“What is it?”
“I was thinking, now that I understand why you don’t like being here and all, why don’t you stay at my place? You could stay in the guest room if you wanted your own space, but at least you wouldn’t be here.”
Her last word comes out harsh, like she is seeing this place through my eyes and can’t stand the thought of being here any more than I can.
“Darlin’, if I’m at your house, I’m not going to be in a damn guest room.”
“Oh.” She gasps. “Well, that’s fine too . . . I mean, if you don’t need your space and all.”
“The last thing I want from you is space, Leighton, but you’re askin’ me to move into your house. That’s not somethin’ that should be offered without really thinkin’ about it.”
“I don’t want you here,” she venomously shoots back. “I want you with me.”
“One day at a time, sweetheart. There isn’t anything in that house that’s mine except for a duffel bag I still haven’t unpacked. We don’t need to make any decisions like that right now.” I say the words, but my chest tightens at the thought of her wanting me in her house. Not just because she knows why it’s hard to be here, but also because she wants me with her.
She huffs and crosses her arms, the movement pushing her chest up. I lick my lips at the swells that are exposed from her low neckline. Why the hell did I say we wouldn’t be fuckin’? Oh, yeah, because I had some grand idea that when we were there next time it would be because she gave me all of her.
Stupidest smart move I’ve ever made.
“You’re in my bed tonight,” she demands, her tone leaving no room for argument.
“Yes, ma’am,” I quip.
“I mean it, Maverick. If you aren’t in my bed, don’t think I won’t find a way to tie you up like I said I would. I. Don’t. Want. You. Here. And I don’t just mean tonight, cowboy.”
God, she’s beautiful when she’s pissed. “Darlin’, calm down. There isn’t anywhere I would rather be. I’ll be there tonight. We can talk about the rest later.”
“Good. And you’re bringing that duffel bag with you. It’s time to unpack.” One arched brow goes up, just daring me to argue with her.
I laugh, shaking my head with a smile, and jump down from the cab. I look up when I hear my name and give Clay a nod. I know he can’t see into my truck, not with these black as hell window tints on them. I keep my eyes on him as I walk, waiting to see his reaction when Leigh gets out. His stoic expression watching my every movement.
“Where have you been?” he calls out right when I open her door.
“With me!” Leigh jumps out of the cab with a bounce, waving to Clay.
Clay doesn’t even have a chance to react before a flash of black hair and pink clothing is knocking him over in a rush to exit the house. “Shut the hell up, you hooch! You better get to talkin’ right this second!”
I don’t look away from my brother, wanting to see with my eyes how he feels about Leigh being with me. I know what he said yesterday, but something inside of me needs to know that he is happy with us together. By the time Quinn is about to reach Leigh, he has a big grin on his face. I get one nod before he stomps off the porch and heads toward us.
Quinn slams into Leigh so hard that they both fall to the ground. One second I had my hand resting against the small of her back, and in the next I was left with dead air and two grown women laughing on the ground in front of me. The gravel can’t feel good against Leigh’s back, but you wouldn’t know because she’s got one big damn smile on her face.
“You sneaky bitch. I called you last night and you said you were just going to read before going to bed.”
Leigh giggles and looks up at me. “I had a change of plans.”
I smile down at her. Our eyes communicating so much, but no words needed.
“I’ll say. A big brooding change of plans.”
“He wasn’t brooding.”
Quinn sits up. I can’t see her, but judging by the blush that’s covering every exposed inch of Leighton’s face from the roots of her hair to the top of her chest, my sister must be making some sort of crude gesture.
“Don’t you dare,” Leigh whispers firmly.
“Don’t I dare what? Comment on what must have happened to make him stop brooding?” She laughs mischievously.
“Quinn, shut your mouth,” she hisses back.
“Fine. Fine, mouth is shut.” Quinn climbs off the ground and holds out her hand to Leigh, helping her up.
I was about to open my mouth and ask her where my hug was, but she turns around the second that Leigh was standing, and the expression on her face has me snapping my mouth shut.
“You know what I want,” she tells me with a hard tone.
“Uh,” I mumble.
“You know what I’m waiting for,” she continues, wagging her brows.
What the—clarity strikes, and I have to bite back a laugh. The conversation I had with her in the barn when she was trying to figure out what was going on between Leigh and me comes back in a rush. “How about you let me worry about that now and leave it alone knowin’ that there’s a greater chance of you gettin’ what you want if you don’t scare my girl off before I even have a chance to take us there.”
“I’m not sure if that’s good enough.”
Weird as hell, my sister is. “It’s gonna have to be.”
“What are you two talkin’ about?” Clay asks, breaking into our little huddle.
“Nothin’ worth repeatin’ right now,” I tell him, my eyes still on Quinn so she knows to keep her mouth shut.
“You said your girl.” Quinn gasps the words out, her eyes wide as she looks between me and Leigh. “You said . . . holy shit! You said YOUR GIRL!” She screams the last part and leaves her mouth hanging open.
Leigh giggles again, but doesn’t respond to Quinn.
“Did you know about this?” Quinn continues, glaring at Leigh.
“Uh, yeah . . . seeing that I’m the girl in question, I would reckon that’s a good guess, Q.”
“You knew and didn’t tell me!”
Leigh steps closer to me, wrapping her arm around my back and digging her fingers into my side. I look down and see her wink, returning the gesture and pulling her closer to my side with one arm over her shoulders. Her other arm comes up, Quinn’s wide eyes following the movement, and rests it against my stomach. I feel my abs clench with just the smallest touch from her.
“We’re tellin’ you now, Q.”
“Ohmigod. Ohmigod. Oh. My. God,” my sister mutters under her breath, eyes even wider. “Clay,” she says with a gasp, reaching out blindly behind her to find him, not looking away from the two of us. “Clayton!” she screams when her hand can’t find him.
“Jesus, Quinn, take a breath,” he grumbles, grabbing her hand before she can slap him.
“It’s happening,” she breathes.
“You are the weirdest person in the world,” Leigh says, laughing.
“I knew one day this would happen. I just knew it.”