Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(6)

“I don’t mind. I am curious, though. Why the guest bedroom? And why haven’t you told me about her?”

“Mia’s not mine, Nico,” he admits slowly, each word calculated. “You could say I’m working on it.”

Conor spins in place. A snort of amazed horror sputters past his lips, the half-drunken bliss that twisted his features a second ago now gone. “You’re what? You think you can go after Mia without checking with Colt and me first?”

I fold my arms over my chest, one eyebrow raised. He’s as territorial about Mia as Cody, and by the sound of things, Colt might be the same.

It’s not like they give a fuck about anyone other than family, which is reasonable, I guess. They don’t have long until graduation. Once college is over, they’ll enter the mediocre joys of adult life, so they’re using and abusing the last years of freedom: partying and getting their dicks wet five times a week.

“I wanted to run it by you, but shit got out of hand fast last night. First Brandon, and—” He stops, sucking in a harsh breath like he needs a moment to think through his next words. “And then Spencer swooped in like a fucking Knight in shining armor... I couldn’t sit back and watch him hit on her, so I asked her to be my plus one for Mom’s Charity Ball next month.”

Shit, the Ball. I should tell my assistant, Jasmine, to save the date before she makes plans with her girlfriend, forcing me to invite a random woman. There’s still time—five weeks—but Jas plans her life months in advance.

“You what?!” Conor heaves again, blowing his curls away from his forehead. “You can’t do that!”

Cody steps from one foot to another, suddenly defensive. “Why? No dibs on chicks, remember?”

The last of the Holy Trinity joins our gathering. The one who’s most like me, so this is about to get interesting. Instead of hitting my home gym in the basement, I get comfortable on the tall barstool, sipping coffee and watching my nine-years-younger brothers pick up their figurative swords.

“Guess who made a move on our girl last night,” Conor growls at Colt, who immediately zeroes in on me, nostrils flared, murder on his mind. Wrong address, bro. “Not him!” Conor rolls his eyes. “Cody!”

All hell breaks loose.

I watch, confused, amused, and proud that they’re showing some emotion.

“What the hell changed, Cody?” Colt demands, voice thick with barely controlled annoyance.

Cody spreads his hands as if to say shit happens, flaring Colt’s temper more, evident by the pinched whiteness of his lips. For the next five minutes, Cody’s getting schooled, threatened, and growled at.

They’d behead him if they had the swords.

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting?” I cut in, feeling a little sorry for Cody. Mia’s a looker. No wonder he’s into her. “Who is this chick to get all of you so bent out of shape?”

“She’s our lil’ sis,” Conor says, his hands balled into tight fists at his sides. “Shut up. This doesn’t concern you.”

Lil’ sis? They bugged Mom for a sister since they turned three. She almost gave in. Almost. Thankfully, the thought of having an eighth boy or, God forbid, another set of triplets was too big a risk.

It’s a blessing we don’t have a sister. She’d hate our guts when we’d start scrutinizing her boyfriends and weeding out those who couldn’t meet our expectations.

Mom dreamed of a daughter for years, hence seven sons. After the triplets were born, she settled for getting daughters-in-law instead.

So far, she’s shit out of luck, though.

Shawn married a guy, and Logan’s wife-to-be spent her last three months of pregnancy on bed rest. Now that Noah’s here, Cassidy’s too busy fussing over him to get mani-pedis with Mom.

She gets along with Theo’s wife, Thalia, much better now than she used to, but I’m willing to bet a lot of money it’s not a bond she dreamed of.

“Cody... Jesus!” Conor huffs, biting into an apple, then talking around the big chunk. “Unless you’re absolutely sure you want to commit, don’t you fucking dare mess Mia about.”

“I’m sure, alright? Believe me. I’m dead serious.” He eyes the two of them, a silent declaration in his look.

I can do the same with every one of my brothers, but the triplets have their own wavelength. Whenever they trade those loaded looks, I’ve no idea what’s going on.

“Give him a break,” I say. “She’s cute. What harm will a bit of fun do?”

Wrong thing to say...

“Fun?” Colt grinds out. “Mia’s not made for fun, Nico.”

“And I’m not looking for fun,” Cody chips in, setting his cup in the sink. “Instead of wasting your breath telling me shit I already know, we should start clearing the garden.”

Two minutes later, I’m alone. Who knew my brothers would grow up to be so chivalrous?

THREE
Mia

THE BELL CHIMES WHEN I PUSH THE DOOR OPEN. I’m early. My appointment’s still fifteen minutes away, but I don’t want to loiter in the street.

A distinct smell of green soap hangs in the air, and the black-painted walls are covered in chalk drawings and mirrors. My heels click against the dark, hardwood floor as I take a few steps further inside.