“I should’ve warned you, huh?” he asks.
“Maybe a word or two would’ve been kind.”
He wrinkles his nose. “Sorry?”
That does it. I can’t be irritated with him when he looks at me with a mixture of adorableness and heat. It dissolves my anxiety and confusion and leaves me laughing.
He turns to his family. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Blaire Gibson. Blaire, this is Oliver, Larissa—our cousin—Boone, and Wade. At the end is our mother and father, Siggy and Rodney.”
“Darling, it is such a pleasure to meet you,” Siggy coos. “I’m sorry I’m so far away. I’d love to welcome you with a big hug!”
“Oh, a wave will do,” I say, giving her my best smile and thanking the heavens I don’t have to hug her.
Hugs are awkward and not all that enjoyable if you’re meeting a stranger for the first time. They’re reserved for people you know and like. And while I’m sure she’s lovely, a hug seems a little overkill.
Holt chuckles beside me.
“We’re glad you could make it, Blaire,” Rodney says.
“I’m happy to be here.”
“We’re happy you’re here too.” Larissa sticks a hand across Oliver. “You can call me Riss.”
I give her hand a gentle shake. “It’s nice to meet you.”
My shoulders relax as I take in Larissa’s genuine friendliness. I wasn’t expecting it, but maybe I should have.
She’s about Sienna’s age and is as cute as a button. She has the same disarming way about her as Sienna too.
I instantly like her, which is weird for me.
“I’d shake your hand, Blaire, but—” Boone begins, but Holt cuts him off.
“But I’d kick your ass.”
“Oh, the hell you would.”
The entire family laughs except for their parents. They’re engrossed in a conversation with a couple sitting behind them.
I try to ignore the way my heart hiccups as Holt takes my hand again. I’m not even sure he realizes that he’s done it, but I’m sure as heck not going to pull it away.
“I think Holt would take you, Boone,” Wade says. He takes off his black-rimmed glasses and looks at his younger brother. “You don’t have a whole lot going for you besides a lot of mouth.”
“What?” Boone’s jaw drops. “You’re supposed to be on my side here, fucker.”
“Everyone’s money is on Holt,” Oliver says. “Shut up, Boone.”
Boone looks at me with the biggest puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen. It’s ridiculously adorable.
“You know what?” I say with a laugh. “It doesn’t matter because we can’t reach each other to shake hands anyway.”
“They’re always like this,” Larissa says. “They’re a lot to deal with.”
“I have three brothers and two boy cousins that are a lot to deal with too,” I say. “This doesn’t bother me.”
“You should see it when Coy is around. It gets ridiculous,” she says.
“He must be like my cousin Peck. The instigator.”
