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“Hey, babygirl,” he returned.

“So I heard you have a girlfriend. Congrats.”

He laughed. “Someone was pulling your chain.”

I looked toward the back door. Clayton was outside at the grill. Of course.

“That wasn't my girlfriend,” Rook continued. “Come on, Piper. You know me better than that.”

I rolled my eyes. “You're all hopeless.”

“Well, not all of us.”

He gave me a pointed look. “Not Clayton.”

I stopped seasoning the broccoli. “Don't.”

He smiled. “Didn't say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“Was I? What was I gonna say?”

“I don't know, but I already hated it.”

Ruckus laughed from the table.

Rook's smile widened.

“What’s so funny?” Declan's voice came from behind me.

My shoulders tightened.

“Not much,” Ruckus said. “Piper thinks we're all hopeless.”

“I think she may be onto something,” Declan said.

I gave him a sidelong glance.

Even while talking about me, he wasn't looking at me.

Fine. Whatever. I could play that game.

Asa came in and went straight for the refrigerator.

“Touch the steaks and lose a hand,” Clayton called through the open back door.

“I wasn't touching your steaks, you bonehead. They’re still raw!”

“You were thinking about it.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Get out of my house.”

The doorbell rang. Nobody moved. It rang again.

“Someone going to get that?” Marion called from the dining room.