Chapter 36

JOEY

Everyone is glaring and practicing the silent treatment by the time the neighbors, Adrina and Wes, arrive. This family is ten times the size of mine, and they've all argued so much that I've lost track of who's on which side. Luckily, Adrina is too busy chatting about Rosie and Denny's wedding to notice the frigid vibes in the air. Lynn and Ginny keep the conversation going with Adrina while Wes focuses on the plate before him and nothing else. I'm tempted to join him on that end of the table.

When Lynn excuses herself to use the restroom, I notice Cash following her inside. This can't be good. I'm proven right a minute later when Lynn stomps back to the table, leaving her brother inside.

"If he thinks I'm giving him that contact information, he's nuts," she mutters more to herself than to me. "He's gonna take off to Raleigh, and Hollis will be on the phone with the cops in two seconds flat."

Since she's still whispering in my direction, I figure I can join the conversation. Adrina is talking loud enough that nobody is even paying us any attention. "Why is that so bad? Since now you know there's no connection with The Diamond Group."

Lynn's eyes widen. "We don't know that for sure. Just because Duke didn't find other homeowners who were victimized doesn't mean these asshole developers aren't behind all of this."

"Lynn." There's a warning in my voice that I know will ruffle her feathers, but the bottom line is she can't go do this on her own. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to her, and I could have stopped it.

"Joey." Her eyes narrow as her lips thin. "I just had a run-in with Cash, and I'm sure every one of my brothers will pull me aside before the night is through. I really need at least one person on my side in this."

Fuck. Why does she insist on doing everything herself? We're going to have a long sit-down soon so I can get to the bottom of this. I can't keep giving in just to keep the peace when she could get herself in real trouble with her one-woman heroine act.

"Lynnie," Carter calls down the table, and we both turn his way. "Can I have a word?" He gestures to the house.

Lynn pastes on a smile. "No thanks. I'm enjoying hearing about Denny and Rosie's wedding plans."

I'm pretty sure I hear Carter growl in response. When I glance around the table, I notice every one of her brothers—plus Luca—are now watching their sister as she absently picks at the food on her plate. It's her against all these men; all she wants is her boyfriend to have her back.

So, I set my doubts aside again and grab the hand resting in her lap, lacing my fingers with hers and squeezing it. "I got you," I whisper, knowing she heard me when she squeezes my hand back.

* * *

An hour later,I'm at the kitchen sink, washing dishes. My mom didn't raise an idiot.

"You think anyone would believe me if I told them I've got a professional baseball star washing my dinner dishes?" Ginny asks her neighbor Adrina. They're both covering food and putting it in the fridge, handing me the dirty dishes as they go. Lynn volunteered for cleanup too, not wanting to give her brothers an opportunity to pin her down.

But Adrina's got other plans for my girlfriend. "Lynnie, cara, could you please fetch my good Tupperware so I can pack some leftovers for Wes's lunch?"

"Sure thing," Lynn responds before heading down the hall.

Just about everyone else is still in the backyard, either playing with the dogs or arguing. As the new guy, I'm glad I'm inside.

"This is the last one, darlin'." Ginny hands me a large platter with a sunflower pattern. "I'll get one of the other boys to haul the trash," she says before walking through the den toward the back door.

"Don't forget! You were going to show me those flowers!" Adrina calls after her, hustling to catch up with her neighbor.

I wash and dry the platter and am just about to head out back to locate Lynn when I find myself surrounded by four frowning Brooks brothers. It's like a bad western, except nobody's packing heat. At least, I hope not.

Seeing what's coming, I beat them all to the punch. "Let me guess. You're here to ask me what my intentions are with your sister. No offense, but unless you've got at least two goats and a carriage load of grain, I'm out," I quip.

Denny and Miller shift their feet and break eye contact, making me want to laugh. But I don't. Like I said, my mom didn't raise an idiot.

"Don't act like you don't know why we're worried," Carter says, holding my eyes. "You know damn well ballplayers have a reputation for a reason." He's not wrong, so I can only nod.

Denny is next. "We don't have a problem with you sowing your wild oats, just so long as our baby sister doesn't get run over by your tractor in the process."

"Really? Farming analogies?" Miller asks, shaking his head at his brother. Denny only shrugs.

"Look, guys." I put my palms out. "I know all about your family history and your protectiveness of Lynn. I get it. But you don't have to worry about me. I'm not gonna hurt her."

After a beat of silence, Cash is the one to speak up. "Listen, just because she acts all evolved and independent and like her generation is the first one to run free with their sexuality and shit?—"

Denny cuts him off. "Damn, bro, where'd you learn all that lingo?"

Cash flips him off without a glance in his direction as he continues, "Doesn't mean her heart can't be broken. Lynnie feels things deep, even if she pretends not to."

"Look, guys." I settle in, butt against the counter. I'm not leaving until I get through to them. "I actually appreciate you looking out for her. Believe me, you're giving me peace of mind, whether you know it or not. But you've got nothing to worry about from me."

Carter narrows his eyes. "What does that mean?"

"Which part?"

"All of it."

I run a hand through my hair, letting out a breath. "Just that I've run into her independent streak a time or two and learned that your sister is as stubborn as a mule."

One or more of them let out a satisfied chuckle, which I suppose is a good sign.

"So, she doesn't listen to you either?" Denny asks.

"No. And that's okay—well, most of the time." I feel my lips quirk as I picture Lynn facing off with me. "It's actually one of the things I love the most about her."

"Love?" Miller"s voice cracks like an adolescent whose balls are about to drop.

"Yeah." I look Miller in the eye. "Love. I love her, guys." My gaze runs across each of their faces to make sure they heard me.

"You don't even know her." Cash scoffs.

"Yes, I do."

"Does she love you?" Denny asks, his voice having lost its challenging edge.

"I have no fuckin' clue." I let out a mirthless laugh as I drop my head back and look to the ceiling for answers. "See what I mean about you not having anything to worry about from me?"

One of them—I'm not sure which—laughs. "So, our little sister has you wrapped around her finger, huh?"

I straighten my head to respond. "That about sums it up."

But Cash is still watching me with narrowed eyes. "Which means you're not about to let her do anything stupid, right?"

Shit. When I don't answer, he steps forward to study my face before turning to his brothers. "She's under his skin so far, no way he's giving away her secrets. Let's go corner Lynnie," he instructs his brothers, and they all turn to leave.

"Guys! Wait." When their eyes hit me again, I sigh. "She just wants to be treated like an adult, not like the teenage girl she once was."

Carter clears his throat. "No offense, man, but our family has been through enough for us to let our sister go it alone on anything. You think we could live with ourselves if something happened to her on our watch?"

"No. We've lost enough," Denny adds, his voice tight. I remember Lynn telling me how Denny was so racked with grief after their dad's passing that he left for four years, figuring if he did the leaving, nothing could hurt him again. It took his now-fiancée, Rosie, to bring him back.

"She's not going to tell you," I mutter.

"We'll see about that," Carter finishes before they file into the den toward the backyard.

Fuck! They clearly have been through enough. And they're right. None of them could go on if something happened to Lynn, and neither could I. My choices are down to skipping the team charity gig and further endangering my spot on the team or telling Lynn's brothers about her plan and making her pissed as hell. With neither one sounding that great, I make a split-second decision.

"But I will," I call after them.

And with those three words, I might be kissing the best thing that's ever happened to me goodbye. But at least she'll be safe.