“Excellent. Tomorrow, you can be on the lookout for any guest committing crimes against fashion,” I deadpanned.
Agent Pederson blinked. “Uh … I’ll make a note of that.”
Rhett coughed to hide a laugh, but Fallon couldn’t hold his in. “I apologize on her behalf. If it makes you feel any better, she’s always been this insufferable.”
“It’s fine,” he mumbled, then addressed me. “I’ll be just over there if you need anything.” He pointed toward an area near the pool and walked away.
I turned to my brother. “See? He adores me. Always offering to help.”
“Sure, or he’s counting down the days until he can transfer back to a field office,” Fallon teased.
I grinned. “Please, I’m a delight.”
Fallon shook his head. “That’s one word for it. I prefer ‘obnoxious’.”
“Just for that, you’re on dinner duty tonight. Try not to burn the house down.”
He groaned. “Isn’t the chef here?”
“Don’t be such a baby. Jeffrey’s been busy the last few days getting things ready for tomorrow, so I gave him the evening off.” I patted Fallon on the arm. “I’m sure you can handle putting something together.”
The restof the day passed in a blur of decorating. By the time the sun set, the entire place looked like it belonged in a glossy magazine spread. Dinner had also been a success, with no fires or disasters to report.
Because of the cool ocean breeze, Morgan and I had swapped our summer dresses for hoodies and sweats—something neither of us would be caught dead in around anyone else. The four of us had migrated to the fire pit for drinks. I was curled up on one of the outdoor sofas sharing a bottle of rosé with Morgan. Fallon and Rhett sat on the opposite couch, huddled together and whispering as the fire crackled between us.
The sound of a car pulling up drew my attention toward the house. The agents standing outside also turned that way.
“That’s probably our guests,” Fallon said, setting his beer down and getting to his feet.
Earlier, my brother had mentioned his best friend, Tyler, had two younger brothers flying in from California for our party.He’d invited Jase and Dylan to stay in one of our guest rooms because Tyler and his new husband, Hayden, were still in their honeymoon phase and not interested in hosting anyone who might interrupt their alone time.
A minute later, two guys appeared in the glow of the patio lights, and whatever I’d imagined about Tyler Statler’s “little brothers” vanished instantly. Jase and Dylan looked nothing like I’d expected. They were tall, broad-shouldered, and far too sexy for their own good.
“About damn time,” Fallon teased, pulling each of them in for bro hugs.
“Traffic was a nightmare,” one of them explained, his voice deep and smooth. “And Dylan missed our exit because he was too busy singing along to Kelly Clarkson.”
That made the darker-haired one Jase and the one with shorter, lighter hair Dylan.
Dylan shot his stepbrother a look. “Like you weren’t harmonizing.”
Fallon laughed. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” He turned to us. “Guys, this is my sister, Faye, and her best friend, Morgan.”
“Nice to meet you.” Jase flashed me a panty-melting smile that needed its own warning label.
“Yeah, thanks for letting us crash here,” Dylan added, his tone casual, but his lingering gaze wasn’t.
“Of course. The more, the merrier.” I quickly took a sip of wine to hide how the two of them were affecting me.
Rhett opened the outdoor fridge and asked, “You guys want a beer?”
“Are they even old enough to drink?” Morgan giggled. She was clearly already feeling the wine.
“We’re both twenty-one,” Dylan stated.
Rhett handed each of them a bottle of Sam Adams, and they sat in the chairs next to me.
I poured myself another glass of wine while the guys caught up.
