Page 4 of Simply You & Me

"Sorry!" I wave, trying not to get caught staring at the man who held me.

His brown hair is slicked back, and his tan muscles are trying their best to bust the buttons of his white shirt. Jesus. His beard is a little past the point of stubble. He stands a few inches over the others, and I swear just his attention has me settling again.

"I forgot something in my car. Be right back!"

Turning around once again, my mind kick starts, and my body vibrates with the tasks I need to complete.

How strange. I've never known the quiet and the ease of living until I was surrounded by those four.

Chapter Three

Julian

"Come on, guys. I want to see my niece!" Tate shoves his way past us like he wasn't also hyper-focused on the pretty brunette that quite literally fell into our laps.

It takes a ridiculous amount of effort to drag my attention away from the woman scurrying down the road. When I finally manage it, though, I can't contain my snort of laughter at Wyatt's hungry look. "You can't eat her, man."

Slowly, he turns his gaze to me. The eerie tilt of his head makes his black hair fall into his eyes. "I guess you’ll just have to help curb my appetite, then." I lick my lips with my suddenly parched tongue. Whenever he gets this worked up, shit gets hot.

"Later," Zach groans, adjusting himself, effectively moistening my tongue. He looks at me, too, and smirks. "Let's go get you something to quench your thirst, huh?"

I almost whine. Even though I don't let it slip out, Zach and Wyatt's eyes blow wide, sensing how their combined attention makes me far more pliable than I would ever be if it were just one of them. These two, our bad boy and our leader, are like a live fucking wire. Tate and I are far more balanced and in touch with reality more often than they are. The soles of my feet itch to run while my throat bobs, readying to take them however they see fit. I don't blame the woman for running like her life was on the line. Wyatt and Zachary are intense as fuck. I probably didn't help, though.

"Um, excuse me.”

The soft voice soothes the charged energy in our three-person huddle. Turning, I find the brunette clutching a bottle of wine to her chest and avoiding any and all eye contact.

“Here, let me help with that,” I offer and reach for the bottle, feeling a little bad when I notice her shuffling. I wonder if her feet itch to bolt, too. I can’t help but be surprised at the shocked look she shoots me. “What?”

Her eyebrows droop over her blue eyes. “Uh. Nothing. No thanks. I’m fine. I just need you to move.” I raise an eyebrow in return, mildly enjoying her flustered words. “Excuse me.”

“You heard the pretty girl; move your sexy ass, Zach,” I taunt with a grin.

She chokes, and fuck if I won't dream of that sound for weeks to come. Like the smug ass he is, Zach moves maybe an inch. I catch the quiet huff from her and can't hold back my chuckle when she bolts through the small space available to her.

"Christ, she's thin. Did she even touch you?" I ask Zach, shocked that she actually got by without pushing him.

Concern settles across his stern features. "Barely." Before I can get a response out, he's shoving the front door open, mumbling about making sure she eats something.

I don't need to be prompted to follow; already excited to see her again and hang out with Tate's family. With his hands shoved into his black jeans, Wyatt trails after me. The sound of high-pitched laughter and pounding feet announces the stampede of third graders coming at us from all directions. There are probably six of them chasing after Layla, Tate's niece, as she barrels into Zach's legs.

"Uncle Zach! You're here!"

Scooping the bubbly blonde into his thick arms, he swings her side to side, making her giggle even more. He kisses the top of her head, then she turns her attention to me.

"Uncle Julie!"

The beaded necklace she always wears bounces with each excited skip my way. I kneel with a big grin and enjoy the way her little arms snake around my neck. When she pulls away, I say, "Your collection is getting bigger! Just like you, old lady."

Layla scowls at me for a beat before smiling down at her leather bracelets. Before she can defend her interesting fashion sense, one of her dads comes into view. "Don't let him bother you, Nugget. Our bracelets are badass!"

"Yeah! They're badass, Julie. Don't be jealous."

Shit, did Layla turn into a teenager while we were gone?

"LANGUAGE!" shouts a feminine voice.

I watch, humor bubbling in my throat, as Jude's cheeks pale. His body stills and slowly turns, giving me my first look at Rylee since last Christmas. She stamps her foot, somehow managing not to bother the little bundle cradled in her arms.

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