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“We can do both,” Lake said, flipping him off. “You didn’t have to come over early to help cook. I had plans to get Grady to fuck me over the bench before anyone got here.”

Avery wrinkled his nose and deliberately moved his hands off the counter.

“We didn’t yet!” Lake said, laughing.

The “yet” part of that sentence worried Grady. “I wouldn’t do that with your brother watching us,” he said dryly. He had limits. Not many, but that was definitely one of them.

“Societal rules and constructs arerestricting,” Lake complained.

“You joined the military,” Avery said, turning his back to them as he stirred the ingredients in the fry pan. “Yourentire lifeis based around rules and social constructs.”

“Did I ask for your opinion?”

“I think we need to make a list of topics that are off-limits. Sex is one of them,” Avery said, turning and pointing between them with his spatula. “It’s great that you’re all happy in your domestic bliss or whatever, but keep your hands where I can see them, all right?”

“As if I don’t have to see ‘domestic bliss’ every time you, Felix, and Zach are in a room.”

“Do as I say, not as I do,” Avery said.

“Since I’m the oldest, that’smyline,” Lake retorted.

Grady sighed. There were times when he’d thought about what it would be like to have a brother, and sometimes he even felt a pang of sadness that he didn’t have one. This was not one of those times.

He kissed Lake’s cheek on instinct when he took the bowl of shredded chicken from him. “You can add this now,” he said to Avery.

Avery gave him a speculative look, and Grady made sure to hold his gaze. Somehow, being analysed and assessed by Lake’s brother was more daunting than any professional evaluation he’d ever had at work. And Riley was his boss.

“Thanks,” Avery said, taking the bowl.

“You can add the other ingredients now: the salt, honey, green onions, and coriander.”

“I think you made that last one up,” Lake said. “Let me see the recipe.” He made an exaggerated grab for Grady’s phone that was on the end of the counter.

Grady put his hand over Lake’s face and stopped his forward momentum, grinning as Lake grabbed at it to try and pull it off. There was no recipe, and since he’d been with Grady since they’d started cooking it, he knew that.

“It’s an herb, you dildo,” Avery said, laughing so hard that Grady was worried he was going to pull something. It seemed like a bad omen if the first “family” dinner ended with someone in the ER.

“Oh my God,” Avery wheezed. “I’m telling Mum how much of a disaster you are in the kitchen!”

“Joke’s on you; she already knows.”

“We knew you were bad, but this isbad.”

“I knowwhatcoriander is,” Lake said, making a face at Avery. “But putting itinthings should be illegal, and therefore, Grady is making it up.”

“Less smack talk, more cooking,” Grady said. It was like herding rabbits. He was surprised nothing was burned yet. If they were lucky, they might even be able to eat by midnight. He doubted it would be ready by the time Felix and Zach showed up, in—he checked his watch—roughly five minutes or so.

By some miracle, they had the chicken filling cooked and ready for the tortillas when Felix and Zach came through into the kitchen. It seemed everyone had a key to Lake’s house. Grady wasn’t surprised. Privacy didn’t seem to be a high priority for these four.

“Something smells good,” Felix said as he greeted them.

“Don’t say it like that,” Lake said. “Like you’re surprised.”

“We’re all surprised,” Zach drawled. “Grady is a good influence on you. I expect some three-course meals soon.”

“You want it in your hair or down the back of your shirt?” Lake asked innocently. He pulled the jug of water out of the fridge and poured five glasses.

Grady nudged his hip gently as ran his fingers across the back of Lake’s neck, taking hold of his chain necklace for a moment before letting go. The small smile that Lake gave in return sent a flush through Grady.