“Hi,” I echo, then immediately clear my throat and pivot back to Liam. “Grandma’s bedroom window. Second floor, you can get to it off the roof. That’s the plan.”
“Got it,” Liam says, already moving toward the side of the house. “You weren’t kidding about the urgency, huh?”
“I was very much not kidding.”
Ty follows him, but not before his gaze flicks to me again, quick and assessing. It lingers just long enough to make my pulse trip over itself. Then he’s gone around the corner with Liam, and I can breathe again. Barely.
I trail after them, clutching the pizza to my chest like armor. By the time I round the side of the house, Liam’s already looking up at the window.
“Okay,” he says. “That’s doable.”
Ty steps in beside him, rolling his shoulders like my predicamentis just another thing he deals with on a regular basis—rescues women from their own front porches.
“I’ll get you up there,” he says easily, and I fight to keep my eyes from drifting to admire those arms of his.
Liam glances at him. “You boosting?”
Ty inclines his chin in the direction of the window. “Yeah, I’ve got you.”
They move into position, and I stand there, very aware of how little I’m wearing and how much attention I am trying not to draw to that fact.
“Okay,” Liam says, bracing his hands on the wall. “Let’s do this before the neighbors think we’re trying to break in.”
“Already tried them,” I say. “No one’s home. Just me, my poor decisions, and apparently, a rustling hedge that wants to murder me.”
Ty’s mouth twitches. “Murderous rustling hedge?"
“Serial killer, most likely.”
He shrugs. “Or a squirrel.”
“Could be that,” I manage, taking a second to look down at the towel I’m currently barely wrapped in. “But what fun is it being reasonable?”
Eyeing me with laughter in his eyes, Ty steps in behind Liam, hands settling at his waist. “Ready?”
“Always,” Liam says.
And then Ty lifts him. It’s effortless, like Liam weighs nothing. I blink, because that shouldn’t be as distracting as it is. But his arms. Those biceps…
Focus, Vivian.
Liam reaches beyond the gutter to the roof, hauling himself up with Ty’s help, and within seconds he’s halfway inside.
“Don’t fall,” I call up.
“Great pep talk,” Liam shoots back, disappearing the rest of the way in.
I glance away for a second, suddenly hyper-aware that it’sjust me and Ty standing there now. Alone. In the side yard. With nothing but a towel between us.
“Rough night so far?” he asks, and there’s something in his tone—amusement, yeah, but something else underneath it. Something warmer.
“Living the dream,” I say dryly.
His gaze flicks, just briefly, to the bracelet on my wrist, and something warmer passes across his face.
He hesitates, like he’s debating whether to say something.
“You were good with them today,” he says finally. “With the girls.” He drags a hand over the back of his neck, a little awkward now. “I didn’t exactly stick the landing in there. So thanks. For stepping in.”
