Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(11)

Amused at his nerves, I set the eggs on the counter and cupped his cheeks. “Hey, relax. They’re here for you, not the food.”

Kellan let out a long, cleansing breath. “Yeah, I know. I just . . . I don’t want to mess this up.” Shaking his head, he looked down at the floor. “I mess up everything, Kiera.”

My stomach tightening at the painful look on his face, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his body into mine. “No, you don’t.” With a serious expression, I pulled back to look him in the eye. “You haven’t messed us up.”

His lips twisted into amusement, like he was sure that wasn’t true. It wasn’t true, though. Our dark parts couldn’t be contributed solely to him. No, our troubles had been a group effort.

His voice soft, he pointed to the cupboard under his sink. “No? I just threw away a sex tape, Kiera.”

My stomach did a strange sort of twist. I was thrilled it wasn’t still in his pocket, and horrified to know exactly where it was. Making myself smile in as natural a way as possible, I released myself from Kellan. Grabbing a pan for the eggs, I told him, “Exactly. You threw it away.” Finding a fork in the drawer, I playfully poked him in the chest with it. “Now, if you had stashed it in a drawer to watch later, then you’d be an *.”

Kellan chuckled at me as he swatted my bottom with the freezing cold package of bacon.

Just as I was cringing away from him, his sister walked around the corner. “Who’s an *?”

Rubbing my backside, I automatically pointed at Kellan. He frowned, then shrugged. “Me . . . apparently.”

Hailey gave him a wide grin as she pulled up a kitchen chair. Sitting in it backwards, she watched us try and prepare a decent meal. Kellan thawed the bacon in the microwave while I made a pot of coffee. The surging gurgle of freshly brewing java mixed with the pop and hiss of greasy fat as Kellan’s bacon slices went into the frying pan. I got started on the eggs, cracking several into a pan, then waiting a few minutes for the white part to turn a solid color. When they looked ready, I attempted to flip them over. Kellan peered into my pan as I broke the yolk on yet another egg. “Uh, I think they have to sit longer,” he murmured.

Glancing over at his pan of sizzling meat, I noticed an unappealing dark smoke filling the air. Pointing at it, I retorted, “And I think you’re burning the bacon.”

He immediately went back to his own cooking while Hailey laughed out loud. “Good God, how have you two survived this long?”

Standing up, she walked over to where Kellan and I were butchering breakfast. “I got it from here. You guys just go relax somewhere.”

Kellan gave her an apologetic smile. “Thanks . . . sis.”

She smiled back at him after flawlessly flipping an egg. “Not a problem, big brother.”

I couldn’t help but note the similarities in their smiles as they stared at one another. It warmed me that Kellan’s grin seemed to be genetic. Maybe he would pass that unbelievable smile on to our children? When we had children. Many years from now.

Kellan slung his arm over my shoulder and let out a happy sigh. Looking down at me, he shook his head. “I’ve been cooking for myself for years. I don’t know why I can’t this morning.”

Grinning wide, I patted his stomach. “Welcome to the wonderful side effect of a really bad case of nerves, Kellan Kyle.”

He frowned at my assessment. “I’m not nervous.”

Hailey paused in her cooking to look back at him. “You’re joking, right? I can practically smell the fear coming off of you.” Amused at herself, she giggled.

Kellan’s frown deepened. “I’m so glad I have siblings now.”

Loving the playful banter between brother and sister, I wrapped my arms tighter around Kellan. Hailey was right about his nerves, wrong about his scent. He smelled just as fabulous as he always did. That marvelous aroma that was his and his alone filled my senses as I leaned against him. He smelled better than the coffee and the bacon.

Riley came into the room a few minutes later, an excited expression on his face. “Kellan, can you show me your guitar?”

Kellan smiled down at him. “Sure.” He patted Riley’s shoulder, then kissed my head. “I’ll be right back.”

I watched his backside as he left the room, feeling perfectly content. Then Hailey said something that cracked my contentment a little bit. Eyeing her little brother in the room with us, she asked, “Did Kellan really . . . make a tape?” Her eyebrows lifted meaningfully.

Hating that she’d overheard that, I cringed. Seeing my reaction, Hailey’s eyes immediately widened and she returned her attention to the meal she was preparing. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sure you don’t want to talk about . . . that.” She looked a little embarrassed.

Riley, not really understanding what she was talking about, looked confused. “He’s made lots of tapes, Hail.” He looked up at me, pure innocence in his eyes. “There are tons of videos online.”

I blushed and bit my lip. “Yeah, that’s right . . . lots of tapes are out there.” I sighed, knowing how true that statement was.

Hailey grimaced and mouthed, “Sorry.”

I nodded at her. There was no point in worrying about all the footage of Kellan that was probably going to be leaked one day. It didn’t matter. I could deal with it. The price was worth it. I could probably handle much worse to be with him. Not that I wanted to—but, push come to shove, I would take whatever crap came my way if it meant I got to be his wife.