Page 90 of A Twisted Arrangement

“Oh my God.” My brain clicks into place, processing the fact that I’d been so frantic I’d nearly burned my hands by reaching in without oven mitts.

I’m pulled back into a strong embrace, Matthias’s chin resting on my shoulder. “Why are you so nervous?”

“I just…it’s the first time we’re all meeting like this since you and I got married.” I rest my head back on his shoulder and lean into him, letting him take my weight. I ask the thing that’s been bugging me since he agreed to have them over. “Do they know I tried to run from you?”

His chuckles rumble through my back.

“Don’t laugh at me.” I struggle to pull away, but he bands an arm around my waist and holds me in place.

“I’m sorry. I promise I’m not laughing at you.”

“Sure sounds like you are,” I huff.

“It’s not that. It’s that they’ve always been on your side. Had I let them anywhere near here, they’d have helped you escape. Traitorist bastards.”

I twist in his arms, fingers balling in his shirt. “Seriously?”

Strong fingers massage into my tight shoulders. “Yeah, they definitely like you more than me.”

All the strain leaves my muscles, and my head drops to his chest. “Alright then. Let’s get everything ready.”

As if they perfectly timed it, the second I put the last plate on the table, there’s a loud knock on the door.

“Open up, big brother!” Bash yells and bangs again. “You can’t keep her from us forever.”

Matthias mouths, “I told you so,” then swings the door open.

Bash tries to sneak in, but my husband steps in his way. “Whatever you’re planning, knock it off.”

“Hey, that’s not fair. I wasn’t planning anything.”

Xander walks in, squeezing behind Bash. “He’s lying. He has a whole-ass plan to sneak Scarlet out of here.”

“The fuck you do.” My husband lifts his youngest brother up by his throat until his feet barely meet the floor.

Bash frantically taps out on his shoulder until Matthias releases him.

“It was a joke! I was just playing around.” He winks at me. “Plus, if she wanted to leave, she’s more than capable of doing that herself.”

Heat flushes my cheeks, knowing I’d tried just that.

“Move out of the way.” Misty’s familiar voice comes from somewhere behind them. She’s too small to make out from behind the Everette men.

The three brothers fall back as if she’s their leader and make room for her to pass.

Matthias bows his head in an awkward show of respect. “Thank you for joining us.”

She smiles wide. “Aww, you’re sweet, but I definitely came here for your wife.”

Damon slides his hand around Misty’s waist, securing her to his side. “Smells great in here.”

“Did you make all this?” Xander asks while examining the array of bowls and serving dishes on the island.

“Matthias did most of it.” I shrug, not wanting to take too much credit. I’m not a bad cook, but he definitely stepped up.

“Matthias?” Bash lifts a brow. “Our brother cooked this?”

“What? It’s not that hard,” Matthias grumbles under his breath, cheeks turning pinker by the second.

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