The men appeared as if by magic.
“She has an office she uses here sometimes,” Dylan offered.
“Just waiting for Mom to work her mojo,” Derrick said with a huge grin. “We didn’t want to interrupt.”
“And the game wasn’t quite over,” James said dryly. “We caught the end in the kitchen. Bears are going to suck this year.”
“You suck,” Dylan snapped.
“Nice comeback, Dr. Warren.” Gage laughed.
“Dickhead.” Dylan looked down his nose at his younger brother, and even Sydney had to laugh.
“Don’t you justlove…” Derrick looked right at her “…when Dylan uses his snotty doctor voice to talk like a regular guy? No offense, James.”
James rolled his eyes. “None taken.”
Gage and Derrick shared a grin.
“Could you be any more immature?” Sydney asked.
“I could. But why bother, when Ilovejust being here next to you?”
The others grinned. Everyone had to know he was rubbing her nose in the biglovebowl.
“Derrick—”
“Ilovewhen you say my name like that.” He sighed.
“How about some coffee?” She tried to change the subject.
The others watched them back and forth, like watching a tennis match.
“I’dlovesome.”
Even she had to chuckle at that. “You’re such an idiot.”
“And that’s why you love me.” He linked his hands behind his head, his arrogance amusing, annoying…and justified.
“Yeah,” she sighed.
He froze. Everyone around them took pause.
Then his smile grew too wide for his big fat head, and she realized what she’d admitted. Out loud, in front of witnesses.
“Oh hell. There’ll be no living with him now,” Dylan groaned.
Sydney stared at the stupid smile on Derrick’s face, so in love with him it made her ill.
His mother chose that moment to walk out of her office. She handed Isabel a business card. “Jitters are more than normal, Isabel. Especially after this many go-rounds. Come on in tomorrow. You’ll feel better.”
“I will, thanks.” Isabel sniffed. And damn if her mother didn’t look like a million bucks even with tears streaking down her face. Then she took a good look at the crowd in the living room. “Well, what did I miss?”
Derrick hooted. “Tonight I just can’t lose.”
Sydney swore under her breath. She recalled what she’d bet Mr. Arrogant. At the wicked look in his eyes, she swore again.
Sydney should have known better. “Come on, Derrick, this is uncomfortable.”
