Page 189 of The Maxwell Brothers
As he stopped the car at a red light, he looked me straight in the eyes. "I'm here for you, whatever you need, babe. I meant what I said before."
"I know that now."
He narrowed his eyes, pinching my thigh.
"Hey, what was that for?"
"So you didn't believe me before?" he asked as the car lurched forward once the light turned green.
"I'm not proud to own up to it, but I can't say I did. It's just that when you're used to not being able to trust people around you, you learn not to expect anything from them, not even when they promise it."
"Babe, you can always count on me," he said. His voice was soft, and when he looked at me, so were his eyes.
I was a bit on edge, and I wanted to diffuse the emotional tension.
“Thanks.”
“Now, let’s think of a punishment because you didn’t believe me.” His tone changed to playful as if he’d guessed exactly what I needed. He snapped his gaze back to the road.
“Oh?”
He peeked at me from the corner of his eye. “Undo the top button of your shirt.”
I burst out laughing. “My punishment is taking my clothes off?”
“I just wanted a peek, but if you’re volunteering to take everything off, I won’t say no.” He cleared his throat before adding, “On second thought, I am saying no.”
“What changed your mind so quickly?”
“We’re not alone on the street, and I don’t want anyone to see you.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing again. “So no peek either, then?”
He groaned, looking at me sideways. “I’m weak for you, Kendra. And you’re taking advantage of it.”
Giggling, I brought my fingers to the top button.
We arrived at his parents' house in Forest Glen forty minutes later. At the sight of the mansion, it dawned on me that this wastheMaxwell family.Oh my God. Somehow, it had been easy to forget before, when everyone had been carrying around boxes and just teasing each other like they weren’t one of the richest families in Chicago. I was a bit intimidated, especially because there was a welcome committee waiting in front of the house. It was all red brick, with white windows and doors and a gray roof.
"These are my parents, and… Oh hell. What did Mom do? How is Gran already here?" Tyler asked as he parked the car in the huge driveway.
I assumed Gran was the older woman with white hair pulled back at the base of her head.
I laughed nervously. "Who's that next to Gran?" I asked.
"That's my brother Tate."
"Oh, wait. I recognize him. He brought you to the first meeting, along with the woman standing next to him."
"That's right. His fiancée, Lexi. And that's my niece, Paisley. She’s Tate’s daughter from his previous marriage and one of my favorite people on the planet.”
Who’s melting hearing this sexy hunk talking like this about his niece? Not me.
“Come on, let’s get out of the car,” he said.
My legs felt like spaghetti as we walked up the front porch.
“Hi, everyone," Tyler said. "This is Kendra."
