Charley’s gaze slid back to the window. “Okay,” she said slowly, sarcasm creeping back in. “What has you two glued to the glass like suburban spies?”
Jessica’s smile widened. “We were just enjoying the gorgeous view out back,” she said innocently.
Charley narrowed her eyes. “Uh-huh.”
Alyvia made a sound that might’ve been a cough. “Very gorgeous.”
Charley’s curiosity spiked. She walked to the window, pushed aside the curtain edge, and looked out. It only took a microsecond for her to understand.
Pierce, Ray, and Seth were working out in the backyard. All three were built like they were carved from the same blueprint.
The guys were shirtless, their skin damp with sweat that caught the light as they moved through push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups with the kind of strength that made every muscle in their backs, shoulders, and arms flex and bunch. Heat, effort, and raw power rolled off them in waves, and with each controlled movement, it was impossible not to notice just how solid, capable, and devastatingly built they all were.
Charley’s brain stalled as she watched Pierce. She got a brief view of his upper body last night. But this was something else. Sweat glistened over his broad chest and carved abs, tracing the hard lines of muscle that flexed and tightened every time he dropped into another push-up.
“You’ve been holding that pastry in the same spot for a full minute,” Jessica commented from behind her. “Do you want me to tell Pierce he’s distracting you from breakfast?”
Charley chuckled, feeling the heat in her cheeks. But she didn’t care.
“I’m multitasking. Don’t be jealous of my talent,” Charley shot back as she took a huge bite right in the middle where the filling was. She moaned in delight.
Alyvia choked on a laugh. “Charley, I’m gonna need clarification on whether that reaction belonged to breakfast or the shirtless man across the yard.”
Jessica snorted a laugh, which made Charley start to laugh. Before long, all three were in tears, laughing.
Charley turned slowly, shoving the rest of the Danish in her mouth. “You two are ridiculous,” she said with her mouth full.
Jessica picked up a pastry from the box on the counter and took a bite. “I prefer the term appreciative.”
Alyvia lifted her own pastry and nodded solemnly. “Same.”
Charley stared at them, then grabbed an apple pastry because she had no self-control. The damn things were too good and carbs were her weakness. And also because she suddenly felt like she needed sustenance to survive whatever was happening outside. She took a bite and moaned quietly this time.
They stood there for god knows how long like complete creeps, eating pastries and watching three sweaty men lift heavy objects like it was casual yard work. Charley felt her cheeks warming too, partly from the view and partly from the absurdity of the moment. It was ridiculous—she’d been grazed by a bullet less than twenty-four hours ago, and here she was acting like she was at a live show.
Jessica elbowed Charley lightly. “If you don’t climb that man like a tree, soon, I’m going to lose respect for you.”
Charley’s eyes widened. “Jessica!”
Alyvia covered her mouth with her pastry as if she were trying to hide her laugh.
Jessica smirked. “I’m kidding.” Then she added, “Mostly.”
Charley shook her head, but her mouth twitched. “According to Pierce, the walls are thin in this house.”
Jessica lifted her eyebrows as if understanding. “You mean Seth?”
Charley grinned and nodded.
Alyvia took another bite of her pastry and mumbled, “I wish I were that pull-up bar.”
Charley froze. Jessica froze. They both took a quick glance out the window to see that Seth was on the pull-up bar.
Alyvia froze next. Her eyes widened in horror as she realized what she’d said out loud. She looked at Charley and Jessica and started sputtering her words, “I—What? I didn’t—That wasn’t—”
Jessica slapped a hand over her mouth, shaking with laughter.
Charley lost it too, laughter spilling out of her like she couldn’t stop it if she tried. Alyvia looked mortified for two seconds… then started laughing, burying her face in her hands.
