Page 48 of Surrender
“I meant the humming.”
“It’s called being in a good mood,” Keefe said. “You should try it sometime. Real crowd-pleaser.”
He glanced over his shoulder, flashing a grin. Clearly, his sister wanted to talk. But she wasn’t looking for a fight or she would have started it by now. “So, is this the part where you tell me I’ve lost my mind, or the part where you warn me Ruby’s secretly plotting to rob us blind and flee to the Alps?”
Usually, Sophie would’ve had a snappy comeback locked and loaded. Instead, she stayed quiet—arms still crossed, brow slightly furrowed.
He raised an eyebrow and kept teasing, partly because he liked riling her up, partly because silence from Sophie was rarely a good sign. “Don’t tell me—you came to praise Ruby? Maybe get her name tattooed on your arm?”
“Shut up a minute—sorry.”
Not the usual way to start an apology. Let’s try that again, shall we?
“Neither,” she said, a bit grudging. “I’m here to say… I’m going to try.”
Keefe blinked, genuinely surprised. “Try what?” he asked, flipping something golden and buttery in the pan, the sizzle filling the silence. “Tolerating the sound of my voice? Finally admitting I’m your favorite sibling?”
“There are only two of us, and Bootstrap sings better.” She cleared her throat. “I’m going to try with Ruby. You know, give her a fair shot.”
She stretched her neck like it had taken physical effort to admit it. There. That hadn’t been so bad.
Keefe knew this change of heart had everything to do with what their aunt had said at dinner. “God bless Aunt Sylvia and her wisdom. Did she hit you with a ladle after dinner?”
“Don’t get cocky,” Sophie warned.
“Too late. I’ve got backup now. Aunt Sylvia’s Team Ruby.”
Sophie ignored that. “I’m not saying I’m sold, but I’ll try to not roll my eyes every time you mention her—which, by the way, is constantly,” she added.
Keefe grinned over his shoulder. “You noticed. I’ve been subtle.”
He had the nerve to flutter his lashes.
“You’ve been unbearable,” she said flatly.
“Unbearably charming, maybe.”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “You’re nauseating lately.”
“Yeah? Well, how about this: I’m proud of you.”
She gave him a sharp look. He just had to get sentimental about it. “Don’t make me take it back.” She figured that seeing as she was on a roll here that she would take the second step now. “So, how is Ruby?”
“You can ask her yourself later. She’s coming for dinner. I’m making her favorite: game pie. Then she promised to help me in the kitchen.”
“She can cook?”
“No, but she sits on the counter and tells me I’m hot and brilliant, which really brings out the flavor in my brown sauce.”
Sophie rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. “You’re disgusting.”
Keefe grinned, clearly delighted with himself. “Would now be a good time to tell you that Ruby’s started calling me Honey Bunny?”
Sophie stared at him. “Please tell me that’s a joke.”
“Nope. Full-on, no-shame Honey Bunny. She even does the voice.” Sophie looked physically ill which only fueled Keefe’s fire. “You know,” he said, fluttering his lashes again and pitching his voice high and breathy. “‘My sweet little Honey Bunny Wunny!’”
“Jesus Christ,” Sophie muttered, turning toward the sink like she might dry heave. “You are the worst.”
