Cook Brothers: The Whole Flipping Family Read online

  I breathe a sigh of relief. “Well, this has been fun and all…”

  “It’s been something, alright,” he mutters, his gaze dropping to my lips.

  “On that we agree,” I say, glaring at him. “See you ’round,” I say, and I don’t think I could sound any less enthused by the prospect.

  “Is that a challenge?” he asks. Fuck a duck. Pluck me with a feather. I’m done. There’s just something about the man that rubs me the wrong way in my head while my body wants him to rub me in an entirely different way, and that’s something that’s never gonna happen.

  “Ugh, men!” I exclaim. I spin around and make my way toward my house.

  “I’ll try to keep the music down. Wouldn’t want you to come over and let yourself in again,” he retorts.

  “Wouldn’t want you thinking I want you to kiss me again,” I grind out.

  He snorts as he shuffles backward down my driveway, eyes locked with mine, lips curved up. “Doubt that’s gonna happen anytime soon, sweetheart.”

  With that parting shot tempting me to commit violence, I quickly shut myself behind my front door. I lean back against it, trying to calm my racing heartbeat as my head threatens to explode at the sheer audacity of that man.

  Construction and noise issues aside, I’m suddenly hit with the realization that my life is probably about to get a hell of a lot more complicated—and frustrating—as long as Jamie lives next door.

  4

  Jamie

  Thankfully, the woman who turns me inside out yet irritates me like no one else, makes herself scarce for the next week. She blows hot and cold worse than any other female I’ve ever met, and that’s saying something considering I grew up in a house where us four brothers made our sister’s life crazy.

  We’ve made good progress on the interior demolition, and within days, we’ll be ready to start construction. My skin is constantly dry; my hands often rough and cracked. I’ve never worked harder in my entire life yet I’ve also never felt so alive.

  Standing in the shell of what is the physical representation of a life-long dream, all the sore muscles, early mornings, late nights and logistical nightmares encountered so far have all been worth it.

  I’m living, breathing and sleeping this project. Now, more than ever, I’m one hundred percent sure that turning my life on its head to pursue this new venture was—and will turn out to be—the best decision I’ve ever made. For myself, my brothers, and my future wife and family. I have no doubt that achieving my own personal goals will help remove any lingering doubts put into my mind by my ex, Heather. Even the most confident of men can have insecurities, and what she did to me months ago definitely left a permanent dent in my armor.

  That could be what rankles me so much about my still nameless-neighbor. Don’t get me wrong; I have twice now seen sparks of interest in those blue eyes of hers, and I’m not denying that she’s gorgeous, smart, and witty and that she has a body I’d willingly spend hours upon hours exploring. There’s been more than a few moments this week when I’ve taken myself in hand and imagined she was naked in front of me, glaring at me in that unique way of hers that makes me hard. It’s giving me ideas of ways I could turn that sass and spunk into feisty, fiery passion.

  Tonight, however, is all about unwinding from a long, hard week with my brothers, and my best friend, Ezra Baker.

  A car horn from my driveway announces Ez’s arrival. I swipe my keys and wallet from the counter and shove them in my jeans pocket before walking out the front door and locking it behind me.

  “You look like you need tonight,” Ez states as soon as we pull out into the road.

  I turn and lift a brow. “You could just say I look like shit,” I say on a laugh.

  “Well, I could, but that’s not my style.”

  “That is true.”

  We fall into a comfortable silence until we reach the freeway on-ramp.

  “So the neighbor?” he asks, merging into traffic.

  I shake my head, my lips tipping up as I look over at him. “I thought vaginas were optional tonight.”

  “And he deflects.”

  “No. I’m avoiding the topic.”

  “Also known as deflecting.”

  “Wanna discuss your soon-to-be ex-wife marrying an ex-baller with a shit-ton of money, a Gold Coast penthouse, and a house in Miami?” I ask. He glances my way and smirks.

  “So that’s a no-go on talking about the neighbor,” he concedes.

  “Which one of the girls told you, Jax, Bry, or Co?”

  “Your mother.”

  I drop my head back against the seat and groan. “God, that’s all I need, my mother playing match-maker.”

  He reaches over and pats my knee before grabbing the gear shift again. ”What’s the worst that could happen?”

  “Hang on. Why were you talking to Mom?”

  “She was at Mom’s place when I swung by earlier.”

  “I’m screwed then,” I groan, dropping my head back against the seat and staring at the roof as if I expect to find help there. “Now they’ll both be concocting a plan to have me married off by year’s end.”

  “Better you than me,” the bastard muses, making us both chuckle. “If it helps, I’m guessing I’ve only got a year at best before they turn their focus back on me. You know what they say…”

  “Good boys need good wives so they can make us good grandchildren,” we say in unison.

  Our families have been close for nearly twenty-five years, ever since we moved in next door to each other. Ez with his two sisters, and us with the four boys and one girl, were forced upon each other by the moms within the month and from then on, it was always the Cooks and the Bakers—ironic, I know. We went together like bacon and eggs. Wherever one was, another was never far away. Between the two of us and my brothers, our sisters were tormented throughout their childhoods, and there’s not a single guy in our high school who ever stood a chance at getting anywhere near first base with any of them.

  “You’d think Abi and Cade having Harry would have satisfied your mom’s need to nurture for the time being.”

  “It did, but he’s one. Mom’s getting the itch again.”

  “Damn, that means mine will too. Delilah’s son is about to start school, and I doubt Faith is going to be doing the whole marriage and kids thing any time soon. She’s not even seeing anyone.”

  Faith is Ezra’s youngest sister who had the whole epic girl-next-door relationship with Bryant from age fourteen to twenty-two. Then something equally epic happened between them, and they broke up. Bryant came back from college in California and Faith didn’t; neither one of them have ever explained what went down. As soon as Faith finished her Bachelors at UC Davis, she hightailed it overseas and has been living in Australia ever since.

  “So we’re all back on the hook for procreating for the sheer purpose of keeping the moms happy?”

  “Looks like it,” Ez says with a smirk.

  “And someone thought they’d throw me under the bus and tell Mom I might be next?”

  “Not me. I wouldn’t dare risk your vengeance. I’d say it was Jax or Abi; they’re the biggest gossips amongst us.”

  “And speaking of Jax…” I murmur, spotting twin brother number one leaning against the trunk of his truck in the parking lot of our monthly Saturday local—a twenty-four-hour driving range.

  “Want me to run him over?” Ezra asks.

  “We probably shouldn’t. Mom definitely wouldn’t like that,” I deadpan.

  “You spoil all my fun,” Ezra huffs. “It’s not like she doesn’t have another one of him.”

  “Three actually,” Jaxon says as we park beside him. I roll my eyes at my smartass brother while Ezra just shakes his head. “What?” He leans his elbows against Ezra’s open window. “I only caught the last of it, but I’m guessing Jamie is plotting my downfall again. Ez would never underestimate me.” That just makes the two of us laugh at Jax.

  I get out of the car and shut the door, Jax follo
wing me as I make my way to the back of his car.

  “Did you remember to grab my clubs from Mom and Dad’s?” I ask, leaning over the side to check.

  “Nah, I went to pick up mine, saw yours, and decided you can just kick the balls.”

  “How ‘bout I kick yours and then see who wins?” I say, flipping the bird just as the loud rumble of a Harley fills the air, Bryant slowly backing his pride and joy into a parking spot outside the facility’s entrance.

  “Where’s Cohen?” I ask, pulling my clubs out. Hooking the strap over my shoulder, I move back to give Jax some room.

  “Probably warming up so we don’t all kick his ass again,” Ez says with a shit-eating grin.

  “Yo,” Bryant says, putting his helmet inside the cab of the truck before moving around us and nearly jumping on my back. “Hey, old man,” he says to me by way of greeting. I push him off and turn my head, grinning at him.

  “Don’t be mean. Ez is the old one. But it’s not his fault. He can’t help it if he’s a thirty-five-year-old stuck in the body of a fifty-year-old.”

  “Assholes,” Ez mutters, jostling Bryant with his shoulder as he walks past us. Jax holds out a set of clubs to his twin, who takes them off his hands.

  “Let’s go beat Cohen again,” I suggest. “Can’t have him thinking he might actually have a chance.”

  Ez chuckles. “The last time he kicked anyone’s ass at golf—or in any capacity—was… let me think…”

  “I vote for never,” Bryant says with a wicked gleam in his eye. “But I think we should go show him how big boys do it.”

  “Don’t lie, Bry. You still let Mom make your lunches.”

  “Only ’cause she works with me,” he replies with a shrug.

  “She works in the admissions office. You’re on the other side of campus,” I reply with a quirked brow.

  “Look.” Bryant sighs. “I can’t help it if I’m her favorite.”

  Jax and I burst out laughing as all four of us make our way to the entrance. “You’re so full of shit,” Jax says, calling his twin out. “Mom told me you put in your sandwich order with her every day.”

  “You’re just annoyed you didn’t think of it first. I mean, at least I buy all the food for her to make it with. You just turn up and empty her fridge whenever you’re hungry and in the area.”

  “And that’s why he moved into a condo two blocks away. Then he’s always in the area,” I muse.

  Gabe—the owner—waves us through when he sees us. “Cohen already paid for two hours. Go on up.” Ez goes ahead to find our youngest brother.

  “You deserve a raise, Gabe,” I reply with a nod as I move to the stairs leading to the upper deck.

  “I deserve a vacation—just me and the wife, and without teenagers determined to make life difficult,” Gabe replies with a laugh.

  Jax and Bryant chuckle behind me.

  “Yeah. Our parents might still say that about us now,” Jax adds.

  “Let me know if you need more balls,” Gabe calls out, loudly.

  “Got enough already, Gabe, but your wife called and said you left them in her handbag this morning.” Bryant waggles his brows, earning a grin and a muttered ‘fuck off’ from Gabe.

  By the time all three of us reach the top deck, Cohen and Ez are deep in concentration, both of them taking time to perfect their swing like it’s a golf major, not a driving range.

  “Glad you got a head start, Cohen. Who knows when all that extra practice will eventually pay off?” Jax announces as we reach them, grinning widely when Cohen turns his head to scowl at him.

  “You might finally beat Ez one day,” Bryant adds.

  Cohen just rolls his eyes and bends down to place another ball on the tee. He straightens and gets into position, looks down, pauses for a few seconds, swings his driver back, and hits the ball square on, sending it flying past the 150-yard mark.

  Impressed, I blow out a low whistle. Cohen and I have always been close, and although I’m close to all four of my siblings, Cohen and I were always tightest. Maybe it’s because Jax and Bry came out of the womb with that special bond twins have, or maybe it’s because there’s a seven-year-age gap between Cohen and me and I was always protecting him from the terrible twosome. Although it’s probably more the fact that whereas the twins and Abi are rather extroverted and out there, Cohen and I have always been on the more intense, quiet, and brooding side of the spectrum.

  In saying that, he’s also the one brother who has never had any trouble getting ladies. I liken him to a quiet, unassuming predator who reels in its prey slowly but surely. He’s always one to play the long game ending with a guaranteed win every single time.

  “Are you guys gonna play catch-up or are you gonna sit there with your fingers up your asses and watch how a real man does it?” Cohen says, not even turning back to face us.

  “Care to make it interesting?” I ask, taking the bait he so skillfully laid on us. What did I say about unassuming?

  “Yeah, little brother, you gonna put your money where your smack-talking mouth is?” Bryant adds.

  “Says the man who lost five hundred dollars to Jamie last month,” Ez says, making me laugh. Bryant narrows his eyes before squaring his shoulders and making his way to a spare bay beside Ezra. Jax and I soon follow behind him.

  “You asked for it,” I say, puffing my chest out in fake bravado. I’m not as competitive as the rest of them. I come here to relax and catch up with the guys. Not losing and having to pay for dinner is a bonus.

  “Loser pays for dinner,” Cohen says, poking the bear just that little bit more.

  “For the month,” Jaxon adds.

  Damn, now I really better win. If I don’t, the house won’t be finished in time to sell. ”Let’s leave it at that; otherwise you guys will be asking to cash out your investments, and there ain’t no way that’s gonna happen.”

  “Yes, Dad,” my three brothers reply before all five of us focus on the task at hand, and for the next hour and a half, we talk smack and take turns to whack golf balls out onto the lit-up grass, all of us pushing hard to get the most yards for bragging rights more than anything.

  I should’ve known the fuckers were biding their time though, because before too long, Cohen breaks the ice. ”So when do we get to meet the hot neighbor?”

  Kill me now.

  Ezra leaves me on the sidewalk outside the house around ten p.m., and just as I’m about to walk up the steps, I hear a car pull into the driveway next door. Curiosity gets the better of me, so I wait. When my nameless neighbor rounds the side of the house, she lets out a little squeak as I make my presence known.

  I clear my throat. “Hey.”

  “Ah… hi…” she says, stopping at her front door. I walk to the edge of my porch, suddenly conscious that Axel and Betty are probably asleep.

  “How was your night? Just finished work?” I ask stupidly, considering the light by her front door clearly shows me she’s wearing the same blue scrubs she was in last weekend.

  “Yeah. I’ve now finished the last of my twelve-hour shifts for the week.”

  “Damn. That must be hard.”

  “Tiring. Especially on a Saturday night,” she says with a yawn. “How about you? Just getting in yourself? Or is hanging out on the porch the in thing these days?” Her voice is soft, and I realize it’s the longest conversation we’ve had without sniping at each other.

  “Just been at the driving range with my brothers and best friend. It’s a thing we do every few weeks.”

  “Nice. That actually sounds quite fun.”

  My eyes widen. “You play golf?”

  “No. I just mean hanging out with adults,” she replies with a laugh. “Between work and Axel, I don’t have much time for that sort of thing.”

  Interesting. I file that tidbit away for future reference. “Well I wouldn’t exactly describe my brothers as adults most of the time, but I didn’t lose our bet, so I wasn’t the one paying for dinner.”

  She smiles. “That�
��s a bonus then.” She yawns again, the exhaustion written all over her face.

  “I won’t keep you, and I’ll hold off on making any noise till after lunch, let you have a sleep in.”

  Her mouth drops open before she quickly catches herself. ”Thank you. You don’t have to do that, but I appreciate it nonetheless. Now I just have to hope Axel lets me sleep for a while in the morning before crawling into bed for cuddles and cartoons.”

  “Send him over here if you like. I’ll just be sanding down the floors in one of the guest bedrooms.”

  “Oh.” She waves me off. “You won’t want a six-year-old hanging around while you’re working.”

  I lean against the wall of the house. “Wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mind. Honestly, any time he needs a little guy time, send him over. I’m sure he can help me out somehow. He seemed pretty content sitting under the table the other day.”

  “Stealing your food…”

  “Well, there was that.”

  She studies me for a moment as if judging whether the offer is genuine.

  “Anyway, I’ll let you go and put your feet up since you’ve probably been on them all day. Just think about it. The offer is always there.”

  Her eyes soften, and she reaches for the door handle, almost as if to hold herself up. ”Okay, I will. Good night.”

  I lift my arm and give her a short wave before pulling my keys out of my back pocket and moving toward my front door.

  “Jamie?”

  “Yeah?” I reply, turning my head toward her.

  “Thank you,” she says quietly. “He hasn’t stopped talking about you and the guys all week. You might just help me make a little boy’s day.”

  “Any time. I mean that.”

  She gifts me a tired smile before disappearing from sight.

  I don’t know why, but by the time I’ve walked inside the house and gotten myself into bed, I’m still smiling because I’ve given myself a new mission. Not only am I flipping a house and fulfilling my dream, I’m also going to make Axel’s day whenever I can—and in doing so, make her life a bit easier, and hopefully make her happy with me for once.