“It’s manly and awesome.”

“Which is different than cooking?”

He grins. “Open flame.”

Dakota and Reagan agree to come over to the guys’ place for dinner and the seven of us sit around the outdoor table.

My brother might be oblivious to me and Heath, but my friends are not. Dakota corners me when I go inside to grab ketchup.

“What is going on with you and Heath? More kissing since last weekend?”

Reagan is right behind her, shutting the door and joining us.

“It’s no big deal,” I try, but I’m sure the smile on my face gives me away.

Reagan’s dimples pop out and Dakota shakes her head. “You absolutely slept with him!”

“No, we haven’t yet, but you cannot tell anyone that we’re… whatever. Promise?”

Dakota looks to Reagan. “She’s talking to you.”

Reagan tries to look offended but then rolls her eyes. “I already knew. Besides, I’m good at keeping secrets of the heart. I won’t say anything.”

“Do you really think your brother would care?” Dakota asks. “I mean, he’s one to talk.”

“I’m not sure, but I don’t want to cause a big thing. Heath and I are just… hanging out. If Adam finds out, he’ll be all overbearing about it, and I don’t want that. Judgment free fun.”

“And hot, dirty sex?” Dakota smirks.

I feel my face warm.

“How are you planning on keeping it from him? They live together, G,” Reagan reminds me.

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far ahead.” I don’t like the idea of outright lying to my brother and I hope it doesn’t come to that.

Dakota snickers. “Well, you better figure it out because the two of you are beyond obvious. He’s going to catch on.”

There’s no reason to worry tonight, though. As soon as dinner is over, Adam leaves to go to Taryn’s and Rhett goes to his room to call his girlfriend. Maverick already knows so when Heath pins me against the counter in the kitchen, I let him kiss me like I’ve been dying to for the past two hours.

He hums into my mouth as his hands come up and wrap around the back of my neck. My fingers fly to the hem of his shirt, craving the feel of his skin against mine.

“I need to get you naked,” he mumbles into my mouth.

“You two want to watch a movie?” Maverick asks.

Neither of us answers as we keep on kissing. Heath’s hard and he presses into me with a groan. A pillow flies by our head and hits the cabinet door to my left.

“What the hell, Mav?”

“You two are a major bummer. Everyone’s getting laid but me. Come hang out with me. Let me feel up your girl a little. Seems fair.”