“I donated to the charity Emily worked for,” Jackson says.
“Of course,” I groan.
“Always the perfect big brother,” Miles says. “Meeting the love of his life through charitable organizations. Didn’t our father teach you anything?”
“Well,” Jackson begins, “there were some strings attached, at my insistence.”
“That sounds more like it,” Miles says.
“God, we were dicks,” I say. “How did we get so lucky with three incredible women?”
“Against all odds, that’s for sure,” Jackson says.
The lunch lasts for hours. We order more and more bottles of champagne. We get to know each other. We laugh a lot. Emily, Jordyn and Addison tell their versions of how they met Jackson, Miles and me, and the enthusiasm in their storytelling has the entire table howling with laughter. My brothers and I tell stories of our childhood, but not the rotten stories of how our father mentally abused us and our mother ignored us. We tell stories that compliment each other…and some that give a little bit of playful humiliation, like when I took Father’s Bentley out without permission and rear-ended a police car.
We don’t call it a day until everyone is sufficiently tipsy, stuffed full, and very happy. We agree to worry about the business tomorrow, when we’ll all meet up again for brunch. Addison and I take everyone to their hotels in the limo, and then we go home to the Hollywood Hills.
After we’ve gotten settled at home I find Addison at the bathroom sink rubbing cream on her clean face. She’s wearing a short silky nightgown thing that dips down low on her back. I press up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist.
“So what do you think?” I ask her.
“What a crazy day,” she says. “Your family, though, is pretty amazing.”
I kiss her shoulder. “I can’t believe how everything has changed. I hated those guys for so long, and for what? Over some competition that doesn’t even matter anymore.”
“I’m so glad you’re all beginning to put your differences aside,” Addison says. “Not only do you have some great brothers, but they picked some amazing wives.”
“Everyone is married. Unbelievable.” I run my hand across her stomach, the fabric of her little dress so smooth, her skin so close. I kiss her neck, and she reaches back and pulls my neck closer to her. “You were perfect today. You’re perfect everyday.”
“Don’t say that,” she says, her fingers playing at the base of my neck.
“It’s true,” I say. I pull her hair off her shoulder and see that she’s watching me in the mirror. I press up harder to her, my dick already straining in my pants. I run my hand over her ass, and when I realize she’s not wearing any underwear, I’m done.
“Addison,” I say, our eyes locked in the mirror. “I want you now.”
She places her hands on the counter and pushes her ass back toward me until she’s leaning over slightly. Fuck, this woman is beyond everything I’ve ever known. I shuck my pants down and in no time I shove my dick into her tight wet pussy as she lets out a little yelp. I thrust into, watching her face, full of desperation and need. I hold her waist and fuck her as she grips the counter, and it’s not long before I’m unloading into her, my cock slamming into her as every last bit is released.
I rest my head on her shoulder as my senses shift back to normal.
“God I love you,” I tell her.
“I love you too.”
“You’re also really fucking hot.”
She laughs, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my life.
When we meet up the next day, everyone is a little hung-over and still in slight shock at the way things are turning out.
“More coffee,” Emily calls to the waitress. “Please, I beg you!”
“Maybe a whole pot?” Jackson suggests.
“For me? Yes, that would work, thanks very much,” she says.
No one wants to talk about business in such a state, so we wait until the table is filled with plates of eggs and bacon, plenty of toast and pancakes and hash browns and basically the entire breakfast menu, all laid out on the large round table.
The girls started talking the moment they saw each other, as if they’d been friends for years and were finally reuniting.
“After we all left yesterday I had a car come pick us up and take us to the Beverly Center,” Emily is saying. “Jackson was so annoyed but I had to try on those boots and you’re right. They’re so comfortable! Ugly, but comfortable. Jackson is horrified.”
Jordyn laughs. “You’ll appreciate then on the city’s first snowfall, I promise.”
“Emily,” Addison says, “I went to the non-profit’s page you mentioned last night and donated.”
“You’re so nice! Thank you!”
“I may have accidentally donated twice the amount I said,” Addison says.
“We have to do something good with all this money, right?” Emily says sincerely.
I smile. So Addison is already on the charity bandwagon. I can deal with that. I’m not used to it, but I can deal with it.
“Hey,” Addison says to me. “You know what we should do today? Rent one of those cheesy red tour buses and do a tour of the Hollywood stars’ homes. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“I’m not so sure…”
“We’ll have alcohol,” she adds.
“Maybe, then,” I say, kissing her lips.
“So boys,” Jackson says.
“You’re the only boy I see here,” Miles say.
“Ha,” Jackson says. “At some point we do have to talk business. It’s been great getting back together—”
“Without ripping each other’s throats out,” Miles adds.
“Cheers to that,” Jordyn says, raising her coffee mug. “With the stories I’ve heard, I was pretty nervous to meet you guys in person.”
“God knows what you thought of us,” I say.
“I thought body slamming was a real possibility,” Jordyn says.
“Everyone here is now a Croft,” Jackson says, and we all look around at each other, disbelieving in the best way. Everyone seems to actually like each other, and when just a few days ago I felt like a lone Croft, floating by myself and trying to keep the company great, now I have five others on my side, all working together to stay successful. It’s a great feeling. “Anyone here who has an idea of who should take over the reins, let’s hear it.”
“What about Mr. Sterling?” Miles suggests. “He’s a curmudgeon but knows the company inside and out.”
“He’s ruthless too,” I add.
“But do you guys trust him?” Emily asks.
My brothers and I look at each other.
“No,” we say in unison.
“Who do you trust?” Emily asks. “For the company, I mean.”
We look at each other again, and almost laugh saying, “No one.”
Emily throws up her hands and shakes her head.
“You guys are impossible,” Addison says. “Jeez, just run it yourself. Take turns or something. Are you going to eat that last piece of bacon?” she asks Jordyn, who passes her the plate. Addison plucks the bacon from the plate and pops it in her mouth. “What?” she says when she sees me staring at her. “Did you want half?”