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“You, you, you…” Then Talon’s words catch up to me. I swing around, pointing at him. “You knew, too?”
He nods coyly. “Who didn’t know?”
I cast a glance among Jewls, Alex, Cruz, and Harley. They are the only ones aware of my plans. “Who squealed?”
“Maybe me?” Harley raises her hand.
“I have baby brain, so probably me,” Jewls admits willingly.
“It was an honest mistake. It slipped past my lips,” Cruz owns up.
I make a mental note to share no secrets with these three again.
“The more important question is, why didn’t you tell me?” Ford crosses his arms and my eyes drop to his chest, momentarily distracting me from my snit.
“Eyes up here, babe.”
A collection of chuckles sound and my irritation is back full-force. “There was nothing to tell. It was exploratory. I don’t even know if I want a townhome. I liked my house.”
“Then let me build you one.”
I’m pretty sure the air is sucked from my body as little stars fill my vision. My knees give out, but before I hit the floor, powerful muscles engulf me. Ford’s lips are moving, but the ringing in my ears drowns out any other sound.
Dad’s face dips into my line of view, his mouth curled.
I close my eyes and count to five, willing the ringing to stop.
“A little dramatic, but she’ll come around.” I catch the tail of Dad’s conversation.
Ford hefts me up and carries me to the sofa. “Take a breath, baby,” he instructs gently.
Build you one… build you one… build you one… plays over and over in my mind. “Did you—Did I hear—”
“That I want to build you a house?”
“Shit, if she cries, I’m doing a shot.”
“Charlie! Have some tact,” Raven chides without an ounce of genuineness.
“Can we maybe discuss this when we don’t have an audience?” I say low enough for only Ford.
“Sure.”
His nonchalant response spikes my shock. “I can’t believe you dropped that bomb on me in front of all these people.”
“You were hellbent on working yourself up.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Splotches cover your chest, neck, and cheeks.”
“That’s because you knocked the wind out of me with your little stunt.”
“Not a stunt.”
A new rush of comprehension pieces together in my muddled brain. Things are too calm. I peer over at my parents. “Are you aware of this?”
“Ford took me to walk the lot this morning.”
