when he answers the door.
Callista shrugs. “I know that sex helps induce labor, and we didn’t want to walk in on that. I’m already scarred from that time I heard the two of you in the shower.”
Brody smirks. “We made sure to take care of that before you got here.”
“Here.” I hand him the Crock-Pot, then take the bags from Callista, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. “Go find your sister.” Not needing to be told twice, she slides past Brody. He steps back, and I follow her inside.
“So,” he says as we make our way to the kitchen.
“So,” I repeat.
“You and Callista.”
“Yep.”
“She’s basically my sister. You know that, right?”
“She’s your sister-in-law, and one day I hope that your wife will gain that title when she’s referring to me.”
“How long?”
“Years.”
“Why now?” He reaches into the fridge and grabs two beers, but I wave him off. He raises his eyebrows in question.
“I need to get us home.”
“You guys can stay here.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll stay sober just in case.”
“You’ve got it bad.”
“I remember saying those exact words to you.”
“Best decision I ever made was to tell her how I felt.”
I nod. I understand that statement. It was freeing to finally tell Callista where I am and how I’m feeling. She didn’t really tell me how she feels about all of this, but I didn’t give her a chance to. The sexual tension between us is strong, and if she even hinted that’s what she wanted, we wouldn’t be here right now, and the sisters always celebrate their birthdays together. Charity’s isn’t for another two weeks, and I already know we’ll be getting together for dinner and cake then as well.
Laughter rings out from the living room, and like moths to flames, Brody and I automatically move toward the sisters who hold our hearts in the palms of their hands.
Chapter Seven
CALLISTA
“Ten minutes!” Charity says with excitement.
I watch as she places her hand on her belly. Brody’s hand covers hers as they talk quietly among themselves. The smiles on their faces and the excitement they must feel brings tears to my eyes. My niece was supposed to be born today, but she’s stubborn, just like her momma and her aunt. I know we will meet her when she’s ready, but I can’t wait to hold her.
Brody reaches for the remote, and a slow song fills the air. We’ve been watching the performers and waiting for the ball to drop. I watch as he stands and offers my sister his hand, pulling her as close as their daughter will let them, and dances with her.
Silas stands and offers me his hand, and there is no hesitation on my end to place my palm in his. He guides us to the other side of the room, opposite of my sister and brother-in-law, and pulls me into his arms. He’s holding me close as we sway to the music.
“Happy Birthday, baby.”
I smile up at him. “Thank you. It’s definitely one I will always remember.”
“Me too. It’s the first one I’ve spent with you where I was able to do this,” he says, drawing me closer, which I would have thought to be impossible. I lay my head on his chest and savor the feeling of being in his arms.
“We’re one minute away,” the announcer says.
I lift my head and try to pull back, but Silas is holding on strong. “There’s no music,” I state the obvious.
“We’ll make our own.” He smiles down at me.
“You know this day would be perfect, but it’s missing one thing.”
“Yeah? What’s that so I can do better next year.”
The announcer begins the countdown. “Twenty, nineteen…”
“A midnight kiss.” I can’t go another minute without his lips pressed to mine. We’re doing this, we’re together, and that gives me rights to his lips. I want them pressed against mine.
His hands cradle my cheeks, and his green eyes blaze with desire for me. “Happy Birthday, beautiful,” he says. His lips press to mine as the clock strikes midnight. The kiss is slow, yet the press of his lips is firm. He steals taste after taste, and I’ve not had a single drop of alcohol, but I feel drunk. Drunk on Silas and the way his touch lights my body on fire. He slows the kiss and rests his forehead against mine. “Exactly what I thought our first kiss would be like. Explosive.”
He starts to pull away, but I stop him with my hands, fisting his shirt. I don’t want him