Chapter 28

Pippa took a rushed shower, still unable to believe she’d allowed River to make love to her with his family just up the stairs. But it was soooo good. You have to admit it; the pleasure was totally worth the embarrassment.

River snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her body back against his naked one. “Still think I’m better off without you?”

“The jury is still out.” Pippa giggled before she closed her eyes and leaned back against him, turning her head and meeting his mouth with her own.

“We’ll see about that later.” River set her free, smacking her ass lightly.

“So, is it normal for your brothers to just drop in on you?”

River shook his head as he slipped into a pair of shorts and a clean t-shirt. “No, they usually give me a heads-up. My guess is Drake has a job somewhere in this part of the world and Tyler tagged along for the ride.”

“How long do you think they’ll stay?”

River shrugged his shoulders and then turned and watched her slip into another bikini with blue and white pin stripes going horizontally across the fabric. “Has anyone ever told you how absolutely delicious you look in that suit?”

Pippa blushed and shook her head. River stalked across the room and took the ties from her fingers. Spinning her around, he tied the neck and then the back strap, kissing the nape of her neck before turning her once more. “You look unbelievable in that suit.”

“Your brothers? Remember?” Pippa pushed away.

“As if I could forget. Come on, then. Let’s get the introductions over with and figure out the rest of the day.”

He took Pippa’s hand and she followed him up the stairs, nervous butterflies rolling around in her stomach. She almost crashed into River when he stopped short at the entrance of the salon.

When he stepped aside, she stared wide-eyed at a bunch of people sitting in the main salon, waiting on her and River to join them. Definitely more than three. She counted up to nine.

“Who’s responsible for this?” River asked with a growl.

A beautiful woman with dark auburn hair and River’s sky blue eyes waggled her fingers at him from the corner of a couch. “I am. After you talked to Chuck almost two weeks ago, he and I decided it was time for a family intervention and check-up session.”

That must be his sister, Vivian.

“Guys, while I appreciate the effort and all, I have the entire boat already booked starting tomorrow…” River’s voice trailed as the woman started laughing.

“I booked the boat for the next week, silly. It’s us who are going to enjoy being escorted around these waters by an expert.”

“You booked the boat?” River didn’t let go of Pippa’s hand and she wasn’t sure whether he wanted to reassure her or him.

“Well, under a false name, of course. Now, why don’t you remember your manners and introduce us to that beautiful young woman who has decided to put up with you a bit longer?”

River looked down at Pippa and she met his gaze. There was so much love in his eyes she wanted to melt into a puddle at his feet. Meeting his family hadn’t been on the table just yet, but despite her nerves she was curious about them.

“Don’t worry, baby. They’re much more fun than they seem right now.”

“Pippa, this is my oldest brother, Drake, and his girlfriend, Roxie.” Drake, had the same dark hair and blue eyes as River. The family resemblance was striking. And Roxie featured waist-long, pitch-blank hair that fell down in soft waves.

“It’s nice to meet you both.” Pippa offered to shake his hand, but he shook his head.

“None of that nonsense.” Then he stepped closer and gave her a bear hug. “I’m delighted to meet the woman who tamed my baby brother.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she notice River glaring daggers at his brother. Whether it was because of the bear hug or the endearment, she had no idea.

“You’re the one who climbs volcanoes, right?” Pippa asked.

“Something like that. I hope River has told you only good things about me.”

“He did,” Pippa hurried to say as Roxie gave her a hug.

“Oh, hear that.” The man speaking stepped forward. “I’m Chuck and this is Linda. Unfortunately, we couldn’t bring her dog Courage, because they wouldn’t allow him on island.”

Linda was a rail-thin, delicate woman with blond hair and brown eyes. Pippa couldn’t help but wonder how the unequal pair had fallen in love. Then another pair stepped forward, introducing themselves as Preston and Gina.

Preston, the billionaire? He does look very down to earth. 

“It’s good to meet you, Pippa. I’m not sure how you put up with him…I know I couldn’t.” Preston winked at her, and she noticed the scowl on River’s face again. He’s jealous. How funny.

“He’s pretty easy to get along with, actually,” Pippa said.

Preston gave her only the hint of an embrace, while his fiancé Gina swept her up in an embrace that threatened to suffocate her.  

“I’m so happy to meet you. We were all so curious about the girl River has fallen for,” Gina blurted out with her cute Italian accent and then slapped her hand across her mouth. “I probably shouldn’t have said this.”

“How come everyone here knows River has fallen for me, before I knew?” Pippa surprised herself with the question.

“Family secret.” The woman who must be Vivian giggled as she approached her, followed by a very handsome athletic man, whom she immediately recognized as the famous former triathlete Rock Martens.

“Wow! You’re really Rock Martens? I admire your work a lot,” Pippa said.

“In the flesh,” the man with the tousled hair, warm brown eyes and designer stubble answered, beaming with pride. He hugged her like the rest of them had done and then whispered in her ear loud enough for everyone to hear. “Don’t listen to them. They’re a bunch of crazy people, these Armstrongs.”

There was only one person left standing slightly apart from the rest. Pippa blushed, remembering how this man had interrupted her and River earlier.

He had at least three inches on the rest of his brothers and the impressive muscles testifying to his job spent saving lives on daily basis.

Now he looked anything but a hero. Wringing his hands with his eyes cast down, he stood in the corner, waiting.

Pippa took a deep breath and approached him. “Hi, Tyler.”

“You’ve already met?” asked Vivian.

“Sort of,” Pippa answered and since he wouldn’t move, she crossed the distance and hugged him. Going on her tiptoes she whispered into his ear, “I won’t tell if you don’t tell, okay?”

His relief was instant, as he nodded and lifted her up, her feet dangling in the air.

“That’s enough. She’s my girlfriend,” River growled.

“Whoa…did I just hear you use the word girlfriend? And I thought you’d never settle for just one woman,” Tyler responded, setting Pippa on her feet.

She quickly escaped with a hammering heart and watched the staring duel of the two brothers from the sidelines. I’m his girlfriend.

“I did. And this means hands off for everyone,” River said, looking around the room, “and especially for you.”

“No worries.” Tyler stepped back with a grin, opening his mouth to say something, but then closing it again.

River reached for Pippa and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Just so that everyone knows. I’m in love with this woman.” Then he kissed her and the butterflies captured her stomach again.

Much later they left the boat in search of a restaurant for an early dinner. Pippa snuggled up against River’s side, the same way the other women snuggled up to their men, and she already felt like part of the family.

As an only child, she still had to get used to their constant bickering, but apparently it was all good-natured. Everyone talked about Rock’s annual fundraiser triathlon for his Rock Solid foundation that had taken place several weeks ago and teased each other with their abysmal performance.

And Tyler was deep into an arson case and spent most of his time complaining about the evil investigator who was intent on making him check, double check, and quadruple check every little detail. The rest of his siblings laughed at him, teasing relentlessly and wondering if he was even allowed to disclose that level of detail.

Later that night, after everyone had settled in their assigned cabins and gone their separate ways, River pulled her up to the sundeck and sat on a lounge chair with her between his legs and reclining against his chest. “So, what did you think of my family?”

“They are amazing.” She looked up into the sky, letting the past week pass in front of her inner eye. So many things had happened so fast. Tomorrow River would leave with his siblings on a cruise, and she still had no idea what would become of her.

 “What are you thinking about?” River asked into her sigh.

“That I don’t know what will happen with us.”

He turned her around to look into her eyes before he spoke. “I don’t want to spend another day without you by my side. But since you won’t work for me, and you don’t have the money to pay for the week’s diving adventure…” Pippa bated her breath waiting for his next words, “you’ll have to stay onboard as my girlfriend.”

“You want me to live with you?” Pippa asked, perplexed.

“Yes. I’ve never had a steady girlfriend before, so we’re both getting into unknown water here.” He kissed her nose. “But I know one thing: I can’t imagine not having you right where you are now.”

“Well, if this means I get to tell everyone you’re my boyfriend, then I’ll stay with you on your boat.” She hugged him tight. “I’m getting the better end of the deal, for sure.”

 

***

 

This was the fifth book in the Los Angeles Armstrongs series.

Book six features Tyler Armstrong, the hot firefighter.

 

Coming soon….. to get an email reminder as soon as Tyler’s story is released.

Curious how everything started with the Armstrongs? The first book of the original Chicago Armstrongs POWER OF LOVE is available for free on most retailers.

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If you prefer a badass heartbreaker, then Fernando is your man. The chemistry between Fernando and his probation officer Gwen Cohen ignites from the moment they meet – but there’s more than one insurmountable obstacle to overcome for him if he ever want to call her his.

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Please enjoy a preview of the story of Fernando and Gwen