Page 6 of From the Start

“What’s wrong? Did we interrupt your private time with Dakota?” Zane wiggles his eyebrows.

Dakota is Rhett’s girlfriend. She’s also Eli’s personal assistant and works at the distillery. Which means I had a front row seat to their courtship.

It was hilarious. Dakota wouldn’t give our stuck-up brother the time of day at first. Rhett did not handle rejection very well.

I indicate Rhett’s shirt. “The buttons on his shirt are uneven.”

“Fuck,” he mutters as he fixes his shirt.

“I thought we weren’t supposed to have sex in the office anymore,” Miles says.

Rhett points at Miles and Zane. “You two are not allowed to bring women in for ‘private’ tours of the distillery that end up with the cleaning crew complaining about finding bras and panties in the refrigerator.”

“What about Kai?” Miles asks. “You didn’t point at him.”

I lift my hands in the air. “Because I know better than to piss Andy and Waylon off.” Andy and Waylon are the distillery workers.

Zane snorts. “Liar. You don’t give a shit about pissing off Andy and Waylon. You haven’t brought any women back to the distillery since you laid eyes on Harper.”

“Just because I’m not a player the way you and Miles are doesn’t mean I haven’t had any female company.”

I’m lying. I haven’t been with a woman since I met Harper. Or re-met Harper, I should say. I grew up on the island. I’veknown her since I was seventeen and trying to sneak intoRumrunner– the bar she owns.

But it wasn’t until recently that I saw her for the first time. Really saw her.

She’s strong and beautiful. I want her in my bed and in my life. But she won’t give me the time of day. I’ll change her mind. I’ll deal with a ton of shit from my brothers in the meantime, but I will change her mind eventually.

“Harper and Kai sitting in a tree. K—”

I slap a hand over Zane’s mouth before he can continue. “Don’t be childish.”

He pries my hand away. “Me? I’m the one who’s childish? You’re the baby, or have you forgotten?”

I roll my eyes. “You’re one year older than me. Big deal.”

“It is a big deal. I…”

He trails off when Dakota barges into the room. “What’s the emergency? Is everything okay? Who do I need to call? Fire department? Police department? Electricity company?”

Rhett tags her hand and draws her near. He kisses her forehead. “There’s no emergency.”

She scowls. “Then why did they…” She scans the room and notices the glitter and confetti. “Oh. The prank war continues.”

“You should go home for lunch if you don’t want to get interrupted,” Miles says.

She snorts. “Right. Home. Where we’ll have two small children and a dog to interrupt us. Great plan.”

“How are Mira and Pearl doing?” I ask. “Am I still their favorite uncle?”

Pearl and Mira are the two children Rhett and Dakota are currently fostering. Dakota doesn’t want to have her own children due to some health issues, but she’s always wanted to be a foster parent. Although, I doubt Mira and Pearl will ever leave their care.

“I don’t know.” Dakota taps her chin and I notice a gleam in her eye. “But I bet if you babysit them this weekend, you will be.”

I groan. “You want me to babysit so the two of you can have date night.”

“Duh.” She rolls her eyes. “What’s the sense in having five uncles if they don’t babysit?”

“Fine.”