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“They’re diet pills.” His voice is higher than normal, and his eyes are wide. “Why would you need diet pills? Your body is perfect.”
“You smell good,” she tells him. “New cologne?” “Maybe.” He kisses her cheek. Okay, now I’m pissed. Rage courses through me, heating my blood, as I stride closer. “Hands off my wife, Cash.”
“I’m not going to ask you again,” I bite out through clenched teeth. “Take. Your. Hands. Off. My. Wife.”
“Rosie.” He says my name softly, pulling me into an awkward hug with the arms of the chairs between us. There’s a growl nearby, like an annoyed dog. “Stop touching my wife, Cash.”
don’t believe you.” Her bottom lip trembles as she steps back, cracking my heart right in two. Beside me, Daire finally speaks. “It’s my fault, Grace. I…” He steps forward, putting his hand on the curve of my waist.
“I just love your sister so much.” His eyes meet mine briefly before focusing back on my sister. “I couldn’t wait to be married to her. I begged her to do it now. But she’s right. We’re going to have a big wedding eventually. I promise.”
She sniffles. “You pinky promise like before?” Like before? My stomach tumbles at those words. He nods, holding out his pinky. “I pinky promise.” “No takebacks.” “None.”
Cash chuckles, though there’s no humor in the sound. “Whatever it is obviously still has you heated, petal. And you want me to think you’re happily married?” Petal? My blood heats at the word. At the implication. There’s a crunching sound, like she’s chewing. Then she clears her throat. “Don’t call me that.”
My brother has a pet name for my wife? I don’t like that. Not one bit.
She shakes her head, frowning. “You are so fucking hot and cold, Daire. I can’t read you. I turned him down because you’re the one I always had a big, dumb crush on. Not him, or Roman, or any of your brothers. Just … you. You fucking idiot.”
But no, I’m not interested in your brother, even if he likes me. He wouldn’t be you, and I’m not cruel enough to make him second best.”
Peter gives a humorless laugh. “Don’t tell me not to worry when you were just in a fistfight with your brother.” Daire sighs, his entire body deflating. “If he wasn’t interested in fucking my wife, I wouldn’t be fighting him.” Peter shakes his head. “Some fights aren’t worth picking. Rosie is your wife. You already won.” He gives Daire’s shoulder a squeeze.
previous one she’d opened. “I’m
He presses a tender kiss to the top of my head as I cling to him, steadying myself. The gesture is far too sweet to have come from the guy who doesn’t like me. “I missed you, babe.” He nuzzles his nose against mine. “Longest game of my life.”
“I have a few things to finish up here, and then I’ll see you at home.” He leans in, and in a hushed tone that’s still loud enough to be overheard, he says, “Be wearing that black lacy set I love so much.”
“I might not know exactly what those girls were saying to you, but I can guess. I wanted to show them you’re mine.”
“I saw how uncomfortable you were.” He curls his hands into fists on the quartz countertop. “I didn’t like that.”
The next thing I know, his hands are on my cheeks, tilting my face up so I’m forced to look at him. “Listen,” he says, his face a mask of pain. “I know I’m not the best person at times, but I won’t stand for anyone being shitty to you like that. You and me? We’re a team now. You hear me?”
“This isn’t so bad.” She rocks from side to side gently and smiles down at him. “I thought he wouldn’t like me. That I’d be terrible at this.” On instinct, I reach out and gently tuck her hair behind her ear. “You’re a natural.”
“Because I was in love with you!” Rosie screams, throwing her arms out. Her knuckles hit the window, and she winces, then cradles her right hand in her left. “Everyone knew.” Her voice is softer, her arms wrapping protectively around her body again. “Everyone but you.”
his face morphs into a mask of concern. “What’s wrong?” He reaches for my wrist, warm fingers wrapping around the cold patch of skin. “Did someone hurt you?” “Just my mother,” I retort. His eyes narrow. “Do I need to call
“What did she say?” he demands, not letting it go. “It really doesn’t matter.” I shake him loose, then turn and continue my trek to the dining hall. He follows, matching my stride. “It does to me.” “Why?” I demand. I just want to get my hot chocolate and find an empty corner where I can let the tears fall. “You’re my wife.”
I drop my eyes, “I am and I’m fine.” “No.” Finger on my chin, he tips my chin up, forcing me to meet his eye. “You’re not. It’s okay to admit when someone hurts you. You’ve certainly given me hell all these years.”
“We really made a mess of things, didn’t we?” Chuckling, he brings his hand back up to my cheek. His thumb moves in slow, careful circles. “I think we’re starting to get it together.”
In case anyone ever doubts you’re mine. -Daire
As I’m chomping on the chip, Daire skates by and stops, ice spraying up around him. He taps the plexiglass with his stick, as if I don’t see him already. He waves, and some of the girls around me giggle like he’s waving at them. He frowns as he scans the bleachers around me, then points directly at me and makes a heart shape with his hands.
He taps the glass with his finger, waiting for… I roll my eyes and make a heart hand back at him.
My dad holds up a hand to silence her, the move making my shoulders tighten with anger. “Don’t hold your hand up to quiet my wife,” I snap at him before he can speak. “This is her home, and she was asking a polite question.”
Rosie steps in close and holds her arms out to take Sammy. “You talk with your dad,” she says as I carefully hand him over. “I’ll take him upstairs. He probably needs a diaper change and a nap.” “Thanks.” I pull her in close by her wrist and press a kiss to her temple.
“I fucking love knowing I’ve made you come when no other man could get the job done. It just proves it, baby.” “P-Proves what?” she stutters, peering at me through her lashes. “That you’re mine. You were always meant to be mine.”
“Get outta that pretty little head, babe.”
Rocking Sammy, Daire turns his attention back to his younger brother. “Just for being a jerk to my wife, you get to put the groceries away.” He claps him on the shoulder, then he turns to me and holds out a hand.
Daire loops his arm around my shoulders and tugs me into his chest. “We make a good team.” My stomach flips. “We do, don’t we?” “Yeah, baby,” he presses a kiss to the top of my head, “we do.”
“We’ve established that you missed Sammy, but what about me?” Rosie looks me up and down slyly. “What about you is it that you think is so miss-able?” With a lighthearted scoff, I put a hand over my heart and rear back. “A wound straight to the heart.”
“So you didn’t miss me at all? Not even a little bit?” She spares me a glance, lips twitching with a desire to smile. “Maybe a smidge. Like the size of my pinky nail. If that.” “Well, baby,” I lower my voice as I lean into her, brushing my lips over her cheek, “I missed you a whole lot.”
“Do you always barge into people’s rooms without knocking?” He lowers the page and arches a brow at me. “When I’m lonely and want to snuggle my wife, yes.”
He hovers above me, those denim blue eyes regarding me so sincerely, like he can read my mind. “Baby,” he murmurs. I close my eyes at the tone of his voice—the understanding.
“I’m not going anywhere.” The assurance is genuine, pleading. “Not again. Do you feel this?” He grabs my hand and presses it against his rapidly beating heart. “It’s yours. No one else’s.” He cups my cheek, inhaling the breath I exhale. “I love you.”
“Say it again,” I beg on a whisper. He lowers over me, hands braced on the mattress on either side of my shoulders like he’s doing a pushup. “I love you.” He enunciates each word, focus fixed intently on my face, making sure I don’t miss
“You love me?” “That’s what I said, Rosie girl.”
The chain around his neck dangles close to my face. I grab it and gently pull him closer.
“By the way,” I whisper, biting my lip, “I love you too.”
He grips my ass with both of his big hands, rolling me against him. I hiss out a breath, suddenly certain I could come just like this. “Daire.” His name is a whimper. “You’re distracting me.”
“Well, you were obsessed with the Jonas Brothers,” I counter. “What girl my age wasn’t?” She tucks her legs under her, smiling at me.
I press my forehead to hers. “Why do you always do that?” she asks, her breath fogging the chilled air. “Do what?” “Put your forehead against mine.” She pressed warm palms to my cheeks. “I don’t know. I guess it makes me feel centered. All the worries and negative thoughts fade away.”
“Uh … her fiancé emailed over a sketch of a wedding dress. He said it was something you drew when you were younger and that he wanted you to have your custom dream wedding dress. It’s all paid for. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
“My mom picked a venue and chose a date in September,” I warn him. “She told me over dinner. She’s already put a deposit down. Are you okay with that?” He chuckles and sits straighter again, amusement sparkling in his blue eyes. “The better question is, are you okay with that? Do you like the location? Is it what you want? I only care about you being happy, not your mom.”
He leans in, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “Isn’t it clear by now that I’d do anything for you?”
“Are you seriously not going to let me in?” I stare him down, puffing out my chest. Maybe the move is an overreaction, but I can’t help but feel protective of Rosie and Sammy. “I’m thinking about it. You hurt my wife. I don’t take that lightly.”
minutes.” His lips flatten. “You don’t like me very much, do you?” Hands on the counter, I stare him down. “I used to like you. I even respected you. But you made my wife cry. You hurt her when she didn’t deserve it. So, no, I don’t like you, and I’m not sure I ever will again.”
