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They both grinned. Ray was happy his brother was here. The rest of them were too somber. Except for Kiera. Malik would make the evening light and fun.
He moved on to backslapping hugs and teases with T about how in the world he had gotten this ‘gorgeous creature’ to agree to marry him.
Ray didn’t like the way Malik was eyeing Macey. He didn’t appreciate how tight and for how long Malik hugged his new ‘exquisitely beautiful future sis.’ He let it go, only because it was T’s place to say something, not his.
Dinner was fun with lots of teasing from Malik and for Malik. Kiera was happy and more rambunctious than ever. After dinner, she talked the king into swimming with them. Everyone was in good spirits, and Ray hadn’t even stared with an open mouth at Macey in her swimming suit.
Kiera decided after an hour of swimming and her showing them some incredible flips and tricks off the diving board that they had to do chicken wars. “I’m on Pop’s shoulders ‘cause you’ll all be nice to me and the old man.”
They all laughed at that.
“Malik is on T and Macey on Ray.”
Ray’s body flushed with warmth. Nobody could claim he’d acted out of line if Kiera was setting it up.
“Why doesn’t Macey go on T’s shoulders?” Malik asked.
Ray clenched his fist at that stupid question.
“Well, duh. Ray’s is the toughest, but you and T are a close second. It would be totally unfair to you have you on Ray’s shoulders.”
Ray flexed slightly. Kiera winked at him. Macey looked him over, and everyone else disappeared. He found himself easing closer to her in the warm water.
“Ray’s tougher than me?” Malik growled. He grabbed Kiera and tossed her into the deep end.
Kiera shrieked but quickly swam back and commanded, “Chicken war time! Go under water, Pops.”
The king smiled and complied.
Ray was glad they had this time to relax and play around as a family. If only Steffan, Derek, and Curt could come home. If only Mum wasn’t gone.
Macey pushed through the water to him, and his pulse sped up. “I guess we’re partners.” She gave him her sweet, almost shy smile. He spent every day with her, was impressed with her hard work, smart brain, and computer skills, but no matter how he tried, he could never be immune to that smile. If only he could make her laugh. Her laugh could soothe all the angst building up and forming scar tissue inside his heart.
“We’ll destroy them,” he promised, winking at her.
She licked her lips and his own mouth went dry. “No pressure for me,” she teased.
“Your base is the toughest man in the kingdom, and I’ve seen how strong you are in the weight room and when you pinned me.” He grinned at her. “We’re unbeatable together.”
“Together,” she repeated, staring at him with those big, brown eyes.
Could they ever be together? He wasn’t any closer to solving any of the issues facing his family and kingdom. Everybody was buying that she and T were engaged. At the rate they were going, they’d hit the wedding date and he’d have to watch her marry his twin. Together for him and Macey didn’t look promising.
“Come on,” Kiera called. “We’re all ready.”
Ray glanced over. Kiera was on his dad’s shoulders and Malik on T’s. His dad and Malik were giving him and Macey interested looks. T’s gaze seemed … determined. Ray didn’t like that.
“Let’s do this,” he called out. He ducked under water close to Macey. She climbed easily onto his shoulders. He wrapped his hands around her legs and rose out of the water. The feel of her smooth, firm, warm legs against his neck and his shoulders sent liquid fire through him. His palms and fingers were wrapped around her knees. He loved touching her.
He drew in a steadying breath, but it didn’t help. He had never loved the feel of a woman like he did this one. Macey. Ah, Macey.
She leaned into him with her torso, and the heat filling his body quadrupled. He was going to combust during a chicken war.
The other two pairs came at them at the same time. It was a three-way battle with each person on top pulling or pushing and the girls squealing and everybody laughing. Ray shoved with his body and occasionally a hand, but he didn’t like releasing his grip on Macey for any reason. He didn’t care if they won.
Malik tugged Kiera right off of their dad’s shoulders. She plopped into the water and cried out, “No fair. You’re supposed to be nicer to me!”
Malik laughed and he and T turned to fight them one-on-one. Malik and Macey’s hands locked onto each other’s forearms. They pushed and shoved, tugged and pulled. Ray and T remained steady, and the battle continued. Kiera cheered for all of them while his dad watched with a bemused smile.
