what to think about Liam, but he knew he wanted to see where this friendship took them.

The noise from the pool drew his gaze and he found the teenagers dunking each other. When they hit the surface of the water, the laughter and shouting reached an insane level. His brother was having the time of his life.

Spencer couldn’t stop himself from smiling so wide his cheeks hurt.

Liam

“Come swim.”

Spencer turned his head at the sound of his voice and those crystal blue eyes locked on him.

The surprise in Spencer’s eyes made him smile. In fact, he’d been smiling all day. Even though he tried not to, he couldn’t keep his eyes from Spencer. The awareness zinged between them, he felt it in his gut and the tightness in his chest, and he was pretty damned sure Spencer felt it too.

Something stood between them and it had to do with money, and Liam was going to figure it out. Spencer spoke about their monetary differences. Liam had never lorded his money over anyone. He didn’t spend extravagantly, ever. He knew Spencer made a decent salary and wondered what kind of hardship had skewed Spencer’s views.

“I don’t have a suit.” Spencer’s voice brought his attention back.

“I have tons in the -”

“Guest house?” That fucking killer smile popped and Liam found himself holding his breath.

“Yeah.” Liam couldn’t help but chuckle when he finally responded. “Get changed or I’ll toss you in when I get back.”

“You and what army?” Spencer flexed his arms, his pecs jumped beneath the tight t-shirt, and Liam’s mouth went dry.

“I won’t need one. I have teenagers to help me,” he smirked.

Spencer snorted, but pushed forward all lanky and lazy-like up and out of the lounger and sauntered across the patio. The man was half way down the small walkway toward the guest house before Liam realized he was still staring.

Shaking himself, he shoved out of his chair and hurried into the house and changed.

Dressed