“I haven’t told him yet. And so what if he gets pissed? I cleared it with Dad. You know Jude is just waiting until his time is up and then he’s out of here. I asked him if he was going to come back to work with me, but he doesn’t want to. Says he has better things to do.”
“He’s been cooped up for a long time. Can’t really blame him,” Finley said with her usual habit of coming to Jude’s rescue.
“What kind of work do you do?” I asked.
“My dad owns a construction company and I’m the foreman.”
And that’s when it struck me. His smile was familiar because I’d been on the receiving end of it. “Kingston Construction?”
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
I shrugged. “Just a guess. I’ve seen the sign before and thought because of the name, it might be your father’s company.” There was no way I was going to mention that the shabby, rundown apartment building next to his work site was my humble home.
“Good guess. Kingston is our real name. Anyhow, you need to convince my sister to bring you down to the party tomorrow night.”
Finley leaned back on her hands and turned her face to the sky. “His friends are all jerks.”
Cole looked back at her over his shoulder. “Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that Max is back from New York.”
Finley sat up quickly. “When did he get back?” She made a pathetic attempt to sound nonchalant. It didn’t take a genius to see that she had a thing for this guy, Max.
“Last week. And he’ll be here tomorrow night.”
She leaned back again and lifted her face again. “Good for him. What do I care if Max is back?”
Cole grinned down at me.
“And don’t flash that cocky grin at my friend,” Finley said without ever opening her eyes.
“How the hell did you know I was grinning at her?”
“I can hear the black stubble on your face grinding as your cheeks move. Plus, you are totally predictable.”
“Okay, now my interest is piqued. I have to go to the party to see this guy, Max,” I said.
“He’s a jerk like the rest of them,” Finley sighed. She sat up. “But I guess we could make an appearance.”
A door slammed on the pool house, and I peeked in that direction. Jude walked outside and sat on a chair in front of it. He was wearing black sunglasses, but it was obvious that he was staring our direction. He lit a cigarette and took a long slow drag as he watched the pool action or, in this case, inaction. The girl who’d walked inside with him did not join him. This time his presence attracted his siblings’ attention.
“What are you doing?” Finley called.
“She’s getting ready, and I needed a smoke. Any other questions?”
His answer made me wonder exactly what the girl was getting ready for.
“Nope, that covers it,” Finley said tersely. She looked at Cole. “He’s full of shit. I think he came out to watch my new pal swim.” She winked at me.
Cole glanced in Jude’s direction and then looked back at Finley. “Nah, you’re wrong. I know my brother, and he’s out here to keep an eye on me.”
Finley and I had the same brow lifting reaction. “Huh?” Finley asked. “I think my theory is more plausible. I mean you look cute in your trunks, Coley, but Jude is just not that into you.”
“Your theory is better,” Cole said. “That’s why he’s out keeping an eye on me.”
Their rather cryptic conversation became clear to me after some thought. “You’re both totally wrong. Your brother has made it very obvious that he doesn’t like having me here.”
Cole looked down at me. “Really? What makes you thinks so?”
“I can just tell he doesn’t care for me.” I definitely didn’t want to bring up the conversation in the theater.
Cole looked over at Finley. “Isn’t that interesting?”
Finley nodded. “Why, yes it is.”
“If you two are going to continue talking in secret sibling code, I’m going to take a swim over to the deep end. I’ll send up a flare if I get lost out there.” I pushed off and swam toward the far end of the pool, which was a good distance away. Two laps in this pool would be a full workout. I was halfway across when I heard Finley call out for Some Pig. The sudden urgency in her voice made me turn back quickly.
“Where is he?” Finley cried. “Cole, find him, find him, please.” Cole pulled himself out of the pool just as I reached the small island. Finley was sucking in short gasps of air, and her face was white with worry. “I knew something would happen,” she cried. “Some Pig is gone and it’s all my fault.” I climbed up on the island and sat next to Finley. Her shoulders tensed up around her ears as she struggled to get a solid breath.
“I’m sure Some Pig is fine,” I said, but she didn’t hear a word. I felt completely helpless. I took hold of her hand, but she didn’t react to my touch. She was fading into her own panic-filled world. Water splashed over the island, and Jude’s head popped up from the water. Fully clothed, he pulled himself up onto the island and knelt behind his sister.
Gently he kneaded her shoulders and lowered his face near hers. “Breathe, Finley, breathe.” He looked at me. “I’ve got her. Go help find the pig. He likes the shade tree by the rose garden.”
I jumped into the water and swam quickly to the side. I hoisted myself up and ran toward the path. Cole joined me.
“He’s not under the tree. I already checked.” He motioned toward the house. “See if he went back to the house, and I’ll check out by the tennis courts.”
I raced back to the house and noticed immediately that the screen door was pushed open. Some Pig glanced up lazily from the rug in front of the television, completely unaware of the chaos he’d created. I turned to race back to the pool with the news. Some Pig got up and trotted after me. We jogged down the path side by side as if we were out running the track together. “You sure caused a stink, S.P. Let’s hurry back.” As soon as my foot hit the path leading to the pool area, I called out. “I’ve got him!”
I rounded the corner just as Jude was carrying Finley out of the pool. She looked sickly pale and her thin shoulders shook.
“I found him!” I called again.
Jude and Finley looked up. “Some Pig,” Finley cried as she spotted us. “Where were you?” Her voice was weak and shaky as if she’d just gone through something traumatic. And, I guess to her, it had been.
Jude lowered Finley’s feet to the ground, and Some Pig ran over to greet her as if in apology.
I pressed my hand to my chest to catch my breath. “He was curled up by the television.”
Cole came around the back of the pool house. “Oh good, you found him.”
“Cole, take Finley back to the house. She needs to get out of the sun,” Jude said.
Cole placed an arm around her shoulder and led Finley back toward the house. Her pig followed.
I collected our towels and shoes. Jude’s shadow loomed over me, and I sped up my movements to get away from him quickly. I had this sinking feeling he was going to lecture me or give me the big I told you so look. Arms full, I spun around and nearly smacked into him. Obviously, my clean get away was not going to happen.
The wet white t-shirt clung to every curve of his muscular chest and arms as he assessed me coolly with his disconcerting gaze. “You did all right out there,” he said quietly. “You kept your head.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but I’d been so ready to defend myself, his compliment caught me off guard. I tucked my hair behind my ears with trembling fingers. The entire incident had left me more shaken that I’d realized. Having Jude stand so close was definitely not helping matters. His gaze lingered on my face and lips and then floated slowly down my body to my feet. I cursed myself for not taking time to cover up with the towel. “I know— my suit is embarrassingly ugly. You don’t have to tell me.”
His long black lashes lifted, and he stared at my face again. “What suit?” He turned and strolled back to the pool house without further comment, and I race-walked back to the house.