He doesn’t give me a chance to decide. Grabbing my hand, Conner pulls me toward the stairs. “Time to face the lion’s den, Hadley, baby.”
The smell of bacon hits me first, and my stomach grumbles. But it’s Cole's heated stare that makes my pulse race as he runs his eyes down my body, lingering on my bare legs.
“Shit, Con,” Ace says. “You didn’t think to tell her to get dressed?”
He smothers a chuckle, moving around me to take a seat at the island.
“Wait, is that Cole’s—”
“Ace,” Remi snaps, and I stand there, wondering what the hell is going on.
“I... morning.” I swallow, hovering awkwardly on the fringe of their family breakfast.
“Don’t just stand there, come eat,” Remi says, shoving a piece of bacon into her mouth.
Conner taps the stool beside him, and I lurch forward, trying to ignore the nerves zipping through me. It’s like they’re all waiting for something to happen...
I have to walk right around Cole to get to him, but he’s no longer looking at me. Instead, his eyes are fixed on his plate and he’s breathing in short, sharp bursts.
I’m almost clear of him when I peek up at Conner. But he’s not watching me, he’s looking at his brother, smirking.
“Con,” Ace warns, the air charged.
“Seriously, you guys,” I finally say, tired of the games. “What’s going—”
A hand shoots out and wraps around my waist, pulling me back. Conner chuckles. “I knew it, I fucking knew it.”
Glancing back, I meet Cole’s narrowed gaze. “Hey,” I say, warmth spreading through me at his display of ownership.
“You’re wearing my t-shirt.” He breathes the words against my cheek.
“Yeah, I just grabbed the first thing I saw and then Conner came and—”
“It looks good on you.” His hand slips underneath it, brushing my bare thigh. My eyes flutter closed as I stifle a moan.
His other hand knocks my hair over my shoulder, his eyes locking on my neck before they darken and he swallows harshly. I know he’s looking at the same marks I was not so long ago.
“Shit, Dove. I—” His words
are cut off by Conner, but Cole’s eyes don’t leave me for long seconds as regret floods him.
“Jesus, I need to get laid,” Conner grumbles and Cole’s head whips up. “Relax, bro. I didn’t say I needed to get laid with your girl. Because she is, isn’t she?”
“Conner...” It’s Remi this time.
“This looks great,” I blurt out, breaking the weird silence. “Did Ellen make it?”
“No, it’s her morning off,” Remi says. “So I made this one help me,” she tips her head to Ace, “as punishment for last night.”
“About that, Hadley,” he says. “Sorry you had to see that.”
Cole’s grip on me tightens, and I figure I’m eating my breakfast standing here.
Remi slides me a plate, and I load it with bacon and a couple of pancakes. Cole doesn’t ask, just flips open the syrup and drenches my food in the stuff.
“Thanks,” I say drolly, and he grumbles.
“Just eat the damn food, Dove.” His voice trails off at the end, so I know no one hears his nickname for me. But I like that. I like that it’s just ours.