“Not even you?” Logan asks in a way that’s meant to come across as casual, but there’s nothing casual about it.
Hendrix’s chest shakes with silent laughter. “Our moms fucking wished.” He tugs me out of Logan’s hold and wraps me up in a bear hug that nearly lifts me from my feet before hesqueezes for a long moment, nothing but silence, heartbreak, and memories between us. “Let’s get together soon, Liv.”
“We will. Maybe you could bring Bodhi to the ranch to meet the animals. There’s tons of them. I bet he’d like it.” I kiss his cheek.
“Sounds like a plan.” He releases me and does that stupid chin lift thing toward Logan before he walks away, leaving Logan looking like he’s about to commit murder.
“You sure there was never anything between the two of you?” my husband asks, his voice rough and possessive, and I can’t even begin to act like I’m not intrigued by the jealous-tinged tone. He gathers my face in his hands, and those blue eyes lock onto mine.
I could tell him no.
I could tell him Hendrix is my oldest friend.
Well, the longest friendship I’ve ever had with someone other than a member of my family.
But the way he’s looking at me. The way he’s been looking at me since I stepped out of the bathroom. The way his hands feel against my skin. Words don’t feel like enough.
I run my hands along his arms and wrap my fingers around his wrists as I press up onto my toes. “Never.” I brush my lips over his. It’s a whisper of a kiss before I pull back. “You, Logan Adler, are the only man I’ve ever introduced to my family. The only man I’ve ever been in any kind of relationship with, and it’s not even a real one.”
“It’s the most real relationship I’ve ever had, Liv,” he breathes against my lips, and then the kiss happens. It’s so much more than a brush of his lips against mine. It’s his hands on my face. In my hair. On my neck. It’s his tongue tangling with mine. The heat of his eyes before mine flutter shut, and I’m lost to him. In him.
It’s everything.
“Jesus Christ. Get a fucking room.”
And it’s over before it started.
I pull back from Logan, and he drops his lips to my forehead. “Your brother?”
“Yup.” I turn to face Killian, and Logan pulls me in front of him.Oh... Apparently, I’m being used as cover so my brother doesn’t have toseeexactly how much my husband enjoyed that kiss. But damn, I get to feel it, and it feels incredible. “Hi, Killer.”
“You going to introduce me, Livvy?”
Jesus Christ.
How many of the men in my life are going to be dicks tonight?
Logan offers Killian his hand, but Kill just looks at it, and I swear to God I’m tempted to kick his fucking shin.
“Where is your wife, Killian?” Lilah can usually keep his caveman tendencies leashed.
“She’s curled up at a hotel in Maine with Daisy. She wasn’t feeling well, so I convinced her not to come.” Killian’s eyes soften, and I’m shocked he was willing to even leave her for the night. “But she’s pretty pissed to be missing it.”
“It’s better she didn’t come if she’s sick. She doesn’t want to be patient zero. She’d never live it down when everyone in Kroydon Hills would inevitably end up sick too. Remember that New Year’s Eve party a few years ago?” I ask, smiling as I think back to the way half the town ended up with the flu after one particularly randy Kingston kissed a few too many people at midnight.
Killian chuckles but still doesn’t take Logan’s hand.
“Stop being a dick, Killer.” I look around to make sure no one is close enough to overhear us. “Logan didn’t take my virtue or force me into anything I didn’t want. So how about you get this whole overprotective big brother act out of your system and just say it’s nice to meet you?”
My brother growls, and I roll my eyes. “You wouldn’t be this much of an ass if Lilah were here.”
“Probably would.” His jaw clenches, and I swear when my brother is trying totough guysomeone, he looks so much like Dad, it’s almost scary. “Whatever. Seriously, man, you know what you’re getting into with her? She’s a fucking handful.”
“I’ve got big hands.” Logan grins.
“Yeah, you do,” I add, and Killian’s face goes from joking to disgusted in a flash.
Serves him right.
