“They are too easy.I swear those sons of mine are the biggest tattletales in the world.For men whose entire lives have centered on keeping secrets and honoring confidences, they sure rat me out every chance they get.Those two have never met a bus they didn’t want to throw me under.”Waving at her husbands as they passed, Lilly giggled like a schoolgirl.“Damn, they are still hot.Since I was miles ahead of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, I was driving safely, and I’ll be appropriately rewarded.It’s great to be me.”
Tobi couldn’t hold back her laughter.Lilly was an inspiration in so many ways.Their chance meeting led to Lilly making certain her sons granted Tobi the interview she hadn’t been able to secure.
Still model gorgeous, Lilly West didn’t care about her own or anyone else’s outward appearance.She was too busy living her life to be tied up in what she calledshallow minutia.By the time they drove through the gates leading to Prairie Winds, Tobi had ignored texts from both her husbands while assuring Gracie the world wasn’t coming to an end, despite the hushed conversation her best friend overheard between her men.
“If Micah or Jax catch you lurking outside the control room, eavesdropping, you won’t be able to sit for a week.Of course, that means we’ll get to talk trash about them at the party for Fallon, so there is a bright side, I guess.”Gracie let loose a string of Spanish curses making Tobi laugh out loud.“You better not be using talk-to-text.If they hear you call them bossy albinos with questionable parentage, you’ll be lucky to attend the party.”
When Gracie sent back a string of laughing emojis, Tobi knew one or both of her men had walked into the room.Her friend always reacted the same when Jax or Micah approached.The three of them were so perfectly suited, it was almost scary.
Two hours later, Tobi was still sitting in Kyle and Kent’s office, answering the same questions for the third time, and finally had enough.
“Listen, I swear I have told you every word—complete with nuance, inflections, and accent—I overheard.”Pointing to the wallet on Kyle’s desk, she grinned.“I got you his name, address, and credit cards—what more could I have done?”Looking from Kent to Kyle, Tobi sighed.“You aren’t mad because I lifted his wallet, are you?”Turning her attention to Silas, she shrugged.“It’s baffling.They teach me a skill, then grumble when I use it.”She knew the complaint was falling on deaf ears but was standing by her repeated claim that it was therapeutic to air the grievance.Silas chuckled as he shook his head.
“You’re not pulling me into this, but for what it’s worth, I’ve wondered more than once why they don’t assign you to one of the teams.The only answer I’ve been able to come up with is they’re afraid you and Jen McCall will take over.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked you.You’re brilliant.”
“And you are incorrigible, but I want you to know how much Carson and I appreciate what you’ve done.You risked your own safety to help someone you barely know, which speaks volumes about who you are, Tobi.Even though those two,”—he nodded in Kent and Kyle’s direction—“might not tell you often enough, they’re proud of you as well.”
Tears burn the back of her eyes.The sincerity of Silas’s words made her chest feel tight, as if he’d reached in and squeezed her heart and touched her very soul.
He was dead-on about one thing; Kent and Kyle never held back their praise.While she and Gracie had been building their consulting business, they’d only offered their input and guidance when asked.When she and her best friend became discouraged, it had been their husbands who’d reminded them the path to success was never a straight line.The one time she’d been on the verge of quitting, it had been Kyle who’d reminded her small setbacks would provide the most valuable lessons.
“Thank you, Silas.Your words mean more than you know.One of the most important lessons I learned growing up in an abusive home was how important it is to protect others when you have the opportunity.”
Shaking off the heaviness of the moment, Tobi grinned as her gaze moved to the glistening water of the pool outside the French doors overlooking the expansive backyard.The fading rays of a perfect Texas sunset danced over the surface.In the next few minutes, the underwater lights would turn on, tempting her to swim before driving home.
When they’d built a new house next door, the pool they’d added had been designed as an outdoor entertainment space.It was beautiful, but there was something magical about the pool at Prairie Winds.Maybe it was the memories—heaven only knew how many margarita parties they’d hosted since she’d married Kent and Kyle.Or maybe it was all the late-night heart-to-heart talks she had with friends, sipping wine while sitting on the edge.Whatever the reason, the pool behind what had once been her home was almost impossible to resist.
She’d been so lost in her thoughts, Tobi didn’t realize Silas was no longer in the room until she felt Kent’s arms wrap around tightly around her.Leaning her head against his chest, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“You never cease to amaze, sweetness.I know I speak for my brother as well when I say, I’m trying to decide whether to paddle your ass as a punishment for risking your safety or making the spanking a reward for seizing the opportunity and pulling off an incredible snatch and grab.Not only did you piece together who the man was talking about, you also made identifying him a slam dunk.”Turning her away from the window, Tobi was surprised to find Kyle standing mere inches in front of her.
“Kitten, you are one of the bravest women I’ve ever met.Your heart is always in the right place, and no one could ever question your loyalty.The only thing missing is a sense of self-preservation.I swear to all things holy, my brother and I are going to have gray hair long before our time.”
She wasn’t sure where he was headed with this conversation, but she recognized the clanging bells of warning—from the sense of self-preservation he’d sworn she didn’t have—reminding her of the value of silence.
Kyle was usually easy to read because he simply didn’t believe in wasting energy playing word games or disguising his emotions.When she wanted to flirt and dance through the semantics tulips, Tobi sought out Kent.He was usually game for her occasional need to engage in a bit of verbal banter.
Damn, I haven’t played stupid games for silly prizes in a while.No wonder I’ve been so restless.
“I swear someday we’re going to keep her in the moment for an entire conversation.”Kyle blew out a frustrated breath, the small tell one of his few outward signs of frustration.
This was the man she’d first met standing in the middle of a highway during what Texans referred to as a toad-strangler.She’d been desperate to get to a long-awaited meeting with Kent West, finally scoring the interview with his mother’s help.It had been pure kismet the truck she finally flagged down was driven by Kent’s twin brother Kyle.
A swat landed on her left ass cheek, generating more noise than heat, lifting her to her tiptoes and making her gasp in surprise.Early in their relationship, one of Tobi’s biggest challenges was staying anchored in the here and now.Over the years, as her life filled with children and building a business, she flourished with laser-sharp focus.Some part of her personality seemed to thrive amid chaos.Since she and Gracie stopped traveling and her kids were spending most of their time at their exclusive boarding school in Houston, Tobi found herself with more time on her hands.The more downtime she had, the worse her distraction became.
I need a damned hobby.
*
Kyle watched Tobiworry her lip, her mind miles away—just as it had been on too many occasions the past few months.He and Kent agreed their requests for her to scale back her traveling had been ill-timed.It was painful to watch the woman who held their hearts struggle to find her footing.They’d considered taking turns traveling with her, but their own commitments didn’t allow that luxury.The world was changing in ways no one dreamed possible just a few short years ago.He couldn’t imagine letting Tobi and Gracie travel alone in a world drowning in chaos.
During their time in the Special Forces, he and Kent made their fair share of enemies.Since leaving the military, their contract work for Uncle Sam upped the stakes exponentially.Having a family made them vulnerable in ways they could never have imagined when they’d accepted the first mission.Finding Tobi in the midst of a blinding rainstorm, they’d immediately known she belonged to them, and letting her go had never been an option.Keeping the petite blonde whirlwind safe would always be their priority, but it was clear the two of them needed to rethink how it played out in her day-to-day life.
There had to be some way to balance Tobi’s safety and happiness.Kyle vowed to find a solution that satisfied everyone’s needs, but brainstorming would have to wait.Right now, there were other more pressing needs that needed to be met.Narrowing his focus to the woman who held his heart in the palm of her hand, Kyle gave a one-word command.
“Strip.”