Daniel and Blake exchange glances, and the former steps up. “Yeah, you two have pretty women waiting for you back home. Why don’t you leave the shifts to the single men in the family?”
“That’s a great idea,” Max jumps in, then turns to Sebastian and Logan. ?
?Besides, you two shouldered a lot of the work at the ranch when we were kids. Time for us younger ones to pick up the slack.”
No one speaks for a few seconds, and the air is thick with emotion.
“Thanks,” Sebastian says eventually. “Logan and I will stop by on weekends anyway."
“Your family is interesting,” Eric says as we leave the group a while later, walking toward the house to find Julie and leave.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. The way you go from annoying each other to working together like a team.”
“Never a dull moment with the Bennetts. I couldn’t imagine what being a single kid is like.”
“Much duller.” Eric’s eyes cloud for some reason, and he shakes his head as if to clear his mind. “What were Max and Christopher doing with Julie earlier?”
“Initiating her in the arts of being a Bennett,” I explain.
“She looked very happy.”
“Yeah, I think they want to teach her some of their mischief skills. You might have a lot on your hands afterward,” I warn him.
Eric flicks his hand. “I can handle mischief.”
“Like you handled the glitter episode?” I ask as we step inside the house. I love my parents’ home. It’s warm and cozy, perpetually smelling of something delicious. Right now, I detect cinnamon and vanilla in the air.
“That was an ambush. Big difference.” He hooks an arm around my waist, pulling my body against his. We’re alone in the hallway, but with so many people on the property, it’s very likely we’ll be interrupted soon. Still, feeling the hammering of his heart against his chest makes all my girl parts tingle and yearn for him.
“You look happy too,” I murmur.
“I am. I would’ve loved this as a kid. Family gatherings were always formal. I had to dress up like I was going to the opera every time.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Did you wear a bow tie?”
“Of course. It was obligatory. Cufflinks too.”
“Oh, my God, you must have been so cute. I mean, you’re cute now too.”
“I refuse to be described as cute.” Eric steps back, folding his arms over his chest as if he’s serious.
“Why?” I ask, baffled.
“It’s not manly at all.”
“How about if I add shark to it? Cute shark.”
“How about Master of Pleasure? I can also work with Master of Orgasms.” The fact that he says this with a straight face makes me laugh.
“You’re singing your own praises,” I tease.
“Are you saying I don’t deserve those names?”
“Mmm,” I say coyly, shrugging.
“I’m warning you, that is a dare. I will make you regret teasing me.” Eric accompanies his warning with a heated gaze, and even though my entire body flames up under his intense scrutiny, I hold my own, not breaking eye contact. Within seconds, the sexual tension between us is so thick you couldn’t even cut it with a knife. You’d need a machete.