Ethan’s home felt like a palace, tucked away at the top of a building overlooking the water, nothing but sea for miles if you peeked outside. It was hard not to, given the large panes of glass making up most of the walls. He either had an eye for design or a talented home decorator, every inch of the home stunning. It wasn’t as sterile as I feared from the outside, each space complete with its own character that melded together in perfect harmony.
We slept in a guest room across from Luke’s, and while Jason went out like a light, I tossed and turned, too jittery to relax. A million thoughts bubbled up, hopes of love, marriage, babies, and more escaping the box I stored them in long ago. Things that once seemed impossible felt like a genuine prospect.
His brothers were more than welcoming, naked greeting and all.
Luke was as unruly as expected, a heavily inked man with long hair, brows as expressive as Jason’s, though his face hid behind a beard he wore like armor. Underneath his gruff exterior, he was a big softy, melting every time he interacted with his dog. A dog I adored with her big brown eyes and mix-match coat of brindle and white.
Ethan was a tough nut to crack, a stone-faced giant who went from serious to ridiculous in five seconds flat. He'd drop jokes that left my sides hurting from laughter before quickly falling into silence. And while Jason was intense, he was harsh, eyes staring through my soul, testing me.
Jason and I woke up early, heading out to walk the beach with Tally, the other men still passed out. We walked along the shoreline hand in hand, the bite of November air not penetrating the warm glow around us. It was exactly the way holidays were meant to be.
It was night and day from a year before when I spent the day crying in Dad’s loft with a turkey leg, devastated over Justin. I never thought a year later I’d be walking along a beach with Jason, a man I loved and admired, somehow more than the man I accepted a proposal from. As sad as it was, it was true; nothing compared to the way I felt about the man at my side. Love was a funny thing, blinding you to things you’d never tolerate otherwise. With him, I was unstoppable. He loved my quirks, worshiped my body, and fed my mind.
“Sorry about the sausage party greeting,” Jason laughed, pulling me out of my head.
I glanced his way, my heart skipping a beat at the man I loved in the morning light, his hair still disheveled from sleep. “It’s okay,” I replied, grinning. “I know a lot more about him now.”
“He’s a good kid,” he assured, adjusting his grip on Tally’s leash as she fixated on a brave seagull that wandered too close. It was a long lead, allowing her to run as she pleased, but not enough to get a mouthful of seabird. “More twisted up than a mile-long corkscrew, but a good kid.”
“He seems fine.” I didn’t see a thing wrong with him, as he was the far more welcoming brother. Ethan was great too, but his reservation about outsiders was evident.
“He’s probably the hardest working son of a bitch I’ve ever met.”
I cocked my head his way. “Coming from a guy that will work after midnight if I don’t threaten to shut his laptop off?” I laughed.
He frowned. “I left it in Ithaca, didn’t I?”
Only because I forced him to, but I wasn’t in the mood to split hairs. “Yeah, but you’re not one to talk.”
He rolled his eyes as we continued along, Tally chasing the waves, her tail wagging like mad. “Speaking of that, how did NorCon go? Any companies catch your eye?”
I brought up Commons Electrical over dinner in New York but couldn’t mention the slip of a resume in front of Marty. Nor did I mention that Marty hadn’t given the guy the time of day, but I’d leave that out. There were only a few more weeks of the two together in Ithaca, and I didn’t want to see absolute carnage break out.
“I handed out over a dozen copies of my resume, but I’m most excited about Commons Electrical,” I replied, smiling. “His team is mainly remote. I’m not sure what openings he has, but he’s a nice guy, and they offer great products.”
I hoped Reginald would reach out with a product management position, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high. I would take anything if it got me out of Ithaca and closer to Dad. Spending the holiday away from him was bizarre, even after checking in first thing to make sure he was okay.
“That’s great. It’s a good fit, too. With your experience in distribution, you know the players in the game.”
“What about you? How was your time there?” I asked, nudging his shoulder playfully.
He chuckled, eyeing me up. “Torturous.”
I teased him here and there after a shower with sexy shots, determined to get his blood pumping. We couldn’t have sex in the city, but we could flirt at a distance.
I grinned. “Going to be a few more days of that.”
“Why?” he asked, eyes blazing.
“We’re at your brother’s house.” I loved sexy time as much as anyone, especially with him, but I wouldn’t get my freak on as a guest in someone’s home.
He stared at me as if I were insane, stopping dead in his tracks. “And?”
“It’s disrespectful!”
He shook his head, still in dismay. “You’re out of your mind. You saw my brother’s dick in slow motion last night. I think we’ve established the level of dignity they operate at.”
“That doesn’t mean that I’ll disrespect Ethan’s home.” I rolled my eyes, continuing along wobbly in the sand, and he reluctantly followed suit.
“You either get some nooky now or wait until
