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Klaytonisright,theanswer is behind the door. The large wooden door with an intricately carved forest and river scene, which as I look to the side, seems to be a replica of the mountain that soars in the distance. How much did that cost?
Money doesn’t appear to be an issue in Eggplant Canyon.
But we might have an issue. How the fuck are Aria and her dad connected to our mom? My stomach turns. The comment I made about Mom possibly being sick was a desperate cover for what I fear—mom got married. Marriage, not sickness, would explain her happiness, but wouldn’t she have told us?
Aria belongs to us.It’s the thought that’s gone through my head since last night, but I shudder at a potentially different meaning it could have. I shove the thought away and savor what might be the last moments of enjoying the memory of the charm that’s specifically Aria. Her seductive nature hit me in the balls, which I’d rushed back to the hotel and unloaded in the shower after taking her with my brothers. That was hot beyond belief. It can’t have been our last time with her.
The door opens and pulls me from my thoughts.
“Hi, boys! I’m so glad you all made it.” Mom’s beaming. It puts me the opposite of at ease.
The door opens farther and a tall, distinguished gentleman, fitting to be the owner of this house, stands very close behind my mother. Intimate level close. His hand snakes around her waist then pulls back.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
His eyes are the same bright blue as Aria’s.
Not wanting to give away that there’s a problem, because I don’t technically know that there is, I’m careful not to look at my brothers.
“Hey mom, so good to see you.” I rush forward, hugging her like everything’s normal. It will buy the other two some time. Seconds…but they’ll have to make it work.
“Come on in, we might as well get you caught up on the surprise.” Mom’s so damn happy.
Theo’s firm handshake makes it clear who the boss is here. I step to the side of the long corridor that appears to open into a large living area. Like a fucking gauntlet of the unknown.
Fuck it, as Theo and my mom lead the way, I glance at Vance. How did mom not notice how calm he made his expression? That’s always a bad sign with my younger brother. And Klayton isn’t talking…also a bad sign.
Theo and Mom step to the side. Her hands are over her mouth. Theo’s hand is on her waist, clearly comfortable there. And the bombshell, in so many ways…is sitting on the couch…Aria.
Her eyes almost pop out of her head when she looks up from her phone. Fair enough.
Mom bounces, then says, “Boys, Theo and I got married. Meet your stepsister, Aria.”
Vance coughs or chokes…I’m not sure which. Doesn’t matter. We all need time to process.
“Don’t worry boys, she doesn’t bite.” Theo turns to her. “Aria, meet your new stepbrothers.” He easily states our names. Either he paid attention to our brief handshakes or mom showed him pictures.
But if he saw what we did to his daughter last night, he wouldn’t be smiling.
This is going to be awkward.
Five
Aria
Realityiscrammeddownmy throat so hard, I’m choking on it.
I thought nothing could top the guilt of facing my father after such wanton behavior last night, and all of the subsequent dreams. I’d wanted to unwind, wanted to do something wild, and the brothers had gone along with it.
It should have been a one-time thing with strangers. Mymindeasily played off Vance’s insistence on not letting me go as stuff people say when they’re worked up. Myhearthung tightly to his words. And mydad, like always, is bringing every semblance of fun crashing down around me.
Based on the brothers’ stunned expressions, this is as much of a shocker to them as to me. I can’t give them the opportunity to say anything. My dad would be mortified. I guess they’re about to find out why the bikers call me princess.
Pushing off the couch to stand, since I’m having to crane my neck to look at everyone, it’s immediately apparent that my legs aren’t ready to work. I plop back down with zero grace, but there’s no time to waste.
My dad doesn’t approve of me hanging out in the bar. Apparently, I do have secrets, and they’re not so fun when they’re on the verge of being spilled.
“Nice to meet you. Why don’t we all have a seat.” Point made, but no one moves. “Wow, brothers, looks like this surprise marriage caught us all off guard. All my hounding about wanting siblings must have finally broke you, Dad.”
