Victoria checked her phone again in the driveway. Ethan’s text was short:
Stuck at the office till late. Wait at the house? Brothers are home. Love you.
She smoothed her sundress—soft yellow cotton, thin straps, hem flirting with mid-thigh—and stepped out of the car. Six months with Ethan and she still felt like she was playing house sometimes. He was good. Steady. The guy who planned picnics and remembered her favorite coffee order. But every time she came over to the family place, her pulse kicked up for a different reason.
Jaxon and Cole.
She knocked once. Door swung open before her knuckles dropped.
Cole grinned, all lazy charm and ink peeking above his black T-shirt collar. “Hey, gorgeous. Come on in. Ethan’s running late, huh?”
“Yeah.” She stepped inside. The living room smel
