They’re fucking billionaires.
With a capital B.
Something that’s been easy to ignore once the woman sitting next to me moved into my house, my room, and my family.
“Are you sure you want me to answer that?” she asks, taking stock of the cars in the driveway. A Rolls Royce SUV, a Land Rover, and a Maybach. Yeah, this isn’t your average baller blowing their contract on a car kind of money. “Remember, my parents are excellent lie detectors,” she continues, taking my silence for agreement instead of what it really was. Assessment of my surroundings. “So base as much of your answers in truth as you can. And please, for the love of God, don’t get into a fight with my sister’s husband.”
The two of us exit the car, our doors closing as I reach into the backseat and unbuckle a sleeping Maggie. Nothing knocks this kid out faster than a car ride does. “We’re professionals, dear,” I tease my beautiful wife as she smooths down her hair. “Just because he coaches our biggest rival doesn’t mean your brother-in-law and I can’t have a civil conversation.”
Olivia meets me on this side of the car and reaches in for Maggie’s diaper bag. “Sure, you can.”
Before she can walk away, I wrap a hand around her back and pull her toward Maggie and me. “Relax. We’ve got this.” I search her eyes for any sign of the typical cocky confidence that’s usually shining back at me and come up empty. “You’re spiraling.”
“I don’t spiral,” Olivia argues, but she doesn’t pull away. No, my feisty little wife actually takes a step closer and runs a hand over Maggie’s back. “I’m sorry. I’m tired and cranky and not at all in the mood to deal with my family.”
“Maybe don’t let your cousin spend the night in our bed, and you won’t be so tired, Liv,” I taunt.
“I like when you call me Liv,” she whispers, and I soften.
“Can you sleep in tomorrow, or do you have to work?”
“Work. But I’ll do it from the ranch. I’m not going back to the office until Monday.” Her dark lashes flutter as she looks up at me. Even with the heels I suspect she wields like weapons, my wife is still at least half a foot smaller than me. Something I’ve never really been into before, but damn... on her, it works.
I take a chance and drop my lips to the crown of her head, liking this quiet truce. “Maybe we could?—”
“Aunt Livvy—” someone yells from the front door, a voice that makes my wife smile as she stiffens in my arms before taking a step back.
“Hey, kid.” Olivia’s voice shakes the tiniest bit as she smiles back at the lanky kid staring at us with blatant curiosity. A dark mop of messy brown hair and green eyes the color of Olivia’s looking back. Pretty sure that must be Knight.
A woman who looks similar to my wife but with red hair and a few extra inches on Olivia pulls the kid back. That is definitely Brynlee St. James-Kane. “Hey, Liv. Need any help?”
“Nope.” She takes my hand in hers and leads me up the front path. “Hey, Brynnie.”
Brynlee smiles for her sister’s sake before turning her untrusting gaze my way. Her hands go to the young boy’s shoulders protectively. “You must be the husband.”
“Brynlee,” Olivia sighs. “I’d like to introduce you to Logan and Maggie.”
“You got any older kids, Logan?” the boy I’m assuming is Knight asks.
“Knight,” his mother chastises.
“What? The baby’s cute, but babies are boring,” Knight argues.
“You’re not wrong, kid. And sorry, so far, it’s just the one kid.” Maggie lifts her head, slowly stirring as Knight shrugs and walks away. “Nice to meet you, Brynlee.”
Her eyes narrow. “I’m still holding back judgment on you, Adler.” She steps back and wraps her arms around her sister. “He is hot though.”
“Pretty sure he can hear you, Brynn,” Olivia laughs.
Brynlee looks my way, a small, devious smile on her face. “Oh, sweetie, he knows he’s hot. The hottest ones always do.”
Great. So her entire family is prickly too.
Maggie picks now to lift her head and whimper. She might like sleeping in the car, but my girl isn’t a fan of waking up somewhere different from where she fell asleep.
“Let’s get her inside,” Olivia announces, steeling her spine and, I sense, readying for war.
Minutes later, I realize why.
