She threw her arm around my shoulders.“Come on, Shrimpy.Your nephew is being passed around like a semi-deflated pigskin.”
I laughed as expected.“I’m on it.”I quickly washed my hands at the kitchen sink, scrubbing as if readying for surgery, and left Noelle to put the finishing touches on her dessert.
Baby Hunter was the lucky, or not so lucky depending on how you looked at it, recipient of all the love I could no longer give to my brother.
Walking into the family room, I dismissed everyone once I clocked Hunter nestled in Hawk’s arms.Which was great because it meant my chances of stealing him were high.If Max or Daire were taking a turn I’d have had to wait.
Or so they kept telling me.
“Hello love of my life,” I called out, my arms out with grabby fingers for my sweet nephew.
Hawk smiled and transferred him into my arms.Hawk smiled much more often now.My heart panged.
At least I had one of my brothers back.
“Come to Auntie Harley, baby boy,” I murmured, nestling him close and heading for the corner of the couch I always claimed at Hawk and Noelle’s.
That seat provided a stellar view.One entire wall of Hawk’s house was glass.Backing onto his heavily forested backyard, there was little fear of anyone seeing in unless you harbored an unnatural shyness around squirrels and bunnies.
And I didn’t.
I nestled my back into the corner.Hunter slept peacefully in my arms, his body a perfect weight against my breast.
With the tip of my finger, I traced the curve of his rosy cheek.He really was beautiful.And why wouldn’t he be?Both Hawkley and Noelle were gorgeous people.
Hunter was also a beautiful man.
I wasn’t bad looking, I knew that objectively, but I didn’t meet the bar set by either of my brothers.
Or my best friend.
Or Max.
God, Max was a hot piece of man meat.
But I’d probably choke on him.
Oh, that visual was not a good one.
Choke from laughing.
Or I’d kill him.
It wasn’t worth the risk.
“You’re beautiful with him.”
My head shot up.Max and Hawk were deeply engrossed in a conversation about the upcoming football season.
Daire sat on the other side of my couch with his ankle crossed over his knee, one hand dangling off the arm, a beer hooked between his long fingers.
Did he say I looked beautiful with him?What did that even mean?
“Uh…” I must have misheard him.I gave my head a small shake.“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
His mouth flattened and he tilted his head to the side.“I said, you’re beautiful with him.”
I smiled.“Anyone is beautiful with him.It’s not hard.”
