Chapter 26
CARTER
Once we headed out to Val’s backyard, I went straight to the case with badminton rackets. When Will joined me, I didn’t think anything of it. When Jace appeared on my other side, I suspected I was about to be cornered.
“Val told us you have two nieces,” Jace said.
“April and Peyton. They’re great girls. Both on their way to becoming troublemakers.”
“Ah, we’ve had a few of those in our family.”
“Hailey, right?”
“No, I was the resident troublemaker,” Jace corrected. “Though Hailey will try to claim that title for herself. Don’t believe her.”
Will cocked a brow. “I busted both of your asses and covered for you in equal measure.”
Jace smirked. “Yeah, but you never knew which one was the bad influence, did you?”
I laughed, imagining Val putting up with all the Connors under one roof.
Jace turned to Will, hooking his thumb at him. “Don’t let this one fool you with his ex-detective past. He was quite a troublemaker himself.”
“I know. Val told me.”
“She said that?” Will looked crestfallen. “What else?”
I held up my hands in surrender. “Ask her. I can feel you guys turning against me just because I’m relaying the information. Don’t shoot the messenger.”
“Nah, we’re not.” Jace spoke good-naturedly, then added as an afterthought, “Unless you break our sister’s heart.”
“I’m not planning to.”
A muscle jumped in my neck as I remembered what Val had said before leaving to buy pie. Just ignore any sentence including the words serious or future, okay? Was it just a playful warning because she knew there was a chance I’d be cornered? Or did she truly not want more from me than a good time?
My jaw ticked. I certainly wasn’t planning to let her go.
Hailey appeared out of thin air next to me. “They’re hazing you, aren’t they?”
“They were starting to.”
She glared at her brothers. Jace held up his hands in surrender. “We’re your brothers. It’s what we do.”
“What he said,” Will added.
Hailey parked her hands on her hips. “Will, I was expecting better of you. You’re now in a happy relationship. I’d thought you’d cut back on the brooding. Instead, you’re rubbing off on Jace.”
“Sister, we’re just doing our part,” Jace volleyed back smoothly.
Hailey waved her hand, then turned to me.
“Don’t pay attention to Jace these days. I think he’s extra broody because he’s still single.”
Jace elbowed Hailey playfully. “You’re single too.”
“Or maybe not. Maybe I’m just not parading all my secret lovers in front of you.”
Both Will and Jace looked too stunned to answer. Hailey took advantage of the opportunity, lacing her arm with mine. As we walked away, she looked over her shoulder.
“Oh, man, I was just trying to take the spotlight off Val, but I think I’ve just set myself up for months of questioning and them flexing their brotherly muscles.”
I chuckled. “You’re a great sister.”
“Well, yes, I am, thank you very much. Though truthfully, Val and Lori paved the way for me in just about every aspect. Well, Lori mostly. Val was more like a mom to me growing up. I always felt a little guilty.”
“For what?”
“For the fact that Val and Landon had to put their lives on hold for us. Instead of enjoying the freedoms of any college students, they were bogged down with… well, us.”
“Hailey, Val never saw you as a burden. She always speaks with affection about everyone.”
“I know. She’s Val. But I know she’s missed out on a lot of things. She tended to forget about herself, though she is getting much better at it lately. In case you can’t read through the lines… just make sure you dote on her, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Hailey grinned. “You’re great. But I feel compelled to tell you, if you break her heart, it’s not my brothers you have to worry about. I know I don’t look too intimidating next to them, but I can do a lot of damage.”
“Duly noted.”
“Ah, Val’s back with the pie. Just in time.”
Val was placing the pie on the small wooden table near the back door, but her eyes were on Hailey and me, then darted to Jace and Will, who were talking with their heads together.
We all wanted a slice of pie before the badminton game, and while everyone was eating, Val asked me to help her get some glasses.
“Did they give you the talk?” she asked breathlessly the second we were alone inside the house.
“Yeah.”
She was beside herself, and she was damn cute.
“Holy shit, I’m going to kick everyone’s ass.”
“There’s no need.”
“Was Jace part of it?”
“Yes.”
“And Will?”
“Obviously.”
“But Hailey wasn’t, right?”
I could tell she was hoping I’d say no, but I wouldn’t lie.
“She gave me some interesting insights into you, but warned me that if I broke your heart, then I don’t have to worry about your brothers. That she can do enough damage all on her own.”
She hung her head, eyes closed, like a sad puppy. “You have no idea how many points you’re getting for still hanging around.”
“I didn’t know you were keeping a tally.”
“I like my pro/con lists.”
“I see. Pros outweigh the cons?”
When she nodded, I added, “Maybe you should share that list with them.”
“Yeah, I…. Maybe not.” Her cheeks went pink.
“Why, what’s on that list?”
“Ummm… stuff they shouldn’t see?”
“I want details.”
She poked my arm. “You’re not getting them.”
“Oh, I am.”
She opened her mouth, to argue some more, no doubt, but I kissed her before she even had time to make a sound. She was glaring when I pulled back, which only made me want to push her against a wall and sink inside her.
“So?”
“Are you going to kiss me like this every time we don’t agree on something?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
“Then maybe we should disagree more often.”
I was speechless for a second but recovered and led her around the corner, then pulled her flush against me.
“Fondling me in public won’t win you any points with them.”
I brought my mouth to her ear. “They can’t see us. And anyway, it’ll earn me points with you, won’t it?”
Judging by the way she attempted to hide her face in my shoulder, I was spot-on.
“I bet your pro column includes—”
“Activities of the X-rated variety, yes. Thanks for making me say it out loud.”
“Now what would they say if they knew about that?”
She groaned. “They don’t have to know everything.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep your secret.”
I drew the tip of my nose down the column of her neck, breathing in her sweet scent.
“New perfume?”
“Yes. Do you like it?”
“I do. You smell good enough to eat.”
I pressed my hips against hers, and a moan replaced her laughter. She clutched at my sides with both hands.
“Fucking hell, woman. You make me want to haul you over my shoulder and take you upstairs. Distract me.”
“The perfume is part of a new collection. We’re trying out a fresh concept, where we deliver the basic essence to the stores and then the customer chooses their own end notes to top it. I was thinking April and Peyton would love to play with this in our mixing lab.”
I straightened, my pulse suddenly thrumming in my ears.
“Only if you’re okay with it,” she added quickly.
“I’m more than okay with it. I think they’ll love it.”
“I think so too. I’ve even thought about the selection for each.” She snapped her gaze up, catching my expression. “What?”
“Nothing.”
I didn’t know how to put my whirlwind of thoughts into words, to tell her how much it meant to me that she’d given April and Peyton so much consideration. I couldn’t be the only one who was deeper into this than we’d anticipated. My feelings couldn’t be one-sided. No way, no how.
“We should go outside,” I said. “Or they’re going to suspect we’re up to no good.”
“Oh, they’ve been suspecting since I dragged you into the house. But let’s not give anyone the opportunity to catch us in the act.”
I chuckled, pressing her close one more time before we headed to the others.
I was going to go all out for this woman.