Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy

“Ronan’s a friend,” Levi counters. “I can’t send some knucklehead to him. I want to know he’s taken care of right.”

“I’ll do it,” I offer.

“Of course.” Cooper says with an exasperated sigh. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“No one asked you.” Starved, I edge away from the table to grab one of the boxes of lo mein and dig in.

“We’ve got a good handle on the hotel.” Mac eyes my lo mein, then gets her box of fried rice and hops up on the counter to eat. “Shouldn’t be a problem.”

Cooper shoots her a look for contradicting him, but she just shrugs. Maybe the best part of having Mac around is that she loves to wind my brother up. Which usually means taking my side in an argument.

“You’re a glutton for punishment.” Cooper shakes his head at me.

Maybe I am, but he doesn’t understand Gen like I do. Sure, we’ve had our toxic moments, the fights, the reckless nights. But there were great times as well. Together, we’re fusion. Perfect energy. Right now she thinks there’s some righteous atonement in keeping our distance, but that’s only because she’s let herself forget what it’s like when we’re at our best.

I simply have to remind her. But to do that, I need to get close to her.

“Hey.” Levi demands my attention. “You sure you can keep it professional? I don’t want you acting like a fool over there while you’re on the job. We might be Hartley and Sons now, but that’s still my name on the business card.”

“Don’t worry,” I promise through a mouthful of noodles. “I got this.”

Cooper sighs.

On Monday afternoon, Levi and I pull up to the West house. Ronan had dropped off a key at Levi’s this morning so we could let ourselves in to have a look around. The purpose of today’s visit is to walk the property and come up with a task list of anything that needs replacing, fixing, painting. Ronan’s left it up to Levi to give him his opinion and a price quote for what he thinks it will take to get the best offer when it goes on the market. After twenty-some years and six kids, the rambling two-story house has definitely seen better days.

It is a little odd being back here under the circumstances. Even weirder to be walking through the front door after all those times Gen and I got caught sneaking in or out through her window. And don’t get me started on all the pool parties we threw when Gen’s parents were away.

My uncle and I conduct a sweep of the interior first, scribbling on our clipboards as we point out various issues that jump out at us. We scope out the exterior next, looking at the siding that needs replacing and deciding the wobbly wooden fence around the backyard probably warrants a PVC upgrade. Looks better and is easier to maintain. After some more clipboard notes, we let ourselves through the gate to check out the pool and—holy sweet Jesus.

I come up short at the sight of Gen tanning on one of the lounge chairs.

Topless.

Kill me.

“I thought they stopped making pornos like this in the nineties,” I drawl, getting an irritated grumble in response from Levi.

Totally unbothered, Gen rolls onto her side, looking like a swimsuit model with her long legs and oiled skin glowing under the sun. Those astounding, perky breasts are pointing right at me. Not as though I’d forgotten what they look like, but the sight of her in just tiny bikini bottoms and sunglasses gets me reminiscing about old times.

“You don’t knock anymore?” Gen says, then reaches for a glass of water.

“Did I ever?” My gaze keeps flitting back to her perfect rack. It’s taking all my wits to remember my uncle is standing next to me.

“Your, uh, dad asked us over to give him a quote for the renovation,” Levi answers, staring uncomfortably at the ground. “He didn’t say anyone would be here.”

I stifle a laugh. “Come on, Gen, put those things away. You’re gonna give the poor man a stroke.”

“Aw, Levi’s not interested in anything I’ve got, anyway.” She sits up, reaching for her bikini top. “How’s Tim doing?” she asks Levi.

He grunts out a, “Yeah, good,” while still diligently averting his eyes. My uncle doesn’t talk much about his long-time partner, who works from home as an editor for academic journals. Levi prefers to keep their personal life private. It wasn’t always easy for him being a gay man in this town, and I think he finds it simpler to let most people believe what they want. Even among his friends that know, they don’t ask about it. As a couple, he and Tim don’t tend to go out much on account of the latter being sort of a recluse. They like things quiet, those two. It suits them, I suppose.

“What are you doing home?” I ask Gen. I heard her dad had her working at the stone yard.

“We’re open on Sundays,” she says, covering her chest with her forearm as she untangles the strings of her top. “So we get Mondays off. You guys need anything from me?”

Levi finds his voice while dutifully looking at his clipboard. “Is Ronan going to want any landscaping back here?”

Gen shrugs. “No idea.”

Relieved, he takes the excuse to go inside and call Ronan, leaving me alone with Gen.

After a moment of noticeable reluctance, she shifts in her chair. “Tie me up?” Holding her top to her chest, she turns her back to me.