His brothers’ conversation continued as Memphis sank into his thoughts. He could give his protein and carb balance all the credit he wanted, but inwardly Memphis knew just where his fire came from. It was sparked by Maverick’s oncoming reassertion as Top Dog. Sure, the accident knocked his twin brother down a notch—and so did the fact that he recently lost a girl he liked to their oldest brother, Richard—but Maverick was becoming more like his old self every day.
In their adolescence, it was often Memphis resented his twin for being so loud, bold, and boastful. Hogging all the attention and leaving none for him. But somewhere along the way, Memphis settled into a place of acceptance. Who wanted the kind of attention he got when, a good sum of the time, it wasn’t the positive sort?
Memphis moved over to the freehand weights and started a session of arm curls, inwardly working to further dissect his irritated state. Or maybe helpless state was more like it. He couldn’t help but wonder just how he’d score a woman with guys like Maverick and Emmitt around. Cliché as it might be, inhisexperience, women were always more drawn to the playboys.
The trouble was, there was no avoiding his brothers’ near constant companionship. Memphis and his four siblings were in hiding together, a circumstance brought on by their grandfather’s mafia ties and a recent plea bargain that—since not even the family’s billions could keep them safe from retaliation—put them all in a relocation program together.
One day they were living separate lives in the lap of luxury, the next they were shuttled out to Haven Hills to run The Homestead Inn, a bed and breakfast style place nestled in the valley of two rounded hills, a flowing river, and surrounding pines. The inn attracted family groups for the most part, featuring activities like horseback riding, bonfire gatherings, live, local entertainment, and meals with a whole lot of homestyle comfort food.
The chances of meeting a single woman there weren’t so great, a fact that urged Memphis to frequent the pub more often than he might, especially while Maverick refused to come along. Of course, there were complications surrounding future relationships for all the Durans now. They each had a past to protect. He couldn’t help but think Emmitt and Maverick would have an easier time at that than he would. Heck, each could look a woman straight in the face and tell her he’d call them with no intention of doing so.
Memphis wasn’t designed that way.
It seemed like a miracle that Andie, their only sister, found love shortly after arriving, to a cowboy who owned the other half of the Homestead, no less. The two had gotten married last month. In fact, they’d only recently returned from their honeymoon, if one could call it that.
“I’m going to go on a way better honeymoon than Andie and Trenton,” Maverick declared, proving his thoughts were in a similar place. It was a frequent occurrence—a phenomenon more common among twins, they’d found.
“Good luck,” Emmitt said through a grunt as he pushed against the leg press. “When you’re in a relocation program, with your names and faces on the mafia’s wanted list, youstayin hiding or risk your life. And your bride’s life too, for that matter.”
Memphis imagined taking his new bride to the cabin their oldest brother Richard purchased the month before. It was a special addition to the Homestead Inn. Just a short drive over the river, nestled into a beautiful, wooded area, the cabin would serve as the Inn’s unique honeymoon getaway for guests, and the rest of the family if they were lucky enough to marry under their current condition.
Memphis was getting to the crux of his frustration now, wasn’t he? Because he wasn’t only fighting the voices in his head that said he’d never measure up to his twin. That he shouldn’t even try finding a woman until Maverick was spoken for because she’d just want his brother instead of him. Memphis had fantasized about a time whenhegot the girl. A girl Maverick wanted just as badly. But even that scenario had lost its luster after Richard recently scored Ava, the woman Maverick had his heart set on. The event had been a massive blow to Maverick’s ego to say the least.
“Knock, knock,” came Andie from the small gym’s entrance. She shuffled into the room with her arms swaying and her shoulders soft, a dreamy look on her face.
“What’s that goofy face for?” Emmitt asked. “You’re still not over the honeymoon action yet?”
Andie straightened up and slapped him on the arm. “Stop it. I just got a massage by The Homestead Inn’s prospective LMT, and let me tell you—magic!”
“What’s an LMT?” Maverick asked.
“Licensed massage therapist,” Andie said. “Talk about gifted. And I have a surprise for you, Maverick,” she added, grabbing hold of his walker and moving it toward him. “You’re up next.”
His brows lifted. “No way. Really?”
She nodded. “Really. As part of the consideration process, I arranged to have those I interviewed give two massages. This particular LMT has worked as a physical therapist assistant too. And since you’re still undergoing physical therapy, I thought you’d be the perfect candidate to attest for that skill set.”
Maverick pumped a fist. “Yes!”
Andie grinned. “Come on over to the spa. You can hop in the shower, wash off all that sweat, and plop down on the massage table." She handed him a card, spun on one foot, and walked out of the gym.
“Lucky,” Emmitt said.
Maverick set a pair of narrowed eyes on the card in his hand.“Ty Allen?”He spat the name as if it repulsed him. “It’s adude?”
“What’s the problem with that?” Emmitt asked.
Maverick rolled his eyes as his hand fell limp into his lap. The card flittered to the floor. “Theproblemis…I don’t want some guy’s freaking hands rubbing all over me, that’s what.”
Emmitt grimaced. “It’s a massage. It’s not meant to be sexual.”
“I don’t care,” Maverick hissed. “If you like the idea,youcan take the massage instead.”
“I’ve got my pilot instruction coming up in an hour,” Emmitt said.
“You meanhelicopterlessons,” Maverick said. “Not like you’re going to be operating a B-52.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of impossible for me to do that now, isn’t it?” Emmitt said. “Tsk, you’re just jealous that you won’t have the same pickup line as me.”
