“And I imagine she hates that. Only one thing worse than having an overprotective brother, is having four.” She shrugged. “Not that I have any experience.”
“Yeah, well you’re about to have an experience of a big, overprotective, nosy family. So brace yourself,” he said, his voice playful.
She turned to look at him, her warm gaze meeting his. “I don’t suppose you want to go home and curl up with me in front of the fire?”
He reached out, cupping her jaw with his hand. Her eyes looked up at his, wide and blue. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than curled up with you,” he said, his voice rough. “If you want to leave, then let’s go.”
She leaned her head into his hand. He loved the way she looked at him, as though he was everything
right now. Slowly, he inclined his head until their lips were only an inch apart. “I mean it,” he murmured, brushing his mouth against hers. It was only a brief touch, yet it sent pleasure racing down his spine.
He was a fool for her. Whenever they were close it was as though all coherent thought fizzled out of his brain, leaving space for only her. The way she looked, the way she sounded, the way she smelled so damn good.
It had been this way from the moment they’d met. And if he was truthful he’d never felt anything like this before. It was almost chemical. Like the strongest drug in the world.
“We can go in,” she said, smiling at him. “It would be rude not to.”
“Sure?”
She nodded. “I’m sure.”
He tried to push down the feeling of disappointment. She was right, he knew she was. But it still didn’t stop him from wanting her right now.
“Okay then. Let’s go.”
“This is for you,” Maddie said, passing Courtney a virgin snowball as she and Logan walked into the sprawling kitchen at the back of the house. Courtney looked around, her breath catching as she took in the expensive appliances and marble worktops. On the other side of the breakfast bar – that could seat ten people without looking cramped – was a den, complete with cream leather sofas, an eighty-inch flat screen television on one wall, and glass doors that led to the garden beyond. To the left of the den was the dining area, with a table that looked like it would fit another twenty people. Behind it was a floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree – real, of course – covered with ornaments and sparkling lights, topped with an angel.
“Thank you,” Courtney smiled at the only person she knew apart from Logan. “Your house is beautiful.”
“It wasn’t like this two hours ago.” Maddie grimaced. “Usually you can’t walk a yard without tripping over a plastic toy or a kid. I feel exhausted from clearing it all up.”
“Are the twins in bed?”
“My twins?” Maddie clarified. “Yeah. Though I’ve got this just in case.” She pointed down at a monitor that she’d placed on the counter in front of her. “Gray and I have an agreement. I do the first two hours, he does the next two.”
Logan walked up behind her, pressing his palm into the small of her back. “Courtney, this is my older brother, Gray,” he said, introducing the tall, handsome man next to him. He was wearing a pair of dark pants and a white shirt, the collar unbuttoned.
“It’s a pleasure,” he said softly, leaning forward to shake her hand.
Of course she knew who he was. Everybody in America had heard of Gray Hartson. His voice was constantly on the rock and country radio stations, after all.
“Hi,” she said, smiling at him. “I was just saying to Maddie that your house is beautiful. I’m pretty sure you could fit my place neatly into the corner over there.”
Gray laughed. “Logan tells me you live on a farm.”
“I do.” She nodded. “Live and work there.”
“That sounds so romantic,” Maddie said grinning. “Like a movie or something.”
“Believe me, it’s nothing like a movie when the hens launch themselves at you,” Logan told her. “Unless it’s directed by Alfred Hitchcock.”
Courtney shook her head. “I keep telling you, it’s because they like you.” She turned back to Maddie. “Do you know, whenever Logan visits I get more eggs the next day?”
Logan tipped his head to the side. “You never told me that.”
“I didn’t want to give you a big head,” she teased. But it was true. As well as being the hottest guy she’d ever met, he was great for egg production. Maybe she should get him to leave a shirt or something next time. She could put it in Hester’s bed.
“Is that why you keep asking me over?”