DOWN his pneumatic chisel and blew the dust from the stone. The sculpture for the rally was coming along nicely, though it would take another few weeks before it was complete. He checked the time and realized the afternoon had flown by. He put away his tools and headed up to the house to see Chloe. She’d stopped into the studio when she’d come back from her place, and after they shared a few steamy kisses, she’d gone up to the house to work on a project.
His phone rang, and Levi Steele’s name appeared on the screen. “Levi, how’s it going, man?”
“Really well, thanks. It was great seeing you again and meeting Chloe. Sorry Joey was so mouthy.”
Justin squinted against the sun, dragging his forearm across his brow as he walked up the hill and said, “Joey was great. She always is. Did she get the album Chloe sent?”
Chloe had spent hours making sure every page was perfect. She’d used Joey’s favorite colors and embellishments that represented all the things Levi had told her his daughter enjoyed. She’d even put pink hearts and written First Crush above one of the pictures of Justin holding Joey, and she’d had Justin write a personal note to Joey on that page, something she could treasure forever.
“Yeah. It’s really beautiful. I can’t believe how much trouble she went to.”
“She enjoyed making it.”
“That’s actually why we’re calling. Joey wants to thank her, and I thought I should let you know before calling your better half.”
Respect went a long way in the brotherhood.
“Thanks. She’s right inside,” he said as he climbed the porch steps. “Let me get her for you.” He followed the sound of music to the dining room, where Chloe was leaning over the table as she worked, wiggling her butt to the music. “Hey, sweets—”
She gasped and spun around. Her arms flew out to the sides. “Stay there!”
“What?” He laughed, stepping into the room.
“No, no, no!” She ran forward and pushed him out of the room. “I’m making you something. You can’t go in there.”
She was so damn cute he could barely stand it. “Okay, I’ll stay out. Levi is on the phone. Joey wants to thank you for her album.”
“Oh! She got it?” She took the phone and held it up to her ear. “Hi, Levi.”
Justin peeked into the dining room.
Chloe stepped in front of him, pushing him backward as she spoke into the phone. “It was no trouble at all. I had fun making it.” She scowled and pointed into the living room without breaking her conversation. “Sure. I’d love to talk to her. Just give me one sec, okay?” She lowered the phone and said, “If you go in there, you’re watching the fireworks by yourself tonight.”
She was sexy when she was adamant. He couldn’t help but egg her on. “Come on, babe. Just a peek?”
“I’ll give you a peek,” she said snarkily. She gave him a gentle shove toward the living room, then put the phone to her ear and said, “Okay, sorry, Levi. I’m back. Yeah, he’s a pest, and he’s going to ruin his surprise if he’s not careful.”
Justin held up his hands in surrender and blew her a kiss. He took off his shirt and waggled his brows. “Shower?”
She grinned and mouthed, I’ll be right in.
More often than not, Chloe joined him in the shower after he got out of the studio.
He took his time washing up, eagerly awaiting her arrival. But a few minutes alone became far too many. He dried off, pulled on a clean pair of jeans, and put on his shirt as he went in search of her.
“Chloe?” He took a quick peek into the dining room, purposefully not looking at the table. Despite how much he loved teasing her, he’d never ruin her surprise. She wasn’t there, so he headed for the kitchen and saw her through the glass doors, pacing the deck with the phone pressed to her ear. As he stepped outside, Chloe looked over with damp, angry eyes, and his gut seized. “Baby, what’s going on?”
She turned away, speaking angrily into the phone. “No. I’m done meeting the men in your life. Serena and I are not accessories for you to flaunt around like you had anything at all to do with our upbringing!”
Her goddamn mother.
He reached for her, but she twisted away.
“How can you even say that to me?” she fumed, stalking across the deck. “I had to grow up when I was eight years old because