I tilted her chin up, looking at her. “Why the ever-loving fuck would they do that?”
“Because you’re the Sterlings. I was clueless about the family when I met you, but not anymore. I like that they’re all down-to-earth, even in the way they tease you. But still, we’re different.”
“‘Tease’ is a nice word.”
“Told you he’s not lying to us.” Finn’s voice filtered toward us.
Phoebe and I turned to look at the table at the same time. Every single person was staring at us.
“For fuck’s sake!” I exclaimed.
“We’re sorry. We’re sorry,” Mom apologized. “Boys, back to the food.”
Hannah was trying to control a fit of laughter.
“Sorry, man,” Chase said. “Knox was throwing around the idea that you might still be faking and that you’re using us as an audience to practice on.”
Phoebe started to laugh, as did I.
“But we get it now. We were barking up the wrong tree,” Wyatt admitted. “Either that or you’re very, very good at faking it.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t put that past him,” Finn announced.
“I wouldn’t think he’s capable of that,” Knox added.
“I’ll have you know that wewerevery convincing,” Phoebe stated, and I was astounded at the sass in her voice. Were my family’s antics rubbing off on her?
Knox was looking very smugly at me.
I brought my mouth to Phoebe’s ear. “That’s because I was so damn attracted to you that it’s a miracle I didn’t kiss the panties off you that first evening at the restaurant.”
“That would explain a thing or two.” She blushed as we brought a few cups of coffee to the table.
“You two aren’t getting any coffee,” I informed Knox and Finn.
“Why the hell not?” Finn blurted.
“Because you’ve pissed me off, and you’re already fired up with your BS. You don’t need more ammunition.”
As Phoebe and I made coffee for everyone except those two, Duncan, Riley, and Jeremy arrived. Duncan behaved well, introducing the three of them to Phoebe. Amusement was obvious in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything that would put Phoebe on the spot.
I owed him one. Even though she’d said she liked this group, it could quickly become too much for someone who wasn’t used to us.
After we all sat down at the table, Phoebe headed to the kitchen. She returned with two coffees, putting them in front of Knox and Finn.
“I like you two,” she said, smiling at me.
“Thank you, Phoebe. We like you too,” Knox replied.
“We’re very likable,” Finn said. “Duncan’s and Chase’s girls have taken a liking to us. In some cases, even before they took a liking to our brother.”
“Who?” Phoebe asked.
Hannah cleared her throat. “Yeah, that’s me.”
Chase raised a brow. “What do you mean?”
“As we established before, you were a grump of the highest order when we first met. And the second time too. And your brothers seemed to have all of that humor you lacked,” Hannah explained.
