Page 36 of Crave Me

I drop my hands away to find him pinching the bridge of his nose. I want to kiss him and make it up to him, but mostly, I’m waiting for him to bolt. Given all the crazy waiting downstairs to have brunch, I would.

He lowers his hand when I reach him. “I was getting ready when I realized I still had shampoo in my hair.” Like an ass, I motion to the bathroom, not that he’s looking. “If I’d known they were coming, I never would have left you alone.” My voice fades when I realize he’s smiling. “You’re smiling,” I point out.

He chuckles. “I just met your entire family.”

“Not really. There’re still a few hundred more,” I admit.

“It’s not what I expected,” he says.

I raise my head, feeling defensive. “They’re good people,” I tell him. “They’re just not used to me having anyone here, let alone a naked someone here.”

“That’s not what I mean,” he tells me gently. “It’s clear that they love you and are only watching out for your best interests. I just expected to meet them over time.”

“Over time?” I ask, barely believing it. “You’re planning to stick around? After all that?”

“I told you. I like you.”

There he goes again, being sweet. This guy can’t be real. But when he gathers me to him and kisses me, I remind myself that he totally is.

I stroke his five o’clock shadow, it’s light but dark enough to give him an edge. If the angry mob downstairs weren’t waiting to chow down on eggs and potatoes, I might hold off on replenishing my calories and burn a few more.

“We’ll see how you feel after brunch.”

“Brunch?” he asks.

“We have brunch as a family at least once a month. It was supposed to be next week, but I guess they moved it up when they were kicked out of the hotel—not that the news of my family getting kicked out of anywhere should shock you.”

I laugh when he doesn’t move. “Come on,” I say. “You made it this far. Let’s get dressed and see if we can survive the rest.”

“All right,” he agrees.

“Yeah?”

“Why not? Like you said, I made it this far,” he adds with a wink.

The girls have my back, just like I have theirs. By the time Evan and I are dressed and make it downstairs, they’ve set up the dining room and are laying out the food. Oh, and look at this, with the exception of Evan, all the men have been herded to one side. Like I said, my girls have my back.

None of my brothers are smiling except for Finnie. But there’s bacon and Sol sitting in front of him so that’s all he needs. “Pass the potatoes, will ya, babe?” he tells her.

She lifts the dish filled with hash browns.

“The hell, Finnie,” Angus snaps. “Is that all you’ve got to say?”

Finn thinks about it. “Oh, yeah. The ketchup, too.” He looks at Molly. “You brought ketchup, right Mol? We’re all out.”

“It’s to your right, Finnie,” Molly says. She scowls when Angus glares. “You know, I’m sick of all youz being pissy. Wren here’s done nothing wrong.”

“Thanks, Molly,” I say, knowing she’s not going to stop there.

“So she had some stud bend her over,” she continues.

“Dear God,” Evan says, pausing with the fork halfway to his mouth when more swears erupt around the table.

I reach for my napkin, trying not to crack up when Molly goes full speed ahead like only she and her Edith Bunker voice can. “She’s got needs. We all do,” she glances around the table. “Am I right, ladies?”

“Please leave us out of this,” Sofia says, her face as red as the ketchup she hands Finn.

Her reaction causes Killian to smirk her way. Not that she sees it, seeing how her face is now buried in her hands.

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