Page 54 of Open To Negotiation

“Sometimes this will go all day, we’ve been all known to drink too much and crash at each other’s place,” Theo added.

“And you guys don’t get sick of each other?”

“None of us have much family so we created our own. Since most of us didn’t grow up with it, it’s like we are making up for lost time.”

My heart warmed at his words and I could feel what he meant in this room, they seemed more like brothers than friends, certainly not like simply business partners.

The game ended and then more beer was passed out and we moved to the patio to enjoy the warm spring day. We spent a few hours on the couches out there, playing a card game they created. The rules made absolutely no sense. I laughed so much my ribs had started to hurt. Someone suggested ordering a pizza and so we had supper together.

I was in the kitchen collapsing the pizza boxes with the men still outside, laughing about something when Theo came in looking for me.

“What are you doing in here?” he asked, leaning his hip against the counter beside me.

“Just cleaning up.”

His brow furrowed and he grabbed one of my wrists, pulling me toward him. My hands went forward to stop myself from falling over, conveniently landing on abs. His six-pack was unfair. “You don’t need to do that, Love, I’ll handle it later.” His voice was gruffer, his eyes darkened with us this close. As I tilted my head back and looked up at him with a smile, his gaze locked on my lips.

Based on how badly my body wanted him, how I attracted I was both to his physical appearance—I mean come on, who wouldn’t be with the dark hair and tattoos and chiselled muscles, but it was also because of his personality and how sweet he was with me—I knew our next kiss was going to be just as hot as our first.

The way he gently gripped my throat during that kiss last night… I was tempted to tell him to tighten his hold. I was getting wet just thinking about it now.

Going on my tiptoes, I rubbed my hands along his abs, moving them to his back. He watched my every move closely, especially as I leaned in, my lips parting softly.

He bent down, his lips about to touch mine when a throat cleared.

I pulled back, startled by the sound as Theo pretty much growled.

“Sorry.” Will smirked as he looked between us. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Then leave,” Theo snarled. I had to hold in a laugh as I reached for his hand. I was sad that our kiss was interrupted but it would be better without an audience. He threaded his fingers through mine while still glaring at his friend.

“Can’t do that. Noah’s very upset he lost and he’s demanding another round.”

Theo sighed but this time I did laugh and started pulling him back toward the patio. “Come on, Money Bags, we don’t need Noah upset.”

He let out a deep sigh and mumbled something about kicking them all out as we went back to the group.

The time flew by, and I couldn’t remember the last time I had so much fun. Theo was never far from me, always touching me, I caught him a few times watching me with light playing in his eyes and I’m pretty sure I blushed each time.

After the sun set, one of the guys lit a fire in the pit further down the yard and we all settled around it. I was on another couch but this time only Theo and I were sitting there, the others in comfy chairs around the fire. Theo really hadn’t skimped on anything for this house.

It was crazy to me that he chose to stay in a cold downtown apartment when he had all this land. It was so quiet you could hear the crickets chirping.

I yawned for the third time in the last few minutes trying to follow what the others were talking about.

“Here.” I looked over at Theo as he put a pillow on his lap and tapped it.

“If I lie down, I might fall asleep,” I said around another yawn.

He used his arm to push me halfway down and I decided not to fight it. I pulled my legs up on the couch, laid on my side and rested my head in his lap. He rested a hand on my head and ran his fingers through my hair, making my eyes even heavier.

The conversation continued on around me. They talked about a new show some of them had watched, how Noah’s parents were doing and a surprisingly passionate discussion about the best kind of jam. The men’s comfortable ease with each other had made my heart happy all day. They never seemed to run out of things to discuss.

I’d never experienced this since I was an only child of divorced parents and grandparents who weren't around anymore. It had only ever been Aubrey and I, it was never this lively. I didn’t want the night to end, but I lost the battle and started falling asleep somewhere in the middle of a discussion about the merits of living somewhere with seasons versus climates that didn’t have any changes.

“Knight,” Asher’s soft voice carried over the fire to me. I was in that space between consciousness and dreams where everything seemed farther away. “She asleep?”

“Yeah,” Theo said after a pause, his hand still running through my hair making it hard to focus.