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With a stiff smile, I nod. “Thanks,” I mumble. “Uh …” I glance past him.
“Listen,” he says, keeping his back to everyone gathered around his kitchen island. “I didn’t know they were going to show up.”
“They as in?”
“My family. They arrived ten minutes ago with food and cake. I knew you were already on your way, so I didn’t want to scare you off by giving you a heads-up.”
“Wow. Your family goes all out for Valentine’s Day?”
“No. It’s my grandpa’s birthday. He’s eighty-nine today. I’m sorry. I’ll make this up to you.”
I shake my head. “Make what up? I adore your grandpa.”
Koen sighs with a smile. “Thank you. Let me introduce you to my family.” He takes my hand and pulls me toward the kitchen. “Hey, everyone, this is Scottie. She works at Drummond’s, Grandpa’s favorite store.”
“Happy birthday, Herb.” I rest my hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you, young lady,” he replies, perched at the counter while arranging cheese on a cracker.
“Scottie, this is my mom, Shelly, and my brother, Kaleb.”
“Hi.” I hold up my hand in a friendly wave as they greet me.
Kaleb’s gaze drops a few inches.
Shit.
My V-Day sweater is not only red for the occasion but also thin and almost sheer from the loose knitting. And … I’m not wearing a bra or underwear, for that matter. I saw the evening going in a different direction, and I dressed for not wearing my clothes.
“How long have you worked at Drummond’s?” Shelly asks, sipping a bottle of green tea with one hand while tucking her flaxen curls behind her ear with her other.
I melt from her smile that’s as genuine and unpretentious as her pink pilled button-down and relaxed jeans on her curvy body.
“Ten years. I love Austin, the neighborhood, and the people who shop there.” I wink at Herb.
Again, when I glance at Kaleb, I catch him staring at my chest. I turn toward Koen. “I need to go upstairs for a minute,” I whisper, offering him a tight grin.
He narrows his eyes before nodding.
“I uh … need to make a quick call,” I tell his family. “So I’m going to run upstairs for just a few minutes if you’ll excuse me.”
I don’t wait for an answer before hightailing it up the stairs. After turning on the light in his closet, I riffle through his clothes.
“Forgot your phone,” Koen says.
I glance over my shoulder while he holds up my phone.
“Is there something I can help you find?”
“You don’t happen to have a bra, do you?”
He squints with a headshake. “Did yours break?”
“No …” I say slowly, eyes wide. “I thought it would be just the two of us, and it’s fine that it’s not, but I wore the bare minimum.” I lift my sweater.
Koen’s eyes flare, lips part.
I lower my sweater. “Your brother keeps staring at my chest. I’m sure it’s because he can easily see my nipples, which means your mom can too. This isn’t the first impression I want to have on her.”
