Beneath the Stars (Falling Stars 4)

Rhys shook his head and cracked a grin. “Now that’s just sad. Seems to me you might wanna find someone who actually knows what they’re doing if that’s the most pleasure you’ve ever had.”

He stole a covert glance at me when he said it. That time, I was certain of it.

A cocky edge ran the delicious rim of his mouth.

I was going to incinerate right there.

Spontaneously combust.

Poof.

I shifted on my feet as that achy spot reignited between my thighs.

The man was going to do me in.

“See, that’s the thing, most devices are plenty good companions,” Mel tossed back with a grin, still caressing the coffee pot.

Rhys cracked up. Rough and rambunctious, slapping his hand on the island.

Violet clapped her hands over Daisy’s ears.

Mel’s eyes went wide. “Well, crap. There goes my filter again.”

Violet kept her hands over Daisy’s ears, talking over her head, “And for the record, I feel it’s my duty as a friend to tell you that is nothin’ but a sorry, sad state of affairs.”

Richard lifted his cup in a salute to his wife. “Couldn’t agree more.”

“True story.” Mia nodded emphatically.

“Better be,” Leif grumbled.

I fought mine, my teeth clamping down on my bottom lip, finally getting it.

Melanie poured coffee into a giant mug. She lifted it in front of her like a prize.

“Beats the alternative.” She took a long gulp. “Mmm. See. Delicious.”

“But the sad thing is, then you get no cream. That coffee’s gonna start to taste really bitter and fast.”

Everyone’s attention jerked to Emily who had slipped in behind her best friend with my sweet baby niece squirming in her arms. Emily’s voice was all kinds of wry and sarcastic.

Busting up, Melanie spewed the gulp of coffee she’d just taken from her mouth. She wiped the dribble from her chin with the back of her hand and whirled around. “Ah, there’s my bestie…one who clearly likes her cup overflowin’ with cream.”

She gestured to Amelia who had her little fists waving in the air.

“Where is Royce on this fine mornin’?” Leif asked, grinning as he leaned up against the island.

Rhys laughed like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard, all while those eyes seemed to seek me out in the middle of it, as if he were searching for me through the lightness that held fast to the air. This calm and peace that had infiltrated.

The true care that weaved these souls together, even when they did it with constant teasing of the other.

My chest tightened and my lungs squeezed, and I really hoped the breath that I attempted to suck into them didn’t wheeze when I inhaled.

Shit.

I didn’t know how to handle this.

I jerked my attention away only to find Violet’s dark, intuitive eyes trained on me.

Double shit.

I ducked my head and went for a diversion, dashing for the refrigerator from across the room.

Awesome.

I opened the door and nearly crawled inside to douse the heat eating me alive.

“So, what else do we need for the omelets?” I asked, my voice so perky it squeaked.

I rummaged around like I was on the hunt for a life-saving ingredient.

“Apparently, the only thing we need around here is cream,” Mel hollered.

I whirled back around, producing a nice hazelnut and waving it in front of her. “Here we go.”

She snatched it. “Fine. I’ll find myself a little cream. But it better be sugar-free and fat-free and really freaking sweet because I don’t need to be carryin’ around any extra weight.”

Rhys pounded a fist on the island, cracking up. “Standards are high there, Mells Bells.”

“You know it.”

“I mean, he’s gotta check off all the boxes on your ridiculous list, and then the poor bastard has to pass the prick test on top of it.”

Rhys shook his head in feigned sadness as he glanced between Richard and Leif.

“Yup. No dickwads. No druggies. No douches.” Richard lifted his fingers as he counted them off.

Wow. Apparently, my brother wasn’t the only overbearing one around here.

Mel rolled her eyes, and she pointed between all three guys. “Pssh…you think I need any of y’all’s approval? Apparently, you haven’t been payin’ close enough attention because I’m the one who makes the rules around here.”

Emily giggled, kissing the back of her daughter’s head as Amelia cooed and kicked. “I think we’ve been on break too long and have forgotten who’s the boss.”

“That you have, and the boss wants to be fed.” Mel smirked as she went ahead and doused her coffee with creamer.

“Well, then. The boss has spoken.” Mia grinned at her before she passed Carson off to Leif. The man hugged and bounced his son as he paced with him around the kitchen.

Mia poured the mixture she’d made into a giant skillet, and I moved over to help, working quietly and steadily while they all chatted.

The kids remained rambunctious.

Voices full of teasing while running with an undercurrent of loyalty.