Reese accepted David’s smirk as his due. “You stay here and get comfortable. I’ll put away our bags.”
He turned and found Mati watching him curiously. He realized too late he’d put her in a difficult position, since these were also her friends, and she had a right to decide who knew what and when.
He smiled apologetically. “Whatever you want.”
She huffed a laugh, shook her head, and pulled him down for a long, firm kiss.
Something clattered to the floor in the kitchen.
Mati kissed Reese in front of his entire family and felt nothing but pride.
Reese’s family meant the world to him. It mattered what these people thought of her, and even more so what they thought of Reese. She would never do anything to damage that.
But as she pecked one last kiss to Reese’s smiling lips, she knew there wasn’t any risk. Despite the shock on some faces, she knew eventually they would all look like Callum—radiating pure, unadulteratedglee.
Happiness and humor shined from Reese’s eyes. What she wouldn’t give to be so secure in her family’s love. It was a luxury she would never know. Nor was being able to tell them about Reese and David. Not unless she was willing to walk away from her family forever.
Though, if it came to that, at least there’d still bethiscrazy family waiting for her.
Of course,noneof that would be an issue if David didn’t want to stay with them. If she were only with Reese, her parents and brothers would simply take it as affirmation of their suspicions that she’d been angling for as much all along.
Mati shoved away that ugly thought.
“Now that the big reveal is taken care of,” she said, “why don’t you go stash our stuff, and I’ll convince Alexei to give David a tour of the kitchen.”
“Oooh…yes, please,” David said with a wistful glance in that direction.
He did a double-take when he found Alexei grinning and Mike scowling as he dug his wallet out of his pocket.
Reese turned toward the guest suite as if he hadn’t just shocked the shit out of everyone, making a brief detour into the kitchen to snatch the fifty-dollar bill from Mike’s fingers before Alexei could grab it.
He was whistling cheerfully when he disappeared through the bedroom door.
One second later, Mati and David were smashed together, caught up in Rupert and Callum’s arms.
“Ooof,” she squeaked. “What’s this for?”
“He looks happy,” Rupert said, voice thick.
“And not at all worried,” Callum added.
David stiffened. “Should he be?”
Mati groaned when Callum hugged tighter and shook them with transparent joy. “And you’re protective!”
She snorted. “You should see Reese. He’s ten times worse.”
“We know,”said four voices at once.
Mati poked at bellies until Rupert and Callum released them. “What do you mean, you know? You didn’t see him try to kill the valet at our hotel with the power of his death glare when the poor kid flirted with David.”
Rupert cocked his head. “Have you honestly not noticed him looming behind you, trying to kill every man in the room with a glare, for the past five years?”
“What? No, I—”
She trailed off when Mike, Alexei, and Callum all nodded.
“Not to mention, he practically made out with David when he caught me and Mike looking at him.” Alexei cast a glance at the children, all of whom had gotten bored with the adult drama and were vegging on the couches in front of the TV. “He thought we were going to invite David to beourguest tonight,” he said with a wink for David.
