“Nah, I’ll tell her on my way out. It’ll distract her from the lecture she’s sure to give me.”
Ethan slapped Donovan on the back. It was good to be back among his brothers even when they annoyed the holy hell out of him. Already he felt better. Some of the heavy cloak of doom had lifted and he didn’t feel as weighed down by fear and anxiety.
“Be careful, okay? I want you back in one piece.”
Donovan rolled his eyes. “Okay, Mom.”
“Ethan?”
Both men turned at the soft voice floating from the back door. Rachel stood half-in, half-out, looking at them with a guarded expression. Ethan would have given anything to be able to remove the uncertainty in her beautiful eyes.
“Hey, sweetness,” Donovan said easily.
She smiled, and it chased away the shadows, brightening her eyes.
“Hi, Donovan. I heard you were leaving tomorrow. I hope you’ll be careful.”
“Always. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Did you need something, baby?” Ethan asked.
She frowned for a moment and tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth, as if searching her memory for what she’d come out for.
Then she raised her gaze again, her eyes lighting with recognition. “Nathan and Joe are about to leave. You should come in and say good-bye.”
Ethan and Donovan both headed toward the back door where Rachel stood. Ethan couldn’t resist dropping a kiss on her upturned lips. She smiled under his mouth and he ate it up, taking that smile as deep as he could. He lived for her smiles. He hadn’t enjoyed them in longer than he cared to remember.
She tucked her hand into his and they walked back into the living room, where Nathan and Joe were both being bear hugged by their dad.
“Hey, there y’all are,” Joe said as he looked up. “Thought maybe you and Van had flown the coop already.”
“If I thought Ma would let us get away with it ...” Ethan began.
Nathan snorted and promptly enfolded Ethan in a hug. They pounded each other on the back and hurled a few insults. Yep, life was good again.
“You be careful,” Ethan warned. “Get your ass back here in one piece.”
“Always.”
Ethan moved to Joe while Van and Nathan did their mutual insult fest.
“You take care of our girl,” Joe said in a serious voice as he pulled away from Ethan’s embrace.
“Always,” Ethan said, echoing Nathan’s vow.
“Okay, man,” Nathan called to Joe. “Let’s get on the road.”
The two men held up their hands and waved as they headed out the front door. The family followed behind, crowding into the front yard as the twins piled into their trucks.
Ethan looped his arm over Rachel’s shoulders as they watched them drive away.
“Anyone up for a barbeque tonight?” Sam asked. “I’ll volunteer Garrett’s cooking.”
“Nice, ass**le,” Garrett muttered.
Donovan chuckled. “I’m in. I could use a big nasty steak. Have to keep my strength up.”
“I’ll get the meat if you and Ethan will make the beer run,” Sam said to Donovan. “Mom? Dad? You guys want to come over?”
Marlene reached over and patted Sam on the cheek. “That’s nice of you to ask, but I think I’m going to put up my feet and rest awhile. Rusty said she’d cook dinner tonight and I aim to take her up on it.”
Ethan glanced over to see Rusty’s face turn bright red. She wasn’t pleased that Marlene had spread that little tidbit around. Tough kid. Not an ounce of softness in her. At least not where anyone could readily see it.
He wrapped his arm tighter around Rachel and smiled down at her. “What do you say? Wanna go on a beer run with me and Van?”
She smiled as she looked between him and all his brothers. “Are you sure you want me along? This seems like one of those male bonding things. I could head home and let you guys do your thing.”
Sam and Garrett both looked affronted.
“Well hell, Rachel. Stick a dagger in our hearts. You always used to come hang out with us. Too much testosterone otherwise,” Sam said.
Her smile broadened. “A steak really does sound good.” She glanced up at Ethan. “Do you care if I run home to change?”
He touched her cheek. “Not at all. You want me to come?”
“No. You go with Donovan. I won’t be long.”
He fished the keys out of his pocket and dangled them off the end of his fingers. She reached for them and warmth spread up his arm as her hand closed around his. It surprised him that even after so long she affected him with something as simple as her touch.
Uncaring that his brothers were standing around watching, he bent to kiss her, capturing her mouth with his. She tasted small and feminine. Perfect. It was a taste he’d dreamed about at night when he lay in their bed alone, aching.
She pulled away as breathless as he was, her eyes slightly glazed. It was then he realized that she didn’t look at him like she had before her disappearance. Then she’d been guarded with him, never allowing him to see what she was thinking. It was a self-protective measure he’d forced on her with his coldness. Now she looked at him with warmth. With love. She hadn’t said the words, but he felt more at ease, more confident of her affection now than he had in a long, long time.
“Get a room,” Garrett smirked.
Ethan held up his middle finger behind Rachel’s back. Sam and Donovan laughed while Ethan kissed Rachel again.