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“Don’t let them talk you into giving them more time. They’re pretty good at that,” she calls to me as I make my way out of the kitchen door and out onto the wraparound porch.
“Okay.” I take her advice, smiling as I skip down the steps onto the path that leads to the tennis court at the back of the house.
“And Eli is a terrible loser. Good luck.” Her laughter spills out of the house, making me join in and raise my hand in understanding, not that she can see me.
I unhook my sunglasses from the top pocket of my plaid shirt and put them on before taking in the view, pushing my hands into the back pocket of my jeans.
The way the sun is touching the contours of the valley makes it feel like it’s hugging them, as if to tell them to keep us safe down here.
A blissed-out breath leaves my lungs, and I pull fresh air back into them. “God, that’s good.” Unlike the stifling air of the city.
An array of banter from Nathan and his brothers floats into my ears as I move closer to the tennis court.
Prepared for an argument to give them more time, I’m surprised to find them all walking toward the house looking like they left a magazine shoot.
Like the ultimate quadruple threat, they turn heads wherever they go. And while they share strikingly similar features, each has his own distinct style, charisma, and allure that make each of them unforgettable.
And Nathan? He sticks out by a mile. He’s charming, powerful, and commands every room he’s in. And his crystal-blue eyes always make me feel like they see me, all of me, and they show me that Nathan accepts me for me, which hits hard because there’s a part of me that I am hiding.
I shake my head when Cole pushes Eli roughly. They may be grown men in the office, but outside of it, they behave like a bunch of frat boys.
As soon as Nathan spots me, he drops his tennis racket then whips his T-shirt off, exposing his never-ending laddered abs I’d happily climb all day every day.
“We’re going swimming.” His eyes sparkle with mischief as he flashes me a bold grin.
“Dinner is ready.” I thumb over my shoulder in the direction of the house, screwing my nose up at his untimely suggestion.
“Fuck it.” He races toward me and faster than a bullet out of a gun, he’s fireman-lifted me over his shoulder and is running across one of the fields while I squeal in surprise like a captured piglet, making his brothers laugh their heads off.
35
ARI
“Put me down.” I slap his ass, hard. It’s a nice ass, and I much prefer this view than the one from the kitchen window, but what the hell is he doing?
It’s so out of character for him.
I can’t deny I love it though. I love how relaxed he seems today.
“No.” He slaps my denim-covered ass in return. “And be quiet, or you’ll upset the snakes.”
“Snakes?” I shriek, looking around the grassland.
“Shush, no screaming. We’re going for a swim whether you like it or not.”
“I’m not swimming, I don’t have my swimsuit on.” I puff and pant even though I’m not the one running. “I didn’t bring one with me.”
Also, snakes!
“We’re going skinny-dipping.” He continues down the embankment.
“What?” I shout in astonishment, making my voice echo around the valley. “What if someone sees us?” Panic crawls up my throat.
“There is no one around for miles. Relax, baby,” he says, barely out of breath, which is ridiculous. He must be as strong as a bull if he can carry me and run at the same time.
“Have fun.” I hear Eli shouting after us.
I push my hair off my face and lift my head to find them watching us with amusement.