Page 33 of Hearts on the Mend

“Fix that doorbell then, to start. Don’t need to code today.”

This amuses him, apparently, because a small grin plays at the corner of his mouth as he brings his bowl to the sink. “Whatever you say, Hellcat.”

I stand there like an idiot, dumbstruck as he towers over me, so close. I fight the urge to trace my hand up his chest, to rake my fingers back into his hair, to tilt my face just at the right angle for his lips to claim mine once again.

Before the doorbell rings again.

“Son of a bitch,” I mutter, my eyes shut tight.

“That’s a bad word, Mama.”

Did he just…?

Mama.

I grip the edge of the sink, attempting to pull myself together, but I feel like I’m a jar of marbles that was just tipped over. This man—this frustrating, quiet man—is so completely overwhelming. And I keep trying to tamp down this stupid crush I have, but I can’t.

“Sometimes, I wish you—” I say, chasing after him.

Nolan turns, slowly. His body is a mountain in my hallway, unmovable. “What?”

It’s one tiny question, but any answer I give will only create a bigger problem.

He arches an eyebrow, those dark eyes of his pinned on me, waiting.

When I don’t answer, Nolan opens the front door to a group standing outside, peering in at us both, nearly gleeful.

“Interrupting?” one man asks. He looks strangely familiar, but I can’t place him.

“You promised you wouldn’t be a jackass,” Nolan mutters beside me.

A woman sticks her hand out toward me, giggling up at the man. She has long black hair that’s tied back in a baby-blue bow.

“Hi, I’m Izzy. This is my husband, Jack. You can ignore him. We usually do.”

“And I’m Sloane.” A taller woman tucked into the side of a man who looks a lot like Nolan smiles. Her hair is the glossiest brunette, and she has big brown eyes and a perfect smile of straight, white teeth.

“Ethan,” the man grumbles behind her.

Shit, the help is his family? That makes it… too familiar.

“Come in,” I say. “It’s freezing out. Not much warmer inside. But thanks for coming. I’m Cassie.”

“Oh, we know who you are.” Sloane shoves a bottle of wine into my hand. “We brought wine. Figured you might need it if you’re stuck with this grumpy asshole.”

All the while, Nolan is quiet behind me, close enough that he could place his palm on the small of my back but won’t. I shouldn’t want him to, but I can’t seem to get that thought out of my head lately. First night Ruby is out of the house, and I’m pathetically nursing a hopeless crush. Man, I really need to get laid.

“We would have come earlier, but Nolan insisted we wait,” Izzy says. Jack helps her out of her shaggy pink fur coat as they step inside and shut the door. She has the cutest pair of cherry earrings in and deep-blue eyes.

“Apparently, we’re loud and annoying,” Jack says, playfully whacking Nolan in the stomach.

He doesn’t flinch, but the glare is near-deadly.

“Don’t kill him yet. He might be useful,” Sloane says, slipping between the two brothers and dragging Jack into the living room.

“I’m useful.” Ethan pouts, as if upset to be left out.

She spins and playfully pats his cheek.