Chapter 16 #2
Or maybe it’s just him.
Behind us, someone laughs while another tray clatters onto the counter, but the sounds blur together beneath the quick thud of my heartbeat.
I’m stunned. “How do you figure?”
“The way you react to me, boss,” he says as he straightens up. His gaze drops to my lips, lingering there like he’s completely captivated.
I lick them on instinct, heat blooming beneath my skin.
His mouth tilts slightly at the corner. “It’s like I lit a fire inside you,” he whispers.
His rough fingers caress my cheek, sending goose bumps racing down my body.
My eyes flutter shut.
My knees feel weak.
A timer suddenly goes off somewhere behind us, followed by Ruin muttering a quiet “shit” as chairs scrape against the floor and someone rushes to pull another tray of cookies from the oven.
But the noise barely registers when Miles is standing this close, looking at me like I’m the only person in the room.
We’re standing in the middle of his sister’s kitchen while his entire family watches us from only a few feet away.
I inhale slowly, trying to regain some control over my traitorous body.
“But you know what the best part of all of this is, boss?” he continues.
I shake my head—eyes still closed—not trusting myself to speak.
“You set me on fire too, boss. Difference is, I don’t think I want it to stop,” he says in a low voice.
Ay, Dios. Why did he have to say something like that with everybody around?
“That’s enough, Miles. Leave Penny alone,” Rain calls out, amusement thick in her voice. “I’m sure she’s fed up with you bugging her all week.”
I let out a nervous laugh and take a few steps back.
“Fine, fine. But I want everyone to know I wasn’t allowed to properly taste all the cookies. I’m being kicked out against my will,” Miles grumbles as he walks back to the dessert table and grabs one from every tray—including mine.
“These are my favorite,” he says with a wink before biting off a chunk of my cookie.
I glare at him, but the smug jerk only laughs.
The next thing I know, all the men are being ushered out of the kitchen.
“Come on, Granny. Let’s get out of here and let the girls roast Penny in peace,” Joss says while corralling the twins toward the door.
“What?!” Granny gasps, crossing her arms. “I want to stay. I want to hear what Penny has to say for herself.”
Then she adds a dramatic pout that makes me snort.
“Granny,” Joss says in a stern voice. “Don’t embarrass the poor girl. She’s finally spending more time with us.”
Granny sighs but relents, leaving with Joss and the twins—not before pulling me into one more tight hug.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, dear,” she whispers. “I just want you to open your eyes and take the leap.”
Before I can even begin to unpack that, Ruin starts pouring me a glass of wine while taking a charcuterie tray out of the fridge.
Once the three of us are sitting around the kitchen table, the girls stare at me with matching wicked smiles.
“Out with it,” I say before taking a sip of wine. “I’m not sitting here all night while you two silently judge me.”
“What’s going on between you and Miles?” Rain jumps right in. “And before you say nothing, we all saw the way he was whispering in your ear.”
I sigh, knowing there’s no point trying to dodge this conversation.
“Miles and I hooked up a while ago.”
Rain screeches so loudly I nearly spill my wine.
“Raindrop,” Ruin hisses, “Mama’s trying to put the twins in bed.”
“Relax, Ruru.” Rain waves her off before leaning toward me again. “When?”
I take another sip of wine. “At your wedding.”
”Oh my God,” Rain says, “I knew it.”
I blink. “What?”
“Xander and I saw you two disappear into the grove together,” she says casually. “We were also looking for a place to fuck, so no judgment.”
“Apparently, your wedding was one giant hookup fest,” Ruin says.
“Holy hell. But this?” Rain points between me and the direction Miles disappeared. “This seems different.”
I cross one leg over the other. “Meaning?”
“Come on, Penny. Be real,” Rain says. “My brother has never—never—”—she pauses for effect—“been this touchy-feely with a woman in front of the family.”
“Ever,” Ruin agrees softly.
I open my mouth to argue, but she keeps going.
“He walked straight to where you were standing, only ate the cookies you brought—which, side note, are beautiful—“and practically eye-fucked you the entire time he was in this kitchen… Girl…”
My wine nearly goes down the wrong pipe. “There’s chemistry between us,” I admit carefully, “But feelings? That’s a stretch.”
“I mean, he offered to let you stay at his place,” Ruin adds.
“What? You’re staying with him?” Rain asks, her eyes wide as saucers.
“Tonight will be my first night at his place. With the second crew starting, everyone thought it’d be best if I stayed local instead of commuting back and forth.” I shrug, though the movement feels a little looser than usual.
“What are you still doing here?” Rain blurts as she jumps up so fast her chair nearly crashes to the floor.
Ruin groans, covering her face with a hand. “Rain, calm it down. They’re adults. They can handle their own business.”
“Bullshit,” Rain mutters while stacking leftover trays on top of each other. “Xander!” she yells toward the hallway.
“Raindrop, leave that.” Ruin laughs as she takes the trays from her sister’s hands. “You’re so hyped up, you’ll probably make more of a mess.”
I laugh harder than the situation probably warrants, and by the time the guys wander back into the kitchen, my cheeks hurt.
Then my eyes find Miles.
And just like always, the sight of him takes my breath away.
“Ready?” he asks once he’s standing close enough that I catch the scent of soap and winter air clinging to his jacket.
I nod, smiling up at him.
“Actually,” Ruin says slowly,” keep an eye on her.”
I frown. “What does that mean?”
“She demolished this entire bottle all by herself,” Ruin says, holding up the empty wine bottle.
“What? No way. I only had one glass.” I wave her off, but the second I shift my weight, the room tilts a bit beneath me.
Strong hands land on my waist. “Easy there, boss,” Miles murmurs.
Heat curls low in my stomach at how careful he’s being with me.
“We’ll grab her car tomorrow,” he tells everyone before guiding me toward the front door.
Cold air kisses my cheeks the second we step outside.
“I’m fine,” I mumble, though the words come out softly.
“Nah, boss,” he says, mouth twitching as he opens the truck door. “You’re a little too tipsy. But it’s alright, I got you.”
He winks, reaches across me to buckle my seatbelt, then closes the door.
The warmth of him surrounds me for one dizzying second.
By the time he starts the truck, my body has melted into the seat, and I barely manage to keep my eyes open.
The last thing I register is Miles’s thumb brushing softly over the back of my hand.