Page 22 of Love at First Write

“So that wasn’t a dream? Someone yelled⁠—”

“KELSIE!” Then the door bursts open and my baby brother is standing there looking a little worse for wear. His auburn hair is standing up on end and I think his t-shirt is on inside-out.

“Payton, what are you doing here?”

“Henry sent me.” His eyes drift to the man snuggled next to me. “What is that?”

“It’s a man. What are you actually learning at that university?”

He puts a hand over his eyes. “I don’t want to see this. I don’t even want to think about my sister doing sex things. Henry sent me because I was closest. He was worried because the storm hit unexpectedly.”

“How about you go wait in the living room and we’ll be out in a minute?” I suggest.

“Great idea.” He turns and walks back out the door.

I wince as I glance at Ethan. “I’m sorry about this. Did I mention how up in my business my family is?”

He grins at me. “It’s okay, beautiful, I’m ready to meet all your nosy siblings. How many of them are there again?”

“Four. And they’re all annoying.”

“Nah. Better get dressed because I don’t think your brother would like it so much if I make you scream my name again.”

I laugh and get out of the bed, throwing on the clothes I’d taken off last night. I’ll worry about showering and clean clothes later. First, I must deal with Payton.

Ethan dresses too and together we go out to face the proverbial music. My brother is leaning against the kitchen island, phone in hand typing furiously on it.

“Please tell me you’re not sending that to the family group chat,” I say.

Payton makes a chiding noise. “I came to check on your welfare only to find you shacking up with some dude. Is he married, Kelsie? Is that what’s going on here?”

“What? No, don’t be an idiot. This is Ethan.”

“Her boyfriend,” Ethan says, holding his hand out to my brother.

Payton straightens to his full height. He’s a smidge taller than Ethan, but my SEAL has probably thirty pounds of muscle on my nineteen year old brother. Still, Payton steps forward like he’s gonna bump his chest against Ethan’s.

“What are your intentions with my sister?” Payton asks.

I laugh, but Ethan just answers. “I’m going to marry her as soon as she’ll have me.”

“Wait, really? I didn’t know you meant that. I thought you were just trying to get in my pants.”

“Gross, Kels,” Payton grumbles.

Ethan doesn’t miss a beat. “Hell yeah, I meant it. Why’d you sleep with me if that’s all you thought I wanted?”

I grin and shrug. “Maybe I just wanted to get into your pants.”

He pales. “Really?”

“Nah. I’m just messing with you. So, was that your official proposal?”

“Not yet.” He grabs me and pulls me into his arms. “You really are my own personal selkie.” His lips press into my forehead.

“Gross,” Payton repeats. “So, I take it y’all are safe and I can tell the family so they’ll leave me alone?”

“Yes. Ethan is a former SEAL so I’m sure he can build us a new house with some rubber bands and toothpicks if he needs to.”