Everyone exchanged looks. I didn’t think they bought the story that Shiloh was just a friend, but to my relief, Axel didn’t contradict him.
“Well, any friend of Holden’s is a friend of ours,” Emory said brightly. “Right, guys?”
There was a murmur of assent.
“Thank you for being so welcoming.” Shiloh cut a bite of waffle. “And for the breakfast. If you need me to contribute to groceries or anything…”
“Don’t be silly,” I said. “You’re a guest. You don’t need to worry about anything.”
He hesitated. “I just don’t want to be any trouble.”
“You’re no trouble,” I assured him. “I want you here.”
He nibbled his bottom lip, looking unconvinced, but finally nodded. “Okay. Let me know if that changes, okay?”
There was a hint of anxiety in his eyes. As if he worried I’d change my mind now that he was in my home. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Shiloh might not be my boyfriend, but I still liked seeing him here, in my space with my family.
Liked knowing he was close enough to touch—even if I couldn’t actually do it. That he was safe, protected.
As close to mine as he ever could be.
I pushed my chair back. “I’m going to shower and change. Would you like me to show you around the place, Shy?”
He looked at me with concern. “You should sleep. You were driving all night.”
“I’m fueled by caffeine.”
“But you look half-dead,” he protested.
“Shiloh’s right,” Gray said. “You should take a nap, at least. We can run the shop on our own for a day.”
I tensed. Shook my head. “I have a lot to do. Business calls?—”
“But Shiloh’s here,” Axel teased. “That’ll cut down on the business calls, won’t it?”
He winked playfully.
I glared at him. “Actualbusiness calls.”
“Now, he admits it,” he grumbled.
“Just take a few hours,” Emory suggested. “You can go in for half a day for anything urgent. I’m not going in for a while. I could give Shiloh the lay of the land. From one houseguest to another?”
“You’re not a houseguest,” Gray protested. “You live here.”
“Recent development,” Emory told Shiloh. “I know what it’s like to be thenon-brother.”
Shiloh smiled. “That’s really nice of you. How about I help clean up in the kitchen since you made me breakfast? You can show me where everything goes.”
“I didn’t bring you here to clean up after us,” I said tightly.
Shiloh shrugged. “I doubt Gray brought Emory here to cook for you all either. I just want to be helpful.”
“We all take turns,” Bailey said. “We can add you to the rotation.”
Shiloh turned a wide smile on my baby brother. “Thanks, cutie.”
Bailey reddened, suddenly flustered. “Uh, y-yeah. Sure.”
