Chapter 53

Winnie “You can’t wear that!” Tobias frowns at my clothes. I have no idea why he is sitting with me on the private jet, but apparently, he has taken on the role of a personal dresser.

Take it all off!”

“What?! And get naked?”

“You have underwear, don’t you? And there is no need to get shy. I only have eyes for my wife.”

Tobias says those words with fire in his eyes.

Undoubtedly, his words are the truth, but that still doesn’t mean I want to be looked at!

“If you want me to wear that dress, give it to me and look away! Take a seat and look out through the window!”

“Fine…” Tobias hands me an emerald dress and sits down in a beige leather seat. “Put that on.”

I should focus on putting on the dress, but my eyes go to Tobias when he no longer looks at me. His cheek rests against his knuckles as he stares through the window, and I’m momentarily stunned by him.

Hannah is a lucky woman… don’t get me wrong. I like Jake, but Tobias? He is arguably the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. It’s too bad he is possibly the grumpiest too. So fucking bossy.

“I’m not hearing you change clothes…”

I blink to focus and swallow thickly. “I’m on it!” I swear to god, he has spider senses…

As I take off my clothes, Tobias mutters, “I can’t believe you were about to wear sweatpants to a fancy dinner…”

I grimace. I have no idea how, but Tobias is such an angel around Hannah. He tends to her every need and spoils her rotten with presents, kisses everywhere on her body, and sex.

But whenever Tobias is alone with the twins and me? He is just pure scary, and when he does smile, it’s usually that intimidating, fake kind of grin that lets you know that you’ve fucked up.

“Well, I’m glad you’ve given me this beautiful dress,” I smile as I spin around with it, emphasizing its beauty. “Thank you so much!”

He glances at me. “It was Hannah that picked it out,” his facial expression softens at the mention of his wife. “She is pregnant, so she can’t fly right now, which is why I want this to be over with quickly.”

“Aw, you want to go home to Hannah?”

Tobias narrows his eyes, but then this scary thing happens. His lips curve into an ice- cold smile, and his dazzling teeth shows. He looks like a predator, and I shudder in my own skin.

“Once you get it on with one of my brothers, you won’t make fun of me anymore and instead wish for them to treat you exactly how I treat my queen of a wife, Winnie. You will understand it then. But if they don’t give you the attention you seek, I will remind you of this conversation and laugh at you. Karma is a bitch.”

HE IS SO SCARY!

I stare at his smile, trembling lips, and ice crawling up my spine like rapid fire. How could Hannah marry this vulture?!

“How do you know I will end up with one of your brothers?”

“Natural instinct-you like Jake.”

I KNEW IT! HE HAS PSYCHIC ABILITIES!

Wary of his magical powers, I reluctantly take a seat in front of Tobias. “I hope the flight will be over soon too… I want to spend time with humans, not demons.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing…”

Calling Tobias a demon is probably the most fitting description of him. He is impeccably dressed in a fine gray suit. His brown hair is shining in the sunlight coming in through the window, and his emerald eyes are sharp with focus. I swear I go a little weak-kneed, but it’s all ruined when his scary smile is aimed my way to remind me of his personality.

“Winnie…”

I jump in my seat. “Yes?!”

“I’ve always seen you as a sister, but if you fuck up this fancy dinner tonight and don’t manage to make Jake leave this other woman, I will hate you forever. You can’t have him marry her.”

I snort. “Do you have a problem against Kelly too?”

“No, but…” his smile goes kind. “But I’ve always hoped you would end up with one of the twins, and if you score with Jake, I don’t have to worry about him stealing my wife.”

I can’t stop the laughter coming up my throat. “Why are you worried Jake would steal Hannah? That would never happen!”

Hannah would never leave Tobias! She is way too in love with him.

“They are in a chat group together for baking…” Tobias mutters and glares out through the window. “I’m afraid she will one day discover she has more in coming with Jake than with me.” 1 “You’re being silly.”

He breathes a laugh. “Perhaps. I trust Hannah, and I love her, but there are times even I feel insecure,”

he looks at me, and the soft expression on his face is only reserved for Hannah. When she is near, or when he is talking about her-that’s the time it shows. ” Love does that to a person. It makes things harder.”

“Oh…” I smirk at him knowingly. “You’re such a sly bastard. Are you trying to tell me not to be afraid when it comes to Jake?”

He smirks. “I’m not answering that.”

***

Later that day, I step out of my cab and onto the curb outside Plaza Hotel. I’m wearing high heels, yet I’m still dwarfed by a suit- wearing Mark, who comes to lock my arm with his.

“Wow, aren’t I a lucky man tonight?” He grins at me, gorgeous with his dark hair cut shorter on the sides and a black dress plastered to his huge, muscular body. “That dress suits you. And the blonde hair looks so nice when you have put it up in that pin.”

“Thank you,” I’m actually a bit shy as I speak. Mark has shaved, and he smells delicious. My voice is shaky. “You look good too.”

Grinning, he puts a protective hand on the small of my back. And there go my ovaries. I can feel them bursting into flames at his touch. I might be in love with Jake, but Mark and Jake? They are twins, and both are so similar that my brain is confused! (1 And every goddamn man in their family seems blessed with good genes. But I suppose Mark is leaning more toward the beautiful people category, while Jake is rougher around the edges.

“We are going to be the sexiest pair inside, but no, I haven’t forgotten that this is a plan to make Jake jealous,” he winks at me. “You will be doing me a favor getting rid of Kelly.”

“I feel bad about stealing Kelly’s man, but you’re right-I have to tell Jake that I like him… I don’t deserve him, yet I must let him. know he has options… even though I’m rotten.” I grimace.

“You’re not rotten.”

“Really?”

“No, you’re a catch once you mature a little, “he laughs. “It might take a while, but at least you’re aware of the problem, right?”

“What is the problem?”

“You take people for granted,” his words cut like knives, and Mark laughs out loud when I wince. “Sorry, too honest?”

“No, I needed to hear that…” I mumble.

Mark chuckles. “You actually did.”

I glare at him, but he simply smiles and leads me up the stairs. Someone immediately recognizes him, and we are let inside immediately. The Plaza Hotel is all fancy. I’m pretty sure Tobias bought this place but kept the old name, which is why we have a discount at the bar.

“Wow… this place is huge…” I whisper while looking up at the high ceiling far above my head.

Countless people wearing dresses are mingling, and I smile while Mark drags me toward the restaurant area. I would get lost checking out the furniture if he weren’t holding my hand.

“It really is fancy pantsy, huh?” Mark says.

The food will be—”

He is interrupted by a loud giggle, and we both turn our heads. The hockey team is already sitting by a table, and Jake and his date are heading there too.

The pair isn’t that far from us, and Kelly, I assume, is squeezing Jake’s arm and giggling. “This suit is definitely too small for you, baby. You look ready to bust through the seams!”

Jealousy bubbles up within my chest when Kelly, the little slut, leans in to kiss my man over his chest. He is wearing a suit, but that is still my goddamn territory and—

Wait.

Oh my god.

When did I become such a bitch? I shouldn’t hate on Kelly! She hasn’t done anything wrong. What is the matter with me?!

I stand there, shocked by my thoughts, until Jake turns around, and my mind goes blank.

He is wearing a black suit like Mark and looks like a man girls would flock to.

Such a gorgeous piece of ass.

Jake is just as attractive as his brother, but the difference here is that my heart goes thump-thump-thump when we lock eyes. But what saddens me is that Jake doesn’t smile or acknowledge me.

Instead, he looks colder than ice, and I witness him grab Kelly by the arm and lead her toward the table.

“Come on, let’s go.”

I stare after him, and Mark chuckles. ” Ouch… this might be harder than I thought,’ he peers down at me.

“You have to get him alone, but… I’m afraid this is where I must leave you.”

My eyes widen. “What?! Where are you going?”

His smile is hesitant, and he looks conflicted. “You see that woman over there,” he points at a table with a blonde, crying woman. “I know her. She was supposed to come here on a date but judging by how she is crying, she was most likely ditched…”

A strange expression settles over Mark’s face, and I’m shocked when I realize what it is. Its… anger. I’ve never seen him look this royally pissed off before, and I laugh.

“Go to her. I can handle eating with the hockey guys alone,” I beam up at him, filled with confidence.

“Most players know me from the hockey fan club anyway,” I look at the table and notice Logan and Nathan sitting with Alice and Rebel, and I smile. “I will be fine.”

“Good,” Mark looks relieved and turns his hyper-focus back to the blonde woman again. “Because this is the choice I make.”

“Huh?” Come again? Choice?

He breathes a laugh, biting his lower lip.

You wouldn’t understand, but… I think everything happens for a reason,” he looks thoughtful for a moment, then smiles widely. “If this works out, thank Kelly for me.

Wait, what?!

“Thank Kelly?!” I exclaim. “But I thought you hated her!”

He laughs out loud at that. “No time to explain! I got to go! I have a woman’s day to save! Good luck with Jake!”

With that, Mark leaves me alone, but I don’t feel sad. I look at the crying woman, see her look up from the table in shock, and this warm feeling settles over me when Mark pulls out a chair and picks up the ordering menu. He says something to her, and she laughs.

It might be the cutest thing I’ve seen today.