I wake up starving.
After that humiliating encounter with Casper, I'd run back to my room and refused to come down for dinner. The thought of facing Casper with my shameless imagination was enough to make me forget about hunger.
Now, as I come out of the shower, my stomach twists painfully. I choose baggy clothes and a denim jacket, tie my hair in a ponytail, and leave my room. Hopefully, they've finished breakfast, and I don't have to see any of them.
I'm wrong.
"Little Mermaid!" Diana squeals from the kitchen table. A beautiful woman stands by the stove, turning strips of meat in a pan.
She smiles when she sees me. "Hey, good morning."
I immediately see where the boys got all their best features from. She's magazine gorgeous and blonde, with bright green eyes that crinkle at the corners, and toned, beautiful legs she shows off in white shorts. Liam's wife, I'm sure.
"We didn't get a chance to meet yesterday." She hurries toward me and pulls me in for a hug.
I stiffen, but she doesn't seem to notice. The smell of baked sugar and coconut shampoo fills my nose.
"I'm Violet. Welcome to my family." She draws back, squeezes my shoulders affectionately, and walks back to the stove. "Take a seat, I'm just getting breakfast started."
"Thanks." I take the seat next to Diana, who reaches out to touch my hair happily.
Soon, the sound of heavy footsteps echoes in the hall and Liam is the first to walk in. He glances at me warmly and goes to kiss Violet.
"Good morning, lovely ladies."
Kyle enters next, followed by an unsmiling Jean. He drops into the seat beside mine and grins at me, which I respond to with a nod, while Jean walks over to the fridge, takes something, and throws it into his mouth.
Violet frowns at him, pointing her spatula. "Get away from that fridge, Jean."
Munching heartily, Jean casually slips into the seat across from me. "Sorry." His eyes find mine, but nothing welcoming is in their green depths. "I'm taking you out today, get ready." With that, he turns away and starts playing with Diana.
I don't know what to think about Jean and his hostile attitude, and I'm not given a chance to when that deep voice rumbles into the room.
"Why is the bank sending us mail?"
My breath hitches as Casper walks into the room, the smell of his cologne spreading into the kitchen, his gray eyes narrowed. In his hands are a stack of envelopes, and he's staring at Liam and Violet. Liam, who's in the process of pulling out a large pan from the oven, answers, "We've had a few offers."
"We're not selling," Violet adds quickly. "Just knowing our options."
Casper makes an annoyed sound, walks over to the trash, and throws out the mail. The rest he keeps on the fridge and takes his seat. He doesn't look at me or acknowledge my presence, and for some reason, it stings.
I should be grateful he didn't tell anyone about our embarrassing meeting and has chosen not to care about me, but at least a hello. Or even a nod?
"Cas, you've not met Arielle, right?" Liam asks, dropping the pan at the table's center. The rich aroma of spiced potatoes and bread wafts into my nose.
Casper's gray gaze slides over to me lazily.
"I don't think I have," he says, and there's something knowing in his half smirk. I flush at the image of him that floats into my head and give him a weak "hello".
He nods as if we've come to an agreement to keep a secret and looks away.
"Breakfast is ready!" Violet announces, and the mood shifts to something light, and quickly everyone forgets about me, or at least they don't treat me differently. Kyle fills my plate, Liam pours me juice, and Diana keeps trying to feed me with her baby fork. Casper starts talking about football, and soon everybody is laughing and joking around like I've been a part of them all along.
When we finish breakfast, Kyle stays back to help clear the table, and Jean stares at me pointedly until I take the hint and follow him outside.
"You kids have fun," Liam calls behind us, with Diana balanced on his shoulders. "I'll give you your chores when you get back."
Chores? I'm about to ask about it, but Jean is already at his truck parked out front and glaring at me impatiently.
I keep the questions for later and hurry to him.
"Where are we going?" I dare to ask when he says nothing.
"We're going into town," a deep voice answers behind me. I turn and stare in shock at Casper.
"I'm already taking her," Jean says tightly, and for once his hostility is pointed at someone else.
Casper just shrugs dismissively. "No, you're not. You can go milk your cows and brush horses."
Jean clenches his jaw, and anger flashes in his eyes. "This isn't the city where you order people around, hotshot. I'm not one of your lackeys. Arielle, get in the truck."
His command snaps me to attention, and I move to obey when Casper's hand shoots out and grabs my arm.
"She's not going anywhere with you, brother. I'm taking her and that's final."
I watch Jean clench his fists, and for a second, I'm filled with fear that he'll punch Casper. I try to wriggle away, but Casper's grip tightens, and the warning look he throws at me has me staying put.
There's a sparked tension in the air as I look between the brothers. A feeling of something much deeper going on is clear to see.
But why are they using me to have their sibling quarrel?
Jean moves slowly and gets in Casper's face. They're the same height, but Casper is bigger and, in that moment, terrifying to behold.
"What do you want to do?" he asks low and faintly amused. "Fight me? I'll knock your ass flat on the ground before you swing that fist, brother. Did you forget who's the fighter in this family?"
Jean scoffs. "A fighter who hasn't won a single match in a year, running back here with his tail between his legs. You're fading away, Cas. Soon you'll be fucking nothing and I won't even need to hit you."
The words hit a nerve and Casper's face darkens, but Jean is pushing past him, storming away toward the back of the house.
I stand very still, barely breathing as Casper's face works hard to dispel the rage. It's like something inside him is fighting for control, and for a moment when he stares at me, I glimpse a dark and destructive shadow.
He blinks, exhales heavily, and his expression changes into something normal and slightly amused. As if remembering he's still holding my arm, he drops it.
"Get in the truck, Arielle." Again with the command.
I'm starting to conclude none of the brothers knew the word please and it makes them more alike than they know.
I shake myself loose and enter the passenger side. Casper enters without another word, starts up the truck and swerves roughly, throwing me into the door.
He doesn't apologize and speeds down the dirt road toward the open gate.
I clip my seatbelt and wonder what the hell I've gotten myself into.