Tugging open the front door, Macallan quickly follows me inside.
As we approach the banquet room, my pulse quickens,nervous energy pinging around in my stomach like a ball in a pinball machine.
“Consider my curiosity piqued,” he says, looking around the empty corridor.
“Come on.” I push open the door, tugging him inside.
The room is pitch-black when we enter, but all that changes in a matter of seconds when the lights suddenly flip back on and everyone in attendance screams in unison. “Happy birthday!”
Mac startles, clearly caught off guard, but after a few seconds, he seems to recover, a smile sliding into place.
“What did you do?” He turns, putting his back to the crowd as he steps in front of me.
“Happy birthday, Macallan.” I take his face in my hands. “I love you.”
“I retract my earlier statement. You’re even more perfect than you were moments ago.” His lips touch mine, silencing the rest of the world as his kiss drowns out anyone and everything that is not Macallan Stewart.
“Everyone’s watching,” I mutter against his lips when someone interrupts the moment by clearing their throat.
“Let them watch.” Another deep swipe of his tongue along mine.
“I don’t mean to be a dick but...” My brother’s voice washes over me, and like being doused with ice water, I gasp, breaking away from Macallan to find Jackson standing next to us, looking highly uncomfortable and mildly disgusted all at the same time. “Maybe save this shit for when you’re in private.”
“Easier said than done.” Mac gives my brother a cheeky grin as his arm slides over my shoulder, pulling me firmly into his side.
“Happy birthday, brother.” Joey appearsfrom the crowd, clasping Mac on his shoulder. “Let me be the first to buy you a birthday shot.”
Mac hesitates, looking down at me like the last thing he wants to do is leave my side, and trust me, I know the feeling.
“Go,” I tell him, pressing up to plant a kiss on his jaw, his facial hair tickling my nose as I do. “I’ll catch up.” I dip out from under his arm, giving him a light smack on the butt as he walks away.
“You two make me sick,” Jackson grumbles.
“Jealously doesn’t look good on you, Jack.” I nudge him with my elbow.
“I am not jealous. I just don’t like seeing my own sister manhandled like that.”
“Manhandled?” I bark out a laugh.
“He was practically swallowing your head in front of everyone.”
“And yet, the only one who seems to have a problem with it is you.”
“I wonder why.” He rolls his eyes.
“You need to find yourself a woman,” I tell him with a pat on his shoulder.
“I have a woman... Several of them actually.”
“Not exactly what I meant.” I shake my head at him.
“Unlike you lot, I have no desire to be tied down to just one person.”
“You only say that because you haven’t met the right one yet.” I laugh at the look he gives me. “Come on, let me buy you a drink.”
“After all the work I did today, you owe me a hell of a lot more than one,” he grumbles, following me through the crowd just as music fills the large room.
