The kitchen was crowded with people, and chatter filled the air. All eyes fell on me when I stepped into the room, and conversation ceased. Talk about being under the spotlight. It wasn’t that much of a surprise, though, considering I went all Mike Tyson in the backyard at my parents’ house during my brother’s engagement party. Mom glanced over my shoulder, and the excited look on her face dropped as her eyes found nothingness.

“Where’s Ashlyn? I thought we were all having breakfast together.” Disappointment laced her words.

“She is in the shower. She will be down soon.”

Her face changed from disappointment to excitement in a split second, and she immediately gave Grandma Crawford and Aunt Carole a look that made me nervous. The three of them together were dangerous, and as I watched them walk out of the kitchen carrying dishes of eggs and bacon, I knew they were up to something. Dad and Eden soon left, and it was just Ky and I. We hadn’t spoken since I left, and I hated how we left things, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to discuss what had happened.

“I was a prick last night. You know I’m protective of Ash, so I won’t apologize for that, but I will apologize for being a prick,” Ky stated, and handed me a freshly-brewed coffee. I leaned against the kitchen island beside him, and we both looked outside to the back deck where Eden and Mom were setting up breakfast.

“I won’t apologize for anything I do when it comes to her,” I stated firmly.

“That’s fair enough. How is she? Was she able to relax last night?”

Of course she relaxed, I made her come twice.

I avoided his gaze. “Yeah, she was okay. She seemed to forget about it all.”

Before the conversation could continue and potentially get even more awkward, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I smiled after pulling it out of my pocket, when I found my friend from the West Coast’s name on the screen. Savannah Rae was a gorgeous Australian, who had moved to Los Angeles to take up a position at Beautify Magazine, one of the top periodicals owned by Anderson Publications. When we first met, we had some intense flirting. She had a sexy-as-fuck accent that I couldn’t resist, but then we went our separate ways, and next time I saw her she was loved up. It was a blessing in disguise, because now she was one of my best friends.

I opened her message and burst out laughing.

Since when did you become a boxer? You like making yourself known at events, don’t you? Being called the other guy at the west coast office Christmas party, breaking girl’s hearts all across the country, and now getting in a fight at your brothers engagement party. I wish I could have been there. Damn deadlines.

How the hell did she know about what happened last night? I busily tapped in a reply, telling her that I’d call her on the drive home, and shoved my phone back in my pocket.

“Coffee, I need coffee.” Ashlyn stepped into the kitchen and the scent of her perfume hit me like a ton of bricks. A white sundress hung loosely around her mid-thigh, but was tight across her chest. Fuck me, she was the cause of an instant hard on.

“Which one of you is going to make me one?” She fluttered her eyelashes and chewed on her lip when her eyes found mine.

“I’m the king of making coffee in this family,” I said gloating and shooting her a wink for good measure. I pushed away from the kitchen island and headed for the coffee machine. I could hear quiet talk between Ky and Ashlyn, but I focused on the coffee and got lost in memories of the night before. One thing that had sat in the pits of my gut for the past five years was the unnerving feeling that Ky would always be her go to Crawford, but slowly, I felt like she was beginning to give me more of her. For five years I had dealt with the feelings of second best, but with every glance, touch, and soft word, she was changing that, and she didn’t have a clue in the world.

“That smells good.” Ashlyn sidled up beside me and rested her body against mine. The closeness of our bodies could only mean that we were in the kitchen on our own. “How’s your hand this morning?”

I flexed it and pain shot up my arm, but I wouldn’t show her. “It’s okay.”

“Liar.” She snorted. “At least let me drive home today.”

“A gentleman always drives the lady home.”

She raised a brow and smirked. “A gentleman? Would a gentleman do what you did last night while in your parents’ house?”

“A true gentleman will always guarantee satisfaction, no matter where his lady is.”

“His lady?” She laughed and shook her head. “Well, just so you know, your guarantee of satisfaction was met last night.”

I shot her a wink and felt my chest swell with pride as her cheeks flushed. She crossed the kitchen and headed to the fridge to get the creamer, while I focused on the coffee.

“Joshy, I was told you were hiding in here.”

My eyes slammed shut at the sound of Tori’s voice. I turned around as she stepped into the kitchen and her eyes locked onto mine. “Where did you disappear to last night? I was expecting to have some fun with you.”

The fridge slammed shut, and Tori jumped and swung around. Ashlyn’s glare flittered between me and Tori before she stepped up to the kitchen island and placed the creamer beside the two mugs.

“Ashlyn, babe, I cannot believe that Lachlan cheated on you, and to hear he did it more than once,” Tori said without a drop of compassion.

She had to be fucking kidding. Why the hell would she bring that up? Ashlyn’s face dropped and her eyes flashed to mine briefly before she offered Tori an unenthusiastic smile.

“Sometimes people are just born to be an assholes, I guess. People do and say things they shouldn’t all the time.” Ashlyn shrugged her shoulders.

Silence fell between the three of us, though Tori didn’t hide the fact that she was looking at me with fierce intent. Awkward wouldn’t even begin to describe it.

“We will be out in a minute, Tori. I’m just talking to Ashlyn about something work related,” I said, desperate for her to leave.

“As long as we catch up later, Joshy. How about I head up to the city tonight?” she said, and raised a suggestive brow. “Text me, I’m sure you have my number on speed dial.”

With one last roving gaze, Tori turned and left the kitchen with extra swing in her hips. Once she disappeared, I turned to Ashlyn and found annoyance taking over her features.

“That’s my name for you. How dare she call you that? I call you Joshy, and you call me Ashy. Everybody knows that,” Ashlyn hissed in disgust, her eyes still locked on the door Tori had just disappeared through.

I took a step toward her, and my sudden movement grabbed her attention. Her eyes softened with each inch that I closed in. When I reached her, I grabbed her hand and pulled her against me until she wrapped her arms around my waist and fell into my hug. “Forget her,” I whispered.

“Joshy, we are nearly ready for breakfast.”

Both of our heads snapped up at the sound of Tori’s voice yet again. She had stepped back into the kitchen and was, once again, looking directly at me, clearly ignoring that I had Ashlyn in my arms. Ashlyn stiffened against me, and with a heavy sigh, she unwrapped herself from my waist and stepped away. Tori shot me a wink and left . . . again.

“Seriously, is she blind? Do I need to rip down your pants and give you a blow job for her to realize I’m here?” Ashlyn muttered under her breath.

I coughed at her brazen declaration and the thought of her taking my cock in her mouth. The idea of having those plump lips devour me caused me to groan as a shot of want shot through me.

“The thought of my cock in your mouth is something I shouldn’t be visualizing just before I’m about to sit down to breakfast with my family. How about we talk about blow jobs some other time?”

“Talk to Tori about blow jobs, she wouldn’t even care about your family. She’d probably choose your cock over breakfast and get you to whip it out while all of us ate our eggs.”