in the middle.
“No, mm-mm.” Richie shook his finger at Derek. “Bullshit, big brother.”
Derek held up his hands in feigned innocence. “It’s in the rules!”
“Oh, where does it say ‘Derek gets to cheat by putting down two unrelated cards at once at the end of his hand’? Show me,” Richie snapped.
Richie went to grab the crumpled rule guide out of the box but Seb snatched it just in time.
“I’ll read it! I’m unbiased!” Seb cried.
“Are you kidding? You’re sleeping with the cheater!” Richie leaned over the table to try and grab it back.
Brax laughed and shook his head at his family and his smile held when I caught his gaze. I was so happy to see a twinkle in his eye and color in his cheeks, and I couldn’t help but beam back at him. Uncommon for me, frankly. Smiling in a crowded room.
The warm family energy was inviting, but I didn’t fit in there. I was happy enough knowing he was safe, and José was on the way to take his statement. I motioned with my hand toward the door, and Brax immediately frowned.
Hunter, sitting opposite him, followed his gaze to look over his shoulder at me.
“You going?” Hunter raised an eyebrow, seeming surprised.
I nodded. “José is on his way. You’ll help Brax give his statement, right?”
“You should stay.” My partner spoke faster than usual and moved aside so there was space for me between him and Matt’s broad body.
I glanced at Brax who nodded and put his hands together at his chest, praying for me to stay. Ah, shit, how could I resist?
I took a seat on a cushion between Hunter and Matt, who grunted in greeting.
“Yeah, um…” Seb sighed and rubbed Derek’s shoulder as he set down the rule guide. “There’s nothing in here about putting down two unmatching cards at the end, baby.”
“Ha!” Richie crossed his arms, vindicated.
“New house rule, then,” Derek quickly suggested, to the outrage of everyone around the table.
“Absolutely not!” Wyatt spoke for us all as he scooped up the cards.
“You’re disqualified, Derek. New game.” Matt took the deck from Wyatt and passed it to me. “Ryland deals.”
We played a few rounds, and I lost spectacularly, never one for games such with an element of chance. Brax glanced over his cards at me almost every time I glanced at him, and it thrilled me that he was being so open with his affection for me in front of his brothers, until Hunter cleared his throat and a cold chill ran up my back. I remembered how cold he’d been at the coffee cart.
I sighed as I picked up a pile of fifty-odd cards, again. “I’m just going to surrender now.”
“Probably for the best, Masters.” Matt gave me an encouraging nudge.
“Anyone want a drink?” I asked the table.
Six glasses shot up.
“I’ll, uh, bring over a pitcher,” I chuckled, and got up.
Derek and Seb’s kitchen was kind of chaotic, the home of a couple who were both very busy. The crazy variety of tea and coffee in the pantry told me they were running on caffeine a lot of the time.
I sniffed at a box of organic oolong tea promising ‘Supreme Flavor’, and almost jumped when I felt a warm hand pressed into the small of my back.
Brax leaned his head against my shoulder and pointed to the top shelf. “Pitcher is up there. Seb said you might have a hard time finding it…”
I grinned. “A good excuse for following me over here. ”
Behind us, a new game was starting up and only Seb’s eyes were on us. I had a feeling he could tell what was happening, and that he approved. Smart guy.
“Yeah, I think it’s a good excuse… And I wanted to come and say ‘thank you’.” Brax swiveled so he was in front of me and picked invisible pieces of lint from my chest.
I wanted to touch him back, or to feel his palm pressed against my heart. It took all my willpower not to smooth my thumb over his lip where the cut was already healing so well.
I set the box of tea down and stepped a little closer, pushing him back into the pantry.
“Thank me for what?” I asked, my voice gravelly.
Brax inhaled deeply and dragged his eyes up over my chest to meet my gaze. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
A small noise of appreciation escaped from the back of my throat. “I like taking care of you.”
He blinked, long doe-like lashes pressing down on his cheeks for a