“If you’re good, I’ll cook for you again another night.”
The promise hangs there between us, like an unexploded grenade. I’ve put it out there; all she has to do is run with it.
“Uh,” she says, which isn’t a great start, but right on fucking cue there’s a knock on the door.
“Hold that thought,” I tell her before leaving the room. I know who’s at the door, and I’m right. “Zach.”
“You want to give us a hand getting your bike off the pickup?”
“Sure.” Before I can go tell Jas, she comes into the hall.
“Hey, Zach.” She sounds a lot friendlier than she did last night.
“Jas.”
Gage appears behind his brother and gives her a smile. “How’s it going?”
“Great. Shall I put the coffee on while you unload the bike? You’ll both stay for a cup, won’t you?”
What the hell? I don’t want them crashing here, but before I can give them an unspoken command, they both accept her offer.
As I haul the bike into the garage, I give them fair warning. “One cup, and you’re out of here.”
“We’ll fuck off right now if you want.” Gage leers at me, and I give him the finger.
“The hell you will. She’s invited you in. Just don’t overstay your welcome.”
“Friendly bastard, isn’t he?” Zach says to his brother as they follow me inside.
The door to the dining room’s closed. Did she shut it because of what I said in the kitchen? I hide a smile, and we enter the kitchen, where the coffee’s brewing and she’s already stacked away the dirty dishes.
“Shall we take the coffee into the living room?” She picks up the pot and looks around at us.
I think of the urn, but it’s not the only reason I don’t want to go in there. I love my brothers, but their timing tonight sucked. I don’t want to drag this out. I just want them to take a quick gulp of coffee for appearances’ sake and leave me alone with Jas.
“Thanks, but Grace is waiting for me. Another time?” Zach sounds sincere. Although Grace probablyiswaiting for him.
“Gage?” Jas is as polite as ever but the sharp glance she shoots my way lets me know she’s onto me.
Gage doesn’t even try to hide his grin. “Sorry, Jas. Big bro is driving me home.”
When the front door shuts, I catch her eye. “Rude, much?” She raises her eyebrows before replacing the pot on the coffeemaker.
“Yeah, they’re a pair of rude assholes.” I pick up a couple of cups and do the honors, since she doesn’t look inclined to.
“I’m talking about you. Don’t think I don’t know you told them to fuck off when you were outside just now.”
I shrug and hand her a cup. “Are you mad at me because I want to be alone with you tonight?”
She sighs and takes her coffee. “No. Sorry. It’s just been…one of those days.”
“Yeah.” I brood on her words. There’s stuff I want to say to her, but tonight’s not the time. Maybe it was a good thing Zach interrupted me when he did. She’s not ready for that conversation. There’ll be time enough in the morning before she catches her flight. “Come here.”
I dump the coffee, and without giving her the chance to say anything, I scoop her into my arms. She gasps and winds her arms around my neck before giving me a shocked smile. “It’s been a while since anyone did this to me.”
That’s not what I want to hear. I don’t want to know about the other guys she’s had in her life, but I can’t stop myself. “How long?” I march toward the stairs.It doesn’t matter.
She kisses my earlobe and sinks against me. “Before I left L.A.”
