Page 48 of Shattered Sun

“Good for you,” Delilah says.

Oliver takes the pot of potatoes to the sink and adds water. “He looks like the kinky type.”

I pluck a green bean from the colander and throw it at Oliver. “What does that even mean, Ollie?”

He cuts off the water, carries the pot to the stove, and cranks the burner to high. After adding a fistful of salt, he spins around and leans back on the counter. “Older man, sharp suits, thick build…” He shrugs as if it’s self-explanatory. “Men like Law love control. In every aspect of their life. It’s easy to assume they’re kinky in the bedroom.” Oliver pins Skylar with his stare. “Or the kitchen. Am I wrong?”

Cheeks still flush, Skylar stands a little taller. “Not wrong at all.”

Oliver winks. “That’s what I thought?” He grabs the sponge and starts cleaning his work area. “Just like I know the difference between our favorite officer and your long-lost construction beau.”

I stick my fingers in my ears and hum loudly like a child. “Don’t want your opinion, Ollie.”

Seconds pass and he holds up his hands in defeat. I unplug my ears and start cutting carrots while Skylar adds the green beans to a sauté pan with butter and lemon. Delilah dumps her macaroni and cheese in a casserole dish and tops it with bread crumbs before putting it in the oven. Then she gets to work on the cranberry relish.

We move in sync with one another, stepping out of the way when necessary or silently offering help.

But that silence is broken when Oliver sidles up to me with a shit-eating grin on his face. “You may not want my opinion now, K.” His smile stretches wider when there is a knock at the door. “But I’ll validate it soon enough.”

I playfully shove him. “You’re ridiculous.” I shake my head. “Go let Law in. We need his maturity to balance you out.”

What the hell was I thinking?

Obviously, my brain was out of service when I decided it was a good idea to invite TravisandBen. In what world did I see today going smoothly?

Oliver, on the other hand, hasn’t stopped smiling since either of them arrived.Little shit.

“So, Ben,” Oliver says as he plucks a small piece of turkey from the platter. “You have someone special back home?”

“Ollie,” I chastise. Turning to Ben, I roll my eyes. “Please ignore Oliver. He’s a pot stirrer.”

Ben chuckles, lifting his beer to his lips and taking a sip. “You remind me of my buddy, Luke. Always asking the uncomfortable questions.” He sets his beer down and shakes his head. “And to answer your question, no. I don’t have anyone back home.”

“Ah.” Oliver reaches for another piece of turkey and I slap his hand. “Hey.” He gives me his best pout.

“Take the turkey to the table.”

He arches a brow.

“Please,” I add. “Then let everyone know we’re ready.”

Shortly after Law arrived, Skylar dragged him to the backyard and had him light a fire in the pit. Delilah followed them when her baked macaroni and cheese came out of the oven. Oliver opted to stick around for Travis and Ben’s arrival.

I wish he would have gone outside. Troublemaker.

Oliver walks off and I breathe a little easier. Until reality sets in.

A weighted blanket of claustrophobia swallows me as I stand in the kitchen with only Travis and Ben. With the faintest shifts in their posture, each shuffles closer to my side, sandwiching me between them. Though I refuse to look and confirm what Ifeel, since stepping foot in the same room, neither has stopped sizing the other up.

Travis arrived first with a bottle of wine and a warm embrace. He held me longer than a friend would, his thumb stroking my spine once, twice, three times before he kissed my hair and stepped back. The absence of his warmth made me desperate to reach for him, to wrap him in my arms once more.

Somehow, I resisted the urge.

Minutes later, Ben knocked at the door. Beaming smile in place, I opened the door and greeted my friend. A second after he saw Travis over my shoulder, Ben swept me up in his arms, lifting me off the ground. His soap and leather scent invaded my nose and muddled my thoughts.

Until Travis literally growled.

A slight twist of my head, my eyes flicker to Travis. Just as quickly, I shift my gaze to Ben. Two sets of addictive eyes fixed on my profile. Two different fires blazing and swirling beneath my breasts, between my thighs.

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