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“I wish I could say they’re not always like this,” I whisper. “But they’re always like this.”

Daniel wraps his arm around my waist and it feels good. Strong. Comforting. Strangely right and even more familiar than it should be. Instead of pulling away or flipping a gasket about it being too much too fast, I lean into him, drawing on his strength, breathing in his fresh woods scent as I do.

“I didn’t tell them,” I whisper as I lay my cheek on his broad shoulder.

He’s wearing a button up black shirt, his forearms exposed with the sleeves rolled up in that sexy way that every woman gets weak kneed for. He paired it with jeans and leather boots and I tell myself that right now isn’t the time to get as hot as if I was the one outside baking under the sun, and as wet as if I was in the pool. I keep my body’s primal reaction under control for the most part, but I can’t stop myself from breathing a little deeper. Daniel, as usual, stays silent, sensing that there’s more. I like that he’s intuitive like that. Emotionally intelligent. That he doesn’t rush me or press me. He gives me time to get my thoughts in as much of an order as they’ll go at a time like this.

“I just- I wanted it to be for us. Our secret. Just for a little bit longer. Something that we can have between us and only us. I just- it wasn’t that I was afraid to tell them. I just didn’t want to yet. We only get this time once. I- I wanted to have that with you.” I look up at him, hoping he’s touched, but when I find his eyes round and wide, I know there’s something wrong. “Are you okay?”

“Uhhh, it’s just that- my- grandma, well, she guessed. I didn’t tell her, I swear.”

My heart thumps hard and I’d sway if I wasn’t in the cage of Daniel’s arms. “She won’t tell anyone, though, will she? If she’s anything like my granny, she loves to be embarrass me and meddle, but she wouldn’t blurt out something like that, knowing full well it’s my own secret to tell.”

“She won’t tell anyone.”

I let out a sigh. Beyond the glass doors, Tor shouts as he jumps off the edge of the pool, right on top of Tay, who was bracing for impact. Ash and Trent are now clamoring over the heap and it’s impossible to tell who is trying to drown who. Jeffers is still eating the cake.

I shake my head at their antics. This is even worse than I anticipated. “Look at that assholery going on out there. You really think you can handle this family?”

Maybe Daniel is my soulmate for real. Maybe I should stop doubting it. Maybe I should stop fearing that the worst will happen because one shoe always drops and the worst always inevitable does happen. He should be running. God, he should be calling the freaking police. He should be shoving us all out of his house and telling us not to come back until we can be civilized, which will be never. Instead, he grins at me and brushes his lips over my forehead in a chaste, sweet kiss that makes me want to grab him and plunder his mouth and climb him like the fresh, tall tree he is, right here in the kitchen, in full view of everyone.

Unlike my brothers and cousins, I have the ability to contain myself.

“You’re okay?” I whisper as I lean against Daniel slightly, my hand at his jaw. My fingertips stroke along the smooth skin.

“I’m definitely okay. Are you okay?”

“I think so. I- I’ll help you clean up after everyone leaves.”

“I was hoping you might want to stay. I have another surprise for you.”

“Really? I don’t know if I can handle any more surprises.”

“You know how you asked me about the piano the first night you were here?”

I love that sleek, black, shiny baby grand. I’ve always wished I could play, so yes, of course I remember. It was impossible not to be fascinated by it. I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

“I was hoping I could play it for you. Just for you.”

“Oh.” That’s all I can say. Oh. It’s so not glamourous or witty or deep. “I- I’d like that.” I’d more than like it. The thought of Daniel stroking those keys, making them sing, playing for me… Dear sweet smashed toilet cake, is there anything hotter?

Outside, the pool floating bursts as Trent grabs it and tries to literally dive back into the pool with it, but misses and half lands against the edge and half on top of the other three guys in the water below.

“I owe you a pool cleaning and a new floatie,” I tell Daniel mournfully. “Should we go eat cheese and crackers? That tray looked divine. And pickles. I have a craving for pickles.”

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