“What’s that?”
“That you might have had a moment of déjà vu.” I lick my lips. “From before.”
“Like I said, it wasn’t a good moment,” he says, his jaw tense. I reach up and brush the backs of my fingers down his smooth cheek, wishing I could scoot into his lap and hold him close.
“I’m sorry. It didn’t occur to me in the moment,” I say quietly. “I just had my own déjà vu regarding my ex, and it irritated me.”
He spares me a glance, his eyes warm in the darkness. “We’re fine.”
“I know.” I shrug a shoulder. “But I’m still sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he says, turning right into the driveway and punching in the code at the gate that Sam texted me. He drives down and parks behind Luke’s fancy Mercedes, kills the engine, and turns to me.
“Are we going in?”
“I want to say something first. We both need to make an effort to not jump to conclusions. To ask or talk before we assume the worst because of the shit we went through before.”
“You’re right.” I nod and then decide, fuck it. I scoot across the center console and shimmy my way into his lap, making us both laugh. “This was much sexier in my head.”
“It’s not not sexy, but damn, you’re going to make me hard, and I have to go behave around your family for a few hours before I can get you home.”
“You’ll be okay.” My voice is confident as I wrap my arms around his neck and lean in, pressing my breasts against his chest. “We should shake on the whole talk before judging thing.”
“This is shaking?” He cocks a brow, and his eyes are lit up with humor.
“This is sexy shaking,” I confirm, wiggling on him. I can feel him begin to harden through his jeans and my panties.
“You know, all I have to do is unzip my pants and rip your underwear.”
“See, there are those caveman tendencies again.” I kiss him softly.
“You’re on my cock, Amelia. I don’t have any blood left in my brain.”
I giggle and bury my face in the crook of his neck.
“I really just wanted to hold you for a minute.”
“I’m holding you,” he says, but his hands are rubbing up and down my back, not in a sexual kind of way, but as if to say, “I’ve got you.”
“It’s nice.”
We’re quiet for a moment until there’s a knock on the window, making us both jump. Wyatt rolls down the window to find Jules standing there, laughing.
“No fucking in the car, guys. There’s a party going on.”
“We’re not fucking,” I inform her.
“Yet,” Wyatt adds, making us laugh. “We’ll be right behind you.”
She nods and skips away, as Jules does. She’s always seemed so light on her feet, so happy. She slips one arm through Nate’s, and they make their way inside.
“We should go,” I murmur. He frowns and looks as if he wants to say something else, but he just sighs.
“Let’s do it.”
He helps me off his lap and out of his door, then passes me my clutch and joins me. Sam and Leo’s house is only a few years old. Leo had it built for her not long after they met. During the day, it has an impressive view of the ocean.
Once inside, we follow the noise to the back of the house where the party is set up. The kitchen and family rooms are open to each other. Huge doors open accordion-style out to the back terrace, making it one big indoor-outdoor space.
Alecia’s crew has strung Edison lights everywhere, casting the space in a soft glow. She also added a few tables with chairs. The firepit is lit, music is piped through the space, and Maroon 5 is singing about sugar.
“This is stunning.” Alecia is standing near the entrance to the terrace, smiling, holding her wine. Dominic is standing next to her, talking to Will.
“Thanks,” she says, glancing around. “I think it’s pretty. It’s not necessary to go crazy when it’s just the family, but this is a big deal. I don’t know many people who wrap up a world tour every day.”
“I’m kind of a big deal,” Leo says as he joins us.
“I hear it was a great show,” Will says, slapping Leo on the shoulder.
“It was fun. I’m exhausted,” Leo says. “But I’m not the one we want to talk to.”
All of their eyes shift to Wyatt, and I realize that all of the cousins have gathered around.
“Am I about to die?” Wyatt asks calmly.
“Depends on your answers,” Will says with a shrug and shoves a chocolate cupcake into his mouth.
Whole.
Which just makes me laugh.
“This isn’t funny,” Caleb says.
“Yes, it is. Will is stuffing his face, and you guys are all acting like bullies.”
“Bullies?” Matt asks, scowling. “We’re not bullies. We’re family.”
“What would you like to know?” Wyatt asks, smiling at them. He doesn’t look scared in the least.
He should be scared.
“Are you fucking her, or are you around for the long haul?” Caleb asks bluntly, crossing his arms over his chest. I look to Jules or Nat or Stacy for help, but they’re just avidly watching.
“First of all,” Wyatt begins, his voice calm with an edge to it. An edge I don’t think I’ve heard before. “Her name is Amelia, and what I do with her when we’re in private is consensual and none of your business. Secondly, I wouldn’t be here if I was only interested in getting into her pants. And third, I’ll be happy to be with her for as long as she wants me around.
“And one more thing, cousin or not, I’m not comfortable with you using such vulgar terms when referring to Amelia.”
“What do you do for a living?” Dominic asks. Caleb’s arms are at his sides again, and they’ve stopped glaring at him.
Progress.
“He’s an architect,” Matt says and then smiles. “I’m a cop. I checked you out.”
“My brother’s also a cop,” Wyatt replies. “So, that doesn’t surprise me.”
“What’s his name?”
“Levi.”
Matt tilts his head to the side. “You’re Crawford’s brother?”
Wyatt nods.
“Well, shit. Why didn’t you just say so? I’ve worked with Crawford for years.”
I shake my head and look around the room. Am I in the Twilight Zone?
“How does this make sense to any of you?”
“It’s a dude thing,” Jules says with a shrug.
“I need wine.” I turn to find Alecia already holding a glass out for me. “Thank God you guys own a vineyard. I’m going to need to drink it all.”
She giggles and then looks at someone coming in behind me. “You guys made it!”
I turn to find Archer and Anastasia joining us, and I run to hug them.
“We both just finished up with work and didn’t want to miss the party,” Stasia says. “Did they already grill Wyatt?”
“Yes,” I reply.
“Damn it, I missed it,” Archer says.
“You grilled me the other day,” Wyatt reminds him.
“I know, but they put on a hell of a show,” Archer says with a laugh.
“Wait.” I tug on Archer’s sleeve. “You were alone with him for like one minute. How did you grill him?”