Page 40 of Breathtaking

Caitlin points her fork at me. “I actually went all domestic and made Mom’s cutlets tonight. Let the man eat while it’s still hot.”

Callen kisses Caitlin’s temple and whispers something, and I gag. “Seriously, married or not, it’s still weird as hell, man.”

“I knocked her up and married her, asshole. Pretty sure I can kiss her,” Callen laughs, and Caitlin points her fork at him. In anyone else’s hands, it might not be a weapon, but Cait could probably do some serious damage with it.

“Fine. But you owe me.” She picks up her plate and walks into the other room.

“Dude. She’s gonna gut you while you sleep,” I warn him, half joking.

You never really know with Caitlin.

“Then this better be good, Madman. Because you look like you just saw a ghost, and my wife is apparently going to gut me because of you. I won’t tell you what she’s actually gonna make me do because you know... the whole sister thing.”

“Fucking stop, man,” I grumble and kiss Anastasia’s forehead. “Your daddy’s a dick when he wants to be,piccolina.”

Callen smiles like a fat, dumb, and happy little shit, and if it weren’t for the fact he’s with my sister, I might be jealous of his happiness.

“Spit it out. You didn’t come here just to see Anastasia. What’s going on? You having problems with the restaurant?”

“Do you remember Gracie’s roommate, Lennon?” It’s a stupid question. There’s absolutely zero chance of forgetting Lennon. She’s sweet and funny and sarcastic as hell. She’s also the kind of beauty who can bring a man to his knees with a single look. I should know.

“The hot redheaded princess you were banging in London? Not to be confused with the hot redheaded princess you banged in Elwyn.” He grins like he’s so fucking smart. “Yeah, I remember.”

“First, I never actually banged her in London,” I admit, and Anastasia drools on my chest as she starts to fuss. “And they’re cousins.”

“Sway.”

“What?” I ask, confused.

“Sway from side to side,” Callen tells me before shoving another forkful of chicken in his mouth like he doesn’t remember what it’s like to eat at a normal pace without the baby crying. “Now explain.”

I sway like the grandmas with the babies always did at mass, and sure enough, Anastasia calms down and rests her head on my chest. Huh. Not so hard.

“Lennon and I weren’t like that back then,” I admit. “I was just a dick who let you guys think that. I mean I wanted to be, but stuff with her was always...”—I choose my next words carefully—“complicated. And our timing sucked.”

Callen knows me better than anyone in my life.

He knows he’s not getting the full story.

But he also knows me enough to know he’s getting everything I can give for now.

“But man... this woman had me tied up in knots,” I admit. “For fucking years.”

“Damn...” He sits back in his chair and stares at me. “Tied in knots, and you weren’t nailing her.”

“Callen,” I groan. “Seriously, man. Stop.”

“Shit.” He’s fucking giddy. “It’s like that?”

I cup the back of Anastasia’s head and look down. Yup. Sound asleep.

Uncle Maddox is the favorite uncle.

Fuck my brothers.

“It’s always been like that with her,” I admit.

“Okay. So what’s changed? Because that was what? Five... six years ago?”

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