Bree narrowed her eyes at Declan’s sudden outburst and said, “Stop calling me that.”
He ignored her and went on. “What kind of man takes his girl for a date to the fuckin’ Velvet Club? What? Oh, you’d better stop rollin’ those baby blues…, squirt.”
Duncan walked into the living room with a new wine bottle and several extra glasses. Having missed the previous conversation, he nonchalantly asked, “Bree, are you still going on your date with Craig tonight? How long have you two been dating now? Couple months?”
Ronan snickered at Duncan’s question—probably because he saw Declan’s smug grin fall from his face—and Ronan was enjoying the show. Declan narrowed his eyes at the back of Bree’s head when she made quite a show of turning her back to him to end this one-sided conversation.
Kate felt the feistiness coming from Bree. Her stiff posture and squared shoulders dared Declan to say anything, anything at all on the matter. She would go off on him for sure.
Declan plopped down on the other vacant chair and gripped the armrests so hard, turning his knuckles white. Kate wished for Bree the same happiness that she’d experienced these past few weeks. After lusting over Donovan for months, they were finally together.
The tension between Bree and Declan was so thick you could cut it with a knife. They still hadn’t resumed being best friends after Bree’s declaration of love and Declan’s response that he wasn’t into her in that way. Bree sat on the couch between Ronan and Caitlin and faked a smile before answering Duncan.
“Yeah, he’s picking me up later. So can we start our game night already and get this over with?”
Duncan seemed agitated by Bree’s gruffness. “Geez, normally you’re more enthusiastic. You sure you don’t want to skip it?”
“No, Duncan, I don’t want to skip game night,” she grumbled.
“Dunc, let it go. Come, who’s ready to beat me and Dunc at charades? Who’s pushing us from our winner’s thrones?” Kayla said in her game-night voice. Yes, her sister had a game-night voice. Kayla always went a little overboard with playing games. Not only when they were playing as kids, but even as adults, she always needed to win. In her eagerness to win, she would play like all was fair in love and war.
Kate hated it. She wasn’t competitive—at all. In their family’s household, her siblings enjoyed riling each other during games, and Kate just wasn’t the type to trash talk. It seemed to be a foreign language, and the times she tried to knock someone, the rest would laugh their pants off. It only left her feeling awkward and embarrassed.
“Cait and I are gonna kick your arses, aren’t we, Cait?” Ronan picked up a surprised Bree, making her squeal, and placed her on his other side so he and Caitlin were sitting next to each other. Ronan was so big and strong, being an MMA fighter, he picked her up like she weighed nothing.
“Let squirt and G.I. Joe team up. That will be fun.” He winked at an enraged-looking Bree.
“Fuck off, Ro,” Declan grumbled while narrowing his eyes at his twin brother.
Calum also didn’t seem too happy about Ronan teaming up with Caitlin, but he didn’t speak up. Kate often wondered how it was possible that Ronan and Declan were twins. Okay, they weren’t exactly identical twins, but they couldn’t differ more from each other with the rowdy and loud Ronan and the more reserved and dutiful Declan.
She looked up at Donovan, who still stood next to her. She grabbed his hand and hoped that he would pick up on her vibe. He lifted their linked hands and brought the back of her hand to his lips.
“Okay, okay. Let’s get this show on the road. No time to waste if Bree is to be picked up later.” Kayla was sure eager to start.
“Sorry, guys, we’re going home. Good luck, y’all, especially you, Dunc.” Donovan winked at Kayla who feigned shock. Kate knew Donovan and Kayla liked to spar at the office, so his dig to Kayla was nothing out of the ordinary.
“What? He doesn’t need luck. He’s teamed up with me, remember?” Kayla laughed at her own joke while setting up the game.
Duncan guffawed before kissing Kayla’s cheek.
Donovan started his goodbyes. “See you guys tomorrow before you leave. Bye, y’all.”
“Yes, boss,” Kayla shouted while placing the playing cards on top of the coffee table.
Kate said goodbye to her brothers, turned around, and followed Donovan to the door. Before she could step outside, she was stopped by Kayla who’d jogged after them and grabbed her shoulders. Kayla swiftly kissed her cheek and whispered, “I’m happy for you, sis. See you tomorrow.”
“Are you done whispering?” Donovan grumbled.
“Yes, boss man. Geez, I sure hope you don’t grumble like that to my sis.”
“No need to grumble at my cupcake. She never irritates me like you do.” Donovan winked at Kayla and grinned as he kissed Kate’s other cheek.