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“Okay,” I acceded, more than willing to hand the problem over to him if it meant finally getting some damn peace from my ex.
Dax pushed out of his chair. “I’ll ask for someone to come collect the dishware and leftovers. After they’re done, we can leave. Unless you need more time?”
“No, I’m ready whenever.”
A short time later, I was walking toward my front door—well, it was now more or lessAlicia’sfront door, since I would be moving out today and she would soon own the house. I blew out a breath, not fond of the sun’s heavy heat pressing down on my skin. Pulling my keys out of my pocket, I glanced back at Dax. He was still in his car, his lips moving rapidly, so he obviously hadn’t finished his business call yet.
There was no van or unfamiliar vehicles parked nearby, so my helpers clearly hadn’t yet arrived. Unless they were running late, they should be here in the next fifteen minutes or so.
Striding into the house, I called out Alicia’s name. Rather than close the front door behind me, I left it ever so slightly ajar so that Dax could enter when ready.
She padded out of the living room, a huge grin on her face. “Well, hello, Mrs. Mercier. How’s holy matrimony?”
“So far, so good.” I gave her a quick hug. “People will be arriving soon to help me move my stuff.”
“Yes, I remember you saying that Dax, his bros, and two of his buds would be here. I’ll keep everyone plied with drinks. Why shift boxes when I can instead watch their muscles ripple and bunch? That’s not a show I care to miss.”
I snickered. “Did I miss anything interesting after I left the venue last night?”
She pursed her lips. “Harri and Drey exchanged numbers, but not as two people looking to date. He wants her to give private lessons to his dog—apparently the canine is a lunatic who’s been so far impossible to train.”
Huh. “What about you and Jag? Were numbers exchanged?”
“I won’t lie, the dude is hot as a motherfucker. But Raven told me he’s dating someone. She works in the same tattoo shop as him. The one Caelan owns.”
I felt my shoulders sag. “Bummer.”
“All the pretty ones are taken lately.”
The door hinges creaked as Dax walked inside.
My sister waved. “Hello, brother-in-law.”
He tipped his chin. “Alicia.” Having gotten a good look at the stacks of boxes waiting in the hallway, he slid his gaze to me. “Do you realize that almost half are labeled ‘books?’”
I tugged at the bottom of my tee. “Yes, I do. I’ll make no apologies. It’s a harmless addiction.”
He hummed. “My mother has an awful lot of books, but I think you may have her beat.”
“Don’t worry, they’ll all fit in my bookcase.”
His brow dented. “There’s a bookcase big enough to holdthatmany novels?”
Alicia chuckled. “Yup. It has ladders and everything.”
“It’ll fit perfectly fine in the sunroom,” I assured him. It was the room he’d cleared so I could set up a home office.
Right then, a knock came at the front door. Our helpers were finally here. Dax welcomed them inside, and Alicia took orders for drinks. I didn’t miss that a long, heated look passed between her and Jag.
I tried to help move the boxes and furnishings, but the guys refused, saying I’d have enough to do once it came to unpacking. Maverick also claimed their mothers would kill them if they heard that their sons hadn’t done the heavy lifting for me. As such, I mostly stood with Alicia and silently objectified the living shit out of them.
Don’t get me wrong, I had no eyes for or interest in anyone other than Dax. That didn’t mean I couldn’t acknowledge when another guy was hot.And oh, I acknowledged.
Despite being cousins, Maverick and Jag didn’t look much alike, though they were both tall and edgy. Lean and toned with a silver tongue, Maverick sported choppy hair the color of faded gold and light-hazel eyes that held a permanent “up-to-no-good” gleam. Jag was a broad, muscled, dark-eyed, tattooed slice of bad-boy heaven who didn’t talk much—he was more of a grunter, but in an inexplicably appealing way.
I found it interesting that, after their initial clash of gazes, Jag made a point of not looking in my sister’s general direction. Similarly, though she took the occasional sneak peek at his ass when he bent over to lift stuff, Alicia otherwise paid him little attention.
Handing a glass of water to Drey when the guys took a quick break, I said, “I hear my baby sister is going to help you train your dog.”
