When the doorbell rings, I shoot up from where I’d been leaning against the wall and dart down the hall with Connor hot on my heels and barking excitedly. Same, buddy. Same.
Steph is radiant in a burgundy dress that is at once conservative yet enticing. It shows only the barest hint of cleavage and hangs loosely around her hips, but has my cock twitching nonetheless. She flushes at my obvious perusal, clearing her throat pointedly before stepping through the door, and I’m reminded we’re not alone. Alex is right behind her, followed closely by Matt. Both boys tower over their mother. And, as I take the pair of them in, I’m surprised to note they look nothing alike. While Alex is fair-haired, like Steph, Matt’s hair is darker, a medium unruly brown. Alex’s face is softer, too, though that could simply be the lingering effect of youth. Matt’s features are sharper, with fuller lips that quirk up into a subtle smirk as he acknowledges my greeting.
“Welcome,” I say over Connor’s enthusiastic barking. The little dog jumps, damn near taking Steph out at the knees in the process, so I scoop him up, cradling him in my arms. Steph’s gaze zeroes in on him, and she grins.Twenty.I don’t care if the smile was directed at my dog; we’re a package deal after all. Her eyes don’t stop there, though. I watch them travel ever so slowlyup my tattooed arms, the leisurely inspection leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake.
And yes, I absolutelydidmake it a point to wear a short-sleeved golf shirt today after the reaction my tats got from her the last time she saw them. And no, I don’t feel bad about it. A guy’s gotta work every advantage he can.
Steph’s gaze finally lands on my face. She bites her lip in obvious appreciation … and all I can think is,hell yeah. When her eyes drop back to where I’m still holding the squirming pup, she’s blushing even harder than before.
She’s totally digging the dog-dad thing.
I must remember to sneak Con some turkey as a reward for being such a good wingman.
She reaches out before I can warn her, and I tense, knowing the little dog can be unpredictable with strangers and outstretched hands, but to my surprise, his little pink tongue snakes out, giving her a solid lick. It causes her to chuckle, and she grins up at me, exclaiming about his adorableness while I rejoice internally at smile numbertwenty-one.
Wingman indeed.
My brother calls Matt’s name from the kitchen doorway, who looks up distractedly from where he’d been checking his phone, giving us a short nod before slipping by his mother to join the group in the other room. His departure draws my attention back to Alex, who’s remained hovering at his mom’s side, and I realize he’s been watching our exchange warily.
“Nice to see you again, Alex,” I say, offering him the hand not holding Connor.
He tenses at my words, glancing over at Steph. They exchange a look fraught with meaning, though I’m loath to decipher it. I hold my breath, watching, waiting. Finally, he turns back to me, visibly working to loosen his shoulders before accepting my proffered hand and shaking it firmly.
“Nice to see you, too.”
We join the party in the kitchen, where more helloes and hugs are exchanged. Steph slips comfortably between Lucy and Piper on the far side of the room and remains there, chatting with her girlfriends.
I set Connor down to resume his begging and take up my earlier position holding up the wall by the back door. Jack makes a brief and stilted attempt at conversation, asking me how things are going at Aroma’s and if I’m getting on okay with Bobby, but after that, I’m left alone. It’s to be expected, but I can’t help but wish Steph hadn’t retreated to her safe corner so quickly, though I don’t miss the looks she continues to cast in my direction when she thinks I’m not looking.
“Youstillhadagreat season,” Aidan reassures Matt later during dinner. The pair of them, along with Noah, have been discussing the disappointing end to the Eagles’ football season, the team having failed to make the semi-finals and played their last regular season game a couple of weeks ago.
“I guess.” Matt shrugs.
“No, seriously, you played really well this year.”
“It’s true,” Noah agrees with a nod. “The play you ran in the fourth during that away game against the Titans was perfection.”
Matt’s eyes widen in surprise. “You were there?” he all but gasps.
“Mm-hm,” Aidan nods proudly. “You know I always try to make your games.”
“Yeah, but thehomeones.”
Aidan shrugs.
“We were over in Durham County following up on a lead,” Noah explains. “Aidan knew you were going to be playing nearby, so we swung over to the high school afterward and managed to catch the second half.”
“Wow.” The boy’s hero worship for my brother and his partner is evident both in the breathiness of his voice and the pleased, near-awed expression on his face. The sight causes a twinge in my gut because I wish I had something to bond with Steph’s boys over—wish Icouldso easily bond with them. Or with my brother, for that matter.
When I glance over at Steph, she’s smiling at her son. I watch as her gaze shifts to my brother and then Noah, giving them each a nod of appreciation. Aidan winks at her and turns his attention to Alex, asking him about how his guitar practice has been going. He eagerly jumps into an account of the new songs he’s been learning and the recent jam session he had with a buddy who plays drums. It’s clear my brother has been filling the male role-model position for Steph’s kids for a while now, and again I feel that twinge of what can only be jealousy low in my belly. Call me an asshole, but as I listen to Aidan murmur his encouragement to Matt and exclaim over the difficult song he’s mastered, I just—
Ugh.
I’m not sure how much longer I can listen to this love-fest.
“Pass me the salt,” I say abruptly, indicating the shaker that sits directly in front of Aidan’s place setting. The table falls silent, and I immediately regret interrupting the pair so rudely. A quick glance at Steph shows her eyebrows pulling together in a frown.
“Please,” I add with a clearing of my throat.
