Page 78 of Why Not Us?

“Let’s get you breakfast, then,” I say, kissing her and getting up. I pull on a pair of sweats and leave her to get dressed, going to the kitchen where I start a pot of coffee and put water in the kettle to boil. Then I grab out a couple mugs and the tea I’d bought her before.

“You want some tea, right?” I call.

“I usually have black tea in the morning, but peppermint is fine,” she calls back from my bedroom.

“I have to get black tea now?” I ask, glaring down at the offending box.

She laughs. “You don’t have to get anything. Peppermint is fine. I might bring some of my favourite tea if I’m going to spend nights here.”

“What’s your favourite?” I ask, turning as she comes out wearing clean clothes she brought with her yesterday, a pink dress with purple flowers that floats around her knees. The straps are little more than string, showing off her tattoo and the fact she’s going without a bra which is giving me all kinds of ideas.

“It’s a loose-leaf tea from Granville Island Tea Company called Cream of Earl Grey.”

I hear what she’s saying, but I’m far more distracted by her shoulders.

“Adalie?” I say, meeting her at the corner of the kitchen island.

“Hm?”

“Are you wearing underwear?”

She snorts. “Of course I am. I’m going to work.”

I trail a finger along her collarbone and she shivers beneath my touch. “You’re not wearing a bra,” I say.

“Do you have a problem with that?” she asks, her voice breathless.

“The only problem I have is that I can’t strip this dress off you right now to see these perfect breasts.” My hands travel down her shoulders to cup them before I lean down to claim her lips with mine.

I lift her onto the island and her legs wrap around my hips, pulling me close. This is how I’d wanted her yesterday, her legs naked around me, my hands easily able to skim up her thighs under her skirt.

Then my back door opens.

“Whoa,” Taylor says as he comes into the kitchen. “Sorry to interrupt. Should I start knocking?”

“Yes,” I growl.

“No.” Adalie laughs, pushing against my chest. “I need to get going soon, anyway. And someone promised me breakfast.”

I don’t move, keeping my hands on her, watching as my brother moves to the counter to pour a coffee. “Water is boiled. You want me to pour this cup for you, Ad? You don’t mind if I call you that, do you? I heard Derek call you Ad before.”

“Ad is fine,” Adalie says. “Just not Addie. My family calls me Addie, and it makes me feel like a baby.”

She pushes against my chest again and looks at me with exasperation. I guess I’m not making out with her anymore this morning.

I step back, allowing her to slide off the island, but only far enough that when she does, she’s flush against me. She shakes her head and ducks out from where I had her trapped.

I take a seat, Adalie next to me.

“What’s that word?” I ask as Taylor passes her the mug of peppermint tea. “It means one brother kills another?”

“Nate,” Adalie scolds.

But Taylor grins, passing me a mug of black coffee. “Fratricide. Love you, too, brother. Are you making breakfast, or am I?”

“You can make it, since you interrupted me.”

He goes to the fridge, pulling out eggs and bread, making conversation with Adalie as he does. She tells him about the motorcycle jacket she bought, and the helmet. He tells her about the new tattoo he’s getting next week.

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