Jo’s eyes fill with tears, and as I swipe a thumb under her eyes to wipe away the ones that escape, she leans her forehead against mine. “You brought me back to life, Hurricane, and I’m so excited to live it now because I get to live it with you.”
“I love you too,” she says, her voice shaky with emotion, her arms tightening around my neck and her forehead still pressed to mine. “I love you so damn much, J. You’re my best friend too, and my favorite person, and I never want to be apart from you ever again. Kiss me, J. A month without kissing you is a month too long.”
“Fucking right it is,” I say, running my thumb over her bottom lip before I cover her mouth with mine. My entire body lights up at the feel of her lips on mine. At the way she nips at my bottom lip. At her happy hum when I lick into her mouth and the way she slicks her tongue along mine in a sensual dance that has my whole body lighting up and my cock hardening between us. I have so many more things to say to her and a whole future to plan, but in the doorway to Jo’s house with the soft light of dawn filtering in around us and her in my arms, everything in my world rights itself, and the only place I want to be is right here.
“It’s about time you got to the good stuff.” At Noah’s voice, Jo and I break apart, eyes still locked on each other, hers sparkling with amusement. I lean my forehead back against hers and we breathe against each other, neither of us eager to leave this perfect moment. Or, it would be perfect if my brothers weren’t standing right behind us.
“I thought I told you assholes to stay in the car.”
Elliot scoffs. “And miss this? You must have us mistaken for different brothers.”
“Ones who care about giving you privacy for private moments,” Cooper says, voice full of humor.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to Jo’s forehead. “They were my wingmen for the nine-hour drive. I should have known better. Can’t take them anywhere.”
She giggles a little. “They’re fine. I think whatever we do is always destined to be a family affair. I’ve got some sisters inside.”
Jo barely gets a chance to finish her sentence before Hallie and Hannah appear behind her, both of them stumbling and bleary-eyed and sleep-rumpled. Jo unwraps her legs from my waist and hops down, turning to face her sisters. I wrap both my arms around her and tug her back against me, unwilling to let her get too far away.
Hallie eyes me with a grumpy look that would probably make me laugh if I didn’t think she would remove my balls from my body with her bare hands. “You couldn’t have waited until a reasonable hour to make this love confession? Like maybe after we slept off the tequila?”
I smile at her, propping my chin on Jo’s shoulder. “No can do, Hal. I drove all night to get to my girl. Couldn’t wait any longer.”
“And what exactly are your intentions with my baby sister?” Hannah asks.
One of my brothers snorts out a laugh behind us, and even without looking at her face, I can feel Jo grinning as she brings her arms up to cover mine.
I shrug. “To love her forever.”
Both Hallie's and Hannah’s eyes go soft, and I feel Jo’s breath hitch, her arms tightening over mine.
Hannah nods. “I’ll allow it.”
Noah circles around and wraps both Jo and me in a hug. “I’m happy for both of you. Welcome to the family, Jo Jo.”
“You’re the best, Noah,” Jo says, settling deeper into my hold.
“Is he though?” Elliot asks as he and Cooper join the group hug from behind. “I think I’m the superior Wyles brother.”
“Fuck off assholes. Go find your own girls.”
“Oh, my god, this is going to be so much fun,” Jo laughs. “I’ve always wanted brothers.”
“Well, now you’ve got three of them,” Cooper says, stepping back and smiling at both of us. “Come on, guys.” He glances at Elliot and Noah. “Let’s give them some privacy. I think they’ve earned it.”
Noah swings an arm over Hannah’s shoulder. It’s friendly, but the look in his eyes is a few notches above friendly and belies the casual gesture. “Hannah, you’re looking ravishing this morning. Can we take you lovely ladies to breakfast?”
Hannah stiffens slightly and ducks out from under his arm, scowling at him. “Only if you’re buying and only because I need a vat of caffeine because I think I might still be a little drunk. And if you never call me a lovely lady ever again.”
Noah grins at her. “Well, that’s the most delightful way a girl has ever accepted a breakfast invitation. Come on, let’s go find a place to get you that vat of coffee.”
He claps me on the shoulder and trots back to the car with my other brothers following behind him. Hannah and Hallie both look at Jo, and something wordless passes between the three of them that I can’t quite grasp but feels like both happiness and a touch of something else. Hannah hugs her first and touches my shoulder before following my brothers to the car. Then it’s just me, Jo, and Hallie.
Hallie wraps her arms around Jo and whispers something in her ear I can’t hear, and then she leans up to kiss my cheek. “I love you, Jord, and I’m really, really happy for you. Allie would be too.”
I smile as emotion bubbles up in my chest and Jo laces her fingers through mine, squeezing. “Thanks, Hal. Kiss the babies for me.”
She smiles and heads down to the car, and then it’s just Jo and me.
