Easton's Claim (Colebrook Siblings Trilogy Book 3) by Kaylea Cross

her.
    She smiled as she accepted it. “Thanks. Remember that time we all went camping together and you accidentally left the milk out of the cooler? You made us all coffee the next morning and it looked like you’d poured cottage cheese in there.”
    I remember everything about you .
    But he most definitely didn’t want her thinking about him as a fourteen-year-old kid. “Yeah, I had to ride my bike the eight miles into the nearest town to buy fresh stuff.” He waited until they were all at the table with their coffee and a plate of toast before continuing. “I talked to Wyatt last night. He and Austen are going to meet us at your place around nine. They’ll help us clean up and start repairs.” The cops had called her last night to say her house was no longer a crime scene.
    Piper’s brow creased and she set her mug down. “Oh, but they already have so much work at—”
    “Stop. They’re coming, so that’s that. They’re good at what they do, and between the five of us we can put a serious dent into the repairs over the next few days. If all goes well, you can restage your place and start showing it again on Monday.” Although part of him wanted it to take forever, so he’d get to spend more time with her—and so she wouldn’t be able to sell and move away. “Austen said she’ll be glad to take a look at the pie chest and let you know if she can fix it.”
    Her face brightened. “She did?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Well, if they’re sure and they don’t mind taking time away from their own house…”
    Easton exchanged a glance with Charlie and barely refrained from laughing when his sister rolled her eyes. As if there’d ever been any question that Wyatt and Austen would jump in to help Piper.
    Being on the receiving end of charity always made her uncomfortable, but in this case, too bad. There was no reason for her to go through this alone when she had all of them to back her up. Family took care of each other and he couldn’t understand why she didn’t seem to get that. She’d faced everything by herself far too often in the past, something he admired her for but also regretted. If he’d known what was really going on with her before, he’d have…
    You’d have what? You’ve been on constant rotations overseas for the past two years.
    Well, he would have done something. And his family would have as well.
    After they ate he drove them all to Piper’s place. She was quiet as they walked to the back door, then she squared her shoulders in a let’s do this move that was classic Piper.
    He knew this was hard on her. If they’d been alone he would have pulled her into a hug just to reassure her but Charlie would know it was more than concern, and he didn’t want to tip his hand before he’d had a chance to talk to Piper about his feelings first.
    “Holy shit,” Charlie murmured when they walked into the kitchen and she saw the damage on the inside.
    “Pretty much, yeah,” Piper said, heading through the mudroom into the laundry room. “All the cleaning stuff is in here.”
    “I’ll take the kitchen,” he said. He didn’t want Piper to have to deal with the blood.
    “Okay. Thanks. I’ll start in the family room.” She handed him a bucket, mop and bottle of bleach.
    “I’ll help you,” Charlie said, trailing after her with a broom and dust pail.
    He got to work cleaning up the blood then disinfected the floor, wiped down all the cabinets and the countertops. In the middle of pouring the last of the red-tinged water down the sink, Wyatt and Austen showed up.
    His eldest brother strode in through the back door without knocking, his gaze going straight to the bloody water in the bucket. The mass of scars on the right side of his face tightened. “You need help in here?”
    “No, almost done. Worst of the damage is out front.” He nodded in the direction of the family room.
    Austen came in behind Wyatt, shot Easton a smile that made her silver-gray eyes sparkle, a stark and