“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask.

My brothers are standing around, grinning like jack-o-lanterns. They would, of course.

“I’m sure,” my father announces, looking nonplussed about the whole thing. “Troy and Callum will take it easy on us, won’t you, boys?”

The twins nod like someone’s pulling on the string that ties their devious minds together. I take a soothing breath.

Flag football against two ex-NFL players with my extended family and my father’s colleagues isn’t exactly high on my list of Friday entertainment, but okay. I’ll manage. I’ll persevere.

And maybe it’ll help me think about something other than Lily’s hot little mouth for like half a fucking second.

“Alright, but if anyone ends up with a broken clavicle, I’ll be sure to remind you that I told you so,” I say, which my father only meets with a chuckle.

Most everyone who’s supposed to get here for the ceremony has arrived and we’re just waiting on a few more stragglers. The ceremony isn’t supposed to be until Tuesday. Until then, it’s going to be general Stephenson kin horsing around, complete with commandeering a five-star resort and a private island. No biggie.

My father goes through the process of sorting everybody into teams and I end up on the opposing side of Callum and Troy.

Of course I do. Because that’s just my luck.

They’re grinning at me like they’re already picturing the many ways they’re intending to rip my head off, though this is supposed to be mostly no contact. I can bet my life and my credit line on the fact that it won’t end up like that.

“So, everybody ready?” Robert asks, receiving cheers in response.

We do this kind of a getaway once a year and some of the activities have become so culturally ingrained that we’re basically hardwired to enjoy them. I generally don’t mind. Any time with family is good time in my book.

Though this time there are, of course, some obstacles…

Dad lets his soon-to-be wife Andrea play ref for this game and I feel bad for her already. She’s a wispy, blonde little thing, with bright chestnut eyes and a lovely smile. I bet she’s even an adorable person, though that’s likely to change after my father gets through with her.

One thing’s clear though, she’s not ready to whistle a game between three incredibly competitive men. The rest of the field doesn’t even play into this.

Just as she’s about to blow the whistle to start the game, something catches my eye. Or someone, to be more precise. The whistle sounds and I end up standing there like an idiot, staring at Lily, who is quietly approaching the scene.

Everybody got the invite to join in on the activities. I’m not sure why I’m so shocked to see her. Regardless of that, the next moment I know, I’m lying on my back, with something to the tune of 250 pounds of pure muscle trying to introduce me to the core of the Earth. I wheeze as Troy jumps off of me, offering me a hand and giving me the fakest looking expression of worry I’ve ever seen.

“You okay? You just stopped right in front of me and I ran into you,” he says with a wink.

I huff something noncommittal at him, my eyes travelling back to Lily. She’s wearing a sundress and her hair is pulled back. She looks divine, as usual.

Even more so, probably, because I haven’t seen her in a few days.

Troy notices that I’m distracted and glances her way as well. Even having him look at her like that – like he’s really looking forward to owning her – sends me into a jealous rage.

“Boys, let’s keep this thing moving!” my father’s voice yells from somewhere in the background.

I shrug it off.

“Let’s play,” I say through my teeth, making note of where Lily’s sitting down to watch the game with some of the other onlookers.

“Will do,” Troy announces cheerily, getting into position again.

The next time the whistle sounds, I’m ready. The ball comes flying through the air towards me and I catch it, ducking past Troy as I take off. He’s really fucking fast but for once, I’m faster, just narrowly managing to escape his outstretched hand as he tries to take the flag from my belt.

“Fuck, yeah!” I roar as I reach the designated end zone, spiking the ball and launching into a completely unembarrassed victory dance.

Troy and Callum reach me at about the same time and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them so surprised. Of course, at the same time I’m still treating them to some sick moves.

“How does it feel getting licked by your “jogger” brother?” I taunt, pointing at both of them.

I know I’m going to pay for it later, but whatever. I’m allowed my moment of victorious gloating as far as I’m concerned.

“Like I’m beginning to worry about what kind of ‘roids you’re on,” Callum comments dryly, before smacking me on the shoulder and shooing me towards the rest of my team.

“You’re gonna pay for that,” Troy promises behind me.

I’m greeted like a hero as I return to the fold of my team. No one ever scores against the twins if they’re on the same team. We even had a rule against allowing them to be on the same side for years, but my dumb ass had to give into their complaining and lobby for dropping that regulation.

We’ve been paying for it ever since.

As we get into position again, I shoot a glance at Lily, finding her smiling. She looks like she’s having a good time, despite the fact that an elderly aunt of mine from Wisconsin is obviously trying to recruit her into a knitting cult. I can’t help but think that she belong here in this big, weird family.

Then the whistle sounds again and I have to focus real hard on not being ground into paste by my twin stepbrothers.

* * *

“You know, what you’re doing to yourself really isn’t healthy,” Callum comments at the end of the game.

I’ve received more flying tackles than any man should, and I’m not even in the NFL. Then again, it’s not like I didn’t know the extent of the twins’ payback when I robbed that first point from them.

“Yeah, sure,” I comment, cracking my jaw as the game has ended.

The rest of the family is lumbering off the field, no one having received any major injuries mostly due to the twins being entirely focused on taking me out. Despite that, or maybe thanks to that, we still managed to grab a few points and only ended up losing by… a really substantial margin.

Whatever. All in the name of fun, right?

Or at least that’s what I’ll tell anyone else who might ask. They don’t need to know that every loss is like getting stabbed with a hot poker in the ass.

I’m scuffed up a little, my knees having bruises on them and my jaw feeling slightly rattled from the last tackle – which Callum explained as an ‘accidental stumble’ by him that had to happen at his full speed. It’s like getting hit by a freight train that refuses to stop moving miles after it’s run over you, with you stuck in the damn grill.

It’s starting to get dark and everyone’s heading in to get ready for dinner. Dad loops his arm around Andrea and she giggles, throwing her head on his shoulder as they walk off the field side by side.

Maybe I should make an effort to get to know her, I think to myself.

Then again, if she’s still around in six months, I can just as well do it then.

By the time we’re done making sure that I haven’t lost the use of anything important, it’s just me, Callum and Troy on the field. And Lily’s sitting on the wooden bench, watching us.

“She’s still here,” I tell the twins softly as I look up.

I thought she’d be the first one out of here, considering how she’s been trying to avoid us at all cost.

She meets my gaze expectantly and I can tell from this distance that she’s nervous. Hell, her heart’s probably beating out of her chest. I can guess that by the way she’s nibbling on her lower lip like a nervous squirrel.

“Be nice,” I add to the twins, who have all now turned to consider Lily’s presence.

They seem as surprised as I am.

“We kissed her yesterday,” Troy mumbles, and I bristle at the thought but don’t say anything.

They should have told me sooner. Hell, we were playing pool for most of last night and they couldn’t find a moment to divulge that particular piece of information? Bullshit.

Still, in the name of everyone’s heads remaining on their shoulders, and maybe aided slightly by the fact that I’m winded after running for my life for the last hour or so, I decide to keep things civil. I can hash things out with Callum and Troy later, but right now it’s pretty obvious that Lily has something to tell the three of us.

In unison, we start towards her. I’m taking off my game belt and rolling it up in one hand. As we pass by the bin with the rest of them, I toss mine in at the same time as Callum and Troy do. All three land together, right in the bullseye.

“Lily,” I say softly as we come up to her.

She stands up, her hands clasping together in front of her stomach. I know she’s doing it because she’s feeling uncertain, but what she doesn’t realize is that the same motion makes her push her tits together. Containing the growl of lust in my throat is an exercise in superior willpower on its own.

“Is something wrong?” Callum asks.

“I need to talk to all of you.”

Well, that can’t be good.