“For crying out loud. Are you for real? I don’t remember asking you for advice or asking for you to keep an eye on me. You know what, I don’t want to get into an argument with my best friend’s brothers. Why don’t you just mind your business and I’ll mind mine.” She turned around hoping her words halted them from any other communication. These two men made her shake.
“Amelia.”
She stopped then looked over her shoulder toward Mad Dog. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was his deep tone, the Texas accent, or simply the man’s ability to make anyone halt in their tracks with just one word.
“We’ll talk later.”
She turned back around and headed toward the house. Who the heck was Mad Dog to say “we’ll talk later”? Was he for real? God, Regan’s brothers sure did take the protective role seriously. But why include her? She wasn’t even family.
As she got closer to the house, she saw Regan standing on the front porch with Velma.
“Were they bothering you?” Regan asked.
“Apparently, I’m a flirt who sends guys the wrong messages. I don’t know.” Amelia threw her arms up in the air.
Regan chuckled then winked at Velma.
“My brothers have the hots for you,” Velma said and Amelia gasped.
“What? No, not me. They’re all acting like I’m their sister, too. Regan, you can keep them. I don’t need this type of aggravation.”
Regan and Velma laughed.
“I have to see this play out. This is awesome,” Velma said and Amelia didn’t know what the little Haas woman meant, but all she wanted to do was stay clear of Mad Dog and Ricky.
* * * *
“So, you start on Monday right, Amelia?” Elise Haas asked as Amelia, Regan, and Velma set the large table. It could seat more than a dozen people, and as Amelia thought about that, she realized there were going to be eleven of them eating today. Her belly tightened at the thought that all four Haas brothers were going to be sitting there.
“Amelia?”
“Oh, sorry, Mrs. Haas. I was just thinking about how huge this table is.”
Elise smiled.
“Wait until you see this place in two weeks, Amelia. The whole family is going to be here and a bunch of friends for my birthday,” Velma stated with a smile as she placed the napkins next to each place setting.
“That’s right, you’re turning twenty-one. Very cool,” Amelia added.
“So what about the job, Amelia?” Elise asked as her husbands, Sam, Jordan, and Tysen, entered the room. They each gave their wife a kiss or a pat to her backside. She swatted their hands away and giggled. Amelia smiled. It was nice to see the affection and love between the four of them and it was weird, too.
“Well, I’m a bit nervous, obviously,” she began to say then noticed Ricky and Brody standing in the doorway. Their brothers Waylon and Murphy were already taking a seat at the table.
She swallowed hard. They saw her watching their fathers and mother. But who couldn’t get caught in appreciating their obvious love.
“Well that’s understandable, Amelia. Starting a new job can be nerve-racking, but I’m sure you’ll do just fine. I heard that your interview knocked their socks off,” Sam Haas stated then popped a cherry tomato into his mouth.
“How did you hear about my interview?”
“Oh, I know your boss, Toby Conlin.”
“Oh.”
“Where is she working, the hospital?” Ricky asked, sounding annoyed and she wondered why.
“She’s working in the injured soldier program. Amelia has a big heart.” Regan winked as she locked gazes with Amelia. Amelia shook her head. Regan was enjoying using Amelia to egg her brothers on.
“Why do you ask, Ricky?”