“How exciting for him.”
“No doubt they’ll win,” Tucker said. “He’s developing into a hell of a stud for a kid who didn’t play much sports not that long ago.”
“Grant’s influence,” Barrett said to Aubry. “And ours. You can’t mix with this family and escape without the sports bug.”
“Except for Mia—” Tucker turned to Aubry. “Our little sister. She’s in college, and happy to be away from the nonstop sports talk and roughhousing that goes on whenever we’re together.”
“Does this mean you all play football or baseball whenever you’re together?”
“Baseball?” Flynn laughed. “Who’d want to play that * game?”
Tucker pinned Flynn with a look. “I will lay you flat and shove a baseball down your throat.”
“You could try, but between Barrett and me, you’d be the one eating it.”
“Barrett’s my twin. He’ll take my side.”
“Think again,” Barrett said to Tucker. “When it comes to football or baseball, you already know what I’ll choose.”
Aubry laughed. “Poor Tucker.” She rubbed his back. “That’s okay. I might not be able to go up against these two, but there are sharp knives in the kitchen, and I have performed surgery before. I can wield them like weapons.”
“Oh, I like you,” Flynn said. “You talk a tough game. But can you take a beating in a game situation?”
Being an only child, Aubry never had to deal with sibling teasing. However, she’d borne the brunt of harsh competition from peers and harassment from instructors. She knew better than to back down when a challenge was issued. “Bring it.”
“I like her, too,” Barrett said. “But what’s she doing with you, Tucker?”
“Kiss my ass, Barrett.”
With a smile, Aubry pushed off the sofa and stood. “You three can sit here and spar. I’m going to go fix the sauce for the salmon.”
Tucker moved to stand. “I’ll help you.”
She shook her head. “You hang out here. This is a one person job.”
TUCKER SAT BACK AND DRANK HIS BEER, HAPPY TO have his brothers—and Aubry—here.
“I need to stretch,” Flynn said, standing. “Let’s go out back so I can walk around.”
“This is what happens when you get old and take too many hits,” Barrett said, standing to follow him.
“Fuck you. And I can still put you down.”
“You can try.”
Tucker shook his head, grinned and stopped in the kitchen to grab three more beers. He pulled Aubry into his arms and kissed her, lingering for a long, satisfying kiss, but not too long. The last thing he wanted was for his dick to get hard. His brothers would never let him live that down.
When he pulled away, she smiled up at him.
“I like your brothers,” she said, laying her palms flat on his chest.
“If you do, you’re the only one. Besides my parents.”
She laughed and patted his chest. “Go outside with them.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind hanging in here to help you.”
“You can help when it’s time to cook the salmon and make the sides. I’ve got this covered right now.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her again, unable to stop himself from deepening the kiss, pulling her tighter against him.
“Hey, you two. Knock that off,” Barrett said. “We need beer out here. You can make out later.”
Aubry pulled away. “Go.”
Tucker smiled at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
He grabbed the beers and headed out back to the deck, where Barrett and Tucker had already grabbed chairs.
“Can’t keep your hands off of her, can you?” Barrett asked. “Not that I blame you. She’s pretty.”
“She’s more than pretty,” Flynn said, accepting the beer Tucker handed him. “A doctor, too, huh? Barrett told me about your trip to the ER. She’s the one who treated you?”
Tucker sat in one of the chairs and popped the top on his can of beer. “Yeah. She’s a hell of a lot smarter than I am.”
“Yeah, well, who isn’t?” Flynn winked at him, then took a long swallow of beer.
More than accustomed to nonstop insults from his brothers, Tucker ignored that one from Flynn.
“Are you gonna be able to make Leo’s game tomorrow?” Barrett asked him.
Tucker nodded. “It’s a day game, and early enough before I have to report to the stadium that I should be able to see most, if not all, of it.”
“We’ll hold a seat for you,” Flynn said. “Unless some hot mom shows up. Then you’re on your own.”
Tucker laughed. “Always thinking of family, aren’t you, Flynn?”
“You know it.”
“Where are you two headed after this stop?”
“Flying out to San Francisco to look at some property for Flynn,” Barrett said.
Tucker raised a brow. “Are you looking to buy a house, Flynn?”
“Eventually. Things are pretty settled with the Sabers now, so I might consider that. We’ll look at houses. But this is commercial property.”
“Really. Are you thinking of investing?”
“He’s thinking of opening a restaurant,” Barrett said.