Knox immediately yelled, “Hands where we can see them, Mercer.”
Cade lifted one hand lazily while keeping the other exactly where it was. “You can see one.”
Kellen howled.
I spun in his hold, cheeks burning. “Are you insane?”
“Little bit.”
“My brothers are right there.”
“I know.”
“My dad is right there.”
“I’m being respectful.”
“You kissed my neck.”
“I didn’t use tongue.”
My mouth fell open.
He looked so pleased with himself that I seriously considered throwing the stack of cups at his face.
“You are unwell,” I whispered.
“You’re blushing.”
“I’m furious.”
“You can be both.”
“Cross Check.”
That did something to him. I saw it immediately, the flicker behind his eyes, the way my use of Cross Check landed harder than I meant it to. His hand tightened at my waist for one second before he made himself ease up.
“Careful, Pip,” he murmured, and the warning in it was not for the audience.
It was for me.
For us.
For the agreement I had sold him like either of us believed the word casual still had any meaning after this morning.
Before I could answer, Dad called from the grill, “Bug, grab the buns from inside before your brothers start eating ribs straight off the platter like stray dogs.”
“I heard that,” Lyon shouted.
“You were meant to,” Dad called back.
I stepped out of Cade’s hold because I needed air and distance and maybe a full personality reset. “I’ll get them.”
Cade’s eyes stayed on me. “Want help?”
Yes.
No.
