Page 53 of The Maxwell Brothers

I headed to the back entrance of the house. The backpack was there in the mudroom. I was already making a mental note of everything I was going to put in it. I needed an extra change of clothing for Paisley, towels, a blanket.

I was about to unhook the backpack to take it upstairs when I felt someone behind me. I drew in a sharp breath as Tate’s hands gripped my waist, and before I even had time to turn around, I felt his lips on my neck.

“Good morning.” His breath landed on a sensitive spot on my neck. Goose bumps broke out on my arms and then my legs. I wasn’t sure how I would resist his proximity if my body reacted this way every time.

“Morning,” I said in a chipper tone, wondering if he could tell the effect he had on me.

“I’m sorry about the ambush. I had no idea they were planning to stop by until they were here.”

“Hey, it’s your family,” I said. “You don’t have to apologize.”

He growled against my neck, sending delicious tingles through me. “No, but I had a plan for this morning.”

“Oh? By your voice, I’m guessing it was a sexy plan?”

He turned me around to look at me intently. “Yes,” he replied seriously, making me laugh.

My heart was thumping in my chest. My entire body heated up. “Well, keep it in mind,” I whispered. “I’m sure you’ll have an opportunity to put it in motion.”

From the dangerous glint in his eyes, it was clear he disagreed with me. He parted my legs with his knee, spreading his fingers on my neck. This bad man wanted to put whatever sexy plan he had in motion right now. That spelled disaster. He tilted closer, and I sucked in a breath.

The next moment, Paisley called for him from the other room. He groaned, pulling back and dropping his hand. I immediately missed having him near.

“I want to talk to you before I leave,” he said.

I nodded. “Okay, but go. You don’t want her thinking there’s something between us.”

“Right,” he said, his expression tightening before he turned around.

All in all, I was proud of myself. I didn’t think Declan or Beatrice could tell anything was happening between the two of us. It wasn’t that I necessarily wanted things to be a secret, but it only made sense that if we didn’t want Paisley to know, it would be easier if the rest of the family didn’t either.

Tate and I didn’t get a chance to be alone again because Paisley was determined to tell me all the decoration ideas she had. After he and Declan left, Paisley declared that she wanted to watchThe Jungle Bookfor a bit before we headed out. She had strict screen time, so I opened my mouth to suggest watching it later in the evening, but Beatrice said, “Let her watch it. Nothing will happen. I will never understand why young people have so many rules for their children.”

I pressed my lips together to hold back a laugh. Spoken like a true grandmother.

“Let’s you and I drink a coffee,” Beatrice said after Paisley moved to the living room with her headphones and the iPad.“And you can tell me all about what’s happening between you and my grandson.”

I nearly swallowed my tongue as my hands froze in the act of making coffee. I turned around. How could she tell?

“I’ll take a guess and say that physical attraction won over,” Beatrice said in a relaxed tone, as if she were talking about the weather forecast.

All I could do was nod.

“Paisley doesn’t know,” I added hastily. I couldn’t admit it was more than physical attraction. Saying it out loud felt dangerous. Like the idea would take hold of my heart and not let go.

Beatrice was studying me but didn’t say anything.

I turned around, twiddling my thumbs after pressing the button that made two coffees at once. Once they were ready, I took them to the kitchen island and climbed on the bar stool.

Beatrice was watching me intently. “How do you feel about my grandson?” she asked, again in that relaxed tone, as if she were asking me what I thought about our picnic today.

“I… Well, I haven’t known him for long,” I mumbled. I’d met the man a month ago, after all.

She laughed, covering my hand with hers. She radiated warmth and motherly energy. “It’s too early. My bad. I shouldn’t have asked.”

I felt like I was talking to Mom. Over the past few years, most of the conversations with my parents centered around her health. I couldn’t remember the last time I talked to Mom about a guy I liked. Of course, I hadn’t been attracted to someone in a long time, not the way I was to Tate.

“Beatrice, I’m not sure what to say.”