Page 174 of Burning Bridges Duet

I kiss her nose, then squeeze her against me.

So fucking ready—for turtles, for her, for everything.

Ryder saunters out with his arm slung around Liv like he owns the damn world, and Chase—mouth stuffed with the muffins he just liberated from my display—mumbles, “You can say what you want, that boy knows how to stir the pot and bring in customers.”

I grumble, wiping sweat off my brow with the back of my hand. “Yeah, well, the more I act like I hate it, the more he’ll do it, won’t he?”

Chase nearly chokes on his next bite as he laughs. “God, he thinks he has you all figured out, and yet you’re the one playing him.”

“If you live with that maniac, you learn to adapt.” I snort and stack another plate, then turn to the waitresses, both frazzled but happy. “You two good to hold down the fort?”

They wave me off, all smiles. “Go, boss! We got this.”

Just then, Chris and Josinda push through the door, Josinda with little Maya on her hip, and fourteen-year-old Tom trailing behind like a shadow. The moment they were married, they adopted two kids from a foster home, and I love the new additions to our pack. God knows each of us would have killed to find a family like this when we were in foster care.

I greet them with a nod, let my hand glide over Maya’s curls, then fist-bump Tom. Chase does the same, ruffling the kid’s hair.

Chris raises a brow. “Oh, you’re leaving too?”

“Yeah,” I say, already untying my apron. “Did you see Aunt Liv on your way in?”

Jacinda nods, shifting Maya. “Yep, but they said you were just leaving. Tom wanted to talk River’s ear off about the new game.”

“I did not.” Tom huffs, crossing his arms.

Chase chuckles, then leans in and stage-whispers, “He’s doing the sequel, but hush.”

“He will?” At that, Tom’s eyes light up like fireworks. “Yes!”

“Great.” Chris sighs. “More sleepless nights in his future.”

“As if you didn’t game all night in college.” Chase sets his arm on Chris’s shoulder to lean on her.

“Don’t give him ammunition, Chasey-boy,” Chris shoots back, pushing him off.

“All right.” I wave a hand. “We’re out. Grab whatever you want, it’s on the house.”

“Thanks, Uncle Jaxon.” Chris beams at the free food as if she were still a broke college student rather than a well-off therapist.

“Muffin Man!” Maya giggles, waving a chubby hand.

I huff, but I’m smiling as we head out. Ryder and River are standing by River’s flashy new silver Mercedes, both wrapped around Liv like she’s the center of their universe.

Which, let’s be real, she is.

“We’re driving in my car,” I decide, jerking my thumb at the Jeep.

They know the drill, and there’s no arguing while the twins jump into the backseat. Liv’s the last one in, pausing to look up at me, eyes soft. “You okay?”

I reach for her throat and pull her in, kissing her slowly. Thoroughly.

She smiles at me when I let go, her cheeks a soft pink.

“Never been better. Now get your pretty ass in my car. We have turtles to see.”

Ten minutes later, we pile out at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Chase rode shotgun, and Liv was squeezed between the twins in the back, giggling the whole damn way while River and Ryder took turns making raspberry noises on her neck.

Liv’s eyes flick to me while I’m paying for the tickets. “Thank you,” she says, all sweet and good girl, then pops up to kiss my cheek.