“Amy!” Jake growled.
“I’m sorry, Jake.” Amy took her hand off her mouth long enough to apologize before covering her mouth again.
Robert turned to Jake. “You told her?” Not giving Jake time to respond, he punched Jake on the shoulder.
“Ow!” Jake rubbed his shoulder. “See Amy, that’s why we’re afraid of Robert.”
“But you’re bigger and stronger than he is.”
“Well, he hits harder. Ben you need to teach Amy to think before she speaks,” Jake said, still rubbing his shoulder.
“There’s really only one way to shut her up,” Ben said with a smile. “Unfortunately, I haven’t learned to anticipate when she’s going to say something someone will regret.”
Amy turned to Ben; eyebrows raised. “Oh, really? And what exactly is the only way to shut me up?”
Without warning, Ben pulled Amy off her chair, onto his lap, and kissed her. Amy recovered from her surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Okay, you two, break it up.” Robert threw a wadded napkin at them, hitting Ben in the cheek. When they separated, Robert turned to Jake. “Why did you tell her about the twins?”
“He felt bad about that horrible high-recoil buckshot you insisted he have me shoot on our date.” Amy defended Jake. “So I convinced him to tell me something you and Ben wouldn’t want me to know. You guys were always giving me such a hard time, I—”
“You better kiss her again, Ben, because she’s about to get me into more trouble.” Jake buried his face in his hands.
“I’m sorry, Jake. I’ll shut my mouth.” Amy grimaced then pressed her lips together.
“What else did you tell her?” Robert and Ben asked in unison.
Jake glared at Amy. “Nothing she wouldn’t have heard eventually.”
Ben and Robert both looked at Amy as though tempted to pry whatever it was out of her.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, I told her how Ben broke his ankle his senior year of high school,” Jake said. Then he turned to Ben. “Please don’t hit the same arm Robert did. I need to use that arm tomorrow.”
“I won’t take it out on you, Jake.” Ben gave his wife a seductive look. “I’ll take it out on her. I know how persuasive she can be. She’s very good at getting what she wants.”
Amy giggled and flushed under his gaze.
A smile tugged at Emily’s lips as she watched the exchange between brothers and cousin. They were close and cared a great deal about each other, even if they had a strange way of showing it.
Without warning, her chest tightened, stealing her breath. She and Cameron had been close, especially after their dad died, but they had also enjoyed teasing each other. She’d never experience this kind of sibling camaraderie with her brother again. She would never know this sense of togetherness, of family.
She blinked the moisture from her eyes. She hadn’t shed any tears today, and the pressure had built behind her eyes, screaming for release.
Jake’s leg pressed against hers under the table, and she met his gaze. That was a mistake. When he looked at her like that—with his eyes so full of tenderness—it was all she could do not to break down and fall into his arms.
She looked away and thought about what Amy had said. Something about dating Jake. How long ago was that, and how long had they dated?
Did Jake ever kiss Amy the way he kissed me this afternoon?
That’s better.Jealousy was much easier to handle than grief. Although it only took one look at Ben and Amy to see they were deeply in love.
Robert pulled her out of her musings. “Amy, why did you say Jake is bigger and stronger than I am? We’re the same height.”
“But Jake’s shoulders are broader, and he does more physical labor than you do.”
“I work out regularly on my home gym,” Robert said, squaring his shoulders. “Besides, I taught Jake everything he knows. I bet I can still take him.” He gave Jake a challenging look.
Emily noted Robert’s ego. Was it simply his personality or was he hiding insecurities?
