I love the way her breathing changes when I touch her. The way her eyes glass over.

I reach down to her ass and lift her effortlessly, then set her on the island countertop so she’s eye-level with me and I can easily touch her everywhere.

My lips brush over hers lightly, and she fists her hands in my T-shirt at the shoulders, as though she’s holding on for dear life.

And I’ve barely touched her.

Jesus, I’ll never get tired of her.

“Why are your hands on my sister?”

Our faces jerk to the back door, where Beau has just walked in, and neither of us heard him.

“Or, more importantly,” he says with narrowed eyes, “why are your lips on my sister?”

“Beau, don’t be an ass.” Gabby rolls her eyes, looks up at me with an apologetic shrug, and jumps off the island. “It’s none of your business.”

“Bullshit.”

His eyes, so much like his sister’s, are pinned to mine, and he’s on high alert. He’s taller than me by maybe two inches, but I know that I match him in strength.

If my shoulder was at 100 percent.

Not that I’d ever fight Gabby’s brother, or anyone else for that matter.

“I’m not a child, and I don’t need you to defend my virtue, Beau.” Gabby squares off with her brother, who towers more than a foot above her, with her hands on her hips and fire shooting from her eyes.

Christ, she’s stunning.

“You’re not in the habit of fucking the guests, Gabby.”

I fist my hands and narrow my eyes. Maybe I’ll fight her brother anyway. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

“Beau!” She’s outraged and hurt. “What is wrong with you?”

“Tell me I’ve got it wrong. Because it sure didn’t look like it from here.”

“You’re a bully,” Gabby replies, her voice shaking. “And you’re a pain in my ass. You don’t get to come into my home, my business, and call me a whore.”

His face registers shock. “I didn’t—”

“I don’t want to hear it. I can’t do this with you right now.” She holds her hands up in surrender and flees the room. Not crying. Not in a dramatic huff.

She’s just simply done.

Good girl.

“So, are you in the habit of making Gabby feel like shit, or is this just a special occasion?”

Beau’s eyes narrow on me again. “You don’t know dick about my sister.”

“You’re wrong. I know plenty, and I’m learning more.”

“You’ve been here five minutes.”

“You’ve been here for twenty-seven years, and you just tore her heart out.” I lean my hips against the edge of the countertop and cross my arms over my chest. “And frankly, it pisses me off.”

Beau sighs and rubs his hand over his face. “You don’t know what we’ve been through with her. She’s the baby, and she’s been hurt as much as the rest of us.”

“She’s an adult, Beau. Hurt comes with the title.” But my stomach clenches at the thought of anyone ever hurting her. “She’s not a child.”

“No, she has a child.”

“I’ve met him,” I reply steadily. “He’s awesome.”

“And he’ll get attached to you. Have you thought of that? He already hero-worships you. So, you make them both fall for you, and then you leave?”

“Is this the what are your intentions with my daughter conversation?” I ask soberly, not moving. Beau is pacing the floor, agitation in every line of his body.

“I’m the closest thing she has to a father!”

“You’re her brother.” I shake my head. “And yes, you should protect her. But Jesus, man, you just spoke to her like she was sixteen. And you’re lucky I didn’t deck you for the ‘fucking the guest’ comment.”

He frowns and paces away, then back again. “If you want to play games, she’s not the one to play them with.”

“Who said anything about playing games? She’s amazing. And the fact that you’d think that a man would be with her simply because she’s hot is a shot against you, and no one else.” Now I am getting pissed.

“Are you saying you love her?”

I pause. “I’m learning her,” I begin thoughtfully. “She just…devastates me. I’m saying I am going to keep learning her, making her laugh, making her happy.”

“And Sam?”

“Sam’s part of the package, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I reply evenly. “I’m assuming you know where his sperm donor is?” I refuse to call the man his father.

“I do.” Beau’s eyes narrow again. “Why?”

“Because I’d like to beat the shit out of him.”

Beau grins now. “Eli and I did that a long time ago.”

“Good, but I’d like my own crack at him.” I shift my head from side to side. “Just for fun.”

“He’s far away, thank God.” Beau firms his lips and watches me for a long minute. “If you fuck with her, I’ll fuck with you, and it will hurt.”

“Back at you.”

Chapter Seven

~Gabby~

I would typically sit on the porch and enjoy being mad, but I’m so worked up, I need to walk. So I set off for the gardens, wandering through them. The flowers are full and heavy with bees flitting from bloom to bloom. Birds are singing in the trees above.