The other thing overwhelming me was the fact that although we’d lived together for almost a decade, his work had taken him away from home for many of those years, and that wasn’t the case now. My brain had gone into overdrive thinking about that. Would we live well together now? Had we changed too much in the last five years that we would no longer be compatible? Would he be able to cope with my crazy habits that he’d not had to deal with on a full-time basis before? Will he move in with me and then realise he actually doesn’t want me anymore?
“I’m trying not to hide,” I whispered, my heart beating faster at what I saw in his eyes. Love. Adoration. My future.
“I’m not going to let you.” He brushed his lips over mine before looking at me with that trademark cockiness of his I knew well. “And I’m sure as shit gonna need to build you a bigger fucking wardrobe.”
“Yeah, you are,” I said, slipping my hands under his T-shirt so I could touch his abs. “And I want front row seats while you do that. These abs need to see the light of day a lot more often as far as I’m concerned.”
“Fuck,” he growled, his hand gripping mine and dragging them from his body. “I wasn’t built to withstand you, Angel, so when your brother is down the hall, these hands need to stay away.”
“Her brother is standing right here, and I thank you for stopping that PDA. There’s only so much one can bear and I’m about at my fill of you two,” Carey said.
I turned to find him leaning against the doorjamb, arms crossed, watching us with a look that showed he meant what he said.
Winter chuckled while I poked my tongue at him and said, “You’re just jealous, Carey.”
“What? Of some dick action? I can get that any day I want.”
“Yeah, you can,” I agreed, moving towards him because I heard Cleo’s voice from the front door, “but Winter’s dick is something else. I wouldn’t blame you for being jealous of me for getting it.”
“Fucking hell,” he muttered as I brushed past him. “Not an image I fucking needed in my head, Birdie. And not the kind of dick action I was talking about.”
My laughter filled the house as I walked through it to find my bestie. I also heard Winter laughing while my brother grumbled about the mental images he now had. Life is good.
I found Cleo juggling bags of takeaway and drinks, looking like she was about to drop all of it. Taking some of it from her, I said, “How many people are you planning on feeding tonight, babe? There’s a lot of food here.”
I’d left work just after lunchtime, so I could come home and spend the afternoon packing with Winter. Cleo had told us she’d be over after work to help us move everything and would bring dinner with her. I’d left her and Winter to decide what to get, but I hadn’t envisioned needing this much food.
“Winter told me to bring enough food for at least twelve people,” she said, taking everything into the kitchen.
“Twelve? Why? There’s only seven of us.
“I’ve organised for some of the boys to come over,” Winter said, joining us. “They should be here soon.”
“Boys?” Cleo asked, dumping her bag on the counter next to the food.
“From the club,” I said, connecting the dots while trying to ignore the nervous flutters in my tummy. I hadn’t met any of the guys yet and was nervous about doing that. In all the talking Winter and I had done in the last week since we made up, we’d talked a lot about his club. I’d come to understand how important Storm was to him, not only from our conversations but also from watching him get up every day and go take care of stuff for his club, so it mattered to me that I got on with these guys.
Winter must have heard something in my tone, because he looked at me with a slight frown, but his attention was diverted back to Cleo when she spoke again.
“This might be the best thing I’ve heard all day,” she said. “I’m all about helping you guys, but seriously, moving heavy boxes and furniture is not what this girl was made for. Feeding men who bring their muscles to the job? That’s where my talents lie.”
I grinned, loving that she’d be by my side the first time I met Winter’s friends. I could take on the world with my bestie by my side.
Carey’s gaze met mine as he entered the kitchen carrying a box full of my clothes. “I’m gonna pack the boxes with your clothes in my trailer. If we’re lucky, it’ll only take me ten trips to get them all to Winter’s house.”
“Your sarcasm is duly noted, big brother,” I said as he turned and headed outside with the box.
“I’ll go help him with that,” Cleo said. “I can manage boxes of clothes.”
Winter moved behind me, hooking his arm around me, over my chest. I could feel his chuckle in his body as he brought his mouth to my ear. “Tell me what thoughts are running through that mind of yours.”
I bent my arms up and curled my hands over his forearm while relaxing back against him. There was nothing better than being in his arms with his strong, protective body close. “You don’t miss much, do you?” I murmured.
“No. It’s my job to know when something is on your mind.”
I smiled, enjoying this moment between us. “I’m nervous to meet the guys from the club, but I’m looking forward to it.”
He gripped my shoulder, squeezing it as he bent to deposit a kiss on my neck. “There’s a birthday party at the clubhouse on Saturday night. You good to go to that?”