Beneath the Stars (Falling Stars 4)

“And what would that make you?” I teased her as I set her down.

She tipped her head back to look at me, all her little teeth gleaming in a row.

“Um…I think I still got the tomfooleries, Auntie Maggie Pies. Papa said those ones are the worst.” Her voice dropped to a secreted whisper. “Way worse than the hooligans.”

I smiled down at her, my heart in her little hand.

Affection fierce and firm.

My own loyalty and devotion to this family overpowering.

Rushing my veins and whispering in my soul.

Then all of it went soaring when I felt the shift in the atmosphere.

A thrill sped through the air. Shockwaves of intensity. Blasts of light.

I barely held it together when I looked over my shoulder to find Rhys coming down the sweeping, curved main staircase. He bounded down the steps, larger than life, the longer pieces of his hair still damp and a tight tee hugging that magnificent body.

My chest squeezed, and I thought there was a chance my lungs might fail right there.

God, I had no idea how in the world I was supposed to handle this. How I was supposed to pretend like I wasn’t drawn to this man in a way that was unstoppable.

Unfathomable.

“Did I hear somethin’ about tomfooleries?” he shouted.

This morning, his grin was wide, that carefree cowboy back in full play.

It was crazy how much I liked it. How I felt relief in seeing him this way. Those blue eyes clear. The storm clouds nowhere to be found.

Daisy tossed her hands in the air. “Uncle Rhys! You finally wakes it up. I thought you were gonna sleep all day.”

There went my blush.

My flush growing hotter.

“What? And not spend the mornin’ with you? Heck no.” He came striding our way, mirth and lightheartedness painted in bold stripes through his being.

Penny and Kallie blew passed with Greyson in tow, cutting across his path.

The man tossed a playful swat in the direction of a smirking Brendon who was right behind them, not quite catching the group.

“Whoa, there. Seems like I’m late to the rodeo this mornin’.”

“That’s because you’re old,” Brendon shouted, cracking a grin.

“Wow, dude, wow. Way to bust someone’s balls before they’ve even had their first cup of coffee.”

“Like I said…old.” Brendon delivered the razzing, all kinds of smug.

Mia tsked with a smile. “Don’t make me tell your dad about that sass you’re tossing around, Brendon.”

Brendon lifted his palms with a shrug. “Uh…newsflash, my dad knows full well I’m nothin’ but a badass.”

Wow.

Right.

I giggled, and Mia arched a brow. “Well, I guess I’ll have to tell Tamar, then.”

Dark eyes going wide, Brendon shifted his hands around so his palms were held in surrender. “Hey, now, hey, now! Don’t go manipulatin’ me, Aunt Mia. That’s just cruel. You know the last thing I want to do is disappoint my Mama Blue.”

“Then watch yourself,” she teased.

“Watch myself? Pssh…have you seen me? I can’t look away.”

I tried to hide my amused smile at this kid who was so close to becoming a man. Cocky and sly. Way too handsome for his own good. Written in mischief and havoc.

Mia shook her head, all kinds of affectionate. “Good lord, you are your father’s son, aren’t you?”

Rhys chuckled low.

The sound rippled through the air and raked across my flesh.

He rubbed at his beard as he rounded the island, and he cut me a glance as he passed.

Blue eyes fierce and soft and knowing and flirty, and oh lord, my knees were knocking all over again. I had to dip my head to keep that flush hidden, the one that burned like fiery embers.

I shifted on my feet, backing away another inch as he invaded my space. As his energy sizzled and surged and made me feel like I was never going to get a full breath again.

I could almost feel time slow around us.

Like we were locked. Frozen in a second that lasted for eternity as he slowly edged by. Only when he jerked his attention away did time start moving again, jolting me free of the binds that I wasn’t sure I wanted to get loose of.

He went right for Daisy and threw her into the air.

She squealed and laughed and flailed to get her arms around his massive neck. “Uncle Rhys! Whatcha doin’? Did you get hungry? Me and my mommy and everybodies are making breakfast.”

He tossed her a little higher, his words a rough grumble of a tease, “I just so happened to have worked up quite the appetite already this fine mornin’. Hungry as all get out.”

Oh.

Um.

Okay.

Was that an innuendo? A message to me?

I blinked a thousand times, trying to process.

The ground unstable.

Shaking beneath my feet.

With it came a warning that blared from the depths of my mind.

The truth that I was getting in deep.

That my battered heart might not be able to handle it.