He laughed harder as both he and Kayla followed me into the kitchen. “Since when did my sister get violent?”
“I don’t know…since I was thirteen and you saw Timmy Brunhill kiss me at the front door, and you told him if you ever saw him again you were going to drown him in the stream out back. He took off running so fast he tripped when he got to the street, and he never talked to me again. I’ve been plotting your death ever since.”
“You’re seriously going to blame me when that little asshole was trying to get his hand under your shirt?”
“Maybe I wanted him to. I was totally into it.”
Okay, I hadn’t been, but I figured it served Cody right if he thought he’d interfered with the love of my life.
“Gross, Dakota. That guy wasn’t anything but a little weasel.”
I sent him a scowl, and he softened as he reached out and gave a tiny tug to my ponytail. “Never meant to be a jerk. I mean it. I just can’t stand the idea of someone doing you wrong.”
I didn’t miss the way his attention flashed to Kayden for the barest beat.
“In my mind, I can’t see how anyone is ever going to be good enough for you. Not for you or Kayla.”
“How about you let us decide who’s going to be good enough?” Kayla shot at him as she wound around the small island in the middle of the kitchen and went to the toaster on the far counter. She placed four pieces of bread into the slots and pushed down the button.
“And trust your judgment?” It was purely a razzing out of Cody’s mouth.
“Hit him for me, Dakota. You’re closer,” she said.
I swatted him again. “Like I said…violent,” he drew out as he clung to the spot as if I’d inflicted a mortal wound.
An amused smile was on my face as I rounded the island, and I sidled up to my mom where she’d cracked a bunch of eggs in the same skillet that she’d cooked the bacon in. “What can I do to help?”
“It’s your day off…sit. And even if you say you feel better this morning, you look tired.” She cut me a glance, her brown eyes sparking in interest, warmth, and a tease. Mom had a way of processing everything in a beat, showing her care and concern and doing it all with this lightness that always gave you the sense you were in a safe place.
“You know I don’t mind helping out.”
A grin pulled to the edge of her mouth. “What, are you worried I don’t do it as well as you? Don’t forget I taught you everything you know.”
I laughed. “You know it’s not that… I just don’t know what to do with myself if someone else is cooking and I’m not a part of it.”
“Hang onto that home wrecker, that’s what you do.” Her grin spread as she gestured with her head to the squirming child in my arms.
“Well, I can do both if—” I was cut off by the loud rapping at the front door.
It wasn’t a knock that was asking for permission to enter.
It was an announcement.
An announcement that had always sent my heart skittering and the blood chugging through my veins when he’d come in. And today that skittering heart went sprinting when I whirled around, my mouth dropping open as Ryder came sauntering in like he lived there.
So freaking sexy wearing jeans, a tee, and boots. Every angle of that striking face lit in the rays of sunlight that slanted in through the window as he crossed the living room.
But it was the way those eyes took me in, slithering down in a slow slide of appreciation that heated my flesh, that knowing glint behind his gaze sending trembles rocking me to the core.
I was pretty sure the imprints of everywhere he’d touched me last night lit in a glow of red.
How in the world was I ever supposed to keep this contained?
He roughed a hand through the mess of his hair, pitching me a smirk before he said, “Mornin’， everyone.”
So casual and sly.
My belly tipped.
Crap. What did he think he was doing here? I mean, I knew that we’d eventually be in the same place with others present, but I hadn’t been prepared for it yet.
The way he stole my breath and every thought in my mind. Since my heart and body were already his, I felt unsteady on my feet.
Drawn.
Hungering for a way to get closer.
I dug in my heels to keep from moving for him, and I did my best to reel in the reaction.
Hold it back.
Hide it.
It didn’t help things when Kayden went wild in my arms, reaching in Ryder’s direction as he kicked his little feet. “My Rye-Rye! You come see me?”