Take the Bride (The Knight Brothers 1.5)

She needed to find the boxes with her clothing. “Why are you here?” she asked again.

“Because you have a lot to do and I want to help you do it.” He spread one arm, gesturing to the other room, where the boxes were piled. “After all, it’s my fault.” He had the good grace to look embarrassed.

She blew out a breath, knowing his coming here was a sweet, thoughtful gesture. “But didn’t I say I needed time?” she asked, trying to be gentle but knowing she had to stand firm.

He folded his arms across his chest, his muscles showing beneath his T-shirt. “I didn’t say I was going to kiss you. Or fuck you. Or make slow, passionate love to you—although that’s all on the table if you just give me the okay.”

Now her cheeks were flaming, she thought, as she spun away. “If you want to help me, then thank you.” She wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Besides, he was right. It was his fault she was in this situation. “All my furniture is still here. I need to cancel the movers for next week,” she muttered. “But we can open boxes and start putting things away… Oh, damn.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“The scissors are packed. I have no way to open the boxes.”

He frowned. “Tell you what. I’ll run to the store and buy scissors so we can get started. You make whatever phone calls you need to make.”

“I don’t have my phone yet.”

Ryder lifted his cap and reset it on his head. “Sebastian said he’d come down this morning, so I’m guessing he’ll bring it.”

Her eyes opened wide. “Can you be gone when he shows up? It’s going to be hard enough to talk to him without you here!”

He shook his head. “I’ll go get the scissors. But get used to having me around helping you. That’s nonnegotiable,” he said, and with a grin, he turned and walked out, leaving her flustered, flabbergasted, and pissed.

She didn’t need his help. He’d caused this mess! But it really was nice of him to acknowledge it and want to fix it. Because he has an agenda! He wants you and this is his way of getting an in!

She really needed to stop arguing with herself, she mused, as the doorbell rang.

“Sebastian.” This time when she opened the door, it was to her brother.

Times three.

Chapter Five

No sooner had Sierra opened the door than her brothers barged in, one right after the other without waiting to be asked or even saying hello to her first.

“Come in, why don’t you,” she muttered to herself.

“Jesus Christ, Sierra. I was so fucking worried about you,” Ethan said, pulling her into his arms, and her brief flare of frustration with him eased.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest as she had many times when she was a little girl and things in her life had gone wrong. He’d always been there for her and she knew he always would be. They all would. For all their overprotective ways, they were wonderful big brothers and she loved them.

“I’m fine,” she assured him. Taking a step back, she spun around, a forced smile on her face. “See?”

Sebastian shook his head at her antics.

“You gave us a scare when we came into the room and you were gone,” Parker said. “With Ryder.”

“He didn’t kidnap me,” she said, defending Ryder. “I went willingly. And I checked in. I let Sebastian know I was okay.”

“Doesn’t mean we didn’t worry,” Sebastian said, holding out her phone, and she took it gratefully.

“Don’t you three have to be at work?” she asked, taking in their dress. They all wore suits meant for the office. Now that they saw she was fine, maybe they’d go without forcing her to talk about things.

Ethan scowled. “Now listen to me, young lady,” he said in the tone he’d used when she was a naughty teenager. “Do you really think you’re getting off that easy?”

She rolled her eyes, but before she could say anything, Sebastian did. “Lay off, Ethan. She’s an adult. She can make her own decisions.”

She blew out a relieved breath, glad she had at least one brother on her side. Parker, as usual, said nothing, just watched carefully as things went on around him. Neutral, hence his nickname in the family, Switzerland, she mused. Which also came from his past as an almost-Olympic skier before a career-ending injury prevented him from fulfilling his dream.

“Now tell us what decisions you’ve made.” Sebastian folded his arms across his chest and pinned her with his steady gaze.

“Seriously?” She’d thought he understood her best in this situation, that he was going to give her space. Apparently not. “Listen, guys. I love you and I know you love me. But I didn’t walk into that church planning to run away with Ryder. I don’t know what I want! Or what I’m even ready for now.”