Eight Brothers Fiancee (Love by Numbers 7)

“Well, you know what they say about marriages. First time is for--” I turned around and nearly dropped the wine glass out of my hand. Delvin was standing behind me, still dripping from his shower, with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. I threw my hand up to block the image, in spite of my gut reaction to enjoy the view. “Oh my god. Do you have no shame?”

“What?” Delvin replied. “This is my house. Besides, the clothes I’m wearing to the club are still in the dryer.”

“You’ve known that we’re going all day. Why aren’t the clothes clean already?”

“I’m a guy, so sue me.” He laughed. “Don’t be such a prude. We were having such a nice conversation just now. Tell me about what they say about marriages.”

“What the hell are you doing?” I looked over and Harley and Huxley were walking in the door. It was two new cars screeching towards the existing car crash. Huxley rushed over and pushed Delvin a few feet away and stood defensively in front of me. “Go put some clothes on.”

Harley rolled his eyes. “I told you he was going to pull this shit.”

Delvin’s eyes widened and jaw dropped. “Don’t pull your fucking twin shit on--”

“I told you,” Huxley growled, “to be professional.”

“Alexa is the best thing that ever happened to our company, and you’re going to risk it all acting like a horndog?” Harley barked. “Go get dressed. We’re gonna be late.”

Delvin shook his head like a disappointed father. He glared at Huxley. “You fucking set me up.”

“Stop your whining and go get dressed,” Huxley spat back nearly before he finished his sentence. Delvin looked at me and then at Harley before storming off back down the hallway. Huxley turned around and looked at me. “I am so sorry about that.”

“I mean, I can’t blame him,” Harley began, his eyes painting me over. “You look unbelievable.”

My heart was threatening to jackhammer a hole in my chest. The twins looked like a steak and potatoes. They were wearing similar pairs of sleek, black jeans, combat boots, and matching, short-sleeved dress shirts apart from the fact that Harley’s was a deep purple and Huxley’s was a smoky gray. I wished I could control the way they lit me on fire, but ever since I had that first dream, lewd thoughts seemed to slip in no matter how much I tried to turn them off.

“Thanks,” I responded. “You guys look good too.”

“This old thing?” Huxley said. He pulled the glass of wine from my hands and downed it in one go and then shrugged. “Just in case.”

Harley rolled his eyes. “Ignore him. Del wouldn’t do that.”

I nodded. “I know.”

Harley took a few steps closer to me and Huxley stayed standing in place. The closer Harley came, the more I could feel my inhibitions lowering. It was just like they’d approached me in my dream and it was all I could think about. Huxley even put a hand up to my face and pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. This is bad, was all I could think. If they tried to take me, I wasn’t sure I could refuse.

“You really are beautiful,” Huxley complimented.

My body was blazing. “Th-thank you.”

Huxley stepped a few feet back and Harley stopped at his side. “Well, we should get going. We have the driver downstairs.”

I was shocked. That was not how things went in my dream. A tinge of disappointment crashed over me. “I’m ready,” I said, not entirely talking about leaving.

“Great.” Harley walked over to the door and held it open. “After you.”

I walked past Huxley and Harley and out into the hallway. Harley put his hand on my lower back and guided me down the hallway. Huxley made his way to my other side, flanking me as we made our way towards the elevator. I kept my eyes straight and my hands to myself. Whether the Foxx twins were actively trying to get me or not, half the battle was already over.

14

Harley

I was struggling to keep my attention on sifting through the crowd with Alexa in front of me looking as good as she did. I was certain she picked her dress to try and refrain from looking loose, but the way it pasted itself to her shapely form and gave just a perfect peek at her midriff, it was hypnotizing to say the least.

Huxley, Delvin, Alexa, and I made our way to the VIP section where Maverick was already standing at the top of the stairs waving us down. Delvin clapped hands with the security guard, who stepped aside and allowed us by. As Alexa walked by him, he looked her up and down. I understood, but it also made me want to punch him in the mouth. I didn’t have any right to be possessive over Alexa, at least not yet. Huxley and I had laid the groundwork, but I was having second thoughts. I’d always liked her, and I didn’t want to ruin our chances with her. I could see the look on her face when we walked in on her and Delvin; if Huxley and I got that same response, that could blow our only chance.