“You don’t usually want me hangin’ out with you,” I commented. “Especially when there are babes to flirt with.”
“He’s off the market,” Rome blurted, nodding at Rex, whose cheeks reddened.
My eyes lifted to his. “You are?”
Rex glowered at his brother. “Why can’t you just be cool for once? Jesus, Rome.”
Roman ducked his head, obviously embarrassed.
“Who’s the girl?” I asked.
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Isabelle.”
I thought back to the pretty brunette whose number he’d bagged in the diner the weekend they moved here and raised a hand to cover my smile.
Rex’s head reared back. “What’s so funny?”
I leaned back in my chair and crossed my hands over my stomach. “Seems we’ve got a type, Son.”
Rex snorted and then asked, “Talking of types, when are we gonna meet Aislynn?”
“I dunno, Son. She dumped me.”
Roman barked a laugh. “Were you a dick?”
I shrugged. “Yeah, a bit.”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh well. Plenty more fish in the sea.”
“Not for me, Son,” I admitted. “Ash is special.”
“Right,” he said knowingly. “When was the last time you had a girlfriend?”
“Your mom,” I stated, cocking my head to one side. “Why?”
“You’ve gotta lot to learn about women, Dad,” Roman explained. “The dating scene’s changed. Girls like it when their men are sensitive and shit, so basically, Dad, you’re screwed, seein’ as you’re about as sensitive as Hannibal Lecter.”
Rex folded his arms across his chest and studied me. “What are you gonna do to get her back?”
I shrugged. “I was thinkin’ I could knock her over the head with my club and drag her by the hair back to my cave. Or in this case, my clubhouse. Then I’d lock her away and keep her hidden and make sure I was the only other human she came into contact with, until she developed Stockholm Syndrome and never wanted to leave my side again.”
Rex studied me. “I guess it’s a plan, but how about you try just bein’ nice to her?”
My eyes rounded. “Me? Be nice? Me?”
His eyes flicked over my face. “True that.”
“Let us help,” Rex suggested.
My stare slid to him. “And how the fuck will you do that exactly?”
“We can be nice to her and make her like bein’ around us so much that she’ll put up with your moody ass just so she can hang with us.”
I thought about it, nodding slowly. To be fair, I’d heard worse plans, and if it failed, I could always go back to the Stockholm Syndrome idea.
I opened my mouth to start hatching a plan with my boys when my cell phone rang. I grabbed it from the desk and saw Wiki’s name flash up before answering and putting it to my ear.
“Yo!”
