Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,216

He’s all but eliminated the vague language I tried to use, and gotten to the heart, literally, of what I was trying to explain.

“How do I tell her, when I’m not even sure she’s looking at this with the same view?” I resign myself to being vulnerable in front of them.

Keaton is the one to offer advice now. “With Presley, I just had to tell her how I felt. Sure, she freaked out a little … okay, a lot. But I knew I loved her. Life is too short, Forrest. It’s one of those things people say but look at Mom. She had Dad for the time she had him for, and now he’s gone. Do you want to wake up some day, regretting that you never told Penelope how serious you are about her?”

All of their words sink into my flesh, absorbing through the layers and into my internal organs. My gut, my heart, my brain … they sync up in one swift motion and know that what my brothers are saying is true.

“Jesus, I thought we were just coming over to play poker,” Bowen grumbles. “Was this your way of trying to win a hand?”

The tension breaks, and we’re back to our sibling rivalry. I set down my hand, which is rather stacked with a royal flush.

“It wouldn’t be the first time I beat you with both smarts and sleight of hand.”

My middle brother flicks me his middle finger, folding his cards as they all slide their chips in my direction.

“Tell the woman you love her. Maybe she’ll make an honest man out of you yet.”

29

Forrest

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, gorgeous P, happy birthday to you.”

My singing voice is far from decent, but for her, I’ll belt a tune.

“Will you stop that?” Her voice lilts from her bathroom.

I lie on top of her bed, the ruffly pink comforter so different from mine. It’s only the third time, in the months and months we’ve been consorting, that I’ve been invited into her bedroom.

Penelope’s home reminds me a lot of my childhood one; littered with boys’ sneakers, children’s artwork, overstuffed couches, soft blankets, and pictures of the family covering every wall. It’s a home that, as soon as you walk in, you’re instantly comforted by.

“Where are the boys tonight?” I ask.

I’m a little curious, as her house has usually been off limits.

“At my mother-in-law’s,” Penelope shouts out from the bathroom. Poking her head out, she eyes me. “Why, did you want the kids to be here?”

I should tell her that, no, I don’t. Although we’re all but out in the open now, I don’t want to freak Penelope out.

But last time we were all together … I have to admit it was kind of fun. Teaching Matthew basic HTML was kind of cool, and the way Travis throws a baseball, he’s going to be a natural outfielder. Plus, watching Penelope wrangle her boys is kind of sexy. Who knew observing someone be a mom could really be a turn on?

And after the conversation with my brothers at poker night … all I can think about is telling her how much I love her, and how I want to be a part of her and the boys’ lives.

“Well, that wouldn’t be too appropriate for this marathon of fuck, would it?” I shut down all thoughts of something deeper because she only asked for one thing on her birthday.

My cock.

Yes, the only thing this woman wanted on her birthday was a night free of kids, and a dick down. I was only too eager to help her out with that request.

She walks out of the bathroom in what can only be described as a smoldering scrap of lace. The deep purple chemise is nearly see-through and only falls to the middle of her thighs. It highlights every curve, and when she turns around, the entire strip down the middle of her back is only lace. I see part of her ass cheeks, the dip of her tailbone, and the way those blond locks fall in thick sheets over the thin spaghetti straps holding the lingerie up on her shoulders.

“Jesus Christ …” I shove my fist in my mouth, bite it and let my eyes wander her luscious figure.

The only thing sexier than a naked Penelope is this bombshell in lace. It’s as if the garment leaves just enough to the imagination to get my blood boiling and my cock roaring to life.

“I thought I’d wear my birthday