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But it is a big deal. A huge deal, actually. My mind races, and thick emotions cloud in. He squeezes my hips and glides his warm palms over my ass again.
“I know that look. You’re getting fired up about something.”
“You friend-zoned us for years and—”
He cuts me off with a kiss, diffusing the head of steam building inside me. “And I apologized, and we agreed you’d forgive me for my idiotic tendencies.” This teasing side of him has been missing for so long that it feels like the first warm day in spring.
“Don’t let it happen again,” I murmur, leaning in for another kiss. And another.
“Never.” Another squeeze. “Now, let’s go shower because I want to get to your parents’ house by breakfast time.”
SEVEN
hunter
I’m not surprised to find Joshua and Madeline on the front porch waiting for us. Our phones have been pinging every few minutes since we got out of the shower. Piper, bless her, has answered a few times. Soothing worries.
She doesn’t have a headache, and the cut is healing, no stitches required. But I understand their worry. Piper is their baby girl.
But she’s also my girl.
I love how I don’t even have to tell her to wait, that I’ll come around and open the door for her. She just waits. Watching me through the windshield of my truck, that slight smile I love so much tugging her lips.
“You sure you want to do this?” she murmurs when she hops down. “It’s not too late to make a run for LA.”
“Shoulda done this a long time ago.”
“I love you,” she whispers.
“Vixen.” She knows how much I want to kiss her. How hearing those words on her lips turns me into a caveman. The laugh lines around her eyes tell me everything.
Madeline rises from her rocking chair, coffee mug in hand. “Hi, sweetheart. Hunter.” As usual, she’s smiling. That’s where Piper gets it from.
The crunch of gravel has me turning my head. Brandt’s truck pulls to a stop next to mine, and he hops out, wearing the same clothes as last night. Piper notices the same thing because when I glance down at her, she smirks at her brother.
“Didn’t have time to change, brother?” She loves teasing her twin.
“Whatever,” he grumbles under his breath. But he’s eyeing Piper, making sure she’s as okay as she claims.
“Come on in. Plenty of coffee,” Madeline pipes up, turning for the front door. A festive wreath is on the door, and potted plants dot the stairs. Pie shoots me a look and follows her mother inside.
I climb the three steps to the front porch, Brandt right behind me.
“I’m just catching up on texts. Is she okay?” he asks, and I get the feeling the question is directed at me, so I nod.
“Pie’s got a hard head.”
Joshua grunts his agreement. My chest tightens. Does he know what I’m here to tell him? Maybe I should have stopped along their long driveway to catch up on the texts. What did Pie say?
“And you took care of the fucker?” Brandt asks.
“Language,” Joshua says, even though we’ve all heard him say worse.
“I did.” My fingers twitch, reliving the moment I had him by the throat. But I shake my fists out because it’s over. Time to move forward.
“Good. Glad you were there for her.” Brandt clasps me on the shoulder and gives a solid squeeze. From the moment I met him, he’s been protective of his twin. I get it. They’re close. They’re all close. Which is why I stayed on the sidelines for so long.
But no more.
