Page 45 of Nathan

“Both of you sit down,” Declan says. “I’ll get the drinks. Champagne, Dex?”

I open my mouth to respond, but Nate beats me to it. “She was being polite earlier. She doesn’t like champagne. She’ll have a beer.”

I give him a death stare. Nate doesn’t even bat an eyelid at his rudeness, or my fiery glare. Instead, he shrugs.

“She is perfectly capable of speaking for herself,” I say, but Nate’s lips only twitch at my snippy attitude. The man is impossible. “I would love a beer if that’s okay.”

“Ha!” Nate says.

I show him my middle finger.

Callum barks out a laugh. “You’re going to fit right in, Dex.”

Declan rolls his eyes at Indie. “Here we go.”

Declan and Indie walk over to the kitchen area while Nate flops down beside me. His little finger brushes against mine. “Doing okay, Titch?”

“You didn’t tell me you had twin brothers,” I whisper as embarrassment at my open-mouthed stares of a few minutes ago finally hit me. “Identical twin brothers.”

Nate twists his lips to the side. “It never occurred to me.”

I suppress an urge to elbow him in the ribs, but only because Laurella and Millie start asking me about my job, and how many famous people I get to see on a daily basis. Neither of them seem to think of Nate as one of those famous people, which I guess is fairly natural when referring to someone they know well.

“So, bro,” Callum says. “It’s been a while. What’s new?”

Nate shrugs, disinterested. “Not much.”

“Work okay?” Ciaran asks.

“I guess.”

I squirm at his monosyllabic responses to perfectly legitimate questions, and press my thigh against his in warning. It has absolutely no effect.

“We’re really glad you made it,” Declan says.

Nate cocks an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware I had a choice.”

“You didn’t,” Declan replies, grinning. He seems indifferent to Nate’s curt attitude, which means this isn’t unusual behavior.

My curiosity ramps up at the same rate as my embarrassment. Nate’s relationship with his brothers is an odd dynamic, yet the restraint is all on his side. They’re as open and loving as anyone could wish for.

Nate yawns loudly when fewer than thirty minutes of his brothers trying to tease information from him—which he refuses to share— passes. “It’s been a long day, and Dex is shattered.” He unfolds his long legs and gets to his feet. “Come on, Titch. Let’s go to bed.”

I narrow my eyes. I’m not remotely tired, and neither is Nate, but the silent pleading in his expression has me rising to my feet.

“Thank you for such a lovely welcome,” I say.

“We’re glad you’re both here.” Declan stands. “I’ll show you to your room, unless you’d rather your own space, Dex? We have plenty of spare bedrooms if you’d rather sleep alone.”

His twitching lips tell me he’s joking, but Nate’s glowering expression says he doesn’t find the quip remotely funny.

“She’s sleeping with me,” Nate snaps.

“Well, the offer’s there if his moods get too much.” Declan winks at me.

I like him. I like them all, which makes Nate’s attitude even more confusing. Once we’re alone, I turn to Nate.

“Why were you so rude out there? And for the record, I’m not tired.”

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