Page 4 of Sweet as Sugar

Wren smiles her soft, Mona Lisa smile. Her dark gray eyes shimmer with tears and Stryker groans and wraps her in his arms. “Don’t do that, baby! You know I hate to see you cry.”

“I’m just so happy,” she says, her voice breaking.

She’s so quiet and reserved. It’s hard to believe that the woman is a bestselling author of hot and sexy romance books that have been devoured by millions of women…and men, all over the world.

Bishop smiles, happy to have the whole family here again. Or at least in town. All the kids are around but not here right now. Except my sister, Belle, who charges through the crowd and slams into Chloe like a freight train. She pulls Chloe back and forth and they laugh loudly.

Jealousy rears its ugly head, twisting my belly into a knot of anxiety and anger.

I’m the only damn person who can’t touch Chloe without everyone staring at me like they know what I’m thinking and they don’t approve.

Or something like that.

But I’ve had about enough. I’m not a bad guy, dammit! And I’ve waited long enough for my happily ever after! Our parents all got theirs. I deserve mine. And that will never happen if I can’t win Chloe’s heart and lock her down as mine.

“Chloe,” I rumble. Her back stiffens and Belle giggles, letting her go. She turns to face me and seeing her so close is like a punch to the gut.

Her pale green eyes shimmer with something that heats my whole body up like a match to paper. I go up like dry kindling. “Samson.”

I nod my head and she sighs. “I missed you, Chloe.”

We both know that I more than missed her. It was like having my heart living outside my body for the last two years and slowly suffocating.

She nods her head and her silken, reddish-brown curls slip over her shoulder. My eyes follow the movement, wanting to slip my hands into her hair and wrap it around my fist. Wanting to rip her away from everyone’s arms and throw her over my shoulder, disappearing with her curvy body.

My brain struggles to keep my eyes from dipping down, from mapping her soft curves and valleys. Because her dad is right there. And my dad is right there. They’re all there, all watching me.

Until Ruby lifts a brow at my dad and tugs at his arm. “Let’s let the kids get reacquainted.” She winks at me.

I smile at my mom. She’s always got my back. But that doesn’t mean she won’t be the first in line to rip me apart if I hurt Chloe.

Belle smirks at me and then grins at Chloe. “Let’s catch up later at Cup o’ Joe’s. We can talk about that guy you were seeing and whether he’s still bothering you.”

I tense up and glare at Belle as she saunters off, blowing me a kiss. Fucking sisters! She knows exactly how to piss me off.

I turn back to Chloe and she’s flushed, her eyes breaking away from mine.

“So…how was school, Chloe?” Really! That’s all you’ve got, buddy! Inane party conversation. Ugh!

I run my fingers through my short brown hair.

Chloe smiles. “It was good.” But that smile doesn’t reach her soft green eyes.

“I’m glad, Chloe. Are you home for good?” I hold my breath. My party conversation is apparently as bad as hers. I feel like I can’t think beyond the soft sweet, peppermint scent of her. My mouth waters and my dick stirs in my pants and I start reciting baseball stats in my head.

Because there’s no fucking way I want to get hard in the middle of the gym with all of our parents wandering around here.

Her green eyes widen like she sees something in my eyes. Her pupils widen and she breathes a deep, shaky breath that makes me fight to keep my eyes above her slender neck.

Then she nods. “Yeah, I’m back for good.”

I nod my head. “Good. We’ve got some unfinished business, Chloe. And you’re not getting the chance to run this time.” I finally let my eyes drift down her soft curves and it’s like an electric spark arcs through the cool air around us.

Then Ireland comes back and grabs her arm, tugging her close. “Come see what we’ve done with the gym! It’s been so long since you’ve been here!”

And she drags her off, my eyes glued to her retreating figure. I take a deep breath when my dad comes to stand next to me andgrunts. “I hope that you’re not planning on fucking this up, son. She’s good for you. I don’t think I’ve seen you smile in a couple of years.”

Which is when I realize that there’s a crazy-ass grin on my face. I turn to him. “I won’t.”

---