“I’ve beaten you before,” I reminded her. “We ran a race to raise money for the school’s lunch program. Remember? I always catch you.”
A fire lit in her gaze, her throat working as she swallowed. “You cheated.”
“I did not,” I laughed. This was about four years ago. It’d been a close race and I’d never forget winning, because later that night, I’d gone to bed thinking about I wished I could chase her down and—fuck. “I won that race fair and square, June. It’s not my fault you have short legs.”
She crossed her arms and arched a brow. “Maybe it’s time for a rematch.”
“Maybe it’s time I?—”
“For the love of god,” Evie called. “All of us can hear you.”
The two of us stepped apart as if we were radioactive. My head snapped up and I realized everyone was staring at us. Why were they looking at uslike that?
Before anyone else could speak, the door opened again. Austin stepped inside mid conversation with Madi.
I heard June’s breath audibly hitch.
Something twisted and needy spread through me as I looked from her to Madi. Despite the rain, she was wearing a black sundress and her hair was pulled back, exposing the curve of her long neck. She’d definitely put makeup over any lingering bite marks.
I wanted to kiss the feet of whoever had designed that sundress.
And fuck me. Fuck us. June was just as bad, gawking at her.
I was speechless, and for once was thankful for how talkative Avery could be.
“Oh my god, hi!” Avery rushed over to Madi and gave her a quick hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. It’s going to be chaosbut we’ve got pizza and stories. And you finally get to meet everyone.”
Madi beamed. “I got Dallas’s text right as I was walking by Austin, and he said he’d walk over with me since he was coming to help too. He also had two umbrellas.”
“I sure did,” Austin said. “Always prepared. Also, what’s going on? Did something happen?”
“Good things,” June said, a hint of pride in her voice. “A lot of orders suddenly came in, so we’re going to prep. Sorry, Madi, to recruit you too, but?—”
“June, youknowI’m happy to help,” she said smoothly, glancing around.
Avery clapped her hands together, gleeful. Almost evilly gleeful. “Madi, this is Evie.”
Evie’s smile was warm as she waved. “Hi, Madi. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you,” Madi echoed.
“And this is Mateo and Levi. They’re my partners. And then it sounds like you’ve met everyone else.”
“I have,” she said.
“Should I call anyone else?” Austin asked. “I can get more people if needed.”
“Nope,” June said. “One, I don’t have the space. Two, I think any more than our group would be too many. I’ll have Dallas and Madi work on bouquets and arrangements for the shop while the rest of us get working on mums.”
Madi gravitated closer to me and I caught the scent of her body wash. I fought the urge to groan, trying to focus on everyone around us instead of the way the sundress dipped down, revealing the curve of her breasts.
Her hand brushed mine and I tugged her close, deciding onfuck it.I brushed my lips over hers and felt her smile.
When I looked up, my older brother had his brows raised. I shot him alookand he snorted, glancing over at Mateo.
The thing about being with people you’d known for so long was we all had our own ways of holding silent conversations. And while he didn’t say it aloud, my older brother was going “are you seeing this dipshit?”
I was an older brother, a younger brother, a mechanic, a friend, a Dom, a lover. I was a lot of things. Behind closed doors, I could be as smooth sexually as one possibly could be and yet?—
