One Beautiful Promise (Very Irresistible Bachelors 4)

I passed customs and collected my luggage in record time. Stepping out into the arrival area, I was just about to order an Uber when I saw three familiar faces waving at me: Tess, Skye, and Ryker.

I couldn’t believe my siblings were here. Was I the luckiest bastard in the world or what?

Tess stood out most. Her light brown hair was piled up into a bun, and she was holding a neon-colored sign that said Welcome Home. Ryker stood behind our oldest sister, pointing with both forefingers at her, mouthing, It was her idea.

Skye was just smiling, holding both hands on her enormous belly. My nephew was growing nicely, and he still had two more months to go.

“What are you guys doing here?” I asked when I reached them.

“Surprising you, of course,” Tess answered, batting her eyelashes. “Did we go over the top? Wait, don’t answer that. We just missed you.”

I laughed, pulling my oldest sister in for a hug. Yeah, the sign was a bit over the top, but the Winchesters were like that. It was all or nothing, and I fully embraced the family motto.

I hugged Skye next and shook Ryker’s hand. “Sorry, bro. Tried to talk her out of the sign, but she was like a kid in a candy shop.”

Tess glowered at Ryker. “What? I thought it’s a nice touch.”

“It is,” I said quickly.

Ryker shook his head. “Man, keep indulging her and next time, she’ll bring a teddy bear too.”

I wouldn’t put that past Tess. She had her own way of doing things. I’d missed my family.

“Come on, let’s buy a huge-ass breakfast and eat it at my place,” I suggested.

“We already have that covered.” Ryker held up a bag I hadn’t noticed before.

It took a while to get out of JFK with all the traffic, but we arrived at my loft quickly. Once inside, we laid food on the coffee table in my living room and sat around it, devouring it.

Tess smiled, her eyes closed as she sipped from her coffee cup. “Tell us about the trip,” she said.

“How was Laney? Gave you good tips?” Skye asked.

“Yes. I ended up doing a one-day tour at the Colosseum with her.”

“That’s a great— Wait, what’s with that expression?” Tess asked. Both she and Skye now had trained their gazes on me.

I felt as if I was under a magnifying glass. Schooling my features now wouldn’t help one bit; quite the contrary. They’d know I was trying to keep something from them.

“He isn’t his usual happy self,” Skye remarked.

> “Hmm... you’re right,” Tess added, tilting her head. I loved keeping them on their toes when they were like this. Also, I was very curious if they’d eventually guess. I was betting against that outcome... I couldn’t even believe myself that I was all twisted up.

“Maybe he’s sad he didn’t get to see more of Rome,” Skye theorized.

“Maybe the deal didn’t go quite as planned,” Tess said.

Damn, I was good. They’d never guess at this rate, but I enjoyed the process. I was making a concerted effort not to laugh.

“Maybe he’s just messing with you,” Ryker suggested helpfully. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I burst out laughing. No one could read me better than Ryker.

“You’re bad,” Tess teased, pushing me away playfully.

Skye’s jaw dropped. “Wait, you actually were messing with us?”

“Sort of,” I answered, because I didn’t like lying.

“You can’t do that to me, I’m pregnant,” Skye exclaimed.