The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [53]
She’d turned the coffeepot off and poured glasses of milk instead. Sawyer started carrying plates to the table, since his brothers had evidently been ordered to sit, given that none of them were moving much. They all looked uncomfortable, but then, they weren’t used to getting waited on. Their mother hadn’t been the type to mollycoddle once they’d all gotten taller than her, which had happened at the tail end of grade school.
“Casey gets more physical exercise than most grown men. And he gets a good variety of things to eat. My mother harped on that plenty when he was first born.”
Casey grinned. “And they’re all still at it. I get measured almost daily to make sure I’m still growing like I should be, and because Grandma calls and checks. She says the good part is, they all eat more vegetables and fruits because they keep the stuff around for me.”
Honey looked slightly mollified by their explanations. Sawyer held her chair out for her, and as she sat, he smoothed his palm down the tail of her hair, letting his fingers trail all the way to the base of her spine, where they lingered for a heartbeat. He imagined her incredible hair, so silky and cool, loose over his naked body as she rode him, his hands clamped on her hips to hold her firm against him. A rush of primal recognition made his breath catch. He wanted to pick her up from the table and carry her off to his room.
Of course he wouldn’t do that, so he ignored the startled look she gave him and forced himself to step away.
Everyone waited until she’d taken her first bite, then they dug in with heartfelt groans of savory appreciation. It was good, Sawyer had to admit, even the damn carrot curls.
Sitting directly across from her, he couldn’t help but watch as Honey took a small bite of her own sandwich. His thoughts wandered again to the note. She wanted him. He forgot to chew as he watched her slender fingers pick up a sliver of carrot, watched her soft lips close around it. He saw her lashes lower, saw soft wisps of blond hair fall over her temple.
Gabe nudged him, and he choked.
“I don’t mean to drag you from whatever ruminations you were mired in, but don’t you want to ask her some questions? I mean, that is why we’re all up at two in the morning, gathered around the table eating instead of sleeping, right?”
Sawyer drank half his milk to wash down the bite of sandwich and nodded. “Come on, Honey. ‘Fess up.”
She sent him a fractious glare, but she did pat her mouth with her napkin, then folded her hands primly as if preparing to be a sacrifice. She didn’t look at anyone in particular, but neither did she lower her face. She stared between him and Gabe, her chin lifted, her shoulders squared.
“I found out my fiancé had only asked to marry me to inherit my father’s assets. All his stock, his company, the family home, is willed to my future husband, whoever the man might be.”
There was a shock of silence as they all tried to comprehend such a mercenary act, but Sawyer was more tuned to her features. This was such a blow to her pride; he saw that now. He shouldn’t have forced this confrontation, certainly not in front of everyone.
“Honey…”
“It doesn’t matter.” She still hadn’t looked at him. Her fingers nervously pleated her napkin, but her chin stayed high. “My father and I never got along. I love him, but I don’t like him much. I think he feels the same way about me. He’s always resented having daughters instead of sons.” Her gaze touched on each of them, and she gave a small smile. “He’d love the lot of you, a household full of big, capable men. But my sister and I never quite measured up.”
“I have to tell you, I don’t like your father much.”
She laughed at Jordan. “Yeah, well, he’s had hell putting