Page 46 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

Kelsey and Emberly are already sitting in a booth in the back with full pints in front of them when I arrive. As I shake hands with neighbors and acquaintances on my way past the pool tables and dart boards, my stomach clenches.

This is too public. I should have invited the ladies to my house instead.

No. It will be fine. We’ll keep our voices down. Being in public will force me to keep my reactions in check. No heated cheeks or sweaty palms.

Yep. Totally manageable.

I give Emberly a hug and then slide into the booth next to Kelsey. Orange goo decorates the side of Kelsey’s neck. I swipe at it and hold up my finger. “What is this?”

“I thought I got them all.” She sighs and scrubs her neck. “Abby didn’t like the sweet potatoes I made her for lunch.”

“That girl is the pickiest eater.” I sip my beer. “Anything new on the job front?”

Her eyes dart to Emberly. “Umm, no. Nothing. Well, I mean, I can’t take advantage of Sebastian’s charity too much longer, so I’ve been looking into other things.”

“That’s a non-answer if I’ve ever heard one. Sebastian needs you. It’s not charity when we all know you’d give your left arm for that girl.” Emberly laces her hands on the table and leans forward. “Spill.”

Kelsey twists the napkin between her fingers as her gaze darts from me to Emberly and back again. She loves Abby fiercely and would nanny for free if Sebastian let her, but he refuses to accept help. Charity both ways, I guess.

It doesn’t help that Sebastian is the sexiest single dad in the county. No breathing female is immune to what happens when they watch that man slip the suspenders on his firefighter uniform over his broad shoulders.

Kelsey called dibs before he met, married, and divorced his ex-wife, but Sebastian doesn’t seem to have received that memo. Her head knows better, but her heart won’t let him go.

But that’s not what this is about.

Kelsey tosses the napkin on the table. “Abby liked sweet potatoes last week. I don’t know what happened.”

“She realized they’re gross, but that’s not what you need to tell us.” Emberly plucks the napkin from the table and tosses it against Kelsey’s forehead.

“It’s nothing.”

We stare at her.

Her already rosy cheeks turn pinker and pinker. “I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?” Emberly asks.

“Because if I do, you’ll be obliged to decorate my wrists with your department-issued bracelets.” She raises her eyebrows.

“My handcuffs?” Emberly flops against the back of the booth. “Kels, not again.”

“It will be fine. It’s just a little—”

Emberly throws her hands up. “Nope. Not a word.”

“I told you that you didn’t want to know.” Kelsey elbows me. “Why’d you call us here anyway? Your text had a panicky undertone.”

Dead weight settles deep in my chest. I hoped they’d give me at least another hour. It’s not like I can dig into the details of the renovation project to kill time and distract them. They know why I’m spending so much time with Landon.

I need their wisdom.

Well, maybe Kelsey isn’t the best to give me relationship advice, but these women know me. ThemeI show the world, at least. They’ll help me see reason and shove fiery thoughts of Landon’s lips out of my brain.

This confession is like ripping off a bandage anyway. Get it over with and they will tell me how to never kiss him again.

I hold Emberly’s gaze. “I kissed Landon.”

The crevice between Emberly’s eyebrows deepens, and her mouth pinches.