Easton

If he could still do that, she was happy. This could work.

Entering the kitchen, she pulled the sauce from the oven and gave it a stir. She tasted it and quickly went about chopping some extra parsley.

Just as she’d put another pan onto boil with all the pasta, Liam entered the kitchen.

“You really don’t seem yourself,” he said.

“I’m fine. Really. I think it just hit me what I did. I didn’t even try to go looking for him. I’ve told you how it all ended.”

“You feel guilty?”

“Yeah, I do. It’s insane. For a long time now, I just wanted to move on. Forget about Easton and the past. Now, he seems to be very much part of my future.”

Liam walked to her side, and his arms went around her. The moment he held her, she felt completely protected and safe. This was how it had always been with Liam.

“It’s going to be okay.” His lips were close to her ear, and she wanted him to kiss her so badly, to put his lips on her neck, to suck hard.

She was losing her mind. Why did she want this?

He gripped her hips and spun her to face him.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Nothing.” She didn’t look at his lips, but she wanted to. “Let’s just get through dinner and then we can deal with whatever else we have to face.”

She pulled away, but Liam caught her, his lips pressing hard against hers. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck so bad, and for him to never stop.

Instead, she pulled away and acted like what they were doing was the most natural thing in the world.

It wasn’t.

They were not in a relationship.

Liam was her husband in all the ways that counted, but not this one.

“I better get this finished. Will you show them to the table,” she said.

“Of course.”

He touched the base of her back one last time, and she watched him go, wanting him so badly.

****

Liam wasn’t a fool. He knew what was going on with Scarlett.

From the moment he touched her thigh, he saw the reaction in her body. The way her nipples beaded at his touch and how she turned a little closer to him. He’d been noticing these subtle changes for the past couple of months, but he’d not broken the status quo between them.

With Scarlett, when he finally took that chance with her, he wanted her to know he was ready. She scared easily, and her fear of rejection constantly guided her to make bad choices. The truth was, all she wanted, was to be safe, and he offered her that.

When he entered the sitting room, Easton and Junior were sitting on the floor, playing with the car he’d brought.

Easton was everything he imagined he would be. Strong, hard, broken. He needed someone in his life to offer him the same comfort that Liam gave to Scarlett.

“Dinner is nearly ready,” he said.

“What is it?” Junior asked.

“It looks like your mother’s favorite pasta.”

“Awesome. Dad, you’re going to love it.”

Liam looked at Easton to see the shock on the other man’s face.

“Go and see if your mother needs any help.”

Junior left them alone as Easton got to his feet.

“I didn’t expect that.”

“No, I don’t imagine you did.”

Easton laughed. “This is kind of awkward.”

“Why?”

“You’re married to a girl I’ve got a kid with.”

“With all due respect, Easton, I’ve known her longer than you.”

“Where did you two meet?” Easton asked.

“At work.” It wasn’t a lie. She’d come in for a job interview, and he extended the invitation to something more. They’d been living perfectly content for five years now. For all intents and purposes, Scarlett was his most successful relationship to date. “She made a lasting impression.”

“Were things hard for her with him?”

“With Junior?”

“Yes.”

“You’re going to have to talk to Scarlett about all the other details. I’m not going to share secrets here. She’ll tell you what you want her to know. I want you to know that I’m more than happy with you being part of Easton’s life. You can consider yourself one of us, part of our family.”

“I’d like that.”

“That doesn’t mean I intend to ever do business with the Four Kings.”

“I won’t take that as an insult.”

“I don’t want to bring business out of work.”

“Are you guys ready?” Scarlett asked. “Dinner’s on the table.”

They both followed her. The table was a small one. He did have a separate dining room with a much longer table when they had guests. Also, Scarlett never cooked for their guests. She had done it once, and the evening ended in a disaster. The one thing he hated was bad manners. Some of the women had made catty and uncalled-for remarks. Scarlett wasn’t some award-winning chef. She made good food, and he loved to watch her cook. She made his home feel like one, rather than just a showplace for people.