Page 62 of The Usual Family Mayhem

He lifted his head just long enough to wink at me. “I can give you sexy talk, if that’s what you want.”

That deep voice was going to be the death of me.

I wanted his suit off and to somehow get to his bedroom. He had one, right? Who the hell knew at this point.

“Dad won’t be here for...” He glanced up at the clock. “Oh, shit.”

Harlan. Yep, the mention of his name killed the moment. I relaxed into the pillows stacked behind me and sighed because sighing seemed like the right call.

“Gram and Celia saw us kiss.” The words popped out. It took me a second to realize I was the idiot who said them.

Jackson froze above me but didn’t get up. “What?”

I was in it now. If we were going to kill the mood, we might as well stomp on it and bury it as well. “They were lurking at the upstairs window. We really need to find them a hobby.”

He frowned. “They told you they saw the kiss?”

His body slipped over mine in a way I’d dreamed about for years, but we were talking about the ladies. An unsettling combination and pretty much the norm for us lately. “They thought I was cheating on my boyfriend with you.”

“What boyfriend?” He didn’t shout but got really close.

“Brock.”

Jackson shook his head but that didn’t clear the confusion in his eyes. “That guy?”

“Now you know how I felt during the entire conversation with them.”

“Okay...” He lifted his body up on his elbows.

I detested even that small distance between us. “They’re very up in our business.”

The familiar sound of the doorbell rang out and Jackson lowered his head in what looked like defeat. “I can’t catch a break here.”

“It’s been that kind of day.”

“I’m sure it’s Dad.” Jackson exhaled. “I’d say his timing sucks but I’m the one who invited him tonight. This is on me.”

I could smell Jackson’s hair. Run my fingers through it. Breathe in the scent of him.

Then I thought about Harlan and how Jackson had to be adopted because they were too different to be blood related. “I wanted to be long gone before he got here. Then you lured me to the dark side with that hot mouth of yours. I forgot about Harlan because I never think of Harlan and kissing at the same time.”

“That last part is especially good to hear.”

Jackson sat up and took me with him. Our arms and legs tangled. Neither of us rushed to separate or open the door to Harlan.

The doorbell rang again. As if I needed another reason not to like Harlan. “I don’t suppose you have a window ledge I could hide on.”

“You’re afraid of heights.”

“It was a joke.” I stared at the window, trying to figure out how high off the ground the third floor actually was. “Mostly.”

He brushed my hair off my face. “You could—”

“I’ll hide in the bedroom.” I didn’t wait for his vote. I jumped up and nearly dropped again when my knees buckled.

He stood up in time to catch me. Didn’t miss a beat. “Or you could be here when Dad comes in because we’re adults. You’re allowed to be in my house. In fact, I want you in my house.”

Those strong hands against my back. That cute face hovering above mine. A woman could get used to this. “You’re the only Quaid man I’m interested in spending any time with.”

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