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“Damn… this is gonna end up in a fight for sure,” Clinton muttered. “Ken. Ken!”

“There’s not going to be a fight.” I watched Jamie draw herself up, fire sparking in her eyes. “By the smell of you, you’ve already had at least one cigarette this morning, so you can wait until smoko for another. Go inside.” Clinton was at least a foot taller than her, but he jerked his smoke from his lips and tucked it behind his ear. “And any more bets and you and I will be having a very earnest conversation.”

“One that includes discussions of sexual harassment in the workplace,” Brock added.

“Fine.” Clinton shot her a dark look that had my hands balling into fists. “I thought you were going to help him loosen up.” He poked a finger in Brock’s direction. “But it looks like he’s making you more grumpy. Seems like you need to get better at your sleepover game, mate.”

“Clinton…” Brock growled.

“Fine, fine.”

We watched him stomp back inside, but the moment he was out of earshot, each one of us turned back to Jamie.

“Jamie and I already organised to go out tonight—” Hunter started to say.

“But she’d have more fun with me.” I shot him a dirty look. “I bet you want to take her to some fancy restaurant.”

“Did that last night,” Brock drawled.

“Not Pellegrino’s,” Hunter shot back. “That place is booked out for months in advance.” His focus shifted back to Jamie. “I called in a favour with some model buddies and got us a table so we can talk.”

The meaningful look that passed between them almost killed all my hopes, but my brother had made a major misstep. Jamie didn’t like fuss or fancy. Fun would turn her head more than silver service would.

“Well, I booked us a slot for axe throwing,” I said.

“Axe throwing?”

The way her face lit up, her eyes shining, it made everything alright, despite the fact that Brock’s hand was still on her shoulder.

“Beers, wings, good music, and some mayhem with razor sharp objects,” I said, the words tumbling out, because I felt like I needed her to hear me, see me. “I figured we could have some fun…” A little nod from Jamie had me forging on. “Then we could plan some of those fake dates for when your mum is in town.”

“Idiot…”

Hunter barely even breathed that word, but I heard it, felt it, when her face fell. She was right there with me until I had to mention her mother. I thought that was what she wanted, that it was my excuse to get her to come out with me, but now I saw. She was actually open to the idea, and I… I’d reminded her what this was initially about.

That none of this was real, even though it really was.

“Sorry fellas, I think we’ve got plans tonight, don’t we?”

Brock looked so damn cocky right then, but not for long. Jamie looked up at him and then stepped away in time for me to watch his face fall.

“We had a deal.” Her voice was tight, her expression guarded. “Mum arrives tonight and I need to parade three prospective husbands past her…” Her smile was more of a wince than one of happiness. “So I can break up with them after she’s gone home.” She looked back at Brock, an apology in her eyes. “If I’m going to pull this off, I need to get comfortable with the twins.”

“Because you’ve always been comfortable with me,” he insisted, taking a step forward, not realising that he was pushing her further into a corner. “We’ve worked together for over ten years…”

So why wasn’t she rushing towards him and into his arms? I was willing to bet Brock was asking himself the same question. Something held Jamie back. She’d had that boyfriend for a while. I couldn’t remember his name, but… It seemed to put some kind of strain on her. She wasn’t happier with him, but somehow less.

Because he wasn’t the right guy for her, that’s what I told myself. That I was. I’d make her happy, that I swore, starting now.

“Come out axe throwing with me,” I said, formulating a compromise in my head. “We’ll just have a beer or two and some snacks. Hunter can pick you up from the place. It’s near the city, and you’ll be able to take her to your fancy restaurant and home again, or…” I turned to Brock, seeing how his expression had darkened. “To Brock’s. Whatever you decide.”

“Sounds like the only reasonable way forward,” she said, but before she could continue, her phone started to ring. Jamie glanced at the screen and sighed. “That’s Mum now. I need to get this. Hayden, text me the address and I’ll meet you at the axe throwing place.”

“Or I can pick you up after work?” I suggested. This might be a fun date, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t meet her at her door and escort her to the place.

“At mine, around seven?” she replied and with a nod from me, she sucked in a breath and then answered the phone call.

I’d sprung out of bed, leaving the house I shared with Hunter before he even got up, ready to make my move. I’d imagined her response, that same look of pleasure on her face when I got her away from work yesterday. This hadn’t exactly turned out the way I thought, but…