I must have blanked out for a second because I flinch. “Uh, sure. Thanks,” I say and hand them over.
“Can I get you two something to drink? I saw some orange juice in the fridge.”
“No, thank you,” I tell her while Autumn says, “Yes, please.”
Kate checks to see if it’s okay with me and I nod. She pulls out a small bottle of orange juice, and Autumn thanks her and then takes it to the wooden coffee table in the living room. Kate moves to stand next to me while we watch Autumn settle in like she owns the place.
“You had the same facial expression on your face as Declan did when I unexpectedly showed up on his doorstep,” Kate says.
My gaze snaps to hers, and I chuckle. “Yeah, it’s been a long day and I just… wasn’t expecting anyone else to answer the door besides Declan.”
I hear a door open a second later and have a straight view down the hallway. I watch Declan’s rippling back as he heads into his bedroom with only a towel around his waist.
I swallow hard, and Kate lets out a chuckle that has me turning red.
She just saw me checking out her brother.
Shit.
I clear my throat and ask, “So you surprised him for the holidays?”
She nods her head. “I did. I live in Florida and work for our dad. I gave myself a few days off because I knew he wasn’t going to do anything for Christmas this year.”
“Hey, sis, what do you want to ea–” Declan pauses from drying his hair with his towel as he catches sight of me.
His gaze then moves to Autumn, who rushes up to him. “Dec, we brought you cookies!” she exclaims as she wraps her arms around his legs.
“Give him some space, Autumn. Boundaries,” I remind her. I’ve been trying to be better about teaching her that we can’t just fling ourselves at every Tom, Dick, and Harry. She’sso trusting, and I don’t want her to think everyone is okay with it.
She listens to me and pulls back. “I’m sorry. But we brought you cookies for Christmas. I made them myself.”
Kate is chuckling beside me, and Declan just nods.
He looks back at me, and his eyes trail my body from head to toe. His expression is neutral, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. I know I look a mess and shove my hands in my pockets so I don’t fidget in front of him.
This is the first time I’ve seen him since the night of his opening, and he looks just like I remember: hot. And the fact that he’s wearing gray sweatpants that skim the floor and a white T-shirt makes him even hotter.
It’s probably because guys with tattoos are thirst traps. Nothing more.
Lies.
“We should get going. Autumn just wanted to give them to you and say hi,” I tell him.
“Uh, sure. Thank you.”
“Don’t eat them all at once. You’ll get an upset tummy,” Autumn suggests, and Declan’s gaze moves back to her.
The corner of his mouth lifts, and for a second, I think he’s going to give her one of his dimpled smiles. No such luck, though.
I have no idea why he’s so reserved around Autumn, but it’s almost like he doesn’twantto like her. Like he’s actively trying to keep his distance.
I shrug off the thought and tell Autumn we have to go.
“Bye, Dec,” she says one last time before hugging his legs and skipping toward me.
“It was nice to meet you, Kate,” I tell her. She doesn’t hesitate to wrap me in a warm hug.
“Merry Christmas,” she says back.
