The Bachelor Next Door. Kathryn Springer

spite of his rising frustration, Brendan battled a sudden urge to smile.

      “Jill said that Castle Fall Outfitters—your business—is sponsoring the team.”

      The pieces were beginning to come together. “I signed a check.”

      “Hence the word sponsor.” Lily fisted her hands on her slender hips. “You said you were expecting her call.”

      “I said I was expecting an important call,” Brendan shot back. From Garrett Bridges, the CEO of Extreme Adventures.

      “It sounded important to Jill.”

      “Was that the only time you heard the phone ring?” Brendan had been in contact with Bridges often enough over the past few months to know that he and the CEO were a lot alike. Every minute of the day attached to a certain task. If something disrupted the flow or severed the connection, they didn’t have time to wait around. They simply moved on to the next thing on their agenda.

      “It might have. I took Missy for a walk right after Jill called.” The flash of guilt on Lily’s face made him feel guilty. It wasn’t her responsibility to answer his phone. She’d done it as a favor, even though he’d enforced a code of silence all morning. Never mind that Lily had kept breaking it.

      Or that he’d looked forward to her breaking it.

      “Don’t—” Worry about it, Brendan had been about to say. But a series of short, staccato barks peppered the air, shooting holes in his apology.

      Lily’s gaze locked on something outside the window. “Hold that thought.”

      The screen door slapped shut behind her as she charged outside.

      Brendan didn’t want to know what kind of trouble Missy had gotten into. Again. As he contemplated who might benefit from the responsibility of taking care of a pet—Aiden instantly came to mind—he heard another door slam.

      “Something smells good!”

      Brendan froze when his brothers sauntered into the kitchen.

      “What are you doing here?”

      Aiden shoulder-bumped Liam. “Told you he missed us.”

      “We decided to come back a day early.” Liam’s nose lifted like a timber wolf’s on the hunt. “Do I smell apple pie?”

      “I have no idea,” Brendan said irritably. “Did something go wrong? Did you run into bad weather? Was there a problem with the new design?”

      Liam ignored him. “You don’t know what’s in the oven?”

      “I don’t know because I didn’t make it,” Brendan muttered. “Lily Michaels did.”

      “Who is Lily Michaels?” Aiden wanted to know.

      “The painter Mom hired, remember?” Liam hunkered down and peered through the oven door for a better look.

      Aiden turned to stare at him. “You’re letting her use the kitchen?”

      “Not exactly.” Brendan wasn’t letting Lily do anything. She’d invaded his home…his territory…at his mother’s invitation and there was nothing he could do about it. Just like there was no sense hiding the fact the arrangement included room and board. Liam and Aiden would figure it out soon enough. “Mom let her move into the guest room. Temporarily,” he added, more for himself than his brothers.

      That pulled Liam’s attention away from the oven. “She’s staying here?”

      “Yes.” Brendan bit down on the word. “Her business is based in Traverse City, and it’s too far to commute every day.”

      “Why didn’t Mom hire someone local?”

      “I have no idea.” Even though he was afraid that he did.

      Sonia assured me that I have all the qualifications she’s been looking for.

      Brendan wasn’t about to confess that he was afraid Sunni’s commitment to finding a companion for him had risen to a whole new level.

      “Oh, oh. I know that look.” Amusement danced in

      Aiden’s eyes. “Lily Michaels is getting in your way, isn’t she?”

      Getting in his way. Under his skin.

      “She’s only been here a day,” Brendan snapped.

      His brothers exchanged a knowing look.

      “She’s one of those drill sergeant types who wants to take over,” Liam guessed.

      “Kind of sounds like someone else we know.” Aiden grinned. “No wonder you look like you drank a glass of river water— Whoa!” He jumped back as Missy streaked past him, tail slashing the air like a windshield wiper set on high. Scattering drops of water on everything—and everyone—in her path.

      “Sorry!” Lily was right behind the dog, pink-cheeked and breathless. “Missy spotted a trout in the shallow water and decided to do a little fishing….” The violet eyes widened when she realized he wasn’t alone. “Hello.”

      Brendan suppressed a groan.

      Because Liam and Aiden were looking at Lily the way Adam must have looked when God introduced him to Eve in the garden.

      * * *

      Handsome in triplicate.

      It was the only way Lily could describe the wall of ruggedly handsome, dark-haired men standing in the kitchen. Three pairs of eyes, in shades of watercolor hues ranging from the translucent blue of an April sky to cobalt, were locked on her.

      Brendan had mentioned his brothers in passing the day before, but even if Lily had formed a picture in her mind, her imagination still wouldn’t have done them justice. Like Brendan, the two newcomers topped six feet and boasted the lean but muscular build of a quarterback. Skin stained a deep golden-brown by the sun testified to the number of hours they spent outdoors.

      One of them flashed an engaging smile as he stepped forward. “Liam Kane.”

      “Lily Michaels. It’s nice to meet you.” Lily wondered if she sounded as bemused as she felt.

      Brother number two stepped forward and extended his hand. “Aiden. And if that apple pie tastes as good as it smells, I might have to find a few more things to paint around here so you’ll stay longer.”

      Lily took the blatant hint as a compliment and laughed.

      “You’re certainly welcome to try it. There’s plenty.” She reached for a potholder on the counter but Aiden beat her to it.

      “I’ve got it.”

      Brendan’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t you two have a trailer to unload?”

      “The canoes aren’t going anywhere. But this…” Aiden winked at Lily as he removed the steaming pie from the oven and set it on the counter. “Well, I wouldn’t want it to disappear while I’m gone.”

      Brendan snorted. Because some men clearly didn’t appreciate good food when it was delivered right to their office door.

      Liam bent down to pet Missy, who sat patiently at his feet, a puddle of river water expanding around her as she waited to be noticed. “I thought Mom found a new home for her.”

      “Ed Wilson couldn’t keep her, and the shelter didn’t have room,” Brendan said.

      “You’re going soft on us, big brother,” Aiden teased.

      “Don’t look at me.” Brendan crossed his arms and looked at her.

      “I…intervened,” Lily admitted.

      “Interfered,” Brendan said under his breath.

      Whatever the term, it was obvious someone hadn’t gotten over it yet.

      Lily