“Here it comes,” Wendy snorts.

“I’m just going to say it, and you can’t be mad at me for saying it.” Lexi warns, and I cringe internally. She’s always been so crass, and I love it about her sometimes, but other times she literally makes me ill with her verbal diarrhea. “Your husband died, Demi, not your vagina. Don’t you dare act like he doesn’t affect you.”

Groaning, I stand and return to the counter. As I begin cracking eggs into a bowl I argue, “Not everyone’s world revolves around sex, Lexi.”

“Okay,” she sighs in defeat. “I mean, if you’re not interested, you mind if I take a bite?” My stomach knots at the thought.

“Yes, I do,” I toss the shell I’m holding in my hand in the sink and turn back to her. “Leave him be, Lexi. Please. He’s Blake’s cousin, and I don’t want things getting weird because you unleashed your crazy on him.”

“My crazy?” She feigns offense as a small smile curves her lips. Leaning her chair back, she looks down at her crotch and says, “You hear what she just called you? That’s okay. You are crazy,” she coos. “Crazy good.”

“Are you seriously talking to your vagina?” I ask in disbelief. Wendy is absolutely no help to me at all. She’s watching us banter, red-faced and laughing.

“You hurt its feelings,” Lexi pouts as she meets my gaze, her expression serious. “Say you’re sorry.”

My sister is nuts and even though she’s extremely immature and inappropriate, I can’t help but laugh a little. “Not a chance.”

“Fine,” she huffs as she leans her chair forward again. “But that was mean. So, seriously? I can’t make a move on him?”

“He’s off limits. I mean it.”

As I turn back to my bowl of eggs, Lexi murmurs to Wendy, “I wonder if his dick is big.”

Whipping around I hold up my whisk and warn, “If you breathe another word I’m going to beat you with this—”

“Hey, Connor,” Wendy chimes. “You showered quickly. Have a seat, breakfast is almost ready.” I glare at Lexi as she grins from ear to ear, before returning to my bowl.

As I whisk the eggs, I feel a hand on the small of my back. “Can I help you with anything, Demi?” His touch affects me. Damn it, I don’t want it to, but it does. But then I wonder, is it his touch, or just because I haven’t been touched by a man in so long? Or have I forgotten the difference between an unwanted touch and a wanted one.

“Thanks, but I’m almost done,” I manage after a moment. “Coffee mugs are in that up there,” I jut my chin toward the cabinet above the coffee maker. “And there’s juice in the fridge.”

“Morning,” Jeff grumbles as he meanders in and takes the seat next to Wendy. When I turn to acknowledge him, he’s staring at the table, avoiding eye contact with me at all costs. Damn, he’s making this weird.

“Jeff,” I call, darting my eyes to Wendy, who’s smirking, before darting them back to him. He still doesn’t look at me. “Jeff,” I say, louder. He doesn’t raise his head but lifts his gaze to mine. “You don’t have to make this weird, okay. It was . . . awkward, yes, but we’re family.”

“Wait,” Lexi interrupts. “What’d I miss?”

“Little mishap. Demi lost her towel and was naked, Jeff ended up on top of her,” Wendy explains nonchalantly as if it’s no big deal.

Lexi, who just sipped her coffee, barely manages to spit it back in her cup. “What?” she chokes out.

“Long story. It was a crazy night last night,” Wendy adds. “Poor Connor probably thinks we’re all nutjobs.”

Connor gives an easy smile from where he stands leaned against the kitchen sink. “No, not nut jobs. But it did scare the hell out of me.”

“Okay, I need to know what’s going on,” Lexi demands.

Wendy explains in more detail what transpired last night, and Lexi sits back in her chair with her eyes fixed on Connor. “Well aren’t you a knight and shining armor? Running in here, ready to protect Demi.”

Her words have so much more meaning. Well, it’s not even the words, it’s the way she says them that causes everyone in the room to feel uncomfortable. Or makes me feel uncomfortable, I’m pretty sure no one else is paying attention to her.

“I heard her scream,” Connor mumbles, after sipping his coffee. “I think anyone would’ve come running to help.”

“Okay,” I interrupt, desperate to change the subject as I lay a plate of scrambled eggs on the table. “Breakfast is ready.” We all sit and enjoy the meal together. Of course, Lexi leaves immediately afterward, feigning a headache, and Wendy and Jeff leave claiming his mother has already called his cell four times wondering when they’ll be home. None of them help with the dishes.

I walk Wendy to the car and hug her goodbye. When I return to the kitchen, Connor is standing at the sink washing dishes.

“You don’t have to do that,” I say.

His mouth curves as he rinses a dish, “It’s the least I can do.”

I start clearing the table, and when I finish, I dry the dishes he’s washed. “Does it feel weird to be out?”

His mouth quirks to the side before he answers, “It feels . . . a little overwhelming. But I’m happy to be out.”

“Would you like to go into town and visit Grams today? I know she’s dying to see you.” Grams is Blake and Connor’s grandmother. She lives in an assisted living facility in town.

“You don’t have work today?” he asks, surprised.

“Summer break, so my days are way shorter. I took a few days off to help you settle in.”

He doesn’t respond to that, just keeps washing the plate in his hands, before handing it to me. “Actually, could we go in a few days?” he finally asks. “I’d like to get myself . . . get things a little more situated before I see her.”

“Sure.” I shrug.

He lets out a breath and releases. “This is embarrassing, but my parole officer has to come by here and validate t?” his as my place of residence. Plus, my place of employment is here, I guess. He’ll probably need to validate that, too. I’m sorry, Demi,” he apologizes, not looking to me. His expression reads shame.

“There’s no need to be sorry, Connor,” I assure him. “I want to help you. If you want to start a new life, live free and happy, I’m happy to help you start that life.”

“That’s all I want,” he admits. “So . . . we’ll see Grams in a few days?”

“Yeah, that sounds good.” I smile. “She’s going to be thrilled to see you.”

“I can’t wait either.” The softest of smiles lights up his face. It’s obvious he loves his grandmother when the mere thought of her puts a grin like that on his face.

When we finish the dishes, he wipes the counters down and before he leaves, says, “I’m going to work on the bike for a bit, and then I’ll go into town to get the parts I need to fix your car.”

“I’ll pay you, Connor,” I tell him.

“No, you won’t,” he adds. “I know I probably seem like a worthless mooch right now. I mean, I know you only welcomed me here because it’s what Blake wanted,” he corrects himself.

“No—”

“But I fully intend to pull my weight, Demi,” he interrupts. “I will repay you for all of this. And I’ll get my own place as soon as I can.”

I hate that he’s right in a sense. I am only doing this for Blake. Or at least I was. But something about his proclamation touches me. And maybe it’s only been a day, but I believe Connor. I believe he wants a new start a new life. And maybe it was Blake who mapped all this out, but I’m the one that’s here right now. I’m the one that can help this man find the life he wants. Why shouldn’t I try to help him wholeheartedly?

Walking up to him, meeting his gaze head on, I say, “This is your home now, too. You’re welcome here as long as you need or want to be here. In fact, it’ll be nice to have someone around. It can get a little lonely.” I can’t help frowning with the admission. It has been terribly lonely in this house since Blake passed away. When I move my eyes to Connor again, his mouth is in a flat line, his brows furrowed slightly in sympathy for me.