Page 51 of Beautiful Rush
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“See?I told you this table and chairs would come in handy,” Ava said, stabbing a dumpling with her chopsticks.
“Yep. It’s great,” I said distractedly.
“The photos look great on that wall,” Eden said, looking at the wall next to my flat screen TV. Last week, Deacon had helped me hang the black-framed black-and-white wedding photos—candid shots of me, my brothers, Ava and Eden as well as a few staged shots.
“I love the one of your first dance,” I said, dipping my egg roll in spicy mustard. It was a gorgeous photo. Eden’s head was tilted, a soft smile on her face as Killian whispered something in her ear.
“I love the one of you with Killian and Connor,” she said.
I did too. It was also Deacon’s favorite, but I didn’t mention that. The camera had caught us mid-laugh. We looked so happy and carefree.
A knock sounded on my door and I threw down my egg roll and jumped up from the table, my chopsticks clattering to the floor.
“I’ll get it,” Ava said, already out of her seat and halfway to the door. She was closest to the door, so it made sense, but I zipped past her thankful that my legs were longer, and practically shoved her aside. Flattening my palms on the door to prevent her from opening it, I checked the peephole. Killian and Connor. I let out a breath of relief as I opened the door and ushered them inside, ignoring the funny look Ava gave me.
Connor grabbed a stool from my kitchen and he and Killian took their seats at the table, loading up their plates with steamed vegetables, chicken and brown rice that had obviously been specially ordered for them. If I hadn’t been so distracted, I would have noticed. It was also possible that Eden or Ava had mentioned that my brothers would be joining us. I couldn’t remember. Eden and Ava had surprised me with a visit and Chinese food. I was still out of sorts from last night and I’d worked until eight tonight before Tate forced me to go home.
A throat cleared and I looked across the table at Ava who raised her brows. A quick look around the table confirmed that all eyes were on me, waiting for the answer to a question I’d obviously missed.
I shook my head to clear it. “Sorry. What?”
Ava pointed her chopsticks at me. “Why were you so freaked out about answering the door? You practically knocked me over to get there.”
“That’s an exaggeration.”
“Uh, no, it’s not,” Eden said. “You sprinted to the door and shoved Ava aside.”
I winced. “Sorry, Ava.”
“Yeah, okay, fine. But we’re waiting for an explanation, not an apology.”
I shrugged. “It’s my apartment and you’re my guests. I should be the one to answer the door.” It was lame, but it was the best I could come up with.
“Have you had any problems with security in this building?” Killian asked, his face lined with worry.
Yes, a certain detective can pick my locks—a pin tumbler lockanda deadbolt—in ten seconds flat. I didn’t know how long it took him and to be fair, he didn’t make a habit of it, but locks and alarm systems were not impenetrable, no matter how good they were.
“No. My building is fine. It’s safe and secure.” Nothing in this world was safe and secure, but I didn’t need to spell that out for Killian. He knew that. Besides, I didn’t want him worrying about me. I didn’t wantanyoneworrying about me.
Ava gave me a sly smile. “Well, guess we’ll all have to hang out tonight and wait for Keira’s secret lover to turn up.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but he’s taking the night off,” I joked.
Ava winked at me. “You must have worn him out last night.”
“You have no idea,” I said, keeping up with the jokey tone. But it was true. I had worn him out. Unfortunately, not the way I would have wanted to.
“Feel free to share the details,” Eden said.
Killian held up his hands. “I don’t need to hear this.”
“Ditto,” Connor said.
I laughed and ate my Lo Mein. I could feel Connor watching me, but I pretended not to notice. “So, are you guys ready for your road trip?”
“All packed and ready to go,” Ava said, her face lighting up at the thought of their two-week road trip to California. Apparently, they’d been talking about it for years and now it was happening. They were leaving tomorrow in the Mustang. “I made a detailed itinerary,” she teased.
