Page 14 of My Horrible Arranged Marriage (Bancroft Billionaire Brothers #20)

ISAAC

T he knocking was relentless.

I groaned, rubbing the heel of my palm into my eyes as I stumbled out of bed.

My head was still foggy from the champagne and the adrenaline of last night.

After she’d left, I had lain in bed with a raging hard-on.

I had an internal battle going on. I could take things into my own hands—or wait.

Something told me to wait. I really wanted Mina in my bed, screaming my name. But something told me to take it slow.

The knock came again. Louder.

“Alright, alright, shit,” I muttered and headed down the hall toward the front door of my penthouse. I didn’t bother checking the peephole. Only two people knocked with that kind of arrogant confidence. Only my family had the pull to get past security to get their asses up here.

Sure enough, when I opened it, there stood Hayes and Kent.

Hayes in his usual all-black everything and Kent in something absurdly expensive looking for this early in the morning.

Kent had his sunglasses on even though he was inside and there wasn’t a single ray of sunlight in the outer hall.

Hayes didn’t even bother with pleasantries.

“You’re not dead,” he muttered.

“Disappointed?” I asked, stepping aside. “Come in. I assume this is some kind of intervention?”

Kent strolled in first, smirking. Hayes followed more slowly, eyes scanning the room like he was looking for evidence of a crime.

Or a woman.

“You know, when we knock this early at your place,” Hayes said, walking through the living room toward the kitchen, “there’s usually lingerie draped over the couch and some naked socialite in the shower. Or your bed.”

“Or in the pool,” Kent added helpfully.

“That one time we found one unabashedly naked sitting at the counter drinking coffee,” Hayes said. He opened a closet, pushed my coats to the side, and closed it.

“Sorry to disappoint,” I said, shutting the door behind them. “No women in here. No lingerie. Not even a thong hanging from a lampshade.”

Kent wandered over to the bar, eyeing my whiskey collection. “Wow. You really are off your game. You sick?”

“I’m turning over a new leaf,” I said with a yawn, stretching one arm over my head.

Hayes stood in front of me and pointed at my neck. “You had a woman in here.”

“What?”

“Claw marks on your back,” Kent reported from behind me.

I was wearing my boxers and nothing else. I hadn’t bothered to put on clothes because I knew it would be family at the door.

“Is she in bed?” Hayes asked.

“Or maybe they,” Kent joked. “That’s quite the tapestry on your back.”

There was no denying there had been some action. “She isn’t here. I sent her home last night.”

Hayes chuckled. “Now that sounds about right.”

“It’s not like that,” I said. “Believe it or not, we didn’t have sex.”

They both looked at me like I was crazy. “I’m serious,” I said. “I’ve got a girl now.”

Hayes arched a brow at me. “A girl? As in singular?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Who is she?” Kent asked, helping himself to my coffee maker. “And more importantly, does she have a sister?”

I gave a lazy grin and leaned against the counter. “Mina Duvall.”

Kent opened a cupboard and then another. “No fucking way.”

“Way,” I said.

Hayes didn’t look amused. “You’re dating Hectar Duvall’s daughter?”

“Not just dating. I’m interested.”

“Interested,” Hayes repeated flatly. “Since when do you get interested ?”

“Since now.”

Kent snorted, sliding a mug under the Keurig before he pushed the button. “Bullshit.”

“She’s smart. Gorgeous. And before you ask—yeah, we have fun.”

Hayes crossed his arms and leaned against the island. He wasn’t buying it. He didn’t believe me and I knew why. I had made it very clear to anyone who would listen I wasn’t interested in settling down. I had a strong aversion to relationships.

“And you’re doing this because…?” he prompted.

I shrugged. “Dad made a good point. I settle down, I lock in the life I’ve wanted. Career, reputation, and independence from the Bancroft name. I make something of myself. Mina’s a bonus.”

Hayes’s eyes narrowed. “A bonus?”

I didn’t flinch. “I like her. I do. She’s fun, she’s fiery, and she doesn’t take my shit.”

Kent pulled the mug from under the machine. “Bullshit.”

“Why is it so hard to believe I like a girl for real?” I asked.

My brothers exchanged a look. “Because we know you. What’s the deal?”

I sighed. “It’s practical.”

“Practical,” Hayes said, his voice ice cold. “That’s not a word I would ever use to describe you.”

I was going to have to tell them about Dad essentially forcing me to marry Mina.

“Dad made a deal,” I admitted, running a hand through my messy hair. “Marry Mina Duvall or else.”

Kent choked on his coffee. “What the hell kind of deal is that?”

“Dad made a promise to Hectar Duvall years ago,” I explained, suddenly feeling the need for caffeine myself.

I pushed past Kent to get to the Keurig.

“Apparently, the old man’s worried about his daughter’s wild streak.

He wants her to settle down with someone respectable.

Dad owes Hectar a favor. A big one. Hectar is calling it in.

I’ve been offered up to settle the debt like it’s the Middle Ages. ”

“Dad suggested you marry Hectar’s daughter?” Hayes asked, eyes wide. “The least respectable among us?”

I shot him a glare. “Like you’re so fucking great.”

“He’s not wrong,” Kent said, perching on one of my barstools. “You’re the family fuckboy. Everyone knows that.”

“Was,” I corrected, jabbing at the coffee machine buttons. “Was the family fuckboy.”

Hayes watched me carefully, that calculating look in his eyes that always made me feel like I was being cross-examined. “And what do you get out of this arrangement?”

I hesitated, then figured I might as well lay it all out. “Independence. Respect.”

Kent snorted. “Bullshit.”

I shot him a dirty look. “You asked and I answered. Your rotten opinion is your problem, not mine.”

“But we know this is bullshit,” he said again.

I shrugged. “Yeah, it’s not an ideal situation, but Dad wasn’t taking no for an answer. But hey, I get a good job. A woman to keep me sane. Maybe even a kid or two eventually. She takes care of me, we fuck like wild animals, we play house. I get what you have.”

“The fuck did you just say?” Hayes snapped.

“What?” I asked, laughing. “It’s not that deep.”

He stepped away from the counter and walked straight up to me. His face was hard—his jaw clenched and eyes narrowed with that older-brother glare I hadn’t seen in years.

“You really are a spoiled little prick.”

I blinked, surprised. “Excuse me?”

“You just stood here and talked about a woman—someone’s daughter, someone with a whole life and history and heart—as if she’s a fucking chess piece. A part of your plan. Do you even hear yourself?”

I straightened, my back going rigid. “You’re being dramatic. It’s not my fucking plan. It’s her dad’s idea. And Dad is pushing it too. Feel free to share your objections with them.”

“No, Isaac. I’m being honest.” Hayes pointed a finger in my chest. “This is going to blow up in your face. She’s not some trophy you can slap your name on and call yours. Mina’s going to get hurt. You’re going to get kicked in the balls. And you’re going to deserve it.”

“Fuck you,” I snapped. “I didn’t ask for this. I’m doing this to save all your asses. Do you think I was looking to settle down?”

“I’m not with Dixie because she keeps my bed warm,” Hayes growled. “We don’t play house. We’ve built a life together, and if you ever suggest I’m only with her because I like fucking her, I’ll knock your teeth down your throat.”

I held up my palms in surrender. “Look, I didn’t mean anything by it. And I like Mina. I’m not treating her like an object.”

“You just did,” Hayes shot back.

I opened my mouth to argue but shut it again. Because maybe I had.

Kent was watching us like this was the best entertainment he’d had all month. “You two done, or should I break out the dueling pistols?”

Hayes turned, shaking his head, and stalked toward the door.

“You do what you want, Isaac. You always do. This isn’t funny.

Shame on you for going along with it and shame on Dad for thinking this is acceptable.

It’s fucked up. And you know what? Fuck Hectar Duvall for serving up his daughter like livestock. I’m out of here.”

The door slammed behind him. I exhaled slowly, dragging my hand down my face. “It’s too damn early to be that angry.”

Kent walked over and clapped me on the shoulder. “He’s a little uptight these days. You know how it is. Married life, dad life, moral compass—it gets to you.”

I didn’t reply. I just kept staring at the closed door, trying to push away the weird twist in my gut. Was I really that much of an ass?

“She really doesn’t know,” I said quietly. “About the plan. I think her dad truly cares about her. He’s trying to get her settled down and stable. She’s been through some shit. She’s… adrift.”

“Why does Dad owe Duvall?” Kent asked. “An arranged marriage is a hell of a favor.”

“Dad got into a real estate deal that turned out to be a giant scam,” I said. “The bad guys disappeared and left Dad facing all the consequences. Duvall pulled some strings and made it all go away quietly.”

Kent snorted. “Dad did some crazy shit, didn’t he?”

“His enthusiasm outweighs his good sense sometimes,” I said.

“And you’re just going along with his plan?”

“I don’t really have a choice,” I said. “At first, I assumed it was going to be a shitty date. But it turns out, we actually do get along.”

“I noticed,” he said dryly. “Unless there was another woman in here.”

“No. It was her. But I’m serious, we didn’t have sex.”

“You saving yourself for marriage?” he teased. “It’s too late for you to wear white.”

“Funny,” I shot back, rolling my eyes. “No, I just… I want to do this right.”

Kent stared at me like I’d just announced I was joining a monastery. “Is there a right way to do this? You’ve already lied to the girl.”

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling oddly defensive. “Look, she’s been through some shit with her ex. Guy cheated on her, made her feel like garbage. I don’t want to be another asshole who uses her.”

“Even though that’s literally what you’re doing,” Kent pointed out, his voice surprisingly gentle. “Come on, Isaac. You’re going to marry this woman because Dad made a deal with her father. Without telling her. That’s pretty fucked up.”

The coffee machine beeped, and I gratefully grabbed my mug, needing something to do with my hands. “I feel bad about it, but my hands are tied. And I like her. For real. That’s not bullshit.”

“But you’re not telling her the truth,” Kent said. “Which means you’re lying to her. Which means you’re exactly like her cheating ex, just in a different way.”

“Look, I haven’t proposed. We’re having a good time. Beyond that, who knows what will happen?”

“But you like her?” Kent asked, surprising me with the seriousness of his tone.

I looked down at my hands, flexed them once, then nodded. “Yeah. I do. There’s something special about her.”

“Then maybe don’t screw this one up.”

I laughed dryly. “You’re giving me relationship advice now?”

“Don’t be weird about it,” Kent said. “Don’t treat her like the others. And if she’s not someone you’re going to commit to? Cut her loose before you break her heart even more.”

“You think Hayes is right?” I asked.

“Hayes thinks he’s always right. But this time? I think he’s got a point. You want this to be more than a sham? Then treat her better than any woman before her.”

“Thanks for the unsolicited wisdom.”

Kent grinned. “Anytime.” He took another sip. “So… she got a sister or not?”