Dangerous Rock (Dangerous Noise 3)

Okay, she spends a while gushing over her engagement, jumping up and down, staring at her ring, insisting he stare at her ring…

Okay, maybe that takes twenty minutes. I don't mind. It's sweet. She's happy. She's sure she wants to be with him forever.

And the way he looks at her—he's sure he wants to be with her forever.

I've never seen two people that happy.

That in love.

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Mom and Dad were happy, but they had that exhaustion of working parents. They had that comfortable you're more a partner than a passion relationship. They treated each other well. They loved each other.

But were entirely able to keep their hands off each other.

Mal holds up a bottle of sparkling cider. He motions hello to me and Joel then turns to Piper. "You want to open this now or once Kit's parents are back?"

"Now. And, I think we have more, for when Kit's parents are back." She bites her lip. "Maybe."

"I'll ask Dad to pick more up," Kit says from the couch.

She beams. Her smile widens as she looks to her engagement ring. "Good idea." She looks to Mal. "Thanks." She reaches up and hugs him again.

He whispers something in her ear.

She whispers back.

They really are close. As close as any siblings I've seen. And it's clear they really love and support each other. Even if there was a lot of drama about Piper getting with Kit—Joel filled me in on the more gory details on the way here.

Piper pulls the wrapping off the bottle of sparkling cider and unscrews the cap. "It's too bad it doesn't burst the way champagne does."

"Not getting enough of phallic imagery lately?" Joel teases. "I'll have to tell your fiancé to step up his game."

"Please tell him nothing," she says.

"Tell him you want nothing? Shit, you're going to hurt his feelings, Pipes. Or is that your game? The brooding ones do fuck the best when they're hurting," he teases.

"What do you know about brooding women?" she asks. "You sleep with…" Her eyes catch mine. Her expression gets apologetic. "I'm going to get some glasses."

Mal chuckles. "You have her number."

"She's too much fun." Joel turns to me. His lips curl into a half-smile. He winks. "Pipes is only second to Bella."

"I'm too much fun?" I ask.

He nods. "Of course, if I start pushing your buttons, we're going to grab all the party's attention."

I know Joel's only teasing, but that does nothing to slow my racing heart. I want him pushing my buttons.

I want us tangled in bed, forgetting the rest of the world.

Forgetting that we still have an expiration date.

"Flirt when you can actually deliver on all those promises." Mal turns to me. "Nice to see you again, Bella."

"You too," I say.

"Don't worry. I already filled her in on your tendencies." Joel motions to Piper, bringing the glasses back towards us.