Page 47

ALANA

“Hello, anyone home?” I ask, walking through the unlocked door of Keller’s house, still not used to being able to do that. Shoot, I have a key, and half the time, I still knock instead of using it.

“Alana, you’re finally here. I thought you’d never show.” Jace runs around the corner. I’m stepping out of my shoes, hands full of groceries, but I’ve got no problem dropping them to the floor when his little arms are wide open, expecting a hug.

“Why would you think that? Did your dad burn breakfast again?” I tease because just last weekend, Keller burned the bacon and eggs. He never did that before, and now that we’ve talked, solidified where we are in our relationship, it makes sense that he was a million miles away.

“I did not. Why are you two ganging up on me anyway? A guy makes one mistake and doesn’t live it down,” Keller interrupts us hugging with a soft smile.

God, he’s something to look at—tall, lean, and there’s something to be said when a man wears a basic white cotton shirt, worn-in denim jeans, and is barefoot.

“Not this time. But dinner was disgusting last night. Sorry, Dad.” Jace spins around, lifting up his shoulders.

“At least you tried it. That’s all I could ask. Plus, you didn’t mind the steak too much.” I arch my eyebrow, questioning what he made that Jace didn’t like. From what I’ve seen, he’s not too picky.

“Alana, Dad made cauliflower.” Jace looks from me to his dad. I try not to make a face, unfortunately failing. “See, Dad, no one likes cauliflower.”

I look up at Keller. This time, it’s me who shrugs my shoulders.

I go to stand up to greet him. It doesn’t come without the help of Keller’s hands, though that could be because his lips are pressed against mine the second I’m on my feet.

And while we only saw each other only twelve hours ago, the kiss he presses against my lips, it’s one of want, need, and desire all rolled into one.

“Hey,” I say, my chest moving up and down.

“Good morning, gorgeous.” He has everyone coming over to his place today, so I got here early to prepare the food with him and Jace, plus make a few things.

And when I say everyone, I mean Grams, Gramps, and all of the Harts.

This would usually frazzle me, but it’s not today, probably because we’ve done this separately before, more in a one-on-one setting.

Us with Grams and Gramps, then with the Harts, which was unorganized chaos yet still fun.

“Dad, Alana, that’s so gross. I’m going outside. Maybe you can talk him into getting a dog like Uncle Tanner has, for me, pretty please?”

“Smooth move putting the please at the end, bud. I’ve told you we can’t right now.

I’m about to be ramped up with work in the next few weeks.

Then who would train him to pee outside, feed him, take him on walks?

” Jace isn’t looking at his dad. Instead, his eyes are on me, hands up to his chest in a begging manner.

“Maybe we could ask someone for help.” Keller looks at me, and that’s when Jace winks. I am totally being snowballed.

“We’ll see. Now go play, or I’m putting you to work. I know there’s a TV room that hasn’t been picked up all week.” That does it. He’s moving his body as fast as he can, hurrying out the sliding glass door, making a beeline for his swing set.

“I think we’re being swindled by an almost six-year-old,” I tell Keller, helping him pick up the bags of groceries.

“That kid, he’s always up to something. At least it’s not one of Asa’s notorious pickup lines.”

“There is that. What time is the gang getting here? You know Grams and Gramps will be here a good hour early. They can’t help themselves.

” I’m sure Grams will bring another present for Jace, too, which I’m not even touching the subject with Keller because he’ll say they don’t need to do anything for him.

That’s the difference, though; they want to, and no one is going to stop them.

“I told them around two. They’ll probably stagger in around that time. Except Leena. She’ll be like your grandparents, here as early as she can, but she’ll also be the first one to leave.” We make our way into his kitchen, where Keller places the bags on the island so I can go through them.

“Why is that?” I ask. From what I can tell, Leena doesn’t mind being around everyone as much as possible.

“You didn’t notice it at the last barbecue? Leena can only handle peopling in small doses. Even at work, she’ll work in the morning and then go remote in the afternoon. It’s how she’s always been,” Keller explains.

“An extroverted introvert. I can understand that. Plus, I’m sure when Marlie or your mom aren’t around, that’s a whole lot of testosterone bossing her around.

” I look at the ingredients to make broccoli slaw, worried now that Jace may not like it, but it’s so good and usually a crowd pleaser.

At least Grams is bring her homemade peach cobbler.

The ice cream we’ll make will pair with it perfectly.

“Are you saying I’m bossy?” Keller asks from his perch leaning against the counter, legs crossed at the ankles and arms resting on his chest.

“Keller Hart, you are the epitome of bossy, especially at night.” God, the way he dominates my body, it lights me up so deep inside that I’m ready to somehow sneak away and see if he’ll do it again.

“You act like you don’t get off on it, gorgeous. We know better than that, though, don’t we? I bet if I slide your dress up, pull your panties to the side, you’ll be dripping wet for me.” Keller starts to prowl towards me.

“No way, not before everyone comes. I am not walking around with wet panties, you menace.” I move around the island so there’s something between us.

“You could just take them off, then, when Jace goes to bed tonight, it’d give me all the access I want.” He darts around the island. His hands reach for my side, and he’s picking me up. My ass meets the counter, and Keller steps between them, spreading my thighs.

“Keller.” My eyes lock on the lewd way I’m sitting.

“Yeah, I see you want it. I won’t start something we can’t finish, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to kiss the fuck out of you to tide me over.

” True to his word, he does exactly what he promises until we’re both breathless.

The pitter-patter of feet clues us in that we’re about to have company.

Everything is right in our little world right now, like it was always meant to be.