Shatter (Unbreakable Bonds 2)

Apparently, she’d been overly excited about Jude bringing someone home, because she’d made even more than usual. Leftovers Friday was going to be fun for his brothers this week. Carrick, his middle brother, showed here for dinner most nights still.

“Oh yeah,” Jordan breathed in awe as he caught sight of all the food. “Is it a holiday or something? Do I need to hide the ropa vieja before Uncle Rick gets here?”

Snow shot Jude a look and Jude hoped the red that was probably creeping up his neck could be explained away by the heat from the oven. Snow was too smart not to realize his mother was acting like this was something special. So what if he’d told him this was a usual thing for their family? It was true that he’d brought Brian here. But it had been after two years of dating.

Jordan grabbed a plate and a big serving spoon. “Did you make the mac and cheese with that one white cheese Yiayia uses?”

“Gruyere.” Anna squeezed his face so his lips poked out. “It’s not that hard. You can say it. Gruyere, psychi mou.” She drew the words out as she squeezed his face.

His brother just grinned as she called him my soul and he pressed forward to kiss her forehead. “I don’t care what it’s called as long as it gums up my braces.” Their mother only came up to his shoulders.

“Hey now, you’d better be brushing those properly.” Jude pointed his fork at him and frowned.

“Don’t worry, your investment in my teeth is being fully appreciated.” He turned and grinned at Snow. “So, you’re the one who had my brother answering the door looking like he’d been mauled the other morning?”

“Jordan!” Anna smacked his arm.

“What?” He shrugged away from her. “He did. Had a big ass grin on his face, too. Said he thought it was the guy who’d spent the night at his door. That you?”

One brown eyebrow went up as Snow looked at him, obviously not sure how to answer the question.

“Yeah, squirt, he’s the one who spent the night.” He pushed his brother out of the way, grabbing the serving spoon before he got too far. “Let’s let our guest get food first, eh?”

His poor general looked so out of place and uncomfortable; Jude knew then he’d be bringing him back over and over until he never looked that way again. His family would be good for the man. He could see it. Could see this buried need for affection.

Fuck, the man broke his heart.

Then Snow looked at Jude and the heat in that brief glance made blood fill his dick. To keep it from getting worse, he handed the spoon to Snow. “Get whatever you want, carbs or not. It’s all good.” He turned, found his mother talking to Jordan just far enough away to give them a bit of privacy. Grinning, he leaned in and whispered in Snow’s ear. “Go ahead and eat the carbs. I’ll work them off your ass later.”

“Maybe I’ll work them off yours,” Snow murmured.

“Oh no, General, let me explain my plans for your body. First—” he broke off when he realized Jordan had come back. He looked over his shoulder to find a stupid grin between bright red cheeks on his brother’s face and his other brother, Carrick, standing behind him. Along with Rebecca. Her eyes were wide.

Oh man, they’d all heard that.

Snow followed his gaze and surprised them all when loud laughter spilled from his mouth. Jude stared at him in shock, his gut in knots because that warm, rich laugh rolled into him and clenched around his heart. And that stunning smile—the one that had poleaxed him earlier in Lucas’s place came back and stole all the air from his lungs.

Still chuckling, Snow filled his plate and walked to the chunky, pine table that took up most of the small dining area off the kitchen. His mother loved to cook for as many people as possible. Jude and his brothers had grown up in this house, and were used to this small area being overly loud and full of the best smells on Earth. Aunts and uncles and cousins had a habit of dropping by around dinner time, always knowing they were welcome and always carrying something to add to the feasts.

Anna grabbed the ceramic salt and pepper shakers off the counter and set them on the table before plopping into the seat beside Snow’s. “So,” she said, placing her chin on her hand. “How long have you been seeing yie mou…my son?”

Snow held his fork halfway to his mouth. “Not long actually.”

“But you like him a lot, right?” She did that eyebrow wiggle again.

Jude let her have at him. It wouldn’t hurt the general to deal with his tiny Greek mother. He grabbed a plate and added the stewed beef.