Page 211 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
He steps forward too, bringing us close enough to touch. “I’m saying Penelope wasn’t a problem until your dog showed up.”
I bark out a laugh. “The goat has a name? This keeps getting better and better. And how could I have possibly prepared for that?Hold on, Olivia. I better put my usually perfect dog on a leash in case there happens to be a large farm animal hanging out at Lennox’s salad station.”
Lennox’s jaw tightens, fire flashing in his eyes as he steps even closer, his folded arms close enough that I feel the warmth of him radiating off his skin. He’s so much taller than I am, I have to look up to keep my eyes on him—probably the whole point of him stepping so close.
“You could have left your dog outside,” he says, his deep voice sliding from his lips like smooth caramel dripping off a wooden spoon.
I roll my eyes. “But Iliveinside, which means so does he. How else was I supposed to get him into my apartment?”
Brody clears his throat and steps forward, laughter dancing in his eyes. “Should we give you two some privacy for whatever this is?”
Lennox’s gaze darts to his brothers, and the tension building between us snaps and dissipates. He takes an enormous step back, his expression suddenly guarded.
“We’re happy to keep moving boxes if you need some time tocatch up,” Perry says, his words thick with double meaning. The smirk on his face tells me he thinks this thing happening between me and Lennox is some sort of playful, flirty banter.
Which it absolutely is not. Is it?
My face heats, and I press my palms to my cheeks to cool them.
What just happened? What isstillhappening?
“We should all get more boxes,” I say a little too quickly. “Right now. I’ll go first.” I dart out the door, not even looking to see if any of the Hawthorne brothers are following me.
I’m only halfway down the stairs when I hear them scuffling behind me, their whispered voices almost as loud as their footsteps.
I’m too far away to understand them, at least for the most part, but I do catch Lennox whispering a hurried, “Stop it. Don’t even think about it,” to one of his brothers.
I can’t know exactly what they’re discussing, but even just the possibility of it being me makes my stomach flip-flop.
When we reach the trailer, I step aside while Perry and Brody grab the only piece of furniture I brought—my favorite, overstuffed reading chair. The apartment is already furnished, but Olivia assured me there would be room under the window in the living room. It’ll be a little tight now that I’ve seen the space, but I’m still glad I brought it.
With his brothers out of the way, Lennox steps up beside me, reaching for the closest box. My hands are already on it, so I pull it toward me.
“I’ve got it,” he says as he tries to tug it out of my hands.
This particular box isn’t heavy at all because it’s filled with my underwear and a Harry Styles throw pillow my sister gave me as a gag gift.
Thanks, but no thanks, Lennox Hawthorne. This box, I’d like to carry myself.
I pull it against my chest. “Don’t you have somewhere else you need to be?”
He tsks. “Touchy, touchy. You know, I agreed to help my brothers unload your stuff because I thought it might give me a nice chance to apologize, but now? I’ve changed my mind.”
I drop the box onto the edge of the trailer and press a hand against my heart with dramatic flair. “Lennox Hawthorne apologizing? May I live to see the day.”
Lennox takes advantage of the moment and grabs the box like he’s won some kind of victory, but I immediately grab the opposite side, tugging it toward me. “Seriously, Lennox. Go clean your kitchen or something.”
“My kitchen’s already clean. I have a very efficient staff.”
I roll my eyes and yank a little harder, but he doesn’t let go. So help me, I will battle like this all day if it means keeping my underwear out of his hands. “Are they well-practiced in cleaning up after farm animals? Is that a routine part of training this far outin the sticks?”
His gaze narrows. “You should try the food before you knock the restaurant, Tatum. Otherwise, you just look jealous.”
“Ha! Jealous. That’s a good one.” And a little too close to the truth.
“Just let me carry the box,” Lennox says, that same silky voice wreaking havoc on my insides.
“It’s fine. I can get this one.” I motion toward the back of the trailer. “That one over there is heavier anyway. You can carry that one.”
