“Who says I’m playing?” I snap and look to where Ashton’s nearly at the door.
“I knew it.” She snickers. “You’re so screwed, dude. You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you. That girl makes my trust issues look like a walk in the park.”
“Easy’s boring,” I remind my cousin before catching up to Ashton. With my hand covering the front doorknob I turn to Ashton under the porch lights. “Slow down, Ace. Let me see your eyes.”
“Why? Do you think I’m drunk?” she deadpans and flutters her long lashes. Tiny freckles dot the corners of her gold-flecked eyes. But they’re not freckles—this girl threw up so hard, she busted every capillary.
I drag the pad of my thumb over the small red splotches and wince. “Ashton. . .”
“I just ate something that didn’t agree with me. I’ll be fine.”
Gently, I brush her hair from her face and drag the back of my palm along her forehead and cheek. “No fever.”
“Pretty sure Dr. Murphy is inside,” she taunts, but there’s no real malice there as she waits for me to drop my hand. “You can let go now, charmer. I’ve got to go check on Kyrie.”
“Kyrie is fine,” I tell her as I drag my hand down the curve of her jaw and along the column of her neck, remembering what it was like to have this woman beneath me, warm and pliant. “Finn put her to bed an hour ago.”
“Open the door, Jamie.” Her words are weak, and I give in, dropping my hand.
“Can I get you anything?”
“I’m fine, I swear.” She pushes into the house, and I follow her up the stairs, unwilling to let her out of my sight.
I stop outside Kyrie’s open door and watch as Ashton steps up to the crib. She presses a kiss to her fingers, then drags them down the sleeping baby’s cheek, and damn if seeing themtogether doesn’t do something to my chest. Something that’s getting harder to ignore. This beautiful woman—well shit. She runs by me with her hand over her mouth and dashes into her room, then slams the bathroom door shut behind her.
Finn hits the top of the stairs in time to see Ashton run from Kyrie’s room into hers, but I ignore him.
“What did you do?”
“Fuck you, man. She’s sick.”
He shoves past me into her room, and I let him like a dumbass because unlike me, she might actually want to see Finn. Doesn’t mean I’m gonna move though.
Ten minutes later, when he finally walks the hell out of the bathroom and sees me by her doorframe, the look on his face is murderous. “You need something, brother?”
I wait for him to step into the hallway and close the door behind him before answering. This conversation has been coming for months. “Just making sure she’s okay.”
Finn’s eyes flinch, and I’m pretty sure the fucker wants to hit me. “You know, I told myself you weren’t going there. I mean, you wouldn’t. She’s my best friend. She’s Evan’s sister. There’s no way you’d put the moves on Ashton Carmichael.”
“Put the moves— Seriously? What the fuck, brother?” I keep my voice calm, so much calmer than I feel. “Is there something between the two of you?”
“More than her being like an actual sister to me?” He vibrates with anger, and I’m not sure if he’s being honest or if he’s just seriously this fucking pissed at me. Not the first time. Won’t be the last, either. “No, you fuck. I love her like I love Dillan or Lexie or Lilah.”
Thank fucking God.
“What are you thinking?” He takes a step closer, lowering his voice, and I’m pretty sure this is the first time in years Finn’sbeen ready to step up to me. “Just because she’s here and you have easy access, you’re what? Suddenly interested?”
“It’s not like that,” I clench my fists at my sides. “It’s never been like that.”
“She’s forbidden fucking fruit, Jamie. You’re going to get bored. You always do.”
This is my brother, I remind myself, and resist the urge to pick the asshole up and toss him over the fucking banister like yesterday’s trash. But the urge is there, all the same. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Move on before you hurt her,” he urges me through gritted teeth, not backing down.
“I tried that once.” Fuck... I tried. “I stayed away, and I hurt her anyway. I’m done hurting her. She’s a grown woman. If she wants me to stay away, she’s going to have to tell me that herself.”
Finn looks at me like he’s never seen me before. “And what if I tell you to stay away?”
