Beloved by Brothers (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 6)

When Phoebe finished, the reigning unattached queen of the subs of Phase Four grabbed her hand. “Thank you, Phoebe. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“The same for me, Jen. May I talk to you about something?”

“Of course.”

“It’s about the Wolfe brothers.”

“I knew something was up when I saw you at the Halloween party holding Lucas’s hand.” Jennifer smiled. “Talk to me.”

“I’m about to go down the rabbit hole with the Wolfe brothers again. Hopefully, it’s going to be good for me like Ashley believes, but I’m afraid I’ll get my heart broken again.”

“Honey, for years I’ve watched and seen how they look at you at every event we have. I’ve also seen how you look at them. It’s evident that you are still in love with each other. So, I say it’s past time you got this situation straightened out for the good of all four of you.”

“But what about Shane and all that happened between him and Jason? How can we get past that?” She wanted to so badly. She loved her men.

“You’ve never tried, have you? If I remember correctly, you closed them out. In all my years, I’ve always discovered that if you try, you can find a solution. Bill and I had a wonderful marriage, but we, too, had our bumps in the road.”

“Everyone does, I suppose.” Bill had died when Jen was only twenty-nine. Now, twelve years later, Phoebe could see she was stronger than most, though her heart was clearly still broken.

Jen nodded. “The only way we got through them was to be honest with each other, truly honest. God, I miss that man.”

Phoebe grabbed her hand. “We all do, Jen.”

The woman’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Sweetie, love is worth the risk. Trust me.”

* * * *

Mitchell opened the entrance door of Phong’s Wok for Phoebe. They walked inside.

“Two?” Hiro Phong, the owner asked.

“Yes,” he told him. “Can we have a booth away from the window?”

“You betcha,” the man answered. Hiro’s English was perfect, thanks to his wife of three decades, Melissa, who was from Missouri. He handed them menus as they sat down.

Mitchell made sure he had his back to the wall so he could get the best view of the entire restaurant, including the entrance and the windows. Phoebe sat across from him. He wasn’t about to take any chances with her safety.

Hiro smiled. “I’ll bring you some hot tea. Phoebe, right?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Water for you, Mitchell?”

“Usually, but today, may I have coffee instead?”

“You got it, cowboy.” Hiro rushed back to the kitchen as more Destonians filed into the restaurant.

“I’m starving,” Phoebe said with a grin, which thrilled him. “Mitchell Wolfe, you didn’t leave me one cinnamon roll. You still have that big appetite I remember.”

“You’re right, and that’s why I’m hungry again.” It felt good to be so relaxed around her. Really good. “I’m going to start with egg rolls and crab puffs, followed by sesame chicken with fried rice.”

“Are you sure that’s enough?” she teased.

He smiled. “Actually, I’ll have dessert after.”

Joshua, Phong’s son and the Knight’s pilot, walked in with a person Mitchell didn’t recognize. The guy resembled Josh some, though from his mother’s side only.

Hiro stepped up to the duo, handing them aprons. “I need your help today. Dishwasher and hostess both called in sick.”