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A squeeze on my shoulder pulls my attention away, and I can’t deny how annoying I find it.

Even though I know I should curb that instant reaction so my sisters don’t see it—because they’ll get ideas and have opinions—I still can’t stop my jaw from tightening, my lungs from filling with a fortifying breath.

“You can stay here with the kids,” Luna says, her tone gentle but firm.

I’m not going to argue my way out of this, even though I’m set on hiring Sunny and asking him if he can start right this second.

They’re not going to let me do that. Their whole we protect our little brother from everyone shtick is something I know I can’t fight.

“Hello, Sunny.” Avery steps right up when the conversation with Victoria seems to stall—not a bad or unusual thing, and Sunny’s clear patience tells me he already knows that, some-fucking-how.

He looks up from her and straightens at the sight of my sisters. It’s probably on instinct, and I like that he follows that instinct.

Another thing to go on the overflowing pro column.

“Hi.”

“We wanted to chat with you too, so Tuck is going to watch the kids. Why don’t we go to the next office?”

She’s not really asking, and again, I’m impressed by Sunny’s skills when he stands with a nervous smile.

Most people learn the hard way not to question my sisters.

Why is it so hot that he doesn’t?

Liv and Luna follow him out, with Avery leading the way, and I . . . stare after them.

“You okay?”

I can’t stop myself from jumping on my seat at Mark’s voice, surprised he’s here and I didn’t notice at all.

I swivel around in my chair and look up at him, nod wordlessly, then turn to see the four kids playing quietly and not paying us any mind at all.

I sigh.

“Fine,” I whisper.

That word is starting to piss me the fuck off.

No time to dwell on it, since Hannah comes back into the conference room right then, and this time Nessy comes in after her.

“Hey.” I stand and shake his hand after Mark does, and my brother-in-law goes to play with the kids. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“Yeah, came with Matty, Lucy, and Lawson for a workout, and Hannah just texted that they were here.”

I send Hannah a grateful smile, though I don’t know why I’m so relieved to hear she hadn’t told her husband any of the details.

“Your sisters are goddesses,” Hannah says, her wide eyes showing the effect of what was probably a very small interaction.

“Yeah, sorry.” I wince. “They’re intense.”

“I like them,” she says quickly, holding her palms up. “I kind of want to be them when I grow up.”

Nessy and I snort almost identically.

I already liked Hannah, and of course I might already like Sunny a bit too much, but that comment puts her securely on my “cool people” list.

“I think they’re pretty cool too,” I admit simply.