Page 127 of Cross Checked
She could sort out what my girl meant later, when she wasn’t standing in the middle of a backyard pretending benefits explained the way her body relaxed when I said she was safe behind me.
“Go get the buns,” I said, releasing her waist only because Daniel was still waving tongs like he planned to declare war on carbohydrates. “And don’t run.”
Her brows pulled together. “I’m not running.”
“You do when you’re scared.”
So, I let the corner of my mouth lift before she could retreat. “Also, when you’re avoiding me after I make you come.”
Her mouth fell open. “Cade.”
There she was. Pink cheeks. Furious eyes. Alive again. I liked her pissed at me better than afraid of him.
She shoved my chest lightly. “You cannot say that here.”
“I didn’t say it loud.”
“You said it at all.”
“Details.”
“You’re a menace.”
“You like that.”
“I like nothing about this conversation.”
“That’s not what you said this morning.”
She made a strangled sound and glanced toward my brothers like they might have developed superhearing. “I’m getting buns.”
“Good girl.”
She froze, then shot me a look that could have stripped paint.
I smiled.
Luke’s beer bottle stopped halfway to his mouth.
Pip turned and walked toward the house with as much dignity as she could manage, which wasn’t much considering her cheeks were still flushed and every other step looked like she was fighting not to look back.
She looked back anyway.
I winked.
She flipped me off discreetly near her hip before slipping inside.
My smile stayed exactly where it was until the screen door shut behind her. Then it disappeared. Luke was still watching me so, I turned toward him fully.
The yard kept moving around us, too loud and too bright for whatever sat between us. Kids shrieked near the pool. Daniel cursed at the grill. Knox and Lyon argued over who got the good stick. Emmitt launched a ball at Kellen’s foot and told him pain built character.
Luke took a slow drink from his beer. “She always this dramatic around you?”
I looked at him, really looked. I let the silence drag long enough that his easy smile started to work harder.
“No.”
His eyes sharpened. “No?”
