“What’s going on over here?” Simon asked as he walked up.
“Your brother is acting like a lunatic,” I said.
“Which one?” he asked with a smirk.
“Stefan. My night bartender quit. I mentioned it and Alex said she could fill in until I find someone, and he flipped the fuck out.”
“She bartends?” He cocked his head.
“I guess, and then he accused me of having a thing for her.”
“Do you?” Simon asked.
“NO! I like her as a friend. He’s just being an idiot.”
“Like someone else I know.” Simon smirked as he looked at Sam.
“Right? And you know why I behaved that way.”
“Yep.” I nodded my head. “Our brother is catching some feelings for his daughter’s nanny.”
“I agree,” Sam said. “It’s all too obvious.”
“And another brother bites the dust.” Simon sighed.
Chapter 22
Alex
“Can we talk?” Stefan said as he opened my bedroom door without warning.
“Excuse me!” I said as I stood there in my bra and panties.
“Please, I’ve seen you naked.” He sat down on the edge of the bed.
“What is so urgent that you couldn’t wait until I got dressed?”
“I don’t understand why you want to bartend after your work ends here.”
“This again?” I furrowed my brows at him as I slipped on my jeans.
“Yes. If you want more money, I’ll give it to you.”
“Stefan, I’m helping your brother out. I already told you I like to bartend.”
“But why?”
“Why not? I get to meet different people.”
“So, what you’re really saying is you’re bored here already.”
“Oh my God, no. That is not true. I can’t even believe you have an issue with this. He’s your brother and he needs help. It’s only temporary. Besides, you can’t tell me what I can and cannot do on my personal time.”
“You’re right, I can’t. You know what, whatever.” He got up and walked out of the bedroom.
“No.” I followed behind him. “What is really going on here?”
“Nothing, Alex. Listen, I’m sorry.” He turned around and placed his hand on the side of my face. “I’m sorry. I’m being a jerk and I don’t know why.”
“Okay. Apology accepted. It’s only temporary, Stefan.”
He lowered his hand and brought his forehead to mine.
“Thanks for accepting my apology.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Can I kiss you?” he asked.
“Yes.” I smiled as his lips softly brushed against mine.
“Can we—”
“We have fifteen minutes.” The corners of my mouth curved upward.
I walked over to Julia’s car, and we climbed in and headed to pick up her sister.
“Jenni, this is Alex. Alex, Jenni.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Alex.” Jenni hugged me.
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
“So, how do you like living with Stefan Kind?” she asked.
“I like it.”
“I bet. Have you fucked him yet?”
“JENNI!” Julia exclaimed.
“What? She’s part of our posse now. We can talk about things like that. I fucked Simon.”
“You did?” My eyes widened.
“Yeah.” The grin on her face grew wider. “If Stefan is anything like him, you’ve got it made, girl.”
She could tell I was blushing.
“You did, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. A couple times.” I bit down on my bottom lip.
“High five, sister!” She held her hand up.
“Julia, you can’t tell anyone.” I begged.
“Sweetie, trust me when I say this, they already know. Those boys tell each other everything. Nothing is a secret between them.”
“Sam told you?”
“He did.” The corners of her mouth curved upward. “And if he’s anything in bed like his brother, shit, you need to keep doing that. You feel me?”
“Totally.” I smiled. “So, you and Simon aren’t—”
“No. It happened one time. We both agreed it was amazing, but then we parted ways the next morning,” Jenni said.
“Isn’t it awkward seeing him now?”
“Not at all. Simon is a tough cookie. I’m not sure there’s any woman out there that can break through his iron clad detective exterior.”
“I have a question. I need to find an OB/GYN. Can you recommend someone?” I asked Julia and Jenni.
“Dr. Kota,” they both said at the same time.
“He’s our doctor and he’s amazing,” Julia said.
“Great. Can you give me his number? I need to make an appointment for a refill on my birth control pills.”
“I’ll text it to you,” Julia said as she pulled out her phone.
After we did some shopping, we headed to The Cheesecake Factory for an early dinner. While we were waiting for our food, I told Julia and Jenni about the bartending job at Four Kinds.
“I’m going to be helping Sebastian out at the restaurant a couple nights a week.”
“Doing what?” Julia asked.
“Bartending. One of his night bartenders quit and he’s in a bind. I told him I’ll help out until he can find someone.”
“You bartend?” Jenni asked.
“Yeah. I’ve been doing it since I turned twenty-one. You know, something is really bothering me.”
“What is it?” Julia asked.
“Stefan’s reaction was crazy. He basically didn’t want me to do it.”
“That doesn’t sound like Stefan.”
“Now that he’s had some of your goods, he’s worried you’ll meet some tall dark handsome man at the bar, and he’ll whisk you away from him.”
“Really, Jenni?” Julia cocked her head.
“Just saying. You know guys and their mentality. They think because you slept with them, they own you. And for you,” she pointed at me, “it’s worse because you live in his house.”
“Stop it. Stefan is not like that,” Julia said.
“Really? Isn’t his gene pool the exact same as Sam’s? Need I remind you, sister, his reaction when you wouldn’t sell the building?”
“That was different circumstances.”
“Doesn’t matter. All those Kind boys have the same blood flowing through them.”
Chapter 23
Stefan
“Daddy!” Lily ran into my arms.
“Hey, baby girl.” I picked her up and kissed her cheek. “How was your trip with Grandma Celeste and Grandpa?”
“It was so much fun! Where’s Alex?” She looked around.
“She’s out with Aunt Julia. She should be back soon. Why don’t you take your bag to your room and put your dirty clothes in the hamper?”