The man knows full well what that does to me. I can tell by the way he’s grinning. “You play dirty, Lawless.”
His face grows serious. “Never. Not with you, Hannah.”
Oof, this man…he may think he fell for me first, but I fell for him a long time ago.
And I’m still falling.
CHAPTER 36
Nick
I’m vaguely aware of a banging noise as I open my eyes and squint against the sunlight-filled room. I groan as I roll over and check the clock, still sore from my recertification testing two days ago. That’s the funny thing about muscles. You usually don’t feel the full burn until a day or so after.
The pounding coming from my front door hits my ears full force this time, and so does Bandit’s bark. I pull on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, having a serious sense of sleepy déjà vu. If it’s Graham again, I may have to reconsider our friendship because I feel like I could sleep for another two hours, easily.
Plus, I want to be in great shape for my date with Hannah tonight. Our first official one-on-one date includes no training, parties, or even a dog.
More pounding.
“I’m coming!” My annoyance shifts to delight when I see Hannah through the peephole. I yank open the door, wishing I’d had time to brush my teeth so I could kiss her hello.
She backs up a few steps and waves at me to follow. “I have a surprise for you.”
When I step out, a deluge of ice water dumps over me from above. Hannah jumps back, hand on her mouth and eyes filled with mirth.
I suck in quick breaths against the icy cold water. Heck of a way to wake up. Bandit licks my fingers and starts lapping at the puddle around my feet. A ginormous orange paint bucket rolls into the grass, close to a ladder supporting a two-by-four that’s propped above my door.
I follow the rope to Graham and Liam, who are standing behind Hannah, laughing as well. I may be cold at the moment, but I’m warmer inside, knowing I’ve become the object of a McCarthy prank, like a welcome into their inner circle.
Hannah approaches, a smug smile on her kissable lips. “You know what they say about paybacks.”
I wipe my hands over my face and shake them at her, like a wet dog. With a squeal, she jumps back and waves at me to stop. Despite Graham’s warning about PDAs—or maybe in spite of—I yank Hannah in for a quick kiss. “I guess I deserved it.”
Graham comes up next to her, a mix of disdain and humor coating his expression. “My sister has seriously tamed you, man.”
Hannah shoves him, which does little to affect the wall of muscle that he is. “Back off, you goon.”
Graham grins at her, then shakes his head as he rejoins Liam.
Hannah slides her hands around my waist with a smile that has me wishing we were alone. “Have I tamed you?”
Her flirtatious tone makes me grin and ache all at once. But then I remember her brothers are close by. I glance over to where Graham and Liam are watching us with wide grins on their faces. Liam gives me a thumbs-up. They may make a big show of protecting their sister, and for good reason, but their expressions tell me they’re happy for us.
I’mhappy forus. And at the moment, I don’t care that we’re not alone and that I have stinky morning breath.
I brush my lips over hers, amazed she’s mine. “Woof.”
And I’m all hers.
CHAPTER 37
Nick
EPILOGUE
FOUR MONTHS LATER
It’s taken every bit of strength and determination I possess not to blurt out what I have planned for Hannah today. I started this months ago. The day after my surprise party, actually. And now it’s final, and I can reveal it to her.
