Cole grabbed the oversized piece of snickerdoodle caramel his aunt shoved at him and waited for Sierra’s chocolate, then got out of the overcrowded dining area, heading straight for the prettiest girl in the room. Hell, in the whole city.

Sierra led him to the couch and sat on the middle cushion, next to his mother, and something about her choosing to sit by his mom got him. “You need cake,” Sierra said to Faye, her tone sounding scandalized.

“Miranda’s bringing me some,” his mom answered.

“Which kind did you choose?” Sierra asked, setting her fork on her plate, as if waiting for Faye to be served.

With a sparkle in her eye, his mom answered, “I didn’t. I asked for a sample of all three.”

“You are a smart woman,” Sierra told her, grinning. “But then, I already knew that, even before I met you, because you have some great sons.”

“They’re pretty good boys, most days.”

Sierra laughed at the word boys to describe her sons, all of whom were well over six feet tall, good-looking, and dripping with testosterone.

Miranda delivered Faye’s cake, thin slices of all three flavors, and then walked to Cole’s other side and shoved at his legs. “Scoot over, Colester. I’m sitting by you.”

Sierra moved closer to Cole’s mom, and Cole squeezed right up next to Sierra, breathing in the scent of her hair and liking it even more than the cake smell.

Connor and Drake took up the love seat, and Gabe delivered a slice of cake to Lexie, who waited in the corner armchair, and then he parked himself on the arm of it next to her.

Sierra leaned toward Cole’s ear and asked, quietly, “Are Gabe and Lexie a thing?”

“No,” Cole answered, tossing a glance their way, understanding how she might think that, as the two were sharing a private conversation, with Lexie gazing up at his brother with a grin. “They’ve been best friends since kindergarten.”

“Are you sure that’s all?” Sierra asked, glancing over at them again.

“She’s got a serious boyfriend, last I knew.” Raleigh or Ryder or Roman or something like that. Cole couldn’t remember because he’d never met the guy, which was kind of odd, especially as much as Cole had been around the family lately. He wasn’t even sure his mother had met Lexie’s boyfriend.

“Okay then,” Sierra said, sounding like she still wasn’t sure she could believe him.

It didn’t take them long to demolish their cake, even Faye with her three flavors—declaring the white cake was the best—and then Gabe made his way around the room distributing champagne, thoughtfully handing his mother a flute of sparkling white grape juice.

“Wait for the toast,” Gabe said to the room in general. “See if you can make it all of ten minutes before you imbibe.”