her until she was breathless and practically stupid with need for him.
Pulling him down on top of her, they stretched out on the sofa. “We have…two hours…until Haley gets home,” she panted between kisses, her hands already reaching down to the button on his jeans.
Kyle reclaimed her lips in a searing kiss even as he helped her. It seemed crazy to be like this when there was a bedroom right down the hall, and yet…the last thing she wanted to do was stop.
Frantically, they moved together, stripping. Clothes went flying, and Sydney realized just how alive she felt—how wonderfully alive. A small laugh was out of her mouth before she could stop it, and rather than take offense or question it, Kyle lifted his head and smiled down at her as if he knew exactly how she was feeling. She held his gaze and it was at that moment that she realized that Kyle Jones was it for her.
Always had been.
Always would be.
And if anything, it made her heart feel like it would burst with joy.
Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him down for a kiss that was deep and wet and wonderful and then held on for the ride.
“So…you want me to just go over there and like…what?” Haley asked over dinner.
Sydney and Kyle exchanged looks before he took the lead. “I thought it would be cool for you to have some one-on-one coaching. You know, with someone who’s a great athlete and who won’t be distracted by the dozen or so other girls on the team.” He smiled broadly as he nodded. “Think about it.”
Haley glanced over at Sydney. “But…I don’t know these people. Why can’t Violet come here?”
“Oh, um…” Sydney began and then realized she had no real answer for it.
“Oh my God!” Haley said with a knowing look. “This is to get me out of the house, right?”
“What?!” she nearly choked on the word. “Why would you even say that?”
“Please,” her niece replied with a snort, giving Kyle the side-eye. “If you guys want to go out, just go out. I’m not a baby and I don’t need someone to watch me.”
And Sydney realized she had a point. However…
“No one thinks you’re a baby or that you need to be watched,” she carefully explained. “But…we really just thought it would be something fun for you. That’s all.”
“So would sleeping over at Janie’s. So if you guys want the house to yourselves or whatever, just let me know, and I’ll make arrangements so I can be out of your way.”
Kyle and Sydney exchanged glances again, and something about Haley’s comment seemed…off.
“Haley, sweetheart,” Sydney said, reaching over and resting her hand over her niece’s. “You’re not in our way.”
Another snort. “Right.”
Sydney looked over at Kyle helplessly.
“Hales,” Kyle began cautiously. “This is all my fault so…I’m sorry. It’s not a big deal.” Pausing, he took a drink of his sweet tea. “How about we go do that indoor skydiving thing people have been talking about? There’s one about an hour from here. We can go on Saturday and make a day of it. What do you think?”
Haley looked between the two of them before her gaze narrowed on Kyle. “Why would you want to do that? It’s hardly the same as the two of you going on some romantic date.”
He shrugged. “So? It would still be awesome.”
Dropping her fork with a dramatic sigh, Haley frowned. Elbows on the table, she continued to study him. “Dude, I’m not stupid. I get that you and Aunt Syd are dating even though neither of you has said anything.”
Mimicking her pose, he said, “Oh, yeah? What makes you so sure we’re dating?”
Sydney was about to interrupt, but it was clear the two of them had some sort of battle of wills going on.
“Dude, you’re here like…all the time.”
“I’m working on the house,” he reasoned.
Haley looked around before facing him again. “You’re not working now. You’re eating dinner with us. Again.”
“And that proves we’re dating?” He made a ridiculous noise and waved her off. “Your aunt and I are old friends, and to be honest, I can’t cook so…she’s taking pity on me.” Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms over his chest.
“That’s totally lame. What did you do for food before you started working here?” she challenged.
“I’d mooch off my brothers and their wives or girlfriends,” he replied easily. “Or my dad. Oh, and my grandfather owns a pub here in town so I’d go there too. And, of course,