Free Love and Chaos: A Growing Pains Novel by K.F. Breene

was supposed to be taken. Knowing this wasn’t right.
    Without thinking—or continuing not to think, maybe—she shoved him to get him away. He stepped back one pace and grabbed her shoulders.
    “No way, bub.” She slapped away his hands and pointed out of the door, uncontrollable anger bubbling out and over. “Get out of here!”
    “What the hell is wrong with you?” Jace asked, completely flummoxed. “I was just grabbing a towel.”
    “Gross. I don’t want to know about your sexy time. Get out.”
    “What—“
    “What’s happening in here?” Peter asked in a loud whisper, jogging in and shutting the door so they didn’t wake the kids. He stared down at Cassie, and then glanced over at his brother, briefly noticing the bare chest.
    “Ah.” Peter opened the door and backed Cassie out slowly. “Cas s, wait until he’s done, please.”
    “I’m done.” Jace stalked out a moment later, anger smoldering in his eyes , enhancing that raw quality. Making her chest go as tight as her core.
    She almost threw a kick his way to somehow stop the spectacle of his sizzling hot body.
    “And put a shirt on,” she whisper-yelled at his backside, fists balled.
    Peter pushed her back into the bathroom and shut the door. He stared down at her for a mo ment, probably noticing her set jaw and the flat line of her eyebrows, because he gave one of those huge sighs.
    “That wasn’t my fault, Peter,” Cassie said quietly, anger burning hot to cover the embarrassment. “I didn’t know he was in here. Then my stupid head went crazy—but I put a stop to it, don’t you worry. I controlled it.”
    Peter couldn’t help a smile. “You should’ve gotten laid before you came.”
    Ca ssie blinked a half-dozen times—ready to defend her case. She expected to get reamed out for acting like a complete fool, not get a genuine truth. She started laughing and hugged Peter, which then turned into hanging on him. “Yes. I should’ve. But holy shit, Peter—his chest . I still maintain that wasn’t my fault. He’s really attractive. Really, really attractive. And all alpha male and good with kids and beautimus and—”
    “You did not just use the word beautimus!”
    They broke down in laughter, hanging off each other.
    “He’s big,” Peter said. “He used to have some fat on him, but problems with his fiancé stressed him out. He lost a bunch of weight, and then went to the gym to get it back. Doesn’t look like he stopped going to the gym.”
    “Maybe I shouldn’t drink, either.” Cassie wiped a hand across her face. “I’ve derailed. I pushed the guy. If he was any smaller I would’ve pushed him into the tub.”
    “Why?” Peter stepped away to look at his face in the m irror, running a hand over his stubble. He reached into a drawer and took out a face cleansing wipe. Without a word, he handed one to Cassie.
    She took it, not wanting to admit why she wanted to shove Jace. Or how her mind immediately went to the need for the towel. Or how her panties got a gush of wetness. So instead, she cleaned her face with Peter in silence.
    It would be a long, long week. And it would really, really suck.

     
     

Chapter 5
     
     
     
     
    Cassie trudged out of her room in her tank and boxers, hair a mess and no makeup anywhere in sight. She used the restroom, ignored the reflection of the douche in the mirror, and turned toward the stairs.
    “Where are you going?” Peter grabbed her arm and ushered her back to the room. “Sweetie, your breasts are perky, yes, but the other girls don’t want you to flaunt that. Put on a bra for Christ sakes!”
    Cassie glanced down at her chest through the haze. “Dang.” With the headache and dehydration, not to mention a terrible night’s sleep because Peter had tossed and turned all night, that one word syllable was all she could muster.
    “Do they do that trick with the wine every night?” she asked.
    “Why don’t you take a shower and meet me downstairs? And yes, so keep your