Over the last two weeks, the third floor of the warehouse has been finished, and we welcomed in the remaining ten families. We have all the apartments filled now with twenty families, and Sally managing the building. Zoe has harvested the buds and they have to cure for two more weeks before we will be ready to put FLAG out on the streets.

I’m a bundle of nerves.

Oren just called to let me know his private investigator has dug up enough incriminating evidence on Uncle Richie to take it to the police and invites me over to take a look at the report. This is the perfect distraction. I want to look my best without being too obvious. I grab a cute pair of denim shorts that hug my ass, a red tank top, and my red cleopatra sandals. I apply some mascara and red lipstick right before grabbing Dobey and heading out the door.

Dobey and I arrive at the Michaelson house. As soon as I open the car door, he bounds up the stairs with gusto. I ring the doorbell and when the door opens, I’m reminded of my twin sandwich dream. Ridge stands in the doorway with nothing but a pair of basketball shorts on. His hair is wet, probably fresh from a shower. A hot, steamy, shower. I have to shake my head to pull my mind out of the gutter.

“Well, hey there, Hot Lips,” he says while leaning against the door frame.

I’m still staring at his chest when Dobey decides he needs some attention, too. He practically barrels Ridge over to get inside the door. North must be home because that damn traitorous dog only acts that way when he’s around. Ridge grabs my hand, bringing me through the door and shuts it behind us. Apparently I can’t function around a half naked Ridge.

Oren bounds down the stairs with a huge grin on his face. “Alley Cat, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

“Hey, Oren.”

North comes around the corner with Dobey on his heels. “Alice, your hellhound just bulldozed his way into my room. Can’t you control this beast?” he asks while rubbing the so-called hellhound’s head.

“Awwww, Northy Poo, he loves you,” I snicker.

The twins are laughing behind me. I can’t help but smile, knowing North is a big ole softy on the inside.

“I’m hungry,” Ridge says while rubbing his belly.

I giggle at him. “You’re always hungry, big guy.”

He wags his eyebrows at me. “I’m definitely big, baby.”

North rolls his eyes. “What do you want? I’ll call takeout.”

Oren speaks up before anyone can. “Oh, order from the Vagina Tandoori Indian Cuisine.”

North looks at me. “Is that alright with you?”

I shrug. “It was delicious last time. Why not?”

“Hey, Alice, I’ve got some stuff to show you. We can go to my office while we wait on dinner to get here.”

“Sounds good to me.” I follow Oren upstairs to his bedroom slash office.

Oren sits down in a desk chair and I lean over him as he boots up the computer. He pats his lap. “Sit down, Alley Cat. You’ll get a crick in your neck.”

I shrug and take a seat in his lap, and my dream suddenly rushes to the front of my mind. I wiggle a little trying to get comfortable and I hear Oren grunt. “Oh no. I’m too heavy aren’t I? I must be crushing you.”

I try to stand but he holds me down by my waist. “You’re fine. Just quit wiggling please.”

That’s when I feel it under me. Oren is growing hard beneath my ass. I freeze when I feel it twitch. A warmth spreads throughout my body and straight down to my core. I rub my thighs together tying to ease some of my tension.

Oren groans, “Ally Cat, you’re killing me here.”

He grabs the back of my neck, turning my face to his, and starts to gently kiss my lips. I grab his neck and turn the kiss into something more as I open my lips to him and massage my tongue with his. After a few minutes I can’t take it anymore. I need to focus on what we came in here for or throw him on his bed. I pull away from him feeling breathless.

“So, Oren, what was it you have to show me?” I ask while facing the computer.

His response is to push my hair over my shoulder and kiss my neck. He grabs my hips and grinds his hardness into my butt. Good Lord it just keeps getting bigger.

“Oren, show me what you got. Ugh! I mean, please show me what the private investigator sent you.”

He gives me a lopsided grin and pulls up the files. He shows me all kinds of incriminating evidence: tax fraud, embezzlement, and slumlord to name a few. Oren thinks we’re on the right track to getting him out of my life and Du-Kane, Inc. for good.

Ridge yells up the stairs, “Dinner is here!”

“Thank you for helping me. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

He winks at me. “Anything for you, Alley Cat. Can you go downstairs and save me some food? You know Ridge will eat it all if you don’t.”

I cock my head at him. “Aren’t you coming downstairs?”

He runs his hand through his hair. “Um yeah, but I need to get something to settle down first,” he replies while looking down at his pants.

I feel my face turn red, so I just walk out the door. When I get to the kitchen, I notice Ridge has already made himself a plate that is big enough to feed three people. By the time Oren has entered the kitchen, I’ve made both our plates. He grabs them both and I follow him to the game room. North, Ridge, and Cash are already sitting on the sectional digging into their food. Dobey is laying at North’s feet, the traitor. I sit down and Oren hands me the plate of food.

He gives me a smirk. “Hope you can handle this.”

Ugh, I blush and look around at the other guys. “Thanks, Oren.”

North clears his throat. “Alice, we were waiting on you to pick out the movie.”

This surprises me. “Why? I’m sure I’ll like anything y’all pick out.”

Cash laughs. “Pretty Girl, we need you to pick for us because we can never agree on a movie. I like action, Ridge prefers horror, Owen loves a good crime drama, and North is a rom-com lover.”

“What the what? North with a stick up his ass likes romantic comedies? Am I being punked? Where is that Ashton Kutcher?”

All the guys are laughing hysterically except North. He glares at us and growls, “I don’t have a stick up my ass, I’m just more reserved than the rest of you heathens.”

“Sure dude,” Cash says under his breath.

Oren hands me a remote and points to the TV. “Just pick out a movie and save us an argument, please.”

I scroll through the options and find one I haven’t seen yet.

The movie starts up and Cash yells, “Yes!”

I shrug and say, “Jurassic World has action, romance, comedy, and horror.”

Ridge pouts. “Where’s the horror?”

“Chris Pratt has his shirt on throughout the entire movie. That’s horrific!”

The Michaelson brothers all groan, but settle in for the dinosaur fun.

I watched the beginning of the movie and drooled over Chris Pratt. That is the last thing I remember until I wake up to hushed voices. My head feels like it’s in someone’s lap and my feet are being kept warm by large hands. I stay as still as possible, trying to hear what the brothers are saying.

Cash whispers, “Oren, what happened in your bedroom earlier?”

“Nothing. Why?” Oren whispers back.

“Alice came down the stairs looking flustered, and everytime she looked at you, she blushed.” I feel thighs tense under my head. I must be laying in Oren’s lap.

“I’m not going to kiss and tell. I really like her though.”

“Guys, we all like her. The way I see it is, we all date her or no one does,” Ridge says in a hushed tone.

North speaks up a little louder. “You mean you all like her. I’ve got enough to worry about, and I just broke up with Vivian. Who, by the way, is not taking it well.”

“Who are you kidding, little brother? You like her just as much as the rest of us. You have always been the stubborn one.” Cash chuckles.

Ridge says, “I say we give it a go. As brothers we basically share everything, why not Alice?”

“I’m in,” says Oren.

“Me too,” whispers Cash.

“Don’t you think that you should ask Alice before making this decision?” North grumbles.

I can’t take anymore of this discussion. How can they sit here talking about all of them dating me? How would that even work? How could they possibly share me without getting jealous because I know if I were to date any of them, I wouldn’t share. I need to get out of here without having this conversation tonight.

I moan and sit up. “Sorry I fell asleep guys. Did I snore?”

“Like a freight train,” Oren teases.

“Butthead,” I say as I punch him in the arm.

Oren rubs his arm. “Ouch! You’re violent when you wake up.”

I give him a dirty look. “Okay guys, Dobey and I need to head home. Thanks for the dinner and movie. Maybe next time I’ll actually get to watch the movie.”

North places my feet on the ground and hands my shoes to me. He stands up and stretches, showing me a peak of his washboard abs when his shirt rides up. Oh my, I’ve got to get out of here. I slip my feet into my shoes and grab Dobey. I’m walking towards the door when Ridge grabs my arm.

“Alice, we need to talk to you about something.” He looks at me with a serious face.

I smile at him. “Sure thing, but can it wait? I’m beat and Zoe is probably wondering where I’m at.”

Ridge runs a hand through his hair. “Of course, Hot Lips. Text us when you get home so we know you’re safe.” He kisses my forehead and opens the front door for me.

The rest of the Michaelson brothers say bye as I walk out to the car. All four of them stand in the doorway until I get in my car and drive off. I need alcohol, lots of alcohol, and a conversation with my bestie. By the time I get home, Zoe is already asleep. After putting on my pajamas, Dobey and I crawl into bed. I send the guys a group text as promised.

Me: Home safe & sound, night guys

Cash: Sweet dreams pretty girl

Oren: I’ll be dreaming of my desk chair Alley Cat

Ridge: Night Hot Lips wait… what about a desk chair

Oren: Nevermind Ridge go to bed

North: Go to bed dumbasses, Alice R U OK

Me: Yep, just tired night everyone

Cash: Don’t call Pretty Girl a dumbass

North: OMG I meant y’all

Ridge: What about a desk chair spill it

I turn my phone on silent. Those chats can go on forever, and I have too much to think about. My uncle is stealing from Du-Kane, Inc., FLAG is almost ready to sell, I’m housing a warehouse full of prostitutes that are becoming drug runners, Puff N’ Stuff needs more edibles, and the Michaelson brothers want to share me like I’m a shiny new toy. Yep, I’m going to need a lot of alcohol and soon.