Parker looked like shit. When he’d arrived, Parker had already seemed like he’d been up early drinking. He’d said a quick hi, hadn’t bothered introducing the slut with him, and then picked a corner to brood in with his bimbo bitch. I couldn’t goddamn believe the dick had brought her. The way she’d been all over him, him letting her hands roam without saying anything or even talking to her, pissed me off.

I’d finally started to relax with Easton at my side while we talked shit to the brothers around us. It’d felt bloody good to share that with Easton, and he’d settled after a while, only stumbling over a couple of words. Though, he did blush just about every time I touched him in a simple way. Then we’d heard the bitch huff about something and leave. I started to make my way over to see what the hell was up with Parker when he’d slurred a goodbye and quickly left.

Thank fuck Liam was there to help him out. If he hadn’t offered, I would have gone out the front, asked what the fuck was wrong with him, and then if the dick answered, I’d have gotten him home safely.

Easton’s hand slid up my back as I stared after Parker. “He didn’t look good, Lan. What do you think’s going on with him?”

“I don’t know. Me maybe. Us? I don’t fuckin’ know. But I want to know. I need to know. If the idiot would just talk to us….” Facing Easton, I told him, “Before everyone arrived and you came home, I got a call from Sarge. Parker’s given his four weeks’ notice.”

“What? Why?”

“Sarge doesn’t know. He was shocked I didn’t know anything about it. But he’s guessin’ Parker’s just had enough. Of course, I can’t help thinkin’ it’s because of me. He wants to get far enough away from me as he can.”

“He said he doesn’t judge people.”

I shook my head. “He doesn’t. It could be because I—”

“Wait, hang on. Sorry to interrupt,” Violet, Talon’s sister and a private investigator, said, stepping up to our sides. We shifted her way. “But I thought you knew what was going on.”

My head jerked back. “What do you mean? What’s going on?”

“Parker’s quitting because of the offer I made… but it was for you and him. He told me he talked to you about it and would get the ball rolling.

“What offer?” I asked.

“I’m looking to branch out my PI business and was hoping to take you and Parker on board for my new branch here in Melbourne.”

Why wouldn’t Parker tell me? Glancing to the ground, I clenched my fists. That was right, because he wasn’t talking to me.

“Violet, right?” Easton asked.

“Yes.”

“You’re a PI?”

I didn’t hear the rest of their conversation.

Confusion rolled around and around inside of me. Mixing with it all was hurt. I wasn’t sure what was going on with Parker, but I had to find out. I’d put hearing him quitting behind me because I’d wanted to enjoy the barbeque, but I was determined to know why. I wasn’t messing the day for Easton and me, though. He was sweet enough to distract Violet while I got lost in my head, and Easton was what was important.

I curled my arm around Easton’s shoulder and tugged him close. He smiled up at me. “Vi, thanks for the offer. I’ll just need some time to think about it.”

She smiled. “Of course. I’m going to get another drink. You guys want anything?”

Easton shook his head, and I said, “We’re good, thanks.”

When she walked off, I brought Easton to the front of me and wrapped a hand around his wrist. “We’re going to enjoy this barbeque and the company we have. Later, we’ll talk about Parker and Vi’s offer. That sound okay?”

“Sounds good, and thank you.”

“For what?” I asked, smiling.

He shrugged. “For today. For being you. For sharing your friends and family with me.”

I shook my head. “You don’t need to thank me for any of that. But I appreciate the thought and you gotta know, I’m thankful for all that from you too.”

Mally leaned into me on the patio setting while others talked around us. “Can I be honest with you?”

“Yeah, honey.”

“I’ve seen you around a couple of women, on dates and such, but I’ve never seen you so happy. You’re talking, but your eyes don’t stray far from him.”

I grinned. “That’s because I fear what Julian could be telling him.”

She giggled. “He’ll be safe.”

“He’d better.” I nudged her shoulder with mine. “When East and I were together long ago, I knew he was something special, and when I messed shit up between us, I’ve regretted it each and every goddamn day. When I saw him for the first time after all of these years, it hit me hard. I believed it was a second chance to redeem myself and a second chance to have my own chance of happiness.” I looked at Easton when I spoke those words to Mally. Catching me staring, he smiled warmly over at me, but his brows dipped when he glanced at Mally. I looked at her and found her crying. “Honey?” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and brought her in close.

She sniffed. “That’s just so amazing. It’s like you two were destined to be together.”

“Yeah.” I grinned. “I like to think that.”

“How did you first meet him?” she asked.

“Shush everyone, Lan’s about to tell the story of how they met,” Ivy yelled.

“Cupcake,” we heard sighed.

“Lan, after they’re finished pecking over you, we’ll be inside watchin’ the game,” Talon said. I lifted my beer in return and the brothers shot off inside. All except one.

“You goin’ in?” I asked Stoke.

“Hell no. I want to hear how my cousin lost his nuts to the one… what did you say, love? Destined to be together?”

Mally blushed. “Yes.” She wasn’t the only one blushing, so was Easton. I grinned over at him and winked.

“Let’s hear it then,” Stoke said.

Didn’t bother me he wanted to hear it. However, Easton thought it did. He blurted, “It really wasn’t so special. We met, we ah, um, got to know one another and then, ah, dated. The end.”

I laughed. “East, it was a bit more than that.”

He gave me wide eyes, as if to tell me he was giving me an out, but I didn’t want one.

Shaking my head, I then said, “It was. First, there was the time I saw Easton but didn’t speak with him. When I was living in Ballarat, my boss had a friend at Melbourne University. He wanted an officer to visit his class to talk about being in the force. I was lucky to attend and Easton was in the class. While other career people talked, I looked around at the students but paused on Easton. He captured my attention. I remember thinking how I’d never seen anyone that damn good-looking before. Too bad he was so young.” Everyone laughed. Julian shoved Easton in the shoulder, and Easton smiled shyly, still blushing. He glanced back over to me. I went on, “I tried to make sure I didn’t linger on him, and then when it was over, I looked for him in the halls but couldn’t find him. I had to head back to town anyway. About a month later, I happened to be in town and met up with a woman I used to hook up with.”

“I knew it.” Easton smiled.

“Yep. I’d told him she’d just been a friend. I met her at a pub and Easton was there sitting at the bar studying. Well, pretending to. I kept catching him looking in the mirror behind the bar watching me.” Some of the women oohed over it. “As soon as I saw him, I remembered him from the university.”

“You never said you remembered me.”

“I’m loving this,” Julian cried, his hands clutched in front of him under his chin.

“I didn’t want to scare you. You were so fuckin’ cute umming and ahhing, scared you’d upset me in some way. Do you remember what I first said to you?”

His smile widened. “Yes. I was about to leave because I’d been bummed you were with a woman. But then she left, and as I was packing up, you walked up to the bar and said, ‘So, you’re just going to leave and not say anything after watching me most of the night?’”

“I did and acted as if I didn’t know you. Then you mentioned about uni and rambled on because you were so nervous.”

“I was. I couldn’t believe you were talking to me.”

“I couldn’t believe I saw you there that night. There wasn’t a chance I’d pass up the opportunity by not saying anything. As luck would have it, you were taken by me.”

“I was.”

Everyone was silent. Hell, even Stoke. It kind of felt awkward, but again, I didn’t give a shit. I loved the man across from me, and I’d have everyone know it if I could.

“Well shit. That’s pretty awesome and sweet, and all that crap. I think I need a beer and to watch the game to get my man card back.” Stoke came at me. He clasped my shoulder. “Happy for you, cousin.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Drake, no,” Zara yelled. “Put the dog down.”

“But, Mum, he wants a bath.” It was then I saw Ruby had a bucket ready for her brother.

“No,” Zara said. Drake took a step closer with Buddy in his arms. “Drake, I mean it,” Zara warned.

“It’s okay, Zara. I can just dry him later. My dogs are mellow; Buddy won’t hurt him.”

She shook her head. “I’m more worried about him hurting one of them. He’s a hooligan like his father. Drake, stop.” He made a run for it. Zara bolted up and after him. Deanna followed to help.

I rested my attention back on Easton because he’d risen and started my way.

Mally saw and said, “I’ll go see if the men are wrecking Easton’s house.” She leaned in, kissed my cheek, and stood. As Easton stopped beside the table, she kissed his cheek too. “Good to have you in the family,” she said, and before he could reply, she moved off.

Easton stared down at me, warmth in his eyes. “I kind of want to kiss and hug you right now.”

I turned on the bench seat to straddle the middle. “Come at me, East. You say it, so do it.”

“But….” He glanced around at the rest of the women, and Julian with Mattie, talking amongst themselves.

“Babe, I don’t care what they think or see. You want a piece of me, you take it, no matter who’s around. Get down here.” I grinned when he moved and sat facing me, shifting his legs over mine on the bench so we were close.

He dipped his head, his forehead touching my good shoulder. Once settled, he whispered, “You make my heart beat crazy, Lan Davis.” I caught Mally rounding others up to head into the house, leaving us alone.

“You do the same to mine.” I slid my hands slowly up his arms to his shoulders, only wincing a little from pain in my shoulder.

He pulled back to have my eyes and glide his hands up and down my thighs. He glanced around to find everyone gone. “Did Mally make everyone disappear?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“You have good people in your life.”

“I do now. I didn’t back then. The friends I thought were friends were nothing but dickheads.”

He nodded. “I need to say something, but can you wait until I’m done before responding?”

“Okay,” I agreed, a little worried from the serious tone.

“You hurt me a lot when you treated me like a stranger in front of your friends.” I opened my mouth, and he laughed as his fingers pressed against my top lip. “Let me finish.” I nodded, taking his hand in mine and holding it between us. “I’d never felt hurt like that from other guys I’d been with.” I glared at the mention of other guys. He smiled and then rushed on, “All of that tells me you mean more to me than anyone else. You’ve also mended the hurt and changed it into hope, into love. I know it sounds all mushy, but what you said before, how you described seeing me and then at the bar, it overwhelmed me hearing your side of it all. I never thought you were taken with me like I’d been with you. It meant a lot hearing it. So much so I need to tell you….” He bit his bottom lip when it wobbled. “Darn it all to hell. I’m not usually a mess when talking about feelings, but you bring it out in me, and I can’t help but feel so much for you.”

“East,” I interrupted.

“Yes?”

“Tell me,” I ordered.

“Really it’s not the best time. The house is full of people. People we’re supposed to be entertaining.”

“No offense to any of them, but fuck them. They can entertain themselves. The man I love was about to tell me that he loves me. I want to hear that more.”

He stilled, his eyes filling with tears. “You love me?”

I grinned. “Yeah, babe. I love you.”

He sniffed. “I love you, too.”

It was then I caught Oliver and Julian at the kitchen window watching us and hugging, both with tears in their eyes.

Fucking hell.

Still, I ignored them and bent enough to claim Easton’s lips with mine.