Page 39 of Simply You & Me

The front door is thrown wide. The first thing coming through is a mop of ginger curls. "Wow! It smells so damn good in here!"

"Watch it," Zach grumbles, smacking Julian upside the head. "Peanut ears in the room." The big guy softens his gaze when he sees us and shoots Rory a wink as Julian gasps in mock pain.

Before Zach can swoop in on my kid, Tate's there giving her a little snuggle. "Hey, Dino. How are you? I've missed you girls." Skirting around the counter quick, he gives me a gentle kiss and settles himself beside Rory while she tells him about school.

The distraction from the taco smell is beyond welcome. "Smells good, Dolly." Zach's body heat at my back warms me until I feel gooey and sleepy. "Thank you for making us dinner. How has your week been?"

I chuckle as he shuffles with me to cut the tomatoes. "It's been two days. You guys act like it's been ages since we saw you."

"Yeah, but you’re mine, Doll. For three days now. I want nothing more than to sweep you off your feet and learn every inch of you."

The scruff of Zach's beard and his throaty voice in my ear make shivers pebble my bare arms. "I missed you too, Zach," I whisper and attempt to ignore my heated cheeks.

He hums, sending delicious warmth to my panties. "Good Dolly."

"Share," a gravelly voice enters my quiet haze of lust and coziness. Zach moves an inch, then Wyatt's there filling the minuscule offering. "Hi, baby girl. Would you like some wine?"

My stomach absolutely revolts. I feel my face twist in disgust. It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, but I don't think I can handle something so potent.

"Woah, okay. No wine, then. Can I get you something else, baby?" Wyatt asks, concern tinging his words to match Zach's frown.

Swallowing, I offer them a smile. "Maybe just a glass of ginger ale and ice, please? My tummy is a bit upset, I think."

Zach's grip on my hips tightens, his voice dropping a few octaves at the same time. "Go sit down, Doll."

"No, it's okay. I'm almost?—"

"Go sit down. Be a good Dolly and let me take care of you."

Wyatt grips my wrist and pulls me from between the counter and the dominating alpha-male in my kitchen. I huff, but Wyatt speaks his mind first as he settles me at the kitchen table. "That was so hot."

I laugh, watching Wyatt discreetly adjust himself. With a wink, he's off to the fridge, and I'm left to watch those two bustle around my kitchen. A bark of laughter draws my attention to the living room where Rory has her backpack spilled out and her English homework spread out in front of Tate and Julian.

"Dude, that's not a noun. It's an adjective," Tate says, chuckling and pushing Julian around like he can't control the humor rolling off of him. The move reminds me of Rylee when something cracks her up, too.

"Shut up," Jules grumbles.

Rory watches them with a teeny frown. It's freaking adorable seeing the three of them sitting crisscross on my living room floor.

"Um," Rory interjects, "that's actually an adverb."

Julian rears back. "What the hell is an adverb?!" His eyes are wild; the unknown freaking him out.

"PEANUT EARS!"

I snort quietly at Zach's disgruntled shout. The chaos surrounding me is wonderful. It feels normal and something out of a dream. Eighteen-year-old me, coming home early from New York, wouldn't believe we would be making Taco Tuesday traditions. No, that young woman was devastated when she learned her parents were shot, leaving her and two-year-old Rory orphans. Dreams of getting a fashion degree with my friends faded away when my parents did. Yeah, eighteen-year-old me wouldn't be able to pick her jaw up off the ground right now.

Julian shoots me an apologetic cringe, and I just smile in response.

Tate coughs, looking a bit pink in the cheeks. "What's an adverb?"

I tune out Rory's explanation when a bag of Doritos hits the table. Now that smells damn good.

"So, what made you guys start your own security business?"

Gathered around my living room, I wait to learn more about these men who seem to be becoming permanent fixtures in my life. Gabby took Rory out to see a movie so we could have some alone time.

"Julian and I both started training at our local gym and kind of fell in love with martial arts," Zach says with a faraway look in his eyes.

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