Page 149 of Where Broken Wings Fly

They both give me matching innocent looks. I hate it when they gang up on me. It’s worse when Zach and Micah decide to tag-team. I can hardly tell the pair apart when they round on me with identical smiles.

“Don’t look at me like that. I had to put Arianna in the naughty corner the other day. You’re all turning her into a wild child. I caught her swearing again.”

Turning onto the main road, Killian laughs under his breath. “That’s probably my fault. I called Albie a miserable fuckhead in front of her by accident the other day.”

“Kill!”

“Sorry, sorry,” he replies. “It just slipped out.”

“Don’t even get me started on Ryder.” I scowl at them. “She’s seven years old. I caught him teaching her how to service a car engine. Like, how is that safe?”

“We should teach her to drive next,” Killian muses.

I feel the blood drain from my face.

“Only joking,” he adds.

“I think she’s just enjoying having all this male company in her life.” Zach blows me a kiss over his shoulder. “Calm down, hot mama.”

“Hot mama?”

“Hell yeah, you are.”

“Zach… politely, fuck off.”

“What was that? Fuck me? Because I totally would.”

“Try to touch me right now and I’ll break your wrist.”

“She can do it,” Killian tells him. “I taught her last week.”

“Why the hell would you do that?” Zach laughs.

“Self-defence. It’s a good skill.”

“Just shut up and drive, the pair of you.” I pull my shopping list from my handbag. “We need to pick up supplies for the housewarming in a couple of weeks.”

I figured having everyone who helped us settle in over for a celebration would be a good way to say thank you for their months of good will. My life has completely changed since I set foot in this tiny town.

It’s all because of them. I’ve made more friends than I ever thought possible, and I’m actually excited to be the host for once. Especially now that the cabin is finished. A proud part of me wants to show off my new home to them all.

“Remind me to chop more wood for the bonfire,” Killian mutters. “Once I’ve finished the swing set. And the sandpit. Oh, and the wood store.”

“Anything else?” Zach scoffs.

“Not all of us are lazy like you, kid.”

“Does that mean you’ll be topless and sweaty again?” I interrupt them.

The look Killian shoots me is full of promising heat. “You like that, baby?”

I squirm in my seat. “I’m saying nothing.”

“See? Baby gets her all hot and bothered,” Zach complains, glaring at the countryside houses appearing around us. “You’re stealing all of the attention.”

Killian shakes his head. “Call her hot mama again. See where it gets you.”

Zach turns in his seat to grin at me. “Well?”

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