Chapter 12 – Brianna #2
Oh. That’s why he looks so familiar. After Halloween night a year ago, I’d obsessively Googled everything I could find on Seth which included falling down a rabbit hole of the Tremblay family.
Levi is the oldest brother and the star defender for the Boston Tea professional hockey team.
He’s also a Canadian hockey legend, the oldest in the family and a decorated defender with a following in the Northeast like no other player in history, mostly because of his flirty personality and handsome looks.
After Levi comes Boone, the middle Tremblay brother. He played for the Mayhem too but retired before I started my internship. He now lives here in Brookhaven with his wife.
The Tremblay family isn’t just blessed in the looks department they’re basically genetically engineered for athletic greatness. They’re also obsessed with hockey, which is why it’s surprising to see him standing here when his season in Boston just started.
“Hi.” I take his hand, giving it a firm shake. “I’m Brianna King. Sawyer’s new nanny.”
“Ah,” he says, a knowing grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. “That makes more sense. For a second, I thought my little brother had gone and gotten married without telling me. Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened. I’m sure you heard about how Boone already pulled that stunt.”
I laugh easily. “No marriage of convenience here.”
Natasha and Aly told me how Boone Tremblay married Rosie Prescott—our neighbor from around the lake, to protect his reputation after a messy situation with the league.
A fake marriage that, of course, turned real once they fell hard for each other.
Rosie’s smart, kind, driven, and Boone’s the nicest guy I’ve ever met.
The way he looks at her, it’s like no one else exists.
“Does Seth know you’re stopping by?” I ask, opening the door wider to let Levi in.
I lead him into the kitchen, still not entirely sure whether I was supposed to invite him inside or tell him to come back when Seth gets home. But the way Levi walks in like he owns the place tells me this definitely isn’t his first visit.
He drops onto one of the island stools while I stay standing across from him.
Levi’s grin turns downright devilish. “I’m surprising my brother.”
Something tells me Seth is not going to enjoy this particular surprise.
“Didn’t your season just start?” I ask.
He scratches the back of his neck, looking anything but remorseful. “Yep. I got suspended last night. Dirty hit.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Ouch.”
“Yup.” He nods, like it’s no big deal. I catalogue that for later. Boone is light, easy-going, Seth is the grump, and Levi’s the playful one who enjoys pushing buttons.
“You into hockey?” he asks, one brow lifting with mild curiosity.
“I’m a physical therapist for the Mayhem.”
“Ah. Is that how you met my brother?”
And just like that, I’m hit with a question I really don’t know how to answer.
Because technically, no. But also… kind of?
I open my mouth, buying myself a second to come up with something honest that doesn’t give away too much, but before I can, the front door swings open again.
Cool night air rushes inside, followed immediately by a shift in the entire room’s energy.
Seth steps into the kitchen, sweaty from practice and already looking irritated. His gaze lands on me first where I feel it in my chest, then Levi, and his eyes narrow instantly.
My mouth goes dry at the sight of him. He’s wearing nothing but a tight, all-black undershirt that’s stretched across his broad chest, his dark blond hair is an absolute mess jammed underneath a Mayhem ball cap, like he didn’t have time to shower after practice.
His jeans—light-washed and well-worn—hang low on his hips, and his dirty brown boots look like they’ve seen better days.
For a guy with a multi-million-dollar contract as the starting goalie for the Mayhem, Seth sure as hell doesn’t dress like his net worth. Somehow that’s a turn-on.
He looks between me and Levi, his hazel eyes narrowing slightly as he takes in the scene of us together. The pizza box in his hand is balanced effortlessly, and before I can even say a word, he drops it onto the island between us.
“What are you doing here?”
Levi’s grin widens. “Catching up with your new nanny.”
Seth’s eyes flicker to me for half a second, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he brushes past me without so much as a hello. Okay. I guess that’s the mood we’re in tonight.
I watch him move into the kitchen, dropping his hockey bag to the floor with a heavy thud, the team logo flashing across the front as it lands. He heads straight for the fridge and pulls out the pitcher of ridiculously fancy infused water I noticed the very first time I stocked his kitchen.
He pours himself a glass, movements slow and controlled, but the tension in his shoulders gives him away. Something’s bothering him. And for some reason, I can’t shake the feeling that it has something to do with me.
Levi and I watch him in silence. I’m busy trying to figure out what I did wrong this time, while Levi looks like he’s seconds away from poking at Seth just to make him more irritated.
“Long day, little brother?” Levi drawls, leaning against the counter casually.
Seth doesn’t answer right away. He takes a sip of water before finally turning to face us. His jaw tightens as his eyes briefly meet mine again, something unreadable flickering there before he looks away.
“Something like that.”
I take it I wasn’t supposed to let Levi inside.