Griff leaned back again and shook his head. “Not a fucking thing.”
“How is this going to work?”
I turned my back to Autumn, feeling the need to practice some self-control myself. “We all keep our dicks in our pants and focus on work? We’re not boys. Surely, we can keep our shit together.”
Zeke shook his head. “I don’t want to keep my dick in my pants.”
Griff threw a dark look at my twin. “Don’t be an asshole.”
“I’m not going to be. I’m just being realistic. I’m attracted to her. If she’s attracted to me, which she will be, then I’m not going to stop it.” He shrugged. “Sorry, I’m not recovering from a divorce or a nutty ex. I’m single and more than eager to mingle.”
“What makes you think she’s going to want you?” I couldn’t help prod Zeke the same way we always did to each other. There were some things that never changed, and our competitive nature was one of them.
“I’m a fucking catch. Why wouldn’t she?”
Griff scoffed. “Maybe she likes a guy with a little humility?”
“Oh, that’s rich. Especially coming from the man who has been known to introduce himself as the top surgeon in his field.” Zeke went back to the window and drained his scotch. “Oh, fuck. She went into the water. I feel like I’m a kid watchingBaywatchall over again.”
We each moved to the window with embarrassing speed. Sure enough, Autumn was walking through the water, kicking up water and laughing as Grace held onto her head. Even Jones was smiling, something that rarely happened.
“We can’t run her off. She’s too good with the kids.” Griff braced his knuckles against the window and growled. “God knows they need someone normal around them.”
“I’m not going to fuck anything up. I don’t pull that shit anymore. I please my women and then we go our separate ways, both happy.”
I turned to my brother and best friend. “No.”
Zeke frowned. “What the fuck? No?”
I tried to keep my face straight. Neither of my brothers knew about my history with Autumn, and I wasn’t ready to admit to it. That didn’t mean I was just going to sit back and let Zeke have his way with her, though. “Why do you get to stake some claim on her like she’s a piece of land for one of your restaurants?”
Griff grunted. “Con’s right.”
Zeke laughed. “So, what? You two want to throw your hat in the ring, too?”
Griff looked back down at the beach and swore. Moving back to his chair, he shook his head. “I can’t. She’s an employee.”
“I’m interested in her.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and tried to keep the desperation off my face. “Grace let herself into Autumn’s room this morning. We had a moment when I went to fetch Grace.”
“A moment? What kind of moment, Oprah?”
Griff snorted and grabbed his phone. “Well, I didn’t get a distress call from Autumn, so that must be a good sign.”
I snarled at them. “Just a moment. You’re not the only one of us who has a chance with her.”
“Well, if we’re going on who has a chance with her, I’m there. None of us are knuckle-dragging beasts. We all have a chance.” Griff shrugged. “What are we even doing? This is stupid. We’re not kids anymore.”
Zeke looked at both of us and grinned. “No, we’re not. We have access to a lot more money than we used to. What was the last bet we had? And who was the girl?”
I smiled at the stupid memory of our childish bets of who could get the girl. “Ten thousand to whoever got Trish Tomlin to show us her tits first.”
Griff shook his head. “No, it was ten thousand to whoever got Sue Ferrell into bed first.”
“I’ve got a million that says our pretty little nanny falls for me first.”
I straightened. “Two million says she’s mine.”
Griff swore and then laughed. “What the fuck. Two million says Autumn ends up wanting me.”
