by K. F. Breene
“You guys!” Rachel laughed as she peeked up, waiting for the camera to harmlessly go back onto the table.
“Jace used to always take Peter’s side because Peter was the smallest. Isn’t that right Demetri?” Nick asked with a beaming smile.
Demetri stopped stirring for a moment and turned toward the table. “What’s that?”
“Didn’t Jace always team up with Peter and it’d be them against us?”
“Still does. Wait until whiffle ball.”
Nick turned back to Cassie. “Demetri and I win now, obviously, because we’re all on equal footing.”
“Oh yeah?” Jace said as he entered the room, that challenging glint in his eyes. “You’re on equal footing with me?”
He held up his arm and flexed his bicep, his mountainous muscle bulging out. Rachel’s eyes popped. She glanced across the kitchen to Jenn, who was also looking. The two girls shared a moment before Rachel bent to her wine, trying to hide a smile.
“Don’t try to impress the ladies!” Nick hollered. “Just wait until you don’t have any free time to play with your weights.”
“Dinner time, you laggards. Get into the other room.” Becky shooed Jace out of the way with her dish cloth.
Nick bounded up, phone at the ready. Jace had him first, his own phone out and pointed at the other. “Photo bomb!” they yelled at the same time, snapping pictures of each other as they barreled into the other room.
“They act like they’re still going through puberty,” Peter said with a smile.
“How are you doing?” Cassie murmured as they got up. Rachel exited the other direction to yell for her kids.
“Get Lesley, too,” Jenn called, taking Emma from Roger.
“No, you go. Enjoy your dinner. I’ll hold her.” Roger kept hold of the baby and drifted into the dining room.
Peter sighed, his posture returning to normal for a moment of alone time. “Good. Fine. You’ve lifted all the pressure.”
“How long do they think we’ve been together?”
“Six months. Sorry, should’ve told you that. Not long enough to ask you to marry me, but long enough to be more of a set thing. They’ll hint, though, that you’re marriage material. Just know that that is coming. They’ll ask you about it. All the married people want to get the single people tied up.”
“C’mon you two,” Demetri called.
“Give them a minute,” came Becky’s hushed voice.
Peter rolled his eyes. “See? They like you, though. Think you’re a lady.”
“Joke’s on them.”
Peter smiled. “I told you that your loveliness would be perfect. I am never wrong, honey.”
“There’s the Peter I know and love.” She looped her arm through his as they slowly walked toward the crazy family, both enjoying a moment of quiet.
Before they reached the dining room, Peter said, “It was Jace, wasn’t it? In the grocery store. You guys brought the same wine.”
“Yup.”
“You flirted with him? You think he’s hot?”
Taken aback, she stopped in their meander and looked hard at her friend. Worry lined his features, his eyes round and haunted. “Are you jealous, or something? I mean, don’t worry—I’m not going to seduce the guy or anything. He’s got a woman. But, I mean, the guy is hot. Surely you must know that. All you guys are—all your brothers. And your dad definitely seems like he was a looker in his youth, and your mom is still pretty…”
He shook his head adamantly. “It’s not that. Sorry, I’m not in my element here. I want to relax and have fun with everyone else, like we always used to, but I just feel like if I do, they’ll all know. Anyway, I was just wondering.”
Cassie patted his arm as Rachel bustled through. “Hurry up, you guys. Dinner’s getting cold. C’mon Michael, John—where’s Lesley?”
Cassie saw a little head peek around the corner of the doorway. Rachel saw it, too, but had her boys by the hands with a harried look to her face.
“I’ll get her,” Cassie volunteered.
“Ah, godsend. C’mon you guys.” She gave her wily sons a jerk to stop them trying to break free and go running. “Peter, let’s go. Get a move on.”
“I’m not one of your kids,” he replied without conviction, swept into the other room.
Cassie hurried after the little girl, who’d taken off at the first sign someone would chase her. Cassie followed the girl into the next room only to realize she had disappeared. Slipping out of her too tall heels, Cassie stalked closer to the couch, hearing the loud breathing of a child. She ducked and slipped around the side, hiding as quietly as she could. Lesley peeked up, looking for her pursuer.
“Rrrraaaaarrrr!” Cassie burst around the couch and captured the squealing little girl. “Time for dinner, you.”
Lesley wrapped her arms around Cassie’s neck, content to be carried to the dining room. As they entered the kitchen, she heard Jenn’s voice floating across into the kitchen, saying, “Jason, can you help? The baby just spit up on your father and Nick is useless.”
“Hear that, Jace? I’m useless. Go do my fatherly duties,” answered Nick.
“Useless picture!” Jace shouted.
Cassie chuckled as Jace’s large form filled out the opposite doorway, his shoulders nearly taking up the whole of the opening. “Everything okay?” he asked in his customary rumble. “I’ve been sent to rescue you if it isn’t.”
“No problem.” She stopped in front of him. “Thanks for earlier. I probably should’ve owned up.”
“Nah.” He tickled Lesley’s neck, making the little girl erupt in delighted laughter. “But now you’re out of chocolate. What will you do?”
“Have a grumpy morning, most likely. Don’t worry, I’ll take it out solely on you.”
“Oh, goodie.”
***
“Here are the rules,” Cassie said as she put a finger in Peter’s face. They were in their shared bedroom after a night of way too much wine. His family was crazy for refilling glasses. She’d get three-quarters of the way down on her wine, turn to talk to someone, and it’d be full again when she reached for it. She would think it was a conspiracy, but everyone got the same treatment. Except for Peter, who wasn’t drinking. He was too afraid the gay would come out.
“You’re an idiot, you know?” she sidetracked. “They think you are metro. You can fly the real you under that guise.”
Peter shook his head. “I’d rather play the jock. Otherwise I can’t be sure what will come out of my mouth.”
“Okay, fine. Rules. Although, I don’t like fake you nearly as much as I love real you.”
Peter smiled and yanked her into a hug. “Aww, thanks.”
“Focus!”
“Sweetie, I’m not the drunk one. I can stand straight without swaying.”
Oh yeah.
She didn’t care.
“Do not cuddle me. I don’t like when people breathe on me. Also, I might forget who you are and cop a feel.”
He shrugged, a smile lighting his face. “Cop a few feels. I don’t mind.”
“God, you are such a guy.”
He gave a delighted laugh. “Okay, I won’t curl around you. What else?”
“Don’t snore. But I am allowed to snore.”
“No.” He shook his head as he unpacked enough outfits for a month. “I will absolutely elbow you.”
She stripped out of her pants and yanked off her shirt. “Don’t look—I’ll be half naked.”
“Don’t worry. You’re pecs aren’t hard enough.”
“Ew. That gives me a gross image. And it shouldn’t because they are my boobs.” She stripped off her bra and threw it in the corner. Her pajamas consisted of a pair of boxers and a tank top. She climbed into bed before she realized she should pee.
“Dang it.” She threw the covers back, half rolled out onto the floor, haphazardly got up, and stomped toward the door.
“You’re good with kids, huh? I didn’t know that about you.” Peter stripped
off his shirt.
She slowed, leaning against the wall. “I love kids. Love kids. Definitely want some, just have to find a guy first.”
“You will, sweetie. You’ll find one.”
“Let’s not talk about that. This week is about you.”
He shook his head and put a suit into the closet. Why he needed a suit, she did not know, nor did she plan to ask. He might then tell her, and she didn’t care.
“Bathroom is…”
“Across the hall and down a pace.”
Nodding once, she tip toed out of the room, since the kids went down earlier and she didn’t want to wake them, and found the door in question, slightly ajar and dark within. She pushed in and came smack against a wall of man. Her hands brushed smooth skin on a muscly torso. The heat from his skin shocked into her neck and chest, saturating her body instantly. She closed her eyes and let a slow breath tumble from her mouth. She felt the brush of his arm as it reached beside her to flip a switch.
Light bathed a chest so damn divine it made her mouth water. The sleeve of tattoos ended in tribal art on his shoulder, sneaking inward toward his perfectly sculpted pec. Perfectly sculpted.
Her mouth went dry as her gaze drifted upward. His beautiful eyes held her, intense and masterful, dominant and intelligent. Heat took over her body, wrapping around her mind and tightening her groin. His warm breath bathed her. His smell wrapped around her head in dizzying ways.
She saw something deep in those eyes, wild and raw, yearning to break free. And she wanted him to. She wanted him to take her. To push her up against the wall and have her. To pit his size against hers until she had no choice but to submit.
“What the hell!” she gasped, her groin tingling and her tongue thick. An alarm buzzed somewhere, knowing he was taken. Knowing she 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. “Cass, 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 moment, 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.”
Cassie 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 mirror, 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 glass close to you so you can monitor it. There is no shortage of wine in this house.”
“Do I have to take a shower right now? I want some fruit. Well, I really want some chocolate, but fruit will have to do.”
Peter glanced toward the stairs. He stepped closer. “Yes, honey, please. You have to act the part or they’ll never believe you actually like me.”
She couldn’t help rolling her eyes. Dealing with insecurity and drama, when she felt like garbage, was a tough situation. “Okay. What outfit do I wear?”
“We’re doing lawn sports today, I think. So maybe a sun dress.”
“Wait.” Cassie dropped her hand from her hair and let it dangle at her side. “I don’t get to play?”
Peter stared at her for a silent beat. She couldn’t tell if he was thinking, or about to say something he knew she wouldn’t like.
“Because I’ll push, Peter.” She stared back with stubborn determination. “I will push and I will get my way. Just so we’re clear. I want to play sports, and if you need to be the gentleman and sit out so I can do that, since you hate sports, then great. But I want to play.”
Peter stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Cassie, usually only the guys play. The girls sit to the side and sip their drinks in the shade or sun, depending. That’s just kind of how things are done. I don’t want to play—I hate this stuff. I’d much rather sit out. But I don’t really have a choice, either.”
“We’ll see.” She gave him a dark look before pushing him out of the room.
An hour later, after she sucked water from the tap, washed herself with no real conviction, put only a light dusting of makeup on, and donned an expensive outfit even though it might get destroyed, she headed down, grumpy as hell.
She really could’ve used a bar of chocolate. Seriously. She was only as sweet as the intake of chocolate made her.
The buzz through the kitchen didn’t affect her this time, mostly because her mind was set for the battle to come. Jenn and Rachel sat at the island, Rachel eating a muffin. Nick and Roger sat at the table, Nick with the baby. Everyone else was gone.
“Well, don’t you look pretty,” Rachel said, wearing only mascara. Jenn sat without makeup at all, hair brushed out but not done up.
Cassie suddenly felt extremely overdressed for country festivities. She gave a smile she didn’t feel and eyed the coffee pot. “Can I have some coffee?”
“Yup, sure.” Jenn pointed toward a cabinet. “There’s muffins. Or cereal, if you want. No one felt like cooking a big breakfast this morning.”
“If Roger wouldn’t keep opening bottles of wine it might be different,” Rachel accused, not bothering to glance back at the table.
“Do you guys have fruit? Or chocolate?” she tried, loading her cup with sugar.
The distant bellow of the motorcycle took the place of talking. When it shut off, Jenn said, “I think there’s some fruit in the fridge. The kids ate the bananas this morning. We need to hit the store.”
“We can wait until tomorrow. They can eat cereal tomorrow morning.” Rachel broke her muffin into pieces. “So, Cassie, you like kids, huh? Do you want some one day?”
Cassie leaned against the counter, facing the women. Roger glanced up, and then immediately back down, obviously interested in the answer, but not daring to poke his nose into a female conversation. He didn’t fool anyone—Cassie knew men were just as big of gossips.
“I do. Want kids, that is,” she said, grimacing at the bitter drink. “Just need to wrestle a ring out of the man, first.”
“Well, that’s half done, right?” Jenn smiled in a kind way as she took a bite.
Cassie nodded slowly, hating these half lies she was telling. It made her uncomfortable—she obviously wasn’t the best pick for Peter’s fake girlfriend. She eyed the muffins. She checked the fridge, only found blueberries, which she wasn’t a huge fan of, and then glanced outside. “I might go for a stroll. I need to wake up.”
“It’s the wine,” Rachel yelled back at the table again without turning around. She winked at Cassie. “We’re all in the same boat. At least you got to sleep in a while. The kids woke me up at six.”
Cassie moaned on Rachel’s behalf. Rachel nodded. “Exactly.”
“Go out the side.” Jenn pointed toward the dining room. “Through there, keep going, and you’ll hit a door. There’s a nice path out there. Or, if you go out back, the boys are setting up the…something court. Volleyball, I think.”
