Chapter Five #2
“Oh, that explains the aversion to relationships.” Emma eyes me. “Are you sure you’re not into my brother? You two honestly seem like two peas in a pod.”
I nearly choke on her question. If only she knew I already propositioned him and was turned down.
“Oh my God! She is into him!” Violet points to me.
“My son is very handsome. Looks a lot like his Daddy did back in the day. You’re a smart girl.” Anna pats my knee.
“No! I mean yes, he is, but no interest here. He’s my landlord!” My face heats, and it has to be bright red.
“Leave her alone or we won’t get to have our fun!” Emma says, typing in my name.
“Can we do a fake name?” I ask. When all heads turn to look at me, I answer quickly. “I don’t want anyone finding me in real life.”
Aubrey points at me. “Smart! What name are we using?”
“Giana D’Antonia,” I say, too quickly again.
“Thought about this before?” Evelyn laughs.
“It’s my Grandmother’s name. She lived in Milan. So I don’t think anyone will find someone with her name and harass some poor innocent woman.” I shrug.
“Okay, Giana it is.” Emma continues typing. “Hobbies?”
Hobbies? Avoiding my father. Does that count?
“I don’t think I have any,” I admit. I’m kind of boring. “I like trashy reality shows. And romance books with the most smut I can find. Other than that, I’ve always been a workaholic.”
“Mmmk. We can make that work.” She types out a quick bio, and then it’s time for what I’m looking for.
I watch as she checks off a list that would make a perfect book boyfriend. The only kind of man I would settle for.
Then it’s time for photos.
“What are we doing for photos?” she asks.
“If she doesn’t want her real name out there, she probably doesn’t want her face.”
Thank God for Violet.
“Yeah, no thank you.”
“What if we make something that says you’ll have to earn a photo?” Violet offers.
“I love that. It’s sassy.” Anna and Aubrey both nod their heads in agreement.
In no time, I have my very own dating profile, and we’re swiping through guys. Most of them get nos from me. Until a familiar face pops up.
Wyatt.
“Oh my God! My brother is on here?” Emma exclaims.
“Wow, he must have worked his way through the surrounding towns, but it’s tourist season. Is this how he finds them? When they set their radius to Balsam Cliffs?” Evelyn asks.
The screen turns to a star that appears. “What just happened?” I ask nervously.
“Oh shit. I meant to click his profile to snoop. I think I just sent him something to match. I’m so sorry.” Emma backtracks to find his profile.
“He’s even cheesier than I expected!” Aubrey gasps through laughter.
“Okay. I think the fun is over!” I snatch my phone from the cord. I don’t need them doing anything else by accident on his account.
Just as I’m about to lock my phone, a notification pops up. From Wyatt.
Shit.
Pocketing my phone, I turn to Violet. “I think I need more margaritas after that.”
“Yes! Round three. How about raspberry this time? I just made a puree with the raspberries in the garden.”
“Yummy! Yes, please!” I push her back into the kitchen and everyone else follows.
After two more rounds of margaritas, I don’t think I can drive home.
“How far is my house?” I ask, wavering on my feet.
“Oh, too far to walk! Call Wyatt. The boys are just leaving Rebels,” Anna offers.
“Noooo. I can’t bother him.”
“Wyatt. My favorite brother,” Emma says into her phone. “I don’t need anything. But my new bestie here, she needs a ride home. Vi made too many margaritas. Oh um, yeah, we probably all do. Well, except Violet.”
She giggles. “Okay, love you!” She looks at us. “They’ll be here in a few!”
“Knights in shining armor!” Anna swoons.
“What is Rebels?” I ask.
“Oh my gosh! She hasn’t experienced Balsam Cliffs yet! I keep forgetting you’re a total newbie,” Evelyn says.
“My husband owns Rebels. It’s a brewery with the best food,” Emma says with clear pride in her voice.
“Oh lucky! Your husband cooks?” I ask her.
“No way. I wish he could. He hired Clarke, a shocking yet amazing hire for the kitchen. I hate to admit we usually eat takeout from him most nights unless Mom cooks. I didn’t get that gene.” Emma gathers up Olivia’s things and puts them in a diaper bag.
I learned tonight that she secretly hooked up with Roman behind everyone’s back until he found out about his daughter Olivia shortly after Emma came home from college.
When all the guys found them in his office with their sister, they kind of lost it.
Finding their best friend about to fuck their sister on his desk had to be a surprise. But it all worked out in the end.
An older man who looks just like Wyatt comes into the kitchen, Papa Keaton as Aubrey refers to him. “Ladies, you all have chariots awaiting you outside.” He looks at me, then at his wife. “Who do we have here?”
“I’m Sophia Black. I’m staying in Wyatt’s rental. It’s nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand to shake his. While I’ve seen him around the property with Lily I haven’t actually met the man yet.
“We don’t shake in this family, darlin’.” He pulls me in for a tight hug.
“Told you you’d be family by the end of the night,” Aubrey sing-songs.
Nathan lets me go. “I assume you’re why Wyatt is out there. You don’t let him mess with you. He’s a good boy, but sometimes he has a way with the ladies.”
Hearing Wyatt referred to as a good boy has me in a fit of giggles. Or maybe it’s the tequila that did that. Either way, I can’t get myself together as I hug all the ladies on my way out.
Wyatt waits on the porch. “Jesus. Liam, you’ve got to tell Violet we don’t need half a bottle of tequila in the margaritas anymore.”
“How do you think she got knocked up? A girls’ night aftermath.” His deep laugh catches my attention as I look at all his brothers, standing and waiting for their women.
“What the hell is in the water here?” I mumble to myself as I take them all in. Every single one of them is sexy in their own way. None more than Wyatt though. What I wouldn’t give for another margarita. Licked off his abs.
I shake my head to rid it of the thought. I’ve had just enough that I might make that offer.
“Ready?” he asks me.
“Yes!” I hop down the steps, pausing because beyond his cruiser, I don’t know what he actually drives.
“That truck over there. Third one in.” He points to a blue Chevy in between red and black matching models.
“You’re all original, huh?”
He shrugs. “It’s what we were raised on. We all fixed up our first trucks with Granddad.”