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“I’m glad you like it.”
Jumping back, Nolan grabbed the stuffed animal from my hand and twirled it around. “Like it? I love it, and his name is gonna be Lucky!”
He turned without saying anything else, and he ran back toward the group who’d gathered at the back of the tent with the stuffed animal lifted over his head. “Dad, Dad! Look it! Miss Charleigh got me a puppy!”
That unfathomable gaze found me, spearing me to the spot, making my heart race.
Erratic and thready.
I didn’t know how long I stood there, just staring at him as he stared at me, before Raven leaned in and muttered in my ear, “Not hot and bothered, my ass.”
Twenty minutes later, we were all sitting at a picnic table on the lawn closer to the lake. The night grew thicker with each minute that passed.
I’d tried to leave, but Nolan had begged me to stay to eat with them, and there was no chance that I could say no.
So, there I was with a plate of street tacos in front of me, tucked between Nolan and Raven.
The man who trembled the air with every move he made sat directly across from me, spinning my world into disorder.
“Here we go,” Kane called as he sauntered up, setting plastic cups brimming with margaritas in front of me and Raven.
“Ugh, you are a godsend, Kane. What would we do without you?” Raven teased.
“Cry.” He touched his chest.
“For joy,” Otto called, grinning from where he was eating an oversized piece of pizza at the other end of the table.
They’d all been giving each other crap nonstop since I sat down, though I could tell it was done in good fun, the group obviously close.
“Yeah, I’m going to remember that the next time you drag your ass through the door of my bar.”
“Come now, man, I’m your best customer.”
Kane shook his head, chuckling under his breath as he sat down next to River. “And look how he says it with pride.”
“Say everything with pride considering I’m an overachiever at all things.” Otto wagged his brows, gaze jumping around all of us as if he were begging for confirmation.
I could almost feel Raven catch fire beside me, her attention downturned as she inhaled a shaky breath.
“Overachiever? You didn’t even get a touchdown yesterday, Uncle.” Nolan mumbled it around a big bite of corndog. “Me and my Daddy-O left you in the dust.”
Otto cracked up, and River chuckled across from us, the sound smooth and rippling on the warm, night air.
I couldn’t help but let my attention drift that way. To his viciously handsome face, even darker where the shadows of the night crawled overhead.
Drawn to the sound.
If I wasn’t careful, I could be enchanted by it.
“That’s right,” River grumbled, affection in his gaze as he looked at his son.
“Well, those were special circumstances,” Otto said, still grinning, his blue gaze slanting to Raven. “Just like when my baby sister over here beat me in poker last week. Girl gets me every time.”
I wondered if I was the only one who noticed how she cringed when he called her that, though she was flashing him a bright smile. “You never learn your lesson. You always show up begging me to swindle you out of all your money.”
“Can’t help it if you’re a sneaky little thing.” His smile went soft, and I turned my attention to my plate, nibbling at a taco as I listened to the conversation go on around us. Laughter ringing and this comfort abounding.
I wanted to settle into it. Float on its warmth. All of which were ridiculously reckless.
