Hard 5 by Stephanie Brother

7

"They're ten minutes away," Sawyer says, with a hint of urgency in his voice. "I just called Holden to check."

"Ten minutes!" I'm flapping. The food is nearly ready, but somehow the addition of guests is making this meal a high-pressure task. But I am looking forward to the arrival of the Bradfords' cousins. From what I can tell, the Bradfords are antsy about their arrival. They haven't met Connie or the baby yet, so they're almost as in the dark about this unusual relationship set-up as I am.

"Can I help?" Sawyer asks. Maybe he's sensing my anxiety.

"Yes. Take this and put it on the table. Cover it with plastic wrap," I say, handing him a large bowl of potato salad. I've made it just like my momma did, with scallions and a little mustard in the dressing. It smells like heaven laced with happy memories.

There is a large joint of pork in the oven that's basted with honey and mustard, and I've made a huge circular sausage that looks so pretty I don't want anyone to actually eat it.

"I'm so hungry," Sawyer says, hanging around like a dog waiting for his master to toss a bone. In fact, Big Boy is less demanding. He's sleeping in the corner, oblivious to the excitement around him.

"Here, break these up," I say, passing Sawyer the tray of freshly baked rolls and searching out a basket for him to put them in. I bought some pretty check cloths to line the baskets. The Bradfords' kitchen was stocked, but not with the touches that make entertaining easy.

"Are you trying to kill me," he says, breathing in the scent of fresh bread, practically drooling.

"We'll eat when they get here," I huff impatiently. "Can you just hold on for ten minutes?" For all my scolding, I secretly love how much the Bradfords appreciate my cooking.

"Stop tangling yourself in Mel's skirts," Cash says as he breezes through the kitchen with a bag of trash from the den.

"I'm not wearing skirts."

"He probably wishes you were," Colt says from where he's currently slouching in a chair in the corner, watching everything with interest. Cash shoots him a look that could kill and disappears outside.

The noise of a truck approaching has Sawyer drifting to the doorway. "It's only Cary," he says.

"Oh, great. He's back." I ran out of black pepper and had to send Cary into town for some more, much to Scott's disgust. He disappeared after that, trudging off toward the stables. This whole family reunion thing has ruffled his already-disturbed feathers.

I manage to get the food ready, wrapping everything in foil to keep it warm, before a big black truck pulls up to the house. I wipe my hands on a dishcloth, watching through the kitchen window as the doors all open and four men emerge.

Wow.

There is definitely an attractive gene buzzing through this family. And a gene for multiple births too. Two sets of twins stand gazing up at the house as though it's the first time they've seen it. Maybe the improvements I've made have improved its appearance, and that's what they've noticed. The windows were almost gray before I washed them down. And the boxes of flowers that now stand either side of the door have brought some color to the place.

One of them leans in to assist a woman from the vehicle. She's average height and pretty in a kind of ordinary way. I don't mean to think anything nasty, just that we're not so different, and that surprises me. How has this normal girl managed to hook four gorgeous men? I mean, even from a distance, I can see they are muscular beneath their clothes. And their faces are handsome, with strong bone structure and pretty eyes. Maybe she's awesome in bed. They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but I reckon that what's in his pants is a higher priority for most. Animals will choose to mate before they eat. Some even risk death. Humans aren't that different.

Someone grabs a stroller from the trunk, and Connie motions for another man to take her purse while she leans into the car for their son. There's a calm, organized feel about the way they respond to each other. I guess having five adults caring for one child makes it so much easier than normal.

Conscious that I'm staring, I decide now is the time to make my way nearer the door. I'm not family here, so I don't feel right going to greet them outside, but Colt and Sawyer leave the kitchen to join Cary and Cash outside.

There are friendly handshakes and smiles all around. Connie laughs in a light and lilting way as the baby puts his hand against her cheek and smiles. When Sawyer goes to touch him on the shoulder, he's immediately shy, burying his face in his mother's neck.

I've never been the kind of woman who coos over babies but seeing Brett's chubby cheeks, and playfulness makes me suddenly envious. This woman has four gorgeous men and the sweetest baby. She is truly blessed.

Cash puts his arm out to usher them toward the door, and for some reason, I wipe my hands on my jeans, nerves buzzing in my stomach. Connie is the first inside, and she smiles broadly when she sees me. "Hi!"

"I'm Mel," I say, then take a step back to make more room as the Banbury cousins start to pile in.

"I know." She winks. "Cash told Holden all about your cooking skills."

"He did?" Shaking my head, I look to Cash, who's entered the kitchen too late to hear what Connie said.

"And it smells delicious," she says, turning to take in the kitchen. "And isn't it pretty in here?"

"That's all Mel," Cary says, sounding almost proud.

"And who's this?" Connie makes a beeline for Big Boy, bending down to pat him. Big Boy struggles to his feet, giving one slow wag of his tale and plodding close enough to sniff baby Brett. He's not disconcerted at all when Brett pats his nose or when Connie ruffles his thick coat.

"That's Big Boy," Sawyer says. "He's an old and gentle giant."

Connie turns to the group. "I keep telling the boys that we need to get a dog, but they're wary of the puppy stage and worried about a rescue being dangerous with the baby."

"Maybe wait until he's a little older," Cash says. "We didn't get Big Boy until we were in our teens."

"Was that when your dad brought that farm in Paxon?" one of the cousins asks.

"Yeah," Scott says from the doorway. He's appeared again, out of thin air. "Dad bought us Big Boy to replace our mother."

A few seconds of cold silence billow outward, and I stare at him in shock. My mom always told me never to air dirty laundry in public. I guess Scott's momma didn't get a chance to pass on that life skill to her son.

"So, we're going to eat in the yard if that's okay?" Cash says, smiling more broadly than I've ever witnessed before and stretching his arm to the hallway door. Being forced to cover your brother's inappropriate behavior makes Cash very uncomfortable.

"That will be great," Connie says. "Come on, Brett. Let's go outside." At the door, she pauses. "Actually, Harris, can you take the baby? I'm going to help Mel."

"Sure." Harris, who's the twin with soft curly hair and eyes the shade of the sky, reaches out for Brett.

All the men trudge through the house, and I roll my eyes at the fact that we're in the twenty-first century, and men and women are still entrenched in the same roles. Well, in some ways, I guess. At least one of the nine men available is holding the baby.

"It looks like you've been awake all night to put this together," Connie gushes. "I'm a terrible cook. I don't know how you do it."

"I'm sure you're not," I say politely, picking up a large bowl.

"I am," Connie says. "I'm good at lots of things, but mixing food groups into something edible is not my strong suit. Although, for some reason, I seem to be able to make a Thai green curry. Maybe I'm the reincarnation of an amazing housewife from Asia." She takes hold of a bowl, too, and we begin to make our way through the house.

The boys have joined two large wooden tables outside and found a mishmash of chairs to fit us all. They're currently talking in the center of the yard, with Cash pointing out over the ranch land toward my old property. I guess he's filling them in on their latest purchase. Placing the food on the table, we make our way back inside.

"So, how long have you been living with the Bradfords?" Connie asks.

"Not long," I say.

"Well, they seem like good folk," she says. "If they're anything like their cousins, that is." She smiles, pausing at the table. "Are you dating any of them?"

I shake my head, screwing up my face into a grimace. "No. It's strictly business."

"Really." She nods, pursing her lips as though she's pondering the lack of relationships in the house. "And are they dating anyone else?"

"Not as far as I know," I say. "They're all about the work right now."

"All work and no play…" Connie pauses, glancing over her shoulder. "Which one are you interested in? There must be one. They're all so good looking. I swear, there is something in this family that produces the most handsome menfolk. Really. Even the older men are silver foxes…although if you ever tell my father-in-law, I said that, I'd have to kill you."

I chuckle at Connie's humor, feeling comfortable in her company, even after such a short time.

"They are handsome, but I don't think it would be a good idea. Not with us all under the same roof."

Connie's eyebrows raise and draw together. "Being under the same roof is so much more convenient." Taking hold of the rolls and the butter dish, she nods. "I was thinking about hooking them up with my friend Sandy," she says. "Well…" Pausing the doorway, she looks both ways to make sure there is no one else listening. "…I was wondering if they might also be up for a similar thing to their cousins and me. You know, a multiple-partner situation."

I clear my throat, feeling like Connie's confiding in me a little too quickly. "I wouldn't know how they feel about that kind of thing."

"Really? They didn't say anything when they knew we were coming?"

"No. And it's not the kind of thing to come up in general conversation."

"I know." Connie grins. "You know my best friend is married to their cousins."

"I heard."

"Maybe I should just come right out and ask them?" she says. "Or do you think that's too brazen?"

I try to imagine Cash's response. Or Scott's. "Probably best not to." In my chest, my heart feels constricted at the thought of Connie's friend in the middle of the Bradfords. She'd be a better option than Amber, but I still hate the idea. My mind drifts, putting myself in the center of these five men and heat creeps up my neck and over my cheeks.

In the yard, Brett is squawking. As we emerge with more food, Sawyer comes to take the bowl I'm carrying. "I'll help too," he says.

"Ah, a man not related to the Neanderthals," Connie says loudly.

Scott's eyes narrow, but her men laugh. "Is that a hint, babe?" Holden says. He looks like his twin but with shorter cropped hair and a thick beard.

"Less a hint and more of an observation, babe," she says, winking before she sashays back into the house.

Whatever she said works, and Cary leads Holden and the other twins, Karter and Kane, into the house. With so many available hands, the food is all outside in one more run.

They all descend like vultures, filling plates and shoveling down my hard work. It's fun to hear them reminiscing over childhood memories. From what I can make out, the Bradfords and Banburys used to hang out a lot, and then things changed. The Bradfords’ father bought a farm, and their mother was no longer in the picture. As it's their mother who is sister to the Banburys' father, contact dropped off.

It's fascinating to see the similarities between the cousins and the differences. There is definitely a family look about them, but the Banburys have an air that is way more white-collar. I know they're firefighters, but the way they talk comes from a good education, the kind that only money can buy. The Bradfords are down-to-earth, gruffer, and bearish.

Definitely more attractive to me.

Connie asks lots of questions, and I'm envious of her confidence and maybe the position she holds as part of this family. I don't have close family ties with anyone anymore.

Through it all, Scott is quiet, and I catch the twin I now know to be Karter, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. It's bothering him more than the others. Cary, who's sitting next to Scott, does the same.

When plates are emptied, Sawyer leans back, patting his stomach. "That was delicious, Mel. Thanks for all your hard work."

I know that I'm blushing when all eyes turn to me. "My boys will be trading me in for you," Connie says, dabbing her lips with her napkin. "It'd be an upgrade, for sure."

"We would never trade you in, babe," Karter says.

"Mel's not going anywhere," Cash says, laughing, and I'm sure I catch a slight flush to his cheeks after he says it. The rebel in me wants to tell him that there are no ties to keep me here. They don't own me, and I can leave any time I want. Except, the idea of leaving these brothers behind doesn't fill me with the satisfaction it used to.

The table is cleared, and I remain in the kitchen with Connie to gather the dessert options. I've made a huge carrot cake, covered in cream cheese frosting with whole walnuts as decoration. The baked cheesecake is vanilla, but I've surrounded it with strawberries to add color and sweetness. I've also made a layered black forest chocolate dessert that smells amazing.

"Honestly, Melanie, you need to write a cookbook. In fact, can I use you to cater our Christmas celebrations?"

"It sounds like you'll have to ask Cash," I mutter.

"Yeah, I noticed that possessive little comment. You definitely have at least one admirer."

"Ewwww," I say, but on the inside, I'm wondering if it's true and then wondering how I feel. It's true that his steely eyes set butterflies dancing in my belly and when he asks me questions with his calm, low, gravelly voice that I sometimes feel warm between my thighs. But all of that is just stupid and because I'm not used to being around men who aren't family or friends.

"In fact, I'd say there’d be a competition for your affections if they were on offer." She wiggles her eyebrows and chuckles mischievously.

"Oh yeah, Scott looks like he's desperate to jump my bones," I joke, my focus on piping cream swirls onto the chocolate. Connie is silent in response, so I turn, finding her eyes wide and Scott's huge, looming presence in the doorway.

Hell.

Did he hear what I said?

My face is hot in a flash, my underarms prickling with sweaty embarrassment. Of all of the men in this house, I had to make a joke about this one. My shoulders rise, tensing as I wait for him to make a scathing response, but instead, he stomps through to the front door and leaves, closing it quietly behind himself.

Connie's laugh is a nervous titter as I exhale a long breath that I didn't realize I was holding. "What the hell?"

"Oh my God. I need to find a new place to work," I mutter. "I am never going to live that one down."

"I'd say he's top of the list for wanting to jump your bones, sweetheart. A man like that with a ton of unresolved family trauma is just begging to be cared for by a woman like you."

"From the sounds of it, he needs a momma, not a girlfriend," I say.

Connie shakes her head. "He needs a woman who can show him that good women exist, and I reckon you'd be great at that."

"I don't know anything about men," I mumble.

Connie frowns, and then her eyes bug out. "You're a virgin?" she whispers excitedly. Oh God, this day is just getting more and more mortifying.

"Maybe it's me who needs to find a man to show me that good men really do exist," I say, watching Connie's face lose its excitement.

"The boys told me what happened to your farm. I'm so sorry about that."

Shrugging, I grab the cake. "I guess all things happen for a reason."

Connie follows with the carrot cake. "I know for sure they do, Melanie. I think you might have found your true path within these four walls."

The Banburys stay another couple of hours, and we enjoy a sugar overload, a pot of coffee, and some afternoon sunshine together. Before they get ready to leave, Connie asks if she can use the bathroom to change baby Brett. I offer her my bedroom instead, and we trudge up the stairs together.

"Thank you for making this a really great day," she says, wiping Brett's little bottom as he gurgles, happily, playing with his own pink feet.

"Thank you for coming. It's really brought some joy into this house," I say.

"I think you did that all by yourself." Connie gazes around my room, eyes lingering on my parents’ wedding photo on the dresser. "You can't underestimate a woman's touch in making a home. I know I'm a terrible cook, but being at the center of my boys has brought light into all of our lives. You could have the same if you wanted it."

I sit on the soft comforter, watching Connie expertly care for her child, feeling very far away from being in the same position. "I'm not sure I could handle one man right now," I say. "My whole life feels like it's in a state of flux."

She shakes her head, scooping little Brett into her arms. "Until I met my boys, I could never imagine that I'd find someone who'd take the time to know my heart. But when you do, it's amazing. There has obviously been some kind of family breakdown here, so having someone to unite these brothers would be amazing. You definitely have the inner strength to handle them."

"I think you see me as something I'm not," I say, feeling very immature compared to the woman giving me advice.

"I've been told that I'm an excellent judge of character," Connie says, "but only you know how you feel." She raises her eyebrows, pushing a lock of straight brown hair behind her ear. "I'll give you six months, and if you haven't popped your cherry with at least one of these men, I'm bringing my friend Sandy to meet them. Maybe having a deadline will inspire you to sexy times." She chuckles mischievously again, and I can't help joining in.

Sexy times.

They've only ever existed inside my mind, and it will probably stay that way, despite Connie's confidence.

Six months. I can't even begin to imagine what my life will be like then. Will I even be here?

Who knows, but the competitive part of me, the foolish part that sometimes allows her mind to dream, wonders what it would like to follow the path Connie seems to see as my future.