Mack relaxed. “I do. I thought since we were having a big old turkey dinner, everyone would be too chill after eating to be too annoying.”
Dean frowned. “But Xavier’s here. You knew he was coming, right?”
Mack snorted. Dean, like him, could tolerate Xavier in small bursts. “I did and came anyway. That’s how much love I have for this family.”
“Yeah, no shit,” Alec said before taking a healthy swallow of soda. “Me too.” He nodded at Dean. “I told him all about our lunch. And about how long it took you to open the door and let me in.” His brows rose up and down, and for some reason, Mack blushed.
Dean pointed at him and said to Alec, “I told you hereallyliked her.”
“What are you talking about?” Mack should really go save Cass from his parents’ version of “the gauntlet.” Which would mean talking her ear off. And God forbid Xavier got to her. Mack hadn’t wanted to alarm her, since she did kind of work with the guy. But maybe he should have told her how obnoxious Xavier could be when in a nonwork environment.
“You blushed,” Dean explained. “You’re the most even-tempered of all your brothers. You’re mellow, pleasant to be around, and don’t get overly excited, even when Xavier is showing off how much of a douche he really is.”
Alec choked on his drink.
“Oh please. We all know it.”
And that’s why Mack loved Dean. The guy didn’t hide behind platitudes. He had no problem with the truth. As tall as Alec but built on stronger lines, the guy was even prettier than Mack, and Mack was pretty damn good-looking. He still couldn’t believe his brother had nabbed the guy, but somehow they’d fallen for each other, moved in together, and gotten engaged.
Hmm. Would Cass move in with him at some point? He did have a larger house than she did, though he admitted he liked the character of her home.
“…which is how I can tell you’re really into her,” Dean was saying.
“Er, right.”
Dean guffawed. “Spacing out! Classic crush behavior.”
“You put way too much thought into my personal life,” Mack muttered.
Alec scowled at his fiancé. “Yeah.”
Dean made a sad face. “Aw, baby, don’t be jealous. You’re still better-looking than all of them.”
Alec puffed his chest out.
Mack rolled his eyes. “Gross. I’m out of here before you bury him in lies. Next thing you know, you’ll be telling me he’s the most athletically gifted of all of us, which is just a blatant untruth. And look at that paunch. He’s not as in shape as he used to be.”
“Paunch? What paunch?” Alec’s eyes widened, and he looked down at himself.
Dean shook his head. “I’m glad I’m an only child.”
Mack darted away as Dean soothed Alec, in search of his own partner. He found himself thinking about Cass as his girlfriend more and more. He hadn’t thought he’d fall for her so fast. Heck, that he’d fall for anyone, really. He had no idea why because he’d been dating girls since high school.
No stranger to affection for the opposite sex, Mack had simply never felt a soul-deep connection before. Despite what Tex and the guys thought, he had dated women for more than a month at a time. None of them stuck, for one reason or another.
He glanced at Cass, now talking with his mom, Ashley, and Sasha. Holding her own, if that smile on her face was any indication. She didn’t seem to need him for anything, but she liked spending time with him.
He still couldn’t believe she’d had to ask if he’d been wearing a condom. He should have been offended that she could think he’d do something like that, but instead he felt more than satisfied. She’d been so hot for him she hadn’t cared enough to stop him before asking.
God, had he ever shared that kind of chemistry with anyone before? He liked her so damn much, and for more than her smokin’ body. She was the whole package, especially the competitive, snarky side of her that enthralled him.
He sighed, found a can of soda from the fridge, and popped the top for a long drink.Better get my head on straight before everyone realizes how much I love—like—her.He wiped the cold can against his forehead, needing to cool off.
Then he marshaled his features and steadied himself, prepared to be pleasant as he went in search of hisfriend.Not girlfriend, but friend. Because he had no doubt if she learned how much he liked her, she’d cut him loose. And he couldn’t bear to live with a lack of Cass in his life. Not now. Maybe not ever.
***
Cass smiled at something Mack’s mom said about canned cranberry sauce versus the fresh stuff, an argument she’d been having with her father for years.
