“Maddy. Sweetheart,” Ty called out in almost a sing-song fashion. “It’s your lovin’ cowboy come to stake his claim. Whew, girl. I hope you haven’t set the table yet, ’cuz I’m hungry, but it ain’t for food!” Ty stepped into the kitchen and froze, finding the room filled with not just Maddy, but his parents and Jordan. His fingers went immediately for his towel as he locked eyes with Maddy. He wondered if his eyes were as wide as hers.

And is that a smile she was biting back? And biting back hard.

His mother’s voice broke into his confusion. “Well, we certainly won’t be using the good china.”

“What...what...”

“Are we doing here?” Jordan supplied, trying to stop the laughter that had him all but doubled over. “What the hell was that? Your cowboy Tarzan call? Smooth, Ty.”

“They brought my things over.” Maddy beamed.

Ty jerked his gaze to Jordan who was in the process of lifting a cup of coffee. Or hiding behind it. Jordan lifted his shoulders in a shrug.

His attention was brought back to Maddy as she turned again to face him. “So, of course, I insisted on making them breakfast.”

“I’ll just go and...”

“Get over here, Tarzan,” Maddy teased, crooking her finger at him.

He kept his eyes trained on his parents as he made his way over to her. He let her pull his face closer and waited as she whispered, “Remind me to buy some paper plates today.”

“I will,” he whispered back, snaking his mouth across her lips quickly. Stepping away, he tasted her on his lips. “Mmmm. Cherry?”

“It’s lip balm.”

He leaned in again. “Yeah, if you say so.”

Gasping, Maddy hit him in the shoulder as he dodged her attack, laughing as he made his way back down the hall.

“You two,” he heard his mom accuse behind him.

“Who was that?” he heard his Dad retort.

“Funny, Dad,” he called out as he went to throw some clothes on.