Nick and Trixie crouched to love Coco up.
“Hey, sweet girl,” Trixie said as Coco licked her cheek, then kissed Nick’s, going back and forth as they petted her.
“You watching your daddy lose?” Nick joked.
“Hey, don’t talk shit to my dog,” Jax hollered, following Jillian across the lawn as their parents joined hands in the middle of the yard. Jax was shirtless, his expensive-looking navy shorts riding low on his hips, leaving all of his lean muscles on display. He carried himself with an air of confidence, but not arrogance, and looked more like a model or an athlete than a wedding gown designer, with short, light-brown hair, a chiseled jaw, and eyes that held a hint of mystery.
“I missed you!” Jillian said, hugging Trixie. “I can’t believe I get a whole month with you! We need to plan some get-togethers.”
“She just got here,” Nick said.
“So?” Jillian said.
Nick’s jaw clenched. “Give her a little breathing space before you start throwing her to the wolves.”
Jillian patted his back and said, “She doesn’t need a bodyguard this month, Nicky. I’ll watch out for her.” She was the only person Nick allowed to call him that, and Trixie secretly loved that he had a soft spot for his younger sister.
“You need a babysitter more than she does.” Nick went back to petting Coco.
“Hey, beautiful.” Jax kissed Trixie’s cheek, embracing her.
Jax wasn’t wild like Zev, serious like Beau or Graham, or gruff like Nick. He had a personality all his own: calm, cool, and collected. But he and Nick did have one thing in common. They were both eternal bachelors.
“Be sure to save me a dance when you go out.” Jax winked.
“Christ,” Nick grumbled.
Trixie nudged Nick. He had always hated it when his brothers flirted with her. If it were up to him, she and Jillian would be locked away from all men. “I will definitely save you a dance, Jax, but your gaggle of groupies may not like it.”
“That is if Trixie can make space on your dance card,” their mother said. Lily Braden was a petite blonde with shoulder-length hair and a loving disposition. She drew Trixie into a warm embrace. “We’re so glad you’re here, honey.”
“I’ve missed you guys,” Trixie said. His parents had been married forever, like hers, and they’d always treated her like part of their family.
Nick kissed his mother’s cheek. “Hi, Ma.”
“Hi, sweetheart.” Lily hugged him.
“Get in here, darlin’.” Clint embraced Trixie. He was a relatively quiet man, with mostly gray hair and serious eyes.
Nick clapped his father on the back. “Good to see you, Pop.”
“You look good, son. You look happy.”
“Trixie has that effect on most guys,” Jillian said, earning a shake of Nick’s head.
Clint hiked a thumb at Nick. “Trixie, do you think you can survive an entire month with this guy?”
“Well, he is easy on the eyes.”
Nick flashed an arrogant and devastatingly hot grin.
“But we all know how bullheaded he is, so the jury is still out,” Trixie added, earning a glare from Nick and laughs from everyone else. “Would you like help with dinner?”
“No, thank you, honey. It’s almost ready,” Lily said as they headed to the patio.
“Then we have time for a game of two on two.” Jax draped an arm over Trixie’s shoulder and said, “What do you say, gorgeous? Want to team up and show these two how it’s done?”
“Heck yeah, I’m in. Jilly, do you want to play?” Trixie always asked if Jillian wanted to join them, even though everyone knew that she would sooner shave her head than play sports.
“Sure, right after I go skydiving.” Jillian sauntered over to the patio with Coco on her heels and said, “I’ll just be over here with Coco checking Tinder and cheering you on.”
“Like hell you will,” Nick said, and he and Jax stalked toward her.
“Relax. I’m not really going to cheer you on.” Jillian laughed.
Trixie knew she wasn’t on Tinder, but it was fun watching her tease her brothers.
Nick dove for Jillian’s phone. She shrieked and ran across the yard. Jax caught up with her and snagged her phone.
“Give it back!” Jillian yelled through her laughter.
“Right after I delete all the dating apps,” Jax said, poking around on her phone.
Jillian might not be on Tinder, but she was on other dating apps. Trixie snuck up behind Jax, and then she ran around him, grabbed the phone, and sprinted across the lawn with Jax and Nick chasing after her.
“Run, Trixie!” Jillian cheered.
Their mother and father watched with amusement for a minute before Clint hollered, “Boys!” causing Jax and Nick to stop cold. “Jilly’s an adult. Leave her alone now.”
Jillian stuck out her tongue at them.
“Oh, Jilly,” Lily said with a shake of her head.
Trixie gave Jillian her phone and said, “What is with you Bradens not locking your screens?”
“I hate having to unlock it,” Jillian said. “Thanks for saving my dating apps.”
“You owe me one.”
Jillian’s eyes lit up. “When we go out, I’ll let you take your pick of the hottest guys.”
“Let’s go, Jericho.” Nick grabbed Trixie’s arm, dragging her toward the basketball court.
Jax caught up with them and said, “Nick, are you going to keep that cowboy hat on?”
“What do you think?”
Jax arched a brow. “Have it your way. I know Trix can play in her boots, but you’re not as coordinated as she is. You might want to borrow a pair of sneakers from Dad.”
Nick might not have been into mainstream sports, but he was as agile as he was powerful, especially in his boots, and Jax knew it. But like Jillian, he loved to mess with his siblings.
Nick cocked his arm, as if he were going to punch Jax, and Jax shuffled out of reach, laughing. Nick mumbled, “Fool.”
Jax was fit, but Nick was massive. Trixie had a feeling if Nick ever wanted to hurt someone, one punch was all it would take to do serious damage.
After a round of witty banter, they started playing. Nick dribbled the ball, his eyes darting around Trixie as she waved her hands, blocking him. Jax stuck to their father like glue.
“Don’t drop it, cowboy,” she teased, arms out to the side and leaning in.
He darted right, and she followed, but he turned, doubling back faster than her, and blew right past his father and Jax, dunking the ball. His fist shot up in the air. “Hell yeah!” He smirked at Trixie and said, “That’s how it’s done, darlin’.”
“Nice shot!” his father said, high-fiving him.
“We let you have that one,” Jax said.
Nick shook his head. “You’re losing your touch, bro. What happened? Did you take a bridesmaid home last night and she wear you out after ten minutes?”
“Two bridesmaids, and it was about three hours,” Jax countered. “Jealous? We all know the only one keeping you up at night is an old, half-blind dog.”
Nick scoffed. Jax took the ball to the head of the court.