Chapter 18

Hannah This morning is something special. I squeeze my coffee cup in my hands while my eyes wake up a little more by the second. Tobias is working out shirtless in the kitchen. I have no idea why he chose this room, but…

Wow.

It’s impossible not to look at his body… or gawk. I’ve never seen a man this in shape outside the TV, if you don’t count the jocks at college. But even then, I haven’t been this close to them.

But Tobias is right there, lifting from the ground with each push-up, and he is only wearing a pair of white boxers.

That ass…

I swallow thickly and let my eyes linger. Tobias’s ass looks great, his thighs are thick, and his calves are defined. Aside from working, he must spend hours in the gym.

Aren’t I lucky to be tapping that?

As I daydream, Tobias looks over his shoulders and catches me eyeballing his ass, which makes me freeze. It’s too late to look away, and I’m mortified when a smirk works into his face.

“Enjoying the view?”

I shyly look away from him. His eyebrows are raised, but I pretend to be more interested in a painting on the wall. “I just spaced out… I’m a filthy liar, but I must save my skin.

“Ah, of course,” Tobias stands up. He walks to one of the cabinets to grab a glass and fill it with water.”

Tell me if you need me in another position for the next time you… space out.”

Whoa, hold up!

He doesn’t believe me?!

“I did space out!”

“Mhm, space out while thinking about me?”

My cheeks burn. “You little-“I stop there because I don’t know what else to add, and Tobias laughs.

“Are you calling me little?”

“S-so what if I did?!” I manage and stand up from my chair when Tobias comes lumbering closer.

His lips are amused as he looks down at me. “We have a problem. It seems someone is getting sassy with me.”

I stroll past his shirtless form because I need water. Did someone raise the temperature in here? It’s sizzling hot.

“I’m not sassy…” I mutter.

“You are,” Tobias says from behind. “Is it because I should have given you some sex this morning? Is that it?”

“What?!” I shriek. “No, not at all!” But I wouldn’t have complained.

“Is something else bothering you then?”

He is standing right behind me, and I shudder before forcing courage into my voice. “No. Nothing is bothering me. But why are you breathing down my neck?”

Tobias snorts. “Breathing down your neck? I’m not doing that.”

I roll my eyes because I’m practically surrounded by him, and when I turn around, I stare into his pecs.

And since Tobias is a bastard, he flexes them, which got me howling.

“Oh my god, stop doing that!” I’m trying but failing to look away, spitting out some of my water. It runs down my chin. Tobias smiles, and I shake my head at him. “You’re being weird!”

“Weird? Me?” Tobias deadpans but keeps his playful tone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I smile, but I clear my throat when I realize I’m staring Uhm… don’t you have any meetings today?”

“Nope,” Tobias shrugs. “I had a lot of last-minute appointments yesterday, and today I’m not going to focus on anything work-related. I believe it’s important to have some days off.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Mhm,” those intense green eyes of his move over my face. “What about you? Any plans today?” “No, not really.”

He processes this while keeping a smile on his face. “Then how about spending it with me?”

“With you?” I blink. “What would we do? Is he asking for a date?

“It’s my mother’s birthday today, and my brothers and I plan to cook her a nice dinner. She isn’t home now, so it would be perfect if we also headed there early to bake a cake.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Do your brothers know how to cook and bake, or do you plan on bringing a private chef?” “No chef,” he smiles. “Mark doesn’t know how to cook or bake. He is only interested in hockey and photography. But Jake loves baking. So maybe you two can come up with a cake to make?”

I smile right back at him. I like this version of Tobias. The friendly one who is letting me meet his family members. He is probably only inviting me because he needs me to bake this cake, but I don’t care.

“Baking a cake with Jake sounds fun, but what are you and Mark going to do, huh? You can’t just dump all the work on us.”

“We will be contributing too. I will probably mow my mother’s lawn and ask Mark to clean her rooms.”

“I see,” I beam up at him. “When are we going?”

We arrive at our destination two hours later. There are bags with cake stuff in the trunk, and I’m holding a large bouquet of pink and white flowers for Ritva, Tobias’s mother.

“This is it,” Tobias says, pulling out the keys from the ignition to look up at the blue two-story house surrounded by similar houses. “It’s not a mansion, but my mother hates it when I try to spoil her,” I look at him, and his eyes grow warm. “She always laughs and says it reminds her of my dad. He used to spoil her before he died.”

I smile. “Your dad sounds great.”

“He was,” Tobias sighs heavily, and his mood darkens. “The same can’t be said for her new husband.

Julian is the twin’s dad, but I think he beats my mother. She always has new bruises whenever I see her, but since she doesn’t want to admit anything, she lies and blames it on her being a clutz.”

“That’s terrible if it’s true!”

Tobias looks like he is about to say something, but we are interrupted by a tap on his window. We both turn around, and a younger version of Tobias glares at us.

“You coming out or what?!”

Tobias rolls his eyes. “The brother without patience would be Mark…”

“You mean the hottest one.”

Tobias laughs a dry “Ha…” and opens the door. “Mark is also full of himself.”

I step out of the car and watch Mark and Tobias do a bro hug-they embrace each other and do three taps on the back.

“You made it!”

“Sure did!”

“And you brought your new wife.”

Tobias straightens his shoulders. “Yes, and be nice to her.”

“Are you implying I’m rude?”

Mark turns around, and I’m shocked by how similar they look. They are not clones exactly, but both are tall with the same build. Gorgeous faces, although Mark’s eyes are blue instead of green. He also has darker hair and not the same rich brown as Tobias.

Both men are good-looking, but Tobias is the most beautiful and the tallest. Mark looks more like a brute, and while he is lean, I can tell his muscles are larger, probably because of the sport he plays.

“So you’re the new wife,” Mark walks up to me and stares down with intense eyes trying to read me. “You won’t wind up cheating on him like that ex-wife of his, right?”

Tobias growls. “Mark-”

“No,” even though my heart is racing, I mimic Mark’s stance by crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not looking to hurt your brother. He is my husband, and I will treat him as such by being loyal to him.”

Mark smiles. “Good answer! Welcome to the family!”

Before I know what is going on, Mark picks me off the ground-it seems rough-hugging is a family trait. My legs are by Mark’s knees, and I yelp when he squeezes me in a bear hug.

Is this how I will die?!

“Hey, be careful with her,” another manly voice grunts, and once I’m back on the ground, I get a chance to look at him. It’s the third brother, Jake, and he seems like the grumpiest of them all.

But… is he wearing pajamas?

“How nice of you to join us, Jake.” Tobias says calmly, but I can tell the tease in it. “Did you just roll up from bed?”

“I did… his cheeks take a redder color. “I didn’t have time to change from my pajamas before I saw your car rolling in,” he looks at me, grunting. “Hello, I’m Jake. Nice to meet you.”

Instead of hugging me, he shoves a gigantic hand toward me and blinks down at me with, once again, that trademark intensity the brothers share -I think the intimidation gene runs in the family.

Also, why the fuck are they all giants?!

I shove that thought away and smile.

“Hi, I’m Hannah,” I glance at Mark and then back at Jake. “It’s nice to finally meet you guys.”

“Likewise,” Mark says and looks at Tobias. “So, what is the plan for today?”

Tobias, the decided leader, steps forward and places an arm around me. I’m pulled to his chest, with makes his brothers soften their expressions and smile a little.

“I’m going to be mowing this lawn, and Hannah is good at baking. She can help Jake in the kitchen… as for you,” he grins at Mark. “You will clean the house.”

Jake seems satisfied with his task, but Mark gapes like a goldfish and stares at Tobias. “The entire house by myself?!”

There is a giggle from the door. “I can help you. I mean, what don’t you do for your childhood friend?”

Surprised, I blink at the door, and my attention lands on a blonde girl with freckles. She seems to be around my age and beams at Tobias before sprinting forward. “TOBY!”

My eyes widen when the blonde throws herself at my husband. She hugs the life out of him, but… Tobias isn’t hugging her back. She glares at her and hisses like a cat.

1 “Nice to see you too, Winnie,” Tobias narrows his eyes. He looks like a pissed-off cat, ready to hiss at the unwanted affection. “But you seem to have forgotten that I hate being hugged…”

“No, I remember-that’s why I hugged you!” Winnie steps away from him, and then she gives me a dazzling, radiant smile. “Hi, there! My name is Winnie. I’m the guy’s childhood friend, but don’t worry,”

she winks. “It’s not like that.”

I know exactly what she is trying to say, but I can’t help but notice that both Mark and Jake look somewhat disappointed. If I didn’t know better, I would say they are interested in her.

“Hi, I’m Hannah.”

I shove out my hand, but Winnie hugs me instead. “You’re also Caroline’s friend, right?”

“I am,” I stare at her when we separate from the hug. “You know her?”

“I do,” Winnie grimaces. “It’s sad what happened to her, but I think she will be fine.”

I smile, a little teary-eyed. “I hope so.”

We exchange a few more words and then head for the door. The twins walk with Winnie while Tobias is by my side. I’m about to reach for the door, but Tobias grabs my hand.

I gaze up at him. “Yes?”

“Did I tell you that you’re perfect?”

I blush because Tobias looks sincere. His eyes are warm, and I feel tingles looking up at him.

“I’m not-

“You are,” he smiles. “No one else would be able to play the role of fake wife better than you.”

Fake wife.

Why do those words feel like a slap to the face? There is a constricting feeling in my chest. I’m unhappy because I thought Tobias meant I was perfect in a romantic way, but he is only happy because I’m “faking” being his wife so well.

Nothing in the way I act is fake, though… not anymore.

I swallow thickly. “I better head inside. That cake won’t bake itself.”

Tobias, who doesn’t understand that something is wrong, smiles at me, and I hate that it gives me butterflies. “Sure.”

I walk away from Tobias with despair choking me alive. I’m falling for my “fake” husband way too fast.