Page 4 of Notorious (Hollywood Heartthrobs #2)

“If your family doesn’t like me or if I make them even the slightest bit uncomfortable, please let me know, okay?

” Before he could respond, I continued, “My parents couldn’t accept something as ingrained as my sexuality.

Where I come from, established queer couples still have to hide who they are because of all the hate they get. ”

Connor gave him a sad smile. “You can find hate anywhere, but you shouldn’t let small-minded people stop you from being yourself. I’m pan and there are many people who don’t understand and chose not to learn. It’s their problem, though, not mine.”

“I’m bi and I’ve been told my life would be easier if I settled with a woman. If I’m with a man, then my choice makes me gay. But it’s a way for people to force you to conform to their beliefs instead of taking the time to educate themselves,” Thomas said.

“Your parents lost out of getting to know the real you, and that’s a shame for them. Not you,” Connor said.

“Bringing home strays now, big brother?”

I froze, searching for escape routes, when Connor smiled and clutched my arm, keeping me from running.

“You’re about to meet the triplets. It’s hard to tell them apart, but don’t worry, they’re used to it.”

“Stop scaring him, Con,” a second, similar voice said.

“Yeah, we might like this one and want him to stay.” And there was the third, a more timid one.

Connor turned, and I followed his lead. My eyes widened as I took in dark, messy hair that matched all three men? Boys? But they had the same piercing hazel eyes as Connor, which made me relax.

I waved in my awkward manner and said, “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Ollie.”

The middle one of the group stepped forward and stuck out his hand, tilting his head from one side to the other, studying me for a long, silent moment.

“You look like an Ollie, but…”

“I seem like a nerd of the highest order, with my polo shirt, jeans, glasses, and loafers?” And I took his hand and shook.

His deep laugh took me by surprise. “Yeah. I’m Lyric.”

The other two stepped up together. “I’m Landon, and this is the youngest of the three of us, Linus.” He winked at me, and I raised my eyebrow.

“Landon is the family flirt and heartbreaker,” Connor growled.

Lyric laughed as he looped his arm through my own and dragged me into the house. He called back, “Mama’s in the kitchen with Emilia and Omi. Sam’s on his way, and none of them know about Ollie. This is gonna be fun.”

I tried to dig in my heels, but Linus latched onto my other arm and a hand, which I assumed was Landon, opened at my back and propelled me forward.

“Everyone will love you, Ollie. You’re so cute.”

“Um…”

Before I could voice my protests about waiting for Connor, I smelled delicious food the moment we stepped into the enormous house with modern furniture in creams and browns that brought out the splashes of bright colors on the tiled floor and the art of the wall.

Besides several chandeliers dotting the hallway and led to what I assumed was the family room, there was natural light coming from the floor to ceiling windows.

Before someone pushed me into the kitchen, I think I saw the actual Pacific Ocean.

Along with my humiliation at gawking at my surroundings, my stomach rumbled.

Unable to contain a moan of mortification, despite my mouth watering, I glanced at Connor, pleading with my eyes to save me from whomever I might meet in the next few moments, but the heat banked in his eyes took me aback and I blurted out, “It smells wonderful in here.”

Connor nodded and cleared his throat. He tried to speak, cleared his throat again, and said, “Yeah, smells like home.”

I smiled, but the roguish smile aimed at me from the sexiest man I’d ever laid eyes on made me clumsy and I tripped. Movement from the left made me turn, and I watched as the tiniest woman in history beam as she caught sight of Connor.

“Oh, you’re home and you brought a boyfriend!”

With wide eyes, I watched as Connor scooped the woman into his arms and laughed.

“He’s a friend I met on the plane, mama. Ollie, this is my mama, Valentina, and mama, this is Ollie from Ohio. He’s a writer.”

“It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Blake.”

She surprised me when she pulled me down into a hug. “No Mrs. nonsense, you can call me mama, too.”

The simple acceptance of me had me blinking back the tears threatening to fall. When she patted my back as she released me, she caught my gaze and waited for my agreement. I nodded.

“Thank you.”

“What about your parents back in Ohio? Do they miss you?”

My head moved back and forth, and Connor, who stood closer to me than I realized, spoke near my ear, making me shiver.

“They kicked him out when they found out he was gay.”

She tsked aloud, and I watched something flash in her dark brown eyes I didn’t recognize before she said, “You have a genuine family now. No worries.”

I turned toward the triplets and as my eyes landed on the one who I knew would be trouble without boundaries, and said, “No flirting, Landon, I’m family now.”

He rolled his eyes, but with a smirk on his lips, he huffed out, “Fine.”

A loud gasp echoed throughout the room and I turned to see a tall, svelte woman dressed in an elegant bone-white pantsuit step toward me in slim heels that made me flinch. I kept my eyes on her feet because despite having the grace I’d only seen on the runway; I worried about her ankles.

“How did you know he was Landon?” She paused, turning back to look at her brother, before she continued, “Are you Landon?”

She received an eye roll from Lyric.

“How do you walk in those shoes? I’m very concerned about you.”

Wincing at my lack of brain-to-mouth filter, wondering if I’d offended her, only to see her throw her head back and let out a howl of laughter. She wiped the moisture from her eyes before she smiled at me. “I have a ton of experience. Now you?”

“Their personalities differ from each other, and that’s how I can tell.”

At the confusion in her eyes, I explained.

“Lyric absorbs the world around him faster than I’ve ever seen, and he’s not intimidated to be the first to jump into a situation because his curiosity gets the best of him.

He stands with his spine straight and he’s always gathering information from people around him.

Linus, he’s the quiet one, but not shy. He’s observant and empathetic, which is why he grabbed my other arm as Lyric dragged me inside, sensing my hesitation.

He tries to hide it, but his face gives away how much he cares about others’ comfort.

And Landon is the epitome of cool and popular.

Flirting and being friendly is in his nature. ”

Everyone in the room turned and stared at the three different men while I continued to peruse the house.

“I don’t see it,” the tall woman said, but instead of continuing her study of her younger siblings, she turned to me. “I’m Emilia.”

Before I opened my mouth, a graceful woman about a foot shorter than her sister appeared in front of us and she said in an ethereal tone, “I’m Naomi, but everyone calls me Omi.”

I smiled, liking both of Connor’s sisters. “Nice to meet you both.”

The front door opened and a frantic scratching sound echoed through the house before two beautiful black labs rushed into the kitchen.

“Sorry I’m late,” a deep voice called out.

Without thinking of my environment and the strangers who’d welcomed me into their home, I sank to my knees and smiled as both dogs danced around me, giving me licks on my face as I cooed at them.

Soon, I sat down and when I straightened my legs, one of them laid his head on my thigh while the other curled close to my hip, her head on my stomach.

Of course, I absorbed all the love and affection from the two that I could.

“There isn’t an animal or human who can resist you,” Connor said.

“When I get a place of my own, I’m adopting as many dogs as I can. Cat’s too, and?—”

“What the fuck?”

At the kitchen entrance, I noticed a man who had similar features to Connor, but everything from his height and build, taller and muscular, was the complete opposite. His stance alone demanded attention.

“These two are the sweetest.”

“Ollie, this is my older brother, Sam.”

Sam, not as trusting as the rest of his family, crossed his bulky arms over his chest and asked, “Who are you?”

I squeaked when he narrowed his eyes at me. “I’m Ollie Bright?” Despite trying to sound confident, the statement came out as a question.

Much to my relief, Connor stepped toward Sam and said, “It’s a long story, and I’m sure someone will fill you in, but he’s my friend, I met him on the plane back from New York, and he’s staying with us.”

Emilia chimed in. “He’s the only one who can tell the triplets apart.”

The man dropped his arms to his sides, stunned.

“And both Charlie and Lucy trust him,” Linus said.

I glanced down to see both the dogs settled on my lap, snoring away.

Sam growled, and when I caught his eye, he tilted his head over to the triplets.

“Lyric is in the middle, Linus is on your right, and Landon on your left.”

The skeptical look remained until he glanced at his youngest brothers and they all nodded.

“Holy fuck!” Sam mumbled.

“Language!” Shouted by most everyone in the room.

Sam shook his head. “How long have you been here?”

“One hour and twelve minutes,” Thomas answered as he strolled into the kitchen, standing close to Connor’s older brother.

Sam flushed and glanced back at me, but his eyes darted back to Thomas and I watched on in fascination as he sensed more than understood where Thomas was.

I got a thrill watching the family dynamic play out, but this, Sam’s confused expressions as his body leaned closer to the bodyguard, was an interesting turn of events.

“Dinner’s ready,” Valentina shouted.

Connor held his hand out for me as the rest fled into the other room.

“What about the dogs?”

The man chuckled. “They’ll head to their beds in the living room or push their way underneath the table and lay at your feet.”

At that, I extended my arm and Connor helped me up; me being careful not to jostle the dogs too much.

“Thank you for… well, everything. I’m glad I met you.”

His answering smile warmed my chest in a way that nothing or no one else ever had.

“I’m glad to have met you too, Ollie.”