There was the unmistakable sound of coffee splashing on a nice suit.
“Shit!” Garrett cursed, and a chair banged on the floor.
I stifled a laugh then jumped up when Garrett stormed into the kitchen, blotting his white shirt with a napkin. He scowled when he saw me. Penny skipped in behind him.
“Good morning,” I said, face reddening.
Penny’s eyes widened, then she grabbed me and tugged me to the dining room. “Hungry? We have eggs Benedict.”
“We’re actually having brunch at my family’s house,” I said.
“Coffee then?” Penny asked brightly.
I was sipping a smooth medium roast while the Svensson brothers politely asked me questions when Blade came in with Weston from working out. He was shirtless, lightly glistening with sweat. His muscles rippled as he wiped his face with his shirt.
“Where’s the coffee?” he said.
I forced myself to look up at the ceiling. Someone had crafted little flowers in plaster up there.
“You cannot walk around half naked,” Hunter growled at him. “This is not a brothel.”
“I have to go meet Avery’s family,” Blade said, scowling at his older brother.
That turned everyone’s attention back to me.
Blade gave me a smile that was more of a snarl and stalked over. He leaned over, and I froze. Then he kissed me on the cheek. His chin was slightly stubbly, and he smelled like male. My throat went dry, and something else went wet. It was a good thing I was sitting down, because my legs felt like jelly.
“Good morning,” Blade murmured.
“Morning!” I squawked.
His family watched the interactions like cats watching a mouse.
“I’ll shower, and then we can leave,” Blade informed me.
I nodded silently.
“You didn’t want to join him in the shower?” Penny asked me innocently, then helpfully thwacked me on the back when I inhaled my coffee.
13
Avery
Blade looked cool and collected in an expensive suit that accented all of his best features.
“I’m driving,” he announced, taking my bag from me when I walked down the steps to the car.
“I drove us here safely,” I protested.
Blade slammed the trunk closed after loading our bags inside. Several of his half brothers had arrived that morning, and they all unashamedly watched our interaction from the front porch. I waved to them then sat in the passenger’s seat.
“I need a drink,” I announced as the car roared down the drive to the front gate. “My sister better have something stronger than mimosas at brunch.”
When we arrived at her country house just outside of town—because of course my father had given my half sister a second house before buying me anything—Blade parked in front of the house, and I took the watch out of my purse to put it on. Blade’s attention snapped to it.
“May I help?” He took the watch and carefully fastened it around my wrist.
His fingertips against the sensitive skin of the underside of my wrist made me shiver.Too bad you didn’t join him in the shower.
