“He’s not by himself,” Christian says. “Do you have an extra pair of gloves?”
“I do,” Brad says with a nod, and the men fall into step side by side, working on the trees.
“He’s hotter in person,” Hannah whispers beside me. I see Christian’s lips twitch.
He totally heard her.
“You know,” Brad says casually, as if he’s talking about the weather, “I’m going to run a background check on you.”
“Yeah? Why is that?” Christian asks.
“Because I see the way you look at her,” Brad replies and holds up his hand to me, knowing that I’ll interrupt. “And she’s my sister. I don’t give a shit who you are.”
“Cool.” Christian nods and helps Brad unload a second tree. “I can tell you in advance that I had a DUI about a year ago. It was stupid, and the press had a field day with it.”
“I don’t give a shit about the press either,” Brad says.
“There’s nothing else to find.”
Brad nods, and when they’ve unloaded the final tree, he turns to Christian. “Do you plan to keep looking at her like that?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Well, I guess that’s good to know.
I look helplessly at Hannah, but she just shrugs and watches the two men with keen, blue eyes.
“Is this really happening?” I ask, but there’s no response from either Christian or Brad.
“Don’t be a dick,” Brad says.
“Good advice,” Christian replies, holds his hand out to shake Brad’s, then rubs his palms together. “Now, where do these trees go?”
“Why are men like this?”
“Because we are,” Brad replies and helps Christian lift a tree. “Now, show us where these damn things go. They’re heavy.”
“We’re just friends, you know,” I say as I lead the men into the unit and point to the corner of the living room. “We’re not dating or anything.”
“He’s here,” Brad says with a shrug that says he doesn’t care.
“We’ve been on a date,” Christian says with a scowl, and I make a cutting motion against my throat as if to say, stop talking.
“See?” Brad says.
“We’re not a couple.”
“I mean, we went to the movies, I shared my popcorn with you—” Christian begins.
“You did not share your popcorn.”
“And then we danced and everything. That constitutes a date.”
“Oh my God, stop talking.”
“Just saying,” Christian says with a grin. “Brad, did you need my social security number for that background check?”
“That would help.”
“I’m out of here.” I roll my eyes and march past both of them, who are slapping each other on the back and laughing. “You’re hilarious.”
“I think so,” Brad says with a nod.
“He barely kissed me,” I continue, on a mini-rant now. “And we definitely haven’t slept together.”
“Yet,” Christian says, his eyes full of lust.
“Okay, not funny anymore,” Brad says. Hannah’s hand is over her mouth, covering her laughter.
“Everyone out,” I say, ushering them all to the door. “Let me work in peace.”
Hannah and Brad both leave, but Christian stays behind, and I point my finger at him. “You, too.”
“Me? Why me?”
“Because you’re a troublemaker.”
He smiles, shuts the door, and crowds me against the wall.
“I like your family.”
I swallow hard and watch as he licks his lips.
“Well, that’s nice.”
“I’m going to kiss you, Jenna.”
“Thank God.”
Chapter Five
~Christian~
GOD, SHE’S BEAUTIFUL. Her chin is tipped up defiantly, but her blue eyes are screaming kiss me right now!
I rushed that first kiss. It took me by surprise, standing in her kitchen, how badly I had to get my hands—and my lips—on her.
I feel the same tug now, but there’s no way in hell that I’m rushing it.
I step closer and cup her jawline in my hands, brushing the apples of her cheeks with my thumbs. Her skin is smooth, soft. She’s pulled her hair into a knot at the top of her head, and wispy tendrils have fallen around her face, tickling the backs of my hands.
“You have little freckles across your nose,” I murmur before leaning in to kiss her there.
“Too much sun,” she whispers. I pull back to look down at her, and her cheeks have flushed, her breathing is more ragged, and she’s watching my lips as her tongue darts out to wet her bottom lip.
Fuck me.
I can’t wait another moment. I tip her chin up with my finger and lay my lips over hers, breathing her in. She hitches one leg around my thigh in invitation, so I reach down, cup her ass, and boost her against the wall.
She wraps those legs around my waist, plunges her fingers into my hair, and holds on tightly as I plunder her mouth, tasting and nibbling, enjoying the hell out of her.
Jesus, I want her. More than I can remember ever wanting anyone in my life.
She makes a tiny mewling noise, turns her head, and gives me back as good as she gets. She’s strong and sweet, and so fucking amazing.
“Jenna!”
I’m thrown out of the moment and pull back to stare into her confused, blue eyes.