Kaylee steps onto the stairs with the world's most content smile. She's already in some adorable sundress. One with a blue floral print and thin straps.

Her eyes brighten as they meet mine.

I have to force myself to direct my attention back to my sister.

This is giving too much away.

And I'm not doing enough to check in with Em. The school year isn't as big a deal for her—she started college officially back in June with summer courses, and she's only going part-time—but it's still a transition.

"You've been working more." I snap my piece of bacon in half and take a bite. It's salty, chewy, rich. Perfect.

"I like money." Emma stirs another splash of cream into her coffee. "I'm not going to suffer another 'you should be in school full-time lecture,' so if that's where you're going you can save your breath." She turns to watch Kay step into the main room. "Where are you going dressed like that?"

Kay's laugh is nervous. She twirls a long, blond strand around her finger. "With my hair a mess and no makeup?"

"That's a mess?" Emma shakes her head, sending crimson hair in every direction. "Life is unfair."

"True." Kay's eyes meet mine. Her smile gets wider. She's stupid happy.

Last night meant a lot to her.

I'm still turning it over. I'm going to be turning it over for a long fucking time.

It terrifies me, the thought of Kay doing anything to hurt herself. It hits me like a punch to the gut.

But, mostly, I'm humbled by her sharing that with me.

Fuck, I want to find every place she hurts and destroy it.

I don't think she's broken. But if she is, I want to be the glue that holds her together. I want that as much as I want the shop to succeed. As much as I want Em to thrive. As much as I want anything.

"There's more eggs and bacon in the pan." I nod to the kitchen. "And coffee."

"I'll make a tea." She nearly floats into the kitchen.

Is that all from spilling her secret?

Fuck, I can't imagine the weight of that.

Taking all that on her own—she's so fucking strong, so fucking brave.

Emma turns back to me. "Really? No lecture?"

"You want to stay part-time." I bring my mug to my lips. Damn. This coffee is good. Nutty. Rich. With that hint of toffee. It's the best fucking coffee I've ever had. Or maybe that's the smile on Kay's face. The honor and responsibility of her placing all her trust in me.

"Nothing about how I should work a little harder and get done in four years instead of languish for eight?" Emma takes a long sip. "Really?"

"You've worked retail for two years. You know what it's like. You know you'll be doing that forever if you don't go to college." The coffee warms me everywhere. No, that's Kay. "If you want to own a boutique one day, you'll need those business classes. Trust me."

"I do. It's just..." She scoops her eggs onto her fork. "Weird that you're being reasonable."

"I'm always reasonable." I eat the other half of my bacon slice.

Emma laughs so hard she slaps the table. "No." She turns to Kaylee, now pouring hot water into her mug. "Back me up here."

Kay laughs. "Always isn't the right word."

"Yeah. It's weird. It's like... like you're happy." Emma stares at me like she's picking me apart.

"I am." I really fucking am.

Emma tilts her head to one side. "Why? You're never happy."

"I own a quarter of the shop. We're putting a new sign up next Friday. With a logo I designed. We're getting rid of all the old shit that doesn't suit us. I finally talked Ryan into interviewing another artist or two." My eyes meet Kay's as she takes her seat. And that. Her. "Why wouldn't I be happy?"

"Because you're Brendon." Emma brings another scoop of eggs to her lips. Chews. Swallows. "It's good. I'm happy for you. Just weird."

"He's always weird." Kaylee smiles at me. "That isn't new."

"True." Emma turns to Kay. "And you're happy too. Satisfied. Like you... like that hairstyle is really working for you."

"It is." Kaylee dunks her tea bag. "It's great."

"When did you... try it out yesterday? Weren't you working all night?" Emma asks.

Kay giggles. "After."

"After. Hmm." Emma shoots me a stop eavesdropping look.

I should let them talk. I finish my last bite. Even these eggs taste better than usual. The room is brighter, the air is sweeter, the coffee's bolder.

Everything is better.

I bring my plate to the sink. Finish my last cup of coffee. Watch Emma and Kaylee giggle over their incredibly obvious metaphor.

"I have an appointment." I look to Emma. "You're working this afternoon?"

"Yeah, till closing. I'll get dinner at work." Emma turns to Kay. "Are you closing again?"

Kaylee nods. "It's the best shift in the summers."

"But it means I don't see you weekends," Emma says.

"Except early." Kaylee motions to the table.

"Yeah, except early." Emma leans in to whisper to Kay.

The two of them giggle.

"Keep an eye on her, all right, Kay?" I grab my keys and take a step toward the door.

"Sure." Kay smiles back at me.

"Hey!" Emma feigns offense. "Why don't you ever tell me to watch Kay?"

"Keep an eye on Kay. All right?" I ask.

Emma laughs. "Perfect."

I slide into my shoes and I slip out the door.

And I nearly float to the fucking shop.

I wait until I'm inside to text Kay.

Brendon: I'll be done at noon. I'll meet you at home.

Kaylee: You think I wait around for you all day?

Brendon: I think you read, study, or watch TV when Emma is at work.

Kaylee: Maybe.

Brendon: Aren't you writing a novel?

Kaylee: Yeah, but not right now. It's the weekend. I need a little incentive if you want me at your beck and call.

Brendon: Trust me. You want to meet me at noon.

Kaylee: For...?

Brendon: For a surprise.

Kaylee: Which is?

Brendon: I'll see you at noon.

Kaylee: Maybe. Or maybe I'll be out.

Brendon: You won't.

Kaylee: How do you know?

Brendon: You can't come on my cock if I'm not there.

* * *

Kaylee taps her fingers against the dash. "You really aren't going to tell me?"

"You struggle with the concept of surprise," I tease.

"No. I just like knowing." She grabs the aux cable and plugs it into her phone. A moment later S&M is pouring from the speakers. She looks to me with a coy smile. "Who are you imagining?"

I arch a brow.

"Me or Dean."

"You." I leave one hand on the wheel and place the other on her leg. I rub her soft skin with my finger.

It makes her shudder.

Fuck, the moan that falls off her lips is distracting.

All that heavy shit is still in the air. We'll have to ride through the storm soon. But not yet. She's facing reality as soon as she gets off that plane.

I want to make the next two weeks—well, nearly two weeks—as blissful as possible.

Rhianna purrs about her love of whips and chains.

I slide my hand under Kaylee's dress. Higher and higher, until my thumb is brushing the edges of her panties.

Her fingers dig into the seat. "You're a tease."

"You just figuring that out?"

She shakes her head. "It's more obvious some times than others."

I can't help but smile. She does that to me. She makes me stupid happy.

I turn my attention back, but I keep my hand on her thigh, my thumb tracing the edge of her panties.

Marvin Gaye serenades us.

I turn on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Then into the little strip mall on the right and grab the first spot I find.

Kaylee looks around carefully. First, the donut shop. Then the juice place. Then our destination. Then the liquor store. "I don't really like donuts."

"Guess again."

She motions to the juice place. "Lunch."

"No."

Her eyes go to our destination. A Perfect Romance. "Brendon Kane. You... you're not..."

"I am."

I pull my hand away.

Her sigh is heavy. Needy. "You... you're... why..."

I undo my seatbelt and step out of the car. Fuck, there are a million reasons why. "Because I want to be sure you're thinking of me every fucking night."

She gets out of the car and presses the door shut. Her eyes find mine. They're still dumbfounded.

"You don't have a vibrator."

Her cheeks flush. "People can hear you."

I hit the lock and slide my keys into my pocket. "People should hear me." I slide my arm around her waist. "People should know how much I love it when you come."

Her blush deepens. "You... you do this on purpose."

"Maybe."

"Yeah. You do." She rests her head on my shoulder. "I'm not sure why I talk to you."

"You want people knowing."

"No." She shakes her head. "I... aren't you supposed to do this somewhere dark and quiet? Or online? It's the twenty-first century."

I lead her toward the store, pull the door open for her. "I want it now." I lean in to whisper in her ear. "I want to go straight home and use whatever we buy to make you come until you pass out."

"Oh." Her blush spreads to her chest. Her teeth sink into her lower lip. "I guess that's acceptable."

"Just acceptable?"

She nods. "Don't push your luck."

"My luck?"

"Yeah. Your luck." Her eyes go wide as she takes in the store. She presses her lips together. "I... I'm on birth control. If you... if you're sure you're clean."

"I got tested last month." A few days before her birthday. Three months earlier than scheduled. Yeah, I knew exactly what I was doing. And it was fucked. But at least I'm safe. "There hasn't been anyone for a long time."

"I want to try it without a condom. If you do." She looks up at me. "Do you?"

My cock threatens to take over. "Yeah." Why are we here? I could be fucking her in the backseat. I could feel every inch of her flesh against mine.

"Oh. Good."

"Fucking great."

"Fucking great." She moves to the racks of lingerie in front. Flips through a set of animal print thongs. "Why is cheetah print sexy?" Her voice is nervous. But it's plenty loud.

We are the only people in here, besides the salesgirl.

But still...

Her confidence fills me with a pride that goes all the way to my bones.

"Brendon?" She holds up a cheetah print thong. "Can you explain it to me?"

"It's a thong."

She laughs. "I get that part. But the animal print?"

I shrug. "Fuck if I know." I join her at the rack. Go straight to a row filled with lacy pink stuff. "Now this—" I pick out a sheer pink bra and panty set. "This is sexy."

"Why?"

"You really have to ask?"

"Have to is relative."

"It's sweet. Innocent. Angelic."

Her cheeks flush. "It's too small. I'm the next size up."

I trade it in for the next size. "I'm buying this for you."

"I thought we were here for a—" She lowers her voice. "For something else."

"You can say vibrator. They have a whole wall of them."

"An entire wall?" She scans the room for said wall. "How am I supposed to know what to get?"

"We could ask the salesgirl for help."

Kaylee's eyes go wide. Her lips press together. She shakes her head no way. "I can ask you for help."

Perfect. I press my palm into her lower back and lead her toward said wall. Only I take the long way.

Kaylee gawks as we pass a wall of porn. She stops to stare at all the lifelike dildos.

"It... it has veins." She reaches out to touch one of the packages. It's modeled after some porn star. "Is that sexy?"

"I'd know?"

"True. But... it's just..." She tilts her head to the other side. "Why?"

"Capitalism."

She laughs. "Of course." She looks up at me. "I like punk rock anarchist commie Brendon. But I think... I think whatever you'd call this guy—the small business owner who shops at Ikea—I think he's more you."

"You'd feel different if you appreciated The Ramones—"

She laughs. "And you'd feel differently if you appreciated The Smiths. But no one is perfect." She turns to check out the rack behind us. Ball gags. Then bondage gear. She picks up an under the bed restraints kit. "Do you have one of these?"

"Of course."

"Or... do you use rope with the bed?"

"Both."

She turns it over to read the label. "You, um, we haven't that much. Maybe we could... try it again? Soon."

"Today?"

"Today is soon."

"You sure?" I'm already thinking about it. Fuck, I'm already getting hard.

"Positive." She replaces the restraints kit then moves forward. Right to the wall of vibrators—and it really is a wall of demo units. "Shit. You weren't kidding."

I nod.

"How do I pick just one..."

"How do you fuck yourself?"

"Uh, well, I just... you mean, specifically?"

I force myself to stare into her eyes. "Yeah."

"I guess I..." Her cheeks flush, but she pushes through. "I rub my clit."

"You ever fuck yourself with your fingers?"

"No. Not usually."

"You want to?"

She picks up a bullet vibrator and turns it over in her hand. "Um... I wouldn't mind. But I'd rather... I'd rather it be you."

I reach over her to pick up a demo unit. It's big enough to fuck her with, but it's still small and sleek. "Something like this?" I turn it on and press it against her fingertip.

She stares up at me. "Maybe."

I turn it off. Set it down. Find the rabbit style vibrator at the end of the row.

Kaylee's eyes go wide as she takes it in. "Oh. So that's... and then that's... and it just..."

"Yeah."

She swallows hard. "That seems intense."

"It is." At least, that's what I hear. "You want to try it?"

"Yeah. I do."