I press against his chest like he’s crazy. “No way. I never get parties. We’re going all night.”
“I kind of had other plans to last all night,” he grumbles.
I hum low, wanting that too. But I’ll settle for a kiss. I lift on my toes, then pause, still feeling awkward with my brother watching. “Come outside with me.”
He follows my lead as I step out to the porch and shut the door behind us.
Without missing a beat, he presses me against the siding, snakes his hands into my hair, and kisses me. It’s a soft, long kiss. But he pauses briefly. “I thought we weren’t hiding anymore,” he says.
“We’re not. I just didn’t want an audience.” I smile against his lips.
He growls low. “Wise ass.”
I giggle, pulling him close. We’re interrupted by the sound of tires crunching on gravel, followed by a double honk.
An ice-blue SUV slows in front of the cottage. Silas hops out of the driver’s seat, and he’s brought a friend. I narrow my eyes as a familiar face steps out of the passenger side. I gasp. “Is that—”
“Chase,” Wilder sighs, then, taking me with him, jogs down the steps to greet his brother. I try not to gawk at the man they call King of the Ice, but it’s hard when he comes around, holding out his hand.
“You must be Rose. Chase Reeves.”
Iknowwhoyouare, I’m about to say. Then pause mid-handshake. “Wait, Reeves?”
“Levi’s brother,” Wilder says dryly.
“And captain of the Denver Kings,” I point out.
“Finally, someone who doesn’t acknowledge me as someone’s kid brother.” He squeezes my shoulders like he likes me already. “Welcome. Hope you love it. Silas and I had to wrangle a set of season tickets to get this color.”
I frown in question, but he’s already heading to the house. “Silas, one beer, then I’ve gotta get back to the wife.”
I turn back to the guys. “What does—”
I don’t have a chance to ask before Silas wraps me in a hug. “Welcome back. And look, I don’t run pick-up favors for nothing. You’re going to be in Denver a lot, I’m going to expect rides into town.” He winks, then drops the keys into Wilder’s hand. “See you inside.”
I turn my gaze back to the car, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. Wilder watches as I run my finger along the shiny blue exterior.
“It’s yours,” he confirms.
My lips part with no words as I look up at him.
“You’re going to need it to get to and from school three days a week.”
“Wilder, it’s beautiful. But this is too much.”
He shrugs. “Figured I’d better get you something beforemytruck suddenly goes missing one night.”
“You’ve already given me a place to live and I’m not even working here anymore.”
He wraps his arms around my waist. “About that. Wesley and I had an idea last week. In New York, you told me that art was your therapy, how you relieved stressful emotions and that maybe one day .?.?. you want to teach it.”
“I do.” I frown as he twists me to face the cottage, keeping his strong arms around me.
“What if there was a place you could do that now?”
“Art therapy? Here?”
“Wes and I were talking. We could turn it into a studio for you. Hold classes all year round. On your terms, your schedule. If you want.”
