“After all of that, the janitor finds him in the classroom, and the poor bastard still ends up getting suspended for a week for breaking and entering.” Archer kept laughing.
Dean scoffed. “Again, the window was already open. I was hardly breaking and entering.” This time, I reached out and squeezed his thigh under the table and smiled at him. He just shook his head as his brother continued to laugh at him.
“All right, enough roasting of me and Addison. I think Addison and I should share stories about all the dumb shit that you two did growing up.” He looked at me with a mischievous glint in his eye.
I nodded. “I think that’s a great idea.”
So that was precisely what we did. Dean and I roasted the shit out of our younger siblings. I didn’t think I had laughed that hard in my life. We were all doubled over at one point, barely able to breathe, swiping at the tears. The night turned out better than I could have imagined.
We ended up killing three bottles of wine and were feeling pretty good when we decided to clean up and call it a night. We all now had plans to be at my parents’ house for Thanksgiving tomorrow, and like any James holiday, there would be plenty of booze.
I stood up with the charcuterie board and headed toward the kitchen to clean up. Dean grabbed the empty bottles and followed closely behind, leaving our younger siblings at the table.
Once we were in the kitchen, Dean tossed the bottles into the trash and helped me clear the counter. I washed the boardand put everything away. As I turned around to face him, he stepped toward me, putting a hand on either side of me, caging me in against the counter.
“I had a great time tonight. Thanks for inviting us. I think Archer had a blast too,” Dean said as he stared at my mouth. My breath hitched, and my heart rate picked up like it always did when he was this close. The man smelled intoxicating.
“I’m glad y'all came. I had fun, and I know that Ava did too,” I whispered before his mouth closed the distance and was on mine. I opened for him as he deepened the kiss, our tongues exploring. He moved his hands from the counter and lifted me onto it, spreading my legs apart as he stepped between them. I ran my hands through his hair as we continued to devour each other.
Before anything got too intense, I put my hand on his chest and slightly pushed him back, breaking the kiss. He groaned and looked at me through his hooded gaze as he rested his forehead against mine. “As much as I want a repeat of last night, I have to make some pies for tomorrow. Plus, our siblings are right outside that door.” I sighed. He nodded in understanding, his forehead still pressed against mine, and gave me one last chaste kiss before helping me down off the counter.
“Just so you know, I really am excited for you and Archer to join us for Thanksgiving tomorrow.” I smiled at him shyly.
“Yeah? Well, good, because I am too.” He linked our fingers together. “All right, I’ll go grab Arch so we can get out of here and let you get home to bake. If I don’t put some distance between us, I’ll throw those sexy-as-fuck boots overmy shoulders and fuck you with my tongue in this kitchen right now.”
God. Damn.
I had to squeeze my thighs together to dull the ache that was building from that comment.
Focus, Addison. Focus.
We made our way out of the kitchen and back toward the table where we’d left Ava and Archer. Archer had his phone held up in front of him and Ava, and they were talking to someone on the screen. As we approached, I realized they were FaceTiming Harper.
Archer noticed us approaching, and he turned his phone toward me and Dean. “Well, there they are. We were all wondering how long it takes to throw out some bottles and wipe down a board,” he said smugly.
Dean exhaled in exasperation, looking up at the ceiling, and I waved at Harper. I tried to mask the guilty look that was probably all over my face. “Hey, Harp!”
Harper smirked. “Hey, Addi, you feeling okay? You look a bit flushed.”
I could feel my cheeks heat. “I’m good. It’s just the wine,” I lied, which only caused everyone to laugh. They all knew I was full of shit.
Noah:
Was thinking I could fly you back here and we could talk. My parents and sister miss you.
Chapter 15
Dean
ItwasThanksgiving,andArcher and I were headed over to the Jameses’ house. Normally, I would bring a nice bottle of wine, but I felt like it an insult to bring Travis James a bottle of something that he didn’t make himself, so I opted for an expensive bottle of bourbon for him and some flowers for Laurel. Addison and I weren’t even dating, but I was nervous as fuck, for some reason. I would be meeting her father and her oldest brother, who happened to be a Navy SEAL. Luckily, her mother, her other brother, and her younger sister seemed to like me. As if Archer could sense my nerves, he slapped his hand on my shoulder and squeezed as we walked up to the door. “Breathe, brother.” He smiled.
I shook him off and knocked on the door. A tall older man with gray hair answered the door and smiled. I could see Addison in his smile. He reached his hand out to me. “Dr. Adler, nice to finally meet you.”
I shook his hand. “Please, call me Dean. Nice to meet you as well.”
He stepped aside and motioned into the house. “Please, come on in.”
We stepped into the foyer, and I gestured to my brother. “Mr. James, this is my brother, Archer.”
