find something else to compete over.”
Jackson laughed. “Probably.”
“Likely by shift tomorrow would be my guess,” Mitchell said.
Rafe shot a glare at Mitchell. “Hey, we’re not that competitive.”
“Oh, you aren’t?” Callie asked. “How about the last run time? Jackson was supposed to be timing us, and instead I ended up in charge of the stopwatch so he could run against the two of you for best time.”
“Really, Jackson?” Becks asked.
Jackson shrugged. “It was just so I could stay in shape.”
Rafe coughed and muttered, “Bullshit.”
Carmen laughed and got up to go put her glass in the dishwasher. She ended up filling a tall glass with ice and water, having had enough margaritas for the night. She had to work tomorrow, so she needed to start clearing her head. She rinsed the dishes in the sink and loaded those into the dishwasher, then started cleaning off the kitchen counter and stove.
“What are you doing in here?”
She turned around and saw Rafe standing behind the island.
“Cleaning.”
“You’re a guest here. Guests don’t clean.”
“No, I’m your girlfriend. And girlfriends pitch in to help. Since I got here late, this is me helping.”
She turned around and continued to wipe the counters. Suddenly, a pair of arms surrounded her. Rafe kissed the side of her neck, causing goose bumps to skitter along her skin.
“Girlfriend, huh?” he asked.
She realized as soon as she said it that he might think it was a big deal. Or that maybe he’d react negatively. Obviously his arms around her and him kissing her neck was the opposite of a negative reaction.
And she liked it. A lot.
“Your charms don’t work on me when I’m cleaning,” she said, dropping her head back to lie on his shoulder.
“They don’t?” He lightly bit down on that spot between her neck and shoulder that never failed to make her quiver.
“No. I’m very focused right now.”
He turned her around and kissed her, and she lost all thoughts of cleaning the kitchen. They hadn’t had much alone time tonight, and now that they were in the kitchen by themselves, and his hands were sliding with ease along her back, all she could think about was him touching her.
She palmed the island for support while he explored her mouth with his tongue, making her dizzy and weak and desperately wishing that all these people would leave soon.
When he broke the kiss, she was breathing heavily. She swiped her thumb across his bottom lip. “Who knew cleaning the kitchen was a form of foreplay?”
His lips curved. “I need to get all these people to go home.”
Happy to hear that he was on her same wavelength, she nodded. “Soon, hopefully.”
“Yeah, real soon.”
Jackson opened the door and came in, Becks following right behind him, so Carmen reluctantly stepped back, and Rafe helped her finish with the kitchen. Within the next hour, the party broke up and everyone left. Since Rafe and Carmen had cleaned the kitchen, Jackson, Becks and Kal had decided they’d take care of the grill and pool area.
“I should check on my grandpa,” she said to Rafe after the others went outside to clean up.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Thanks.”
They walked across the lawn, and Carmen noticed a strange car in the driveway.
“Hmm,” she said, frowning. It was after eleven.
“One of your grandfather’s friends?” Rafe asked.
“No. I know all their cars.”
She unlocked the door and went inside. Other than the kitchen stove light, which Grandpa always left on for her when she was out late, all the lights were off, which typically meant he had gone to bed.
She started toward his bedroom, but Rafe grasped her wrist.
“Didn’t you say he had a date tonight?”
“Yes.”
“And didn’t she pick him up?”
“Yes.”
Rafe looked at her, his head cocked to the side for emphasis. It took her a few seconds to comprehend what he wasn’t saying out loud.
Then her eyes widened. “Oh. You think she’s in there with him.”
“Probably.”
“Huh.” He had never brought a woman over to spend the night before. Then again, he hadn’t been feeling as spry as he’d been feeling lately, so maybe . . .
“If he had a problem, he’d let you know, Carmen.”
She stared at the closed door, trying to decide how intrusive to be. How intrusive she’d want her grandfather to be if the situation were reversed. He probably wouldn’t appreciate her banging on his door or just walking in on him if he was in the middle of . . .
Well, she wasn’t going to visualize that.
“You’re right. I’ll just leave him be. If he needs me, he’ll let me