Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,275

wrapped in my old high school sports T-shirts, and Penelope is scrubbing down the shower saying it needs a good clean.

I love them, and I’m so thankful they’re helping … but they’re also getting on my last fucking nerve. They’re everywhere, all at once, yelling and almost breaking things. Putting items in spots I don’t want them to go, or drilling nails into the wall to hang art I haven’t approved. Mom is doing that thing where she just sits in a chair and bosses people around, and my nephews are almost tripping everyone at least five times in one minute.

My teeth are fully gritted, my jaw aching from the pressure I’m putting on it, when Presley walks in.

“Who wants donuts?” she yells, holding up two big pastry boxes.

I can smell the fried dough from here, and my stomach rumbles. Relief washes over me, because what is more comforting than a chocolate frosted?

“Me! Me!” Travis, Matthew, and Ames run at her, and she catches them with her free arm, hugging them into her.

“Go get some paper plates from the pantry and I’ll split them up,” Presley tells them, and they rush past me.

Forrest and I have just brought my dresser up, and it’s in the middle of the living room but that’s not stopping me from unpacking plastic bins of my clothes and putting pairs of jeans and sweatpants into it.

Stopping, I rise to greet my sister-in-law. “Thanks for bringing those, I think everyone could use a sugar break.”

She winks at me. “I could tell, even if I wasn’t here yet. Our family is a bit much, yeah? I figured that morale wouldn’t last long in this small of a space.”

“Well, thanks.” I make a pshh noise.

She blushes. “I didn’t mean it like that! This place is great, I’m happy for you. I just meant … seven hundred square feet is a tiny space for so many Nash’s.”

“Truer words have never been spoken,” I agree.

We’re about to head over to the table where my vulture family members are scarfing down all the good donuts when a knock comes on the doorframe.

“Anyone home?”

Ryan stands there, a bamboo plant in her hand, looking just as fucking perfect as she always does.

My cock stirs, reminding me of the fantasies it’s been all too privy to when it comes to this woman. Jesus, I need to get a handle on myself, my nephews are in the room.

“You came.” I smile at her.

She shrugs. “I figured everyone else was going to see it before the housewarming, why shouldn’t I? Plus, I’m here to make sure Forrest doesn’t fuck up your Internet installation.”

I should have told both she and my twin brother that I’d already called the cable company to come hook that all up, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Ryan had come to help me move in, and for some reason, it means more than anyone else being here. Probably because I threatened them all and reminded them of all the favors I’d done. She’d come all on her own.

And in a way, it showed that she was interested in … whatever it was that was going on between us.

“Hey, you don’t touch those cords. I’m going to wire it so he has the fastest Wi-Fi this town has ever seen.” Forrest flips his middle finger up at her, and his stepsons cackle.

“Dad, you have to put a dollar in the swear jar!” Ames tells him.

Ames is the only one who is comfortable enough to call my brother Dad. Probably because he doesn’t remember his real father, a soldier who was killed when my youngest nephew was only a year old.

“What? I didn’t say a word!” Forrest holds his heart like he’s wounded.

“Our kids are too smart for you. I agree, give us the dollar.” Penelope holds out her hand.

“Kids, don’t ever give your mother money. She’ll spend it on shoes.” He points his fingers at the boys as if he’s teaching them a very important life lesson.

“They’re going to appreciate the shoes a woman wears when they’re older.” Ryan snorts, and I can’t help my eyes skimming down her legs to observe the plain white Chucks she has on.

“She’s right!” Penelope points at Ryan like she’s just made the most valid argument in the world.

“What’s that?” I ask, nodding to the plant.

She extends the small elephant figurine full of rocks with a bamboo shoot sticking straight up out of it. “It’s tradition to bring someone a bamboo