Page 27 of Under One Roof

When she doesn’t say anything, I push her. “What?”

She lifts a careless shoulder. “Nothing. I just think it’s interesting. You meet this girl, are kind to her—” she adds air quotes to her words like an asshole “—but you’ve never treated anyone else like that before. You never brought anyone else to me, demanding a room.”

Ian inclines his head. “You also texted me to ask if you should hire her. Never done that before.”

“Because I’ve never hired anyone outside of an agency before.” Then I turn to my sister. “And what did you want me to do? Leave her on the side of the road with no car?”

“No, she’s an adult. I’d let her fend for herself.”

“Cutthroat,” I say as Ian huffs an amused sound.

“Our sister, the fucking gladiator. Only the strong survive.”

Taryn drops her gaze to the table, though I’m not sure if it’s to hide a growing smile or to shake her head in dismay. My sister is a warrior and has very little patience for anyone who can’t keep up.

Which only makes me think of Andi and her gentle spirit and sweet smile. I don’t want her to be a warrior. Not if she doesn’t have to be. I don’t want her jaded. If anything, I want her to remain soft and tender. I’d protect her, if I had to. If I could.

I’d keep her safe. Do all the fighting for her.

“Just watch it,” my sister eventually says, her eyes back on mine. “Be careful with her, okay? Your kids need someone to stick around. Don’t do anything to screw it up.”

I know that already. I’m trying my best.

“Hey.” My brother elbows my side for my attention. “You’re a good dad.”

I don’t believe him, but I thank him anyway, and we all get up to say goodbye. Ian has a tattoo appointment in a few minutes, and Taryn’s lunch break is over. Since she walked from work, I follow her across the street to where I’m parked.

“Before you go,” she says, catching my arm with one hand, her coffee, keys, cell phone, and wallet in the other. I’ve always been amazed at how she can carry fourteen thousand things in her hands without dropping any of them. Claws of steel. “I’ve got everything planned for Ian’s party, but I’m putting you in charge of getting hold of Roman.”

“You’re kidding me.” I drop my head back to my shoulders. I should be grateful that Taryn is planning our brother’s surprise 50th birthday party, but chasing down our little brother is the last thing I want to do.

“No. I’m not. I did everything else. You can do that.”

“He won’t show, so why do we have to invite him?”

“Because Ian would want him there.”

It’s not because he’s our sibling and we’re family. It’s because Ian wants him there. Not her and not me. Our eldest sibling has always had a soft spot for our youngest. I don’t fucking get it since the guy’s a selfish prick, but… “Whatever.”

“I’ll see you later, brother,” she says, and I briefly tug her to me for a hug.

“See you, sister.”

She fights a smile and punches my arm before heading in the direction of The Nest. Taryn and I are only a year apart and have always been close. Closer to each other than to Ian, our protective big brother, and Roman, the baby. We stuck to each other as kids and continue to as adults. And while I appreciate Ian, it’s Taryn’s words that follow me home.

Don’t do anything to screw it up.

Which is really fucking hard when I step into my house and see Andi in the living room in a skimpy little top and leggings, doing yoga with one arm out in front of her and the other holding her foot up behind her.

I loudly thunk my keys on the counter so she knows I’m home, which causes her to pop up to standing. And that’s worse. Because she faces me with pink dimpled cheeks on either side of her wide smile and nipples beaded beneath the thin light-blue material covering her tits. It’s basically a bra, revealing her toned and tanned stomach with a belly button ring. I remember back in high school, all the girls were trying to be like Britney Spears and getting them pierced. I didn’t realize it was still a thing to do. But now that I’ve seen the small jewel, I can’t look anywhere else.

My sister’s voice rings in my head.Don’t do anything to screw it up.

“Hey, sorry. I’ve been doing this in my room, but it’s hard to do all the stretches and poses, so I came up here. I hope?—”

“It’s fine. Do whatever you need to do. This is your house too.” I force my eyes up to hers. “How did everything go yesterday?”

She smiles, but something is off about it. “Good. Great. Really good.”

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