Page 94 of Brace and Chase

NIK

I open the door—fullydressed this time—with the honest intention of behaving and making a good impression on Charlie’s brothers.

I want him to see how well I can behave, and that telling them he’s with me won’t make them hate him or anything like that, but when I see the elusive third man Finn apparently picked up somewhere between getting out of the elevator at four in the morning and noon, I can’t help but react like... well, myself.

They need to learn to love me for me anyway.

“Who is this?” I ask, with my most charming smile.

“Hey, back off,” Finn snaps at me. At least I take a guess based on the fact that he’s again wearing color and the other twin—who is in his rightful period of mourning—is still wearing black.

Charlie appears next to me then, pulling the door openwider.

“Really, Nik?” he asks, exasperated. I just smile at him. I am who I am, and he better know damn well I’m not giving him up for anyone.

“This is Lou,” Beau pipes in. “He’s Fi’s date so yeah, Santa, back off.” I like how these Heart boys all have each other’s backs. Then he pushes his way inside and I gotta say, I don’t blame him for the orgasmic sound that leaves him when he gets a whiff of the food’s smell.

I’ve been suffering forhours,since Charlie won’t let me have even a tiny taste.

“Oh, God. You made Lala’s Pomodoro?”

That’s a good nose he has.

“I did,” Charlie says, then he grabs my arm and pulls me behind him to the kitchen where Beau is making a huge mistake.

I wince when Charlie snaps a wooden spatula on his brother’s hand. He was trying to get a taste.

“It’s nice to meet you, by the way,Lou,” Charlie says, looking back to smile at Finn. He says the name suggestively, clearly not above teasing his little brother over his nighttime activities. “I’m Charlie,” he adds, then points to me. “And this big oaf is Santa.”

“I thought you called him Nik,” Lou points out in a smaller voice.

“Yes, I do,” Charlie replies without hesitation.

I feel like puffing out my chest.

I’m gonna throw this back in his face when he finallyinterrogates me over why I growl every time someone calls him Sweetheart. Though I don’t know if he’s noticed yet... it’s involuntary.

“When can we eat?” Beau whines, but he’s saying exactly what I would under normal circumstances, so I don’t blame him.

“We’re going to eat faster if you teach Nik some manners and show him how to set the table,” Charlie grumbles, then focuses on the masterpiece that is the sauce.

I try not to pout at the implication.

I do have manners . . .

But I keep myself in check because Charlie just gave me the opening I was waiting for.

I grab the glasses and cutlery while Beau gets the big plates and the little ones Charlie insists we use for the salad, then I follow him to the dining table.

If we were to speak loudly enough, everybody in the kitchen would definitely be able to hear us, but they’re talking by themselves, so I take my chances.

“I already apologized to Charlie, but I wanted to tell you I meant to make a joke about Finn’s delusional idea, not be mean to him.”

Beau stares at me for a long moment, then nods.

“Translating humor across languages and cultures can be hard,” is all he says, then gets to work placing the plates.

“I guess,” I mumble, realizing I’m going to have to come clean about the stupid accent. “I was taken off guard, and I have to focus on my accent a lot.” I decide to be vagueabout it but still truthful, even if I still keep my Russian accent intact. “But I like how all of you have each other’s backs.”

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