Page 15

Holy hotness, Mr. Darcy!

Even things with Connor’s older brother had changed. With Sam’s recent schedule, he left for his shift at the hospital after dinner each night. He would drop off Charlie and Lucy at the house. I walked them around the neighborhood for an hour, listening to my gay romance audiobooks, before feeding them. It was perfect for getting out in the mild weather and meeting new people. After the dogs went to their beds in the basement, the rest of the family indoctrinated me into watching all the rom-coms I could.

And being with Connor as friends was easy. I reigned in the crush when he reminded me, similar to the way I teased Landon, that I was family and he had no interest in me. Although when he first said it, my heart fractured, and the words stole my breath for a minute. But knowing early on I hadn’t stood a chance with him helped me not to weave dreams of forever around the man.

But what ended any hope that he might see me in a different light were the stories of Connor’s many, many exploits with various people over the years. Despite him joking around with the rest of his family as they teased him, I spotted the pinch of his lips when the triplets would hound him, and the flash of dread whenever everyone started on the subject. Every time, my stomach dropped, and the conversation gave me a nauseous sensation, but it wasn’t my place to step in to stop the teasing. Valentina would get upset, and the topic moved on, and both Connor and I were relieved by the change.

“Hey, what are we watching tonight?” Connor said as he walked into the kitchen, giving his mama a hug.

I shrugged. “It’s Lyric’s turn to choose.”

He chuckled as I replaced the lid on the pot containing the marinara sauce boiling away and turned toward the cabinets to get the plates. As I opened the door, Connor’s hand landed on my lower back and electricity surged up my spine. I bit my lip as he snagged a glass from the next cabinet over before stepping back and asking his mama a question.

I was ashamed to admit such an insignificant gesture that meant nothing to him made me feel off-kilter for a few seconds. Inhaling deep, I took the plates, pausing near the silverware drawer to grab the napkins and utensils, and hurried away to the dining room, where I found myself alone and able to breathe.

There had to be some way of getting over Connor sooner rather than later?

Yes, I’d appreciated the male form before, but I’d never desired a man enough to want him to be mine. For the longest time, I believed that the lack of candidates in the small town in which I grew up caused my stunted dating life. But based on the number of people I’ve met so far in Los Angeles, some of them gorgeous and by the looks of it, single and hinted at their interest in me, there wasn’t even a spark from me, much less the churnof desire I experienced the moment I sat next to Connor on the plane.

But that was okay. I’d find the man for me when the time was right. There was no need to rush.

Or so I kept telling myself.

If only he wouldn’ttouchme all the time.

The house was gargantuan, and the size of the kitchen alone would fit in an entire floor of an average apartment complex. And yet, whenever we were in the same room, I found him close and always… touching me. I wasn’t complaining; not when his cologne, a mix of bergamot and lemon, calmed me while sending electricity pulsing in my veins.

I was used to denying who I was and what I wanted for the longest time. I figured if I couldn’t have Connor, then I needed to put myself out there and find someone who might appreciate me, quirks, and all.

After dinner, we settled in the movie room waiting for the rest of the family. I took a deep breath and turned to Connor.

“What’s the best way to find a date? I’m not talking about you, obviously, because you have no trouble attracting whomever you want. But for me, who is new to Los Angeles and dating? Do you have any advice?”

To say that Connor went from chill, leaning his shoulder against mine as he relaxed back into the couch, to vibrating anger in a split second was an understatement. He took a deep breath through his nose before he pinched his eyes shut and exhaled.

“What?” I asked, confused by his reaction.

“Why?”

My brows furrowed, and I asked, “What? Why do I want to date? Is it strange I’m asking you? Help me here if I’m going to understand your question.”

A growl erupted from his throat before he said, “I… I just… I’m not sure you’d find someone not out for something in this town. Well, anywhere.”

“But Connor, isn’t trust earned? And that’s why you date? You get to know the other person, figure out if you’re compatible. You don’t jump right into a relationship and allow them into your life without finding out more about them. Besides, I’m not looking for anything serious. I could meet men my age interested in the possibility of more.”

“You’re going to sleep with them to find out if… no, you’re too trustworthy, Ollie. And dating apps are the worst way of finding someone you’re compatible with. It’s like going to a gay bar and falling in love with the man who blew you in a bathroom stall. Which, I’m not condoning! At all!”

Before I could decide whether to laugh or cry, the triplets trotted downstairs and when they rounded the corner, Landon demanded, “Why are you shouting at Ollie?”

Despite being the consummate flirt next to his older brother, Landon was the most protective of his family. And somehow it extended to me, so he crammed his body between mine and Connor’s and glared at said brother, ready to fight a battle for me.

“What are you doing?”

Landon’s mouth turned down in a frown. Then, adding insult to injury, he shook his head.

“Trying to figure out why you’re freaking out.”

“Ollie wants to know about dating apps and how to meet someone,” Connor said with reluctance.