Still, I want Lemon to have the perfect day, so I push my issues aside and focus on making a good first impression. She told me these brothers of hers tease her mercilessly, but that is because they haven’t met me—a man who wants to protect her, even if I have to learn how to do that along the way.
I pick up my mug and take a sip as the boys take in the scene, giving them a once over and realizing I’m as tall as them, as strong as them, and am not intimidated.
“What the fuck is happening here?” one of them asks, surveying the situation. Lemon leans against the stove; I’m opposite her against the sink.
The guy talking has dark hair and dark eyes and he’s looking us over.
“Who the hell are you?” he asks.
“I'm Anchor, the next-door neighbor.”
“The neighbor?” he asks. “Looks like you're more than the neighbor.”
“Stop,” Lemon says. “Be nice, Graham.”
“You're the police officer?” I ask him.
He nods. “Yeah, I am. And if you're here with my sister, I'm gonna need to do a background check. What's your last name?”
I scoff. “Are you kidding me?”
Another guy steps forward. “Were you here with her fucking around? Because that’s not gonna fly. We don't even know who you are.” The guy is young, way younger than me.
“Let me guess, you’re Mac?”
These are the brothers who have been giving Lemon a hard time about not being married. And here they are, ruining her fucking birthday.
“Yeah, I’m Mac. What do you know about me?”
“I know you need to back the hell up,” I say, eyes narrowing, wanting him to understand I am in control.
Lemon steps between us. “Stop, guys. Stop. Please. This is so cringy. Look, I was just having breakfast with the neighbor. He brought over croissants and champagne.”
The third guy standing there, with a nasty cut over his right eye, snorts. “Looks like you guys were doing more than having breakfast.” His accent is a little bit country.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Cash Rowdy. I'm her cousin. Not that it's any of your business.”
Lemon shakes her head. “Why are you guys here? This ismyvacation. My time away fromyou. This is so typical.”
Cash’s eyes narrow at me. “Don't I know you from somewhere? I swear to God I do. Have we met before? Are you from Burly? You don't look like you're a Burly boy.”
“No, I'm not from Burly,” I tell him, “and no, we haven't met before.” I run a hand over the back of my neck.
Lemon doesn't know me. And I didn't want her to find out who I really am like this.
Maybe now it's time to drink that champagne. I reached for the flute and take a long drink.
When the truth dawns on Cash, he snaps his fingers. “No, I do know you.You’re Anchor from that TV show.”
“TV show?” Lemon asks with a frown. “Is that what you meant at dinner last night about fame?”
I nod, hating this is coming out like this, but I have nothing to hide.
“That reality TV show,” Cash says. “What was it called? Something likeSurvive This?”
Mac’s eyes widen. “Shit, you’rethatAnchor? Damn. That's funny.”