The door opened, and Tyler grinned as Preston pushed the screen door open. “Ty, Vivian said you were coming but we weren’t sure that was going to happen with it being fire season and all. Come on in.”

Tyler hugged his brother’s neck as he stepped inside, reaching back and pulling Jules in with him. “Preston, this is Jules. Jules, my brother Preston.”

“So, you’re Ty’s girlfriend,” Preston said, giving Jules a handshake.

Not really my girlfriend, although I’d like to call her that.

Preston’s fiancée Gina, a beautiful brunette with long wavy hair joined them. “I’m so excited to finally get to meet you,” she said, gesturing wildly with her hands before she pulled Jules into a hug.

“This is Preston’s fiancé Gina,” Tyler explained to a perplexed Jules who had difficulties breathing in Gina’s fierce embrace. “As you might have noticed from her temper, she’s Italian. From Rome.”

“Rome? I’d love to visit this city one day. It’s been a dream since I read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown,” Jules replied.

“Oh yes, that book and the film made quite the impression. There’s even Angels and Demons tours around Rome, where you can explore the sites mentioned in the book, and go on a chase for messages from the Illuminati.” Gina released Jules from her embrace and grabbed her hand. “You know what, we can organize one of those tours when you come to our wedding…”

Jules shot a half-helpless, half-furious glance at Tyler, but Gina had already dragged her to the lush gardens surrounding the modern-day mansion, talking a mile a minute, emphasizing her words with exuberant gestures.

“So, what’s the deal with her?” Preston inquired. He was the most reserved of the siblings, and had always been the voice of reason, which was probably why he’d become a billionaire hotel tycoon, owning resorts and hotels all over the world.

“No deal. Just a woman I’m going out with.” And having incredible sex.

“I don’t believe a single word. You’ve never brought a woman to a family barbecue, much less to Mom’s birthday.”

“Where is she by the way?” Tyler asked to change the topic.

“Down by the pool house. Let’s get you over there.” Preston led the way to the gorgeous pool house sitting beside the Olympic-sized swimming pool. Vivian’s boyfriend Rock Martens was a former Ironman world champion and the pool was his pride and joy.

Even though he was now retired from being a professional athlete, he still ran – and organized – charity triathlons for the benefit of his Rock Solid foundation that helped disabled veterans and athletes.

Tyler looked out for Jules, whose auburn-haired head hovered above the rest of the women. They’d taken her in their midst, no doubt grilling her about the whys and whats of her relationship with die-hard player Tyler.

“Should you be rescuing your lady?” Preston asked on a grin, but was interrupted by their oldest brother Drake coming to say hello.

“Oh man, I didn’t even get a chance to say hello to the wonder woman who tamed my little brother, before Viv and Gina whisked her away,” Drake said and gave Tyler a brotherly hug. “How’s things in the mountains?”

“Dry and hot.”

“And here I thought you’d taken care of the dry spell,” River, the youngest brother punched Tyler in the shoulder with a big smirk.

“Don’t be such a jerk. Where’s Pippa?” Tyler asked about River’s girlfriend.

River grimaced. “Where do you think? Down there in that horde of chatterboxes. Don’t you miss the good old times where we had to deal only with Mom and Viv during a family gathering?”

“Tyler!” his mother Annie came out, followed by her husband Jeff, wrapping him in a big hug. His mother was a small, slim woman, and every time he wondered how she’d managed to raise six children almost on her own. When he was young, his recently retired father had mostly been away for business trips during the week and got to see his family only on the weekends.

“Happy Birthday, mom!”

“I’m so glad you could come. Maybe you can talk some sense into this brother of yours.” She pointed at River. “He thought giving his mother a diving cruise was an appropriate birthday gift.”

“I can’t find anything negative about a cruise in the Caribbean on a diving yacht,” Tyler commented, remembering the cruise all the siblings did a while ago on River’s boat Moana.

“Can you really imagine me swimming around under the surface of the ocean? With one of those big air tanks strapped to my back? I’m too old for those types of activities.”

“Mom, you’re only as old as you act. Now that you’ve got all of us out if the house, it’s about time you enjoyed your life.”

“Why can’t I enjoy at home?” she asked.

Jeff took her hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You’ll like it. I think it was a great idea of the kids to give you this cruise. And an even better idea to include me, so I can take care of you while sipping margaritas aboard the ship.”

His mother shook her head at him and turned to Tyler to ask, “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“Jules isn’t my girlfriend,” Tyler answered with an exasperated eye roll.

“Oh sorry, darling, that’s what your sister told me.”

“Of course, she did. Have you forgotten about the diabolical joy she finds in matchmaking?”

Annie smiled. “How could I forget? It was a constant quarrel between you guys and her. But let me introduce myself to Jules, please.”

Tyler weaved his way through the crowd and snatched Jules away from his sister and the girlfriends of his brothers.

“You really should have warned me,” Jules said, trying to be serious, but Tyler could see she’d been enjoying herself.

“Sorry for that. My mom wants to say hello.”

Jules stiffened and inhaled sharply.

“Don’t worry. She’ll love you.”

They reached the place beside the barbecue where his parents and his brothers were standing.

“Hello Jules, I’m the mother to most of these hooligans. I’m so glad to meet you.”

“Happy birthday, Mrs. Armstrong,” Jules said.

“Please call me Annie. And this is my husband, Jeff. We’re so happy you and Tyler made it all the way down to L.A.”

“We were lucky that there weren’t any big fires.” Jules shook hands with Jeff and then Tyler used the opportunity to introduce her to his brothers.

“I take it the girls already made themselves known, here are the better halves to them,” Tyler chuckled and made the introductions. As they finished he looked around and asked, “Where are Chuck and Linda?”

Everyone quieted down and his mother cleared her throat and answered him. “Chuck took Linda upstairs to lay down for a bit. She wasn’t feeling well.”

“I hope nothing serious?” Tyler said.

“I don’t think so.” Annie had an inappropriate smile on her face about the fact that her future daughter-in-law was sick.

Rock, the host of the party, clapped his hands and announced, “Food is ready.”

“Thank God, I’m starving,” Jules whispered. They’d left Bear Mountain early in the morning and being stuck in traffic hadn’t allowed them time to grab lunch en route.

A while later, Chuck and Linda appeared, the blonde woman slightly pale around the nose.

“Tyler, glad you could make it. Who’s your pretty companion?” Chuck greeted him.

“Chuck and Linda, this is Jules. Jules, my brother Chuck and this lovely lady is Linda Ross.” Tyler hugged them both and then watched as Chuck enveloped Jules in a hug as well.

“Linda Ross? As in daughter to Evangelina Ross?” Jules asked.

“That one. But I prefer not to talk about my mother,” Linda said and gave Jules a measuring glance. Evangelina Ross was an A-list actress, who was as bitchy as she was famous. She’d even had Chuck imprisoned for presumably kidnapping her daughter and stealing her Oscars.

“Thank God.” Jules broke out in laughter, “And here I thought we had to worship your famous mother all day.”

“I do like your girlfriend,” Linda said, hugging Tyler. He preferred not to repeat for the umpteenth time that Jules wasn’t his girlfriend, because he actually liked the sound of it. Your day may come.

“Mom said Linda wasn’t feeling well?” Tyler asked his brother.

Chuck gave Linda a sidelong glance and looked very happy indeed when she nodded. He grabbed a glass from the table and clinked a spoon against it. Everyone stopped talking and looked at him, full of expectation.

“Since you’re all here, we might as well share our news right now. Linda and I are expecting a baby.”

“Congratulations!”

“Way to go little brother.”

“I’m going to be an uncle.”

“And I’m going to be an aunt,” Vivian added.

Hugs and congratulations flowed around. Annie was obviously overjoyed at the prospect of her first grandchild and all but danced around the garden with joy.

Tyler enjoyed the family reunion and especially the way his family had so readily accepted Jules into their midst. Even though he still needed to convince her, that she indeed wanted to be his permanent girlfriend and not just a fling for the season. The first part of the plan – introducing her to his family – worked like a charm. Now it was time to roll out phase two.

Half an hour later, he pulled Jules off to the side and asked, “How are you holding up?”

“I’m having so much fun, Ty. Thanks for inviting me. Your family is amazing.”

Tyler’s heart warmed, and he wrapped her into his arms, pressing a heated kiss on her lips. She didn’t protest, not even when someone clicked his tongue with approval. “I was thinking…since we’re already here, how about stopping by to see your mother tomorrow before we head back to Bear Mountain?”

Jules gave him an incredulous look and started shaking her head. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. She’s nothing like your family.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.” Tyler gave her a kiss and wrapped his arms around her.