As Eden and I stepped into the brightly-lit kitchen, the deep rumblings of conversation halted. Josh, Ky, and their Dad stood in the center of the room, all dressed immaculately in suits, and each with a glass of scotch in one of their hands. It should be illegal for a family to have those kinds of genes. Mr. Crawford had it going on, with salt and pepper hair and piercing green eyes, and I didn’t hide that fact that I found him handsome. I particularly enjoyed freaking out Josh and Ky with my thoughts on the matter.
Eden crossed the kitchen and wrapped her arm around Ky’s waist, while I stood frozen under the intense gaze of Josh. His eyes roamed freely over my body, taking in my silver heels, my bare legs, and my tight blue dress before he finally met my gaze. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, I would never become accustomed to the feeling of being under Josh’s gaze.
“Thanks for coming, Ash,” Ky announced happily.
I broke my stare from Josh and smiled at my best friend. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Ky and Eden fell into conversation with Mike Crawford, and my eyes reverted back to Josh. My mouth instantly went dry as I had a chance to really look at him. He looked good. Too damn good. He was dressed head to toe in the dark charcoal suit with a powder blue shirt to match my dress, but had left it opened at the neck and decided against a tie. His hair had the just-got-fucked look that I loved, and the nail in the coffin was that he had stubble and looked like he hadn’t shaved since I left. He was a walking, talking, aphrodisiac.
He looked back at me with an impassive face, but I couldn’t ignore the twitch of his lip as he tried to hide a smile. As if I was watching in slow motion, he crossed the kitchen, his eyes firmly locked on mine, until he was standing before me. When his eyes dropped to my lips, I swear my entire world spun out of control. It had only been three days since I last saw him, but it felt more like a year. I had the nervous energy, the excited rush of blood through my system, and the need to touch him to make sure he was real. It was confusing the hell out of me. I was a walking contradiction. I needed him to stay away, but I wanted nothing more than to be completely engulfed by him. His arms wrapped so softly around my shoulders and pulled me toward his chest. It wasn’t anything shocking for others to see me and Josh hug. We were friends, and friends hugged. My hands gripped the bottom of his jacket as the warmth of his body made mine go slack against him.
“You look beautiful, Ashy. Fuck, it’s good to see you,” he whispered into my ear, sending a shiver of warmth down my spine.
As quickly as he pulled me into his arms, he stepped away, and I felt the loss of his warmth immediately. I turned to the counter, grabbed my glass of champagne, and tried to get hold of myself and my traitorous libido. Fuck, I felt like a horny fifteen-year-old girl that the star quarterback just said hi to in the hall.
“How was Lilac Cove?” Ky asked, and I was thankful for the distraction.
Having spent three days in the beautiful beachside town, I felt refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the world. I didn’t know whether it was being removed from constant reminders of Lachlan, or waking up to the smell of the ocean, but I felt better than I had in a long time. Lilac Cove was the kind of place where you had no reason to do anything but relax and get lost in the seaside vibes that hit you as soon as you drive into town. It was so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the big city. I would always be a small town girl, even if I didn’t want to believe it. I’d only just returned, but I couldn’t wait to run away there again.
“It was amazing. I swear I’m going to move down there when I have kids,” I replied wistfully.
The sound of someone choking quickly filled the room. I knew exactly who it was, and I couldn’t help but smirk. Everyone turned to look at Josh, but his gaze was set firmly on me.
“Yes, Josh, some people do think about the future, and not just who they are going to have sex with on the weekend.” I smirked, shooting him a raised brow.
Ky coughed through a laugh, and Eden’s giggle told me she agreed with my statement.
“On that note, I’m going to see where my wife is. It’s good to see you, Ashlyn,” Mr. Crawford announced, and kissed my cheek quickly before leaving the room and disappearing outside.
“You’re a spitfire, Ashy,” Josh said when his Dad left.
“Don’t deny that’s what you love about me.”
“I’ll tell you what I love, you’re hot little as—”
“You two bicker like brother and sister.” Ky laughed, slapping Josh on the back and shooting me a glimpse of his million-dollar smile.
No! No! No! Ky did not just refer to Josh and me as brother and sister? Jesus! That was wrong on so many levels. Now, I was very open to a lot of things, and I’d try everything once, maybe even twice, but kissing and being finger fucked by my brother was not one of them. That was horrendous and nightmare inducing. My cheeks flushed, or did I go pale in disgust? God, what was happening? I avoided making eye contact with anyone. Thankfully, Josh and Ky started talking amongst themselves, and I focused on the illuminated numbers displaying the time on the microwave.
“How about we go and mingle? Colby and Blake want to say hi to you, and Tori should be arriving any minute,” Eden suggested, breaking my stare.
“Yes!” I said a little too eagerly. I had been here for less than twenty minutes, and I was already losing it. Colby and Blake would be a perfect distraction, although I was sure Tori’s attention would be squarely locked onto Josh.
Ky’s words circled in my head, and the inappropriate nature of them was too much to ignore. I pushed away from the bench that I’d been leaning on and headed to the back door.
“Let’s go, little sister,” Josh said softly from behind me. He placed a hand at the small of my back and didn’t remove it as I descended the steps.
I shot him a glare over my shoulder when we hit flat ground, but he didn’t remove his hand. “You did not just say that,” I spat incredulously. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Oh, I said it alright.”
I tried but failed holding in my chuckle. “You disgust me.”
“I didn’t disgust you when I had my tongue in your mouth and my fingers deep inside your pussy the other night. How many times did I make you come?” His breath was hot on my ear as he leaned in, and I felt his chest brushing my back. “Fuck, you are beautiful when you come undone. I cannot wait to see it again.”
It was official. I was about to have a spontaneous orgasm in front of the Crawford family. I was going to be that girl who lifted her dress, pushed her panties to the side, and begged a man to take her without any thoughts of the consequences. How can he make me completely come undone just by talking? I had absolutely no hope in the world.
“Leave her alone, Josh.” Eden laughed casually, as if I was dealing with his usual teasing and not his suggestion of touching me again or sharing his lavished memories of our recent tryst. She slipped her hand into mine and pulled me across the yard away from Josh. My heart thundered in my chest. I hoped Eden couldn’t feel how clammy my hands were, but good lord, I couldn’t ignore the wetness pooling between my legs from his dirty words.
“Ky and I have a surprise for you tonight,” Eden announced in a singsong voice that was bubbling with excitement. She was glowing with delight, and her eyes shone with eagerness at whatever the surprise was. I couldn’t think of anything they could surprise me with besides . . .
“Are you pregnant?” I screeched, causing the people in close vicinity to direct their attention to us.
“Jesus, Ashlyn. No, I am not pregnant!” Eden shot back. Her hands swung wildly around as she twisted to the crowd that gawked at us. “Nothing to look at here, people. No baby on board.”