“Chase,” Valen warns.
“What? I’m complimenting her.”
“You’re making her uncomfortable,” Valen says. A silent conversation happens between the two of them, but the buzzing in my chest subsides.
Strange.
Regret fills Chase’s expression. “Sorry, Clover. I didn’t mean—I just meant you seem nice. And we’ve been so excited to meet you. For fucking years. And I’m happy to see that Valen remembers how much he likes you. That means we can all continue liking you too. Oof.”
Sterling pulls his elbow out of Chase’s side. “Stop. Talking.”
“I’m being friendly?—”
“You’re being Chase.” Sterling turns to me with an apologetic smile. “Sorry. He’s like a puppy. Lots of enthusiasm, no impulse control.” He glances past me into my house, and I watch as his eyes catalog everything from the reinforced door that’s not typical in a residential property to the windows and the locks. “Nice setup. The door is an interesting addition, and…” he squints. “How many deadbolts do you have?”
“Sterling,” Grant says sharply. “Not now.”
“What? I’m just saying it’s a good system. Though you’ve got some blind spots in the back corner by the?—”
“Sterling.” Valen’s voice is firm, but he’s more relaxed with his family around. “She doesn’t need a security audit right now.”
Sterling blinks, looks at me, and seems to realize he’s done something wrong. “Right. Sorry. Tech brain. I just…notice things.”
“It’s fine,” I lie, even as my heart races. “Would anyone like some coffee or tea?” I ask, desperate to put some space between us.
“God, yes,” Sterling says. “I’ve been in a car with Chase’s playlist for six hours. I need caffeine and silence.”
“My playlist is excellent?—”
“Your playlist is auditory chaos.”
“That’s rich coming from the guy who listens to podcasts about unsolved murders to relax,” Chase says.
“That’s research?—”
“For what?” Chase chuckles. “How to be more basic?”
Grant catches my eye and flashes a wink that’s part apology, part amusement. “They’re always like this. You’ll get used to it.”
“Do you?” I ask.
“No,” Roman says. “But you do learn to tune them out.”
Despite my wish to escape, they all follow me into my kitchen, which suddenly feels very small with five tall men, Chief, and a hundred-pound dog who might be humping Chase’s leg.
Sterling gravitates toward my coffee maker as if it’s the most interesting thing in the room. Chase drops to a knee and tries to cajole Wrecks into giving him a high five. Roman and Valen have a private conversation in the corner, while Grant leans against my counter, watching everything with the ease of someone who’s used to wrangling cats.
“So,” Grant says, pulling out his phone. “Grey texted me. Savvy’s awake?”
I nearly drop the coffee pot. “He texted you?”
“Styx and Stone Security is Valen and Roman’s baby, but we learned early on that we work better as a team. The hive mind, so to speak.” His smile tells me he means every word. “Anyway, my team’s been helping Roman and Grey coordinate security protocols, updates, that sort of thing while Valen is here.” He looks up. “Are you okay?”
Styx and Stone Security. He named his company after us.
Valen is across the room in two strides. He doesn’t touch me—not quite—but he’s close enough that I can feel his body heat against my back. Close enough that if I leaned in an inch, I’d be pressed against his chest.
My entire body wants to take that inch.
