Page 87 of Rocky Mountain Devil

“I suggested to my mom that we’d come over for dinner this week so Jesse could join in the family dinner without us.” He pressed a kiss to Vicki’s temple. “There’s enough mayhem in the place they won’t really miss us, and Vicki made me a pumpkin pie, so it’s all good.”

“That was sweet of you,” Laurel said. “He’s lucky to have family who care so much about him.”

Joel offered a cocky grin. “Don’t go hanging too big a halo on me. My oldest brother told me he’s kidnapping Jesse for the night. Seems there’re boxes of junk left in his old room. He’s been putting off the job for years, and Jaxi’s not letting him leave the house tomorrow morning until he deals with the mess.”

“Good for Blake,” Rafe said. “Jesse’s notorious for leaving his shit everywhere.” He paused. “I’ve tried to get it out of him what’s wrong, but it’s like talking to a brick wall.”

Laurel slipped her fingers into his and gave them a squeeze.

“Hey, he’s better than before,” Vicki pointed out to Joel. “He talks to you sometimes. And you’ve worked together more this past year again—those are all good things.”

“Fine, I’ll be happy about the cup being half full.”

Laurel was impressed with Joel’s efforts, but the serious moment was making Rafe’s contented mood slip away—probably worrying abouthisfather and family.

So she leaned forward and deliberately made a fool of herself. “That phrase always confuses me. I mean, one of the best things about a cup is that you can always refill it.”

As she’d hoped, Rafe snickered. “Way to mess up a motivational saying, Sitko. Want to go and rip a few silver linings out of the clouds while you’re at it?”

“Not motivational, but why do people searching for lost items always tell us they found it in ‘the last place they looked’? Of course it’s the last place…they found the stupid thing. They don’t need to look anymore.”

Nicole and Troy exchanged glances. “She’s as bad as you,” Troy proclaimed.

“Why do you think we’re best friends?” Nic demanded.

A shot of pure joy hit hard. Rafe had relaxed, pulling her into his lap as the fire blazed higher. The others were talking with each other, lost in private conversation.

“You’re grinning,” Rafe murmured.

“I’m happy,” she admitted. “Nic’s my best friend.”

“I caught that,” he said. “Good.I’mglad too. If I have to give up the title, I can’t think of a more worthy person. I’ll get the trophy off the shelf and give it to her later.”

“Goofball,” she teased.

He took a deep breath, nuzzling her neck. “Still can’t figure out what you smell like, but it’s making me hungry all over.”

“There’s more pie,” she offered, a shiver racing over her skin as he nibbled on her ear.

“Hungry for something sweeter,” he murmured, the words rumbling up from deep in his chest. A sexy, needy tone that made her entire body ache, and a rush of heat strike deep in her core.

An idea grew rapidly—tempting and dangerous.

Tempting, and perfect.

Except…she was missing one key ingredient.

She cornered Nicole alone for a minute, blushing furiously as she quietly stammered the question. “Do you have any condoms?”

Nicole’s eyes widened. “Whatever are you planning? I know! You want to make balloon animals for a late-night activity.”

“You know exactly what I’m planning, but I need to have one on me when I…” She made herself finish. “Well, I don’t want us not to have one, okay? And I bought a box, but they’re at my place, and I didn’t think to bring any with me to my parents’.”

“You’re killing me here.” Nicole was fighting her amusement hard. “I’m not laughing at you, really. But I’m sorry, I can’t help you. We stopped using condoms when Troy moved in with me.”

Well, now. “That’s exciting.”

She grinned. “Scary and exciting, but it doesn’t help with your issue. Don’t you think he’s got some at his place?”