They reached the house laughing as Mav entertained them with a tale of his last boxing adventure. The moment they stepped through the back door and entered the kitchen, though, their talking stopped and their stomachs instantly growled. The women were cooking, and it smelled delicious.

Mav walked over to Lindsey and wrapped his arms around her waist, his hands cupping her burgeoning stomach. “It’s smells good, Sugar.”

“Flattery is going to get you everywhere,” she told him with a beaming smile. She turned around and leaned forward to kiss him before she frowned. “My stomach really is getting huge,” she pouted.

“You are the most beautiful pregnant woman on the planet. No other holds a candle to you,” he assured her. His words brightened her face immensely.

Nick glanced over at Chloe and noticed the yearning in her eyes as she watched the couple hold one another. He was willing to do that for her, so he didn’t understand why she wouldn’t accept it. As if she could feel his eyes on her, she turned and the pink in her cheeks deepened. He smiled at her as he winked.

She turned away, and he suddenly felt the need to chase her. Maybe the fun was only just beginning. She’d been a challenge from day one. Why should that stop just because they’d already made it to bed together? He couldn’t see a reason.

“Okay, you’re making me want to do naughty things with my husband with all this kissing and sweet talk,” Stormy said as she sidled up to Cooper and gave him a sweet kiss. He reached down and squeezed her ass, making her squeal as she swatted at him.

“And you’re all making me want to vomit,” Nick told them.

“If you don’t like the show, then you’re free to leave,” Mav said with a wink.

“It’s my house, ass,” Nick said, but his eyes went to Chloe again. He wouldn’t mind walking over to her and taking her into his arms, showing his brothers how a real man kissed the woman he desired.

As if she could read his thoughts, she looked away, suddenly finding the hem of her shirt fascinating. He took that as encouragement. She was more affected by him than she would ever admit. It was taking an immense amount of control to hold himself back.

Something had switched in Nick’s brain that he didn’t quite understand yet. He’d always been afraid to settle down with only one woman, but when he looked at Chloe he couldn’t imagine not having her around. Was his family still enough? Or did he need a relationship with a woman like his brothers did? He wasn’t sure anymore.

“You boys are completely hopeless,” Lindsey told them. “But that’s why we adore you so dang much. But if you don’t leave us alone . . .”

Mav and Coop muttered, but they released their wives and Coop grabbed Nick’s arm, suggesting they go watch the game.

Nick said, “My beer is gone. I need another. Anyone else?” The brothers followed Nick to his den, but he was no longer in a visiting mood. His head was too filled with conflicting thoughts.

In the middle of his brothers’ arguing about the Mariners game, he got up and left. The last couple of days had just been too much for him. It soon had to get better, he assured himself.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Chloe desperately wanted to leave the kitchen, but she was at least grateful the women had kicked the men out. She was standing there feeling not only like a fifth wheel, but missing those times with her brother when they had laughed like this. In addition, seeing the close relationship between Nick’s brothers and their wives was sending an extra pang through her heart.

She’d always assumed she’d grow up, get away from her family, and maybe start her own―do it the right way. She wouldn’t marry a controlling man, wouldn’t be with someone who didn’t allow her to make her own choices. But as life had gotten away from her, more time passed. She was now twenty-eight and focused on her career.

She didn’t have the time or the inclination to find Mr. Right. And if she were looking, Nick Armstrong wouldn’t be that man. He was so . . . so . . . hell, she couldn’t think of the word. It wasn’t that he was controlling exactly. He was definitely confident, but he didn’t try to do it only his way. He respected her during therapy sessions. Sure, he teased her a lot and flirted like the devil, but he listened to what she was saying.

And in the bedroom―oh, holy hell, in the bedroom―the man was certainly in charge in there. But that she didn’t mind. It wasn’t as if she had a lot of experience to compare him to, but the man had made her feel things she hadn’t even known were possible before being with him.

That had scared her far too much. She hadn’t had time to process last night yet, and now she was surrounded by his family, and her mind was whirling. She needed to go for a run, go down to the ocean, do anything other than sit in the room with two happily married women who were practically glowing in their wedded bliss.

“We want a tell-all, Chloe,” Stormy said as she continued throwing ingredients together. Chloe had no idea what the two women were cooking, but the men had been correct. The house smelled better than it ever had before.

“What do you mean?” she asked. She knew to be on guard, but she didn’t know what they were going to throw at her.

“We’re not going to allow you to play coy. We love these Armstrong men, but we also know they can be a real pain in the ass. I wanted to throttle Maverick as much as I wanted to throw him down on a bed and have my wicked way with him,” Lindsey said with a chuckle. “Obviously the wicked way route was the one I took,” she added as she rubbed her round belly.