of the storm in public, but I’ll bet that man is a typhoon in the bedroom. The kind that leaves you limp as a rag doll but craving more because…well…just look at him.”
Madigan crossed her arms, glaring at Marly. “How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t want to hear your thoughts involving my brothers in your bedroom?”
“Then I guess I shouldn’t tell you about my double-duty dream about Zeke and Zander,” Starr teased.
“Don’t even get me started.” Marly waggled her brows and said, “I’ve got a book Zeke can study. The Kama Sutra. And look at Tank. Mm-mm. I’d like to slide down that fireman’s pole.”
“Ohmygosh!” Daphne turned beet red.
Chloe and the girls laughed hysterically.
Madigan scowled at Marly, but her eyes gave her amusement away as she said, “Girl, you are all over the place. Why did I bring you with me tonight?”
“Because you love me.” Marly batted her lashes.
Blaine tried to put Gracie down again, but Gracie cried, “No!” and lifted her legs again.
Starr sighed. “Why does she always do this to me?”
“Seems like you’ve got the perfect wing-girl,” Steph said.
“Right?” Gabe laughed and said, “I might have to borrow her sometime.”
“You should see what Hadley does,” Daphne said. “She’s all over the wrong men. First it was my boss, then our friend Jett, and now she’s totally into this gorgeous guy named Jock, who, thanks to my daughter, practically runs in the opposite direction every time he sees us.”
“Sounds like our girls are going to be trouble when they’re older,” Starr said, watching Blaine trying to help the guys using only one hand.
“Maybe you should go rescue Blaine,” Gabe suggested.
“Can you just leave Gracie with him for a minute longer? He looks good with a baby in his arms,” Marly said.
“Come on, let’s help put the food back on the tables before you start drooling.” Madigan took Marly’s hand and dragged her into the house.
Starr went to save Blaine. Steph and Daphne followed, but Zander intercepted them, in full-on-flirt mode. Chloe’s gaze was riveted beyond them all to Justin as he and Tank adjusted the position of one of the tables. Justin motioned toward Zander and the girls and said something quietly to Tank. Tank’s eyes narrowed, and he strode over to them. Chloe had no idea what Tank did next, because Justin was swaggering toward her with a sinful look in his eyes. He put his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss.
Was this their new normal? Kisses as greetings? Showing up unannounced for romantic surprises? She could get used to this.
“What do you think, blondie?”
“Who can think when you’ve done something so wonderful? I’m still in shock that you thought of all this, much less did it. We haven’t even gone on a real date yet.”
“Real dates are important, but they’re just formalities. We’ve been friends for a long time. We’re way past dates. I brought you soup when you were sick, even though you wouldn’t let me in the door. Do I need to spell it out for you?”
“I had the stomach flu. I was saving you from catching it.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that. I took you to the clinic when you twisted your ankle on your mile-high heels—”
“I was going to drive myself,” she reminded him.
He gave her a deadpan look. “Which is exactly why I drove you. Take a moment to think about us, Chloe. You were the one who picked out the picture of the stone bench that I made for Harper and Gavin as a wedding present, and it was the perfect gift. You helped me with invitations for my gallery opening.”
“That wasn’t hard.” And she’d had so much fun doing it with him, she’d do it again a hundred times over.
“It’s not about how hard the task is; it’s about doing things together, helping each other. You were my bra pong partner at Harper’s bachelorette party.”
“Which you crashed,” she said with a smile, remembering that night all too well because it was the first night of the storm. The night before our almost kiss.
His expression turned serious. “We’ve had fun, we’ve been there for each other, and we’ve even argued. Although I admit I’ve lost more times than I’ve won arguing with you. I’ve given you some of my best come-on lines, and you’ve spent countless nights stealing glances at me when we were out with our friends and giving me smart-ass retorts that I fucking loved. I’ve laughed