Page 34 of Hold On Me

“Oh it’s on, Penelope. I’m going to wipe the floor with you.”

She raises her brow, shrugs, and turns to talk to Angie, while I feel eyes burning into me. I look over the board game at the two Brady brothers sitting opposite me. Both of whom are staring at me with identical grins on their faces.

Fuck.

“You flipped the bloody board. I was winning and you flipped the bloody board.”

My outrage is short lived as Hank and both Brady parents walk back in, taking in the mess in front of them.

“Penny, Jameson, or Jenson this time?” Hank folds his arms over his chest and hits us all with an amused grin.

“It wasn’t me this time. I learned my lesson with the dunce hat. This time Buttercup didn’t like losing to her boyfriend” Jenson singsongs that last word and the room chuckles as a collective.

When I scowl at him, he blows me a kiss and Penelope flips the bird at her Jenson, earning her a smack on the head.

“Ow, Mama. He deserved it.”

“I don’t care. You know the rules.Monopolywas banned a long time ago because of this very reason. Now clean it up, Missy.”

“Yes, Mama.” Her contrite acceptance is quickly replaced by indignance and she shoots a scowl in my direction. “But he was cheating. No one can be that good atMonopolythat quickly into the game. He must’ve been cheating.”

Mama rolls her eyes and leaves the room with Pops and Hank as I hold my hands up in surrender.

“I was not cheating. I have no need to cheat at anything.” I pointedly keep her line of sight, trying to drum home my point, and when she looks away with a pink tinge on her cheeks, I know I’ve succeeded. “I’m a successful businessman, Penelope. This game is child’s play for me.”

“You’re such a douche.” She starts to mock my voice, repeating my words back to me in a juvenile way, but I just shake my head at her. “You can’t be that good at business. I know you own the Spartans, but come on.”

“I own the Spartans, several properties all over the world, a restaurant in England that’s massively successful, and co-own a sports brand plus a few other pies I have my fingers in. I also have a private plane. I can take you for a ride if you really want. Show you just how successful I really am.” I lean back on my palms and stretch my legs out, letting the smugness roll off me.

“Such. A. Douche,” she bites out through gritted teeth.

“Your foreplay is weird, but hey, whatever floats your boat.” Jenson narrowly misses the punch Penelope aims at him, but he doesn’t avoid Angie’s slap to the back of his head. “I didn’t curse. You can’t hit me if I don't curse.”

“I can do what I want to you. I own you, Hotshot. Now go get some drinks for everyone, servant boy.” Angie smirks as he frowns and leans next to her. He whispers into her ear and her cheeks flame red. As she tucks her hair behind her ear, he springs up to standing and strides out of the room, leaving her fanning herself as he goes. The intimacy those two have is on another level.

“And that is why I don’t play games with any of you.” Jonathan’s smug voice rings out as I stand and flop onto the sofa next to him.

“Next time, I’m joining you.” I lay my head back on the sofa as he laughs and places his outstretched legs over my lap.

“Only if you give me a foot rub, tell me I’m pretty, and take me for a ride in your private plane.”

My head shoots up and I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you trying to get me in trouble with your husband? Besides, you're bloody gorgeous and you know it.”

“I heard that. Get your own man.” Jameson nudges my foot as he reaches over to grab a little green house from under the armchair.

“Is this what it feels like to have siblings then?” I ask, speaking quietly so only Jonathan can hear me.

He raises his head and lowers his book. “It’s a little overwhelming, isn’t it? The way they love you right off the bat?” I nod. “It takes a little getting used to. But once you’re accepted into the Brady clan, you’re in. They love hard, play hard, and when everything goes to shiitake mushrooms, they fight even harder for you. Penny’s included in that. She’s got all the qualities of a Brady, but the stubbornness of her dad. She’s also vulnerable and sweet, so don’t hurt her.”

I bring my eyes to his again. “There’s nothing going on. And from what you just saw, I don’t think she likes me all that much.”

He smiles knowingly, looks over to Penelope swiping money off the floor, and reverts his attention back to me. “Hmmmm.”

He brings his book up, his therapist mask fully in play, and leaves me wondering what he’s thinking as the rest of the Bradys clean up the remnants of a Thanksgiving afternoon board game gone sideways.

19

BEN

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