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“She’s not company,” I say, the words coming out without hesitance.

Sunny’s eyes find mine.

“What do you mean?” Charlotte asks, looking like I just gut punched her.

“Sunny’s been staying with me. For over a month now.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

Finally, Sunny closes the distance and steps into my arms, kissing me with her warm, soft lips. I’m about two seconds away from telling my sister to fuck off when she clears her throat.

“Coffee’s ready,” she says quietly, looking away.

Sunny smiles as she reaches for a coffee cup. I run my fingers through her wet hair, feeling my sister’s eyes on me.

In my heart, I know she’s just worried. My sister took on the role of parent after ours died. She felt the need to be the responsible one while I filled the opposite role. It was a little exhausting.

Charlotte never married. Well, I guess you could say she married her job. It didn’t matter that our parents left us loaded. My sister still managed a full-ride scholarship, law school, took the bar, and started her own firm, only adding to her exorbitant wealth. Why anyone would put so much time and energy into making that kind of money when you already had it was beyond me.

“How did you two meet?” she asks, sitting at the bar with her coffee.

“I live in the house behind this one,” Sunny answers, and I shoot her a glare. Not because I don’t want my sister knowing where Sunny lives but because I hate when she does that. Reduces herself to my neighbor, instead of the artist I hired. I heard her do the same thing with her dad, and judging by the way he treated her, I have a feeling she’s used to being belittled.

Resting my hand on her back, I look toward my sister. “Sunny is a very talented artist. I hired her to paint a mural out back.” Gesturing to the pool house, I watch the recognition dawn on my sister’s face.

“You did that?” Her eyes are wide, and I practically burst with pride.

“I’m planning a big press release when it’s done. Have a couple influencer friends of mine come out and do a piece on her. She’ll be the busiest artist in Pineridge by Christmas.”

Sunny’s head snaps to face me. “You didn’t tell me that,” she deadpans. I see the panic settle itself behind her eyes, and I lean in to kiss her forehead, but she doesn’t relax much.

“There’s an excellent co-op commissioned by the university downtown,” Charlotte says nonchalantly, stirring sugar into her cup. “It’s a six-month program. City-sponsored art is huge right now, and most of the artists who come out of it go on to do work all over the world.”

Beside me, Sunny tenses. Her eyes are fixed on my sister.

“Did you know about that?” I ask, looking down at her.

Quietly, she nods, and my heart sinks just a little lower in my chest. Why didn’t she tell me? Sunny is more than qualified for that.

“You should definitely look into it, Sunny,” Charlotte goes on. “It’s all paid for by the university, and I don’t think you’d have a problem getting in.”

“Thanks,” Sunny mumbles with her lips perched over her coffee cup.

I give her shoulder a squeeze again. Now I’m really anxious for my sister to get lost so I can pick Sunny’s mind about this because it’s clear she’s hiding something.

“So, what do you have planned in Pineridge today?” I ask my sister.

“There’s a farmers market at the park today. I figured I’d have to drag you out of the house…” She tries to hide a sneaky smile, but I catch her eyes on Sunny.

“I’ve always wanted to see that,” Sunny says softly.

“Then, we’re going,” I answer too quickly. I shouldn’t be surprised that her asshole parents never took her to anything like that, and even if we hadn’t started what we started last night, I’d want to take her. I want to show Sunny everything. I want her to have everything.

“I’ll go get dressed.” Dropping a kiss on her cheek, I leave them and run toward the bathroom. About halfway across, I remember the pictures someone snapped and posted all over social media. Sunny doesn’t know yet, but she will. And if we do this…there will be more.

“Rain cloud,” I mutter from the top of the stairs. She quickly excuses herself and runs up. The bright look in her eyes has me pulling her in for a kiss before I can get a word out. Hiding her inside the room, I let my hands roam the soft fabric of her dress and over her little round ass.