Antique Bakery

Why have one brother when I can have all three? “Is this what you do every time we’re not here?' he asks. “You get yourself off like this?” I shake my head, fucking myself on the dildo. “No. No, it’s just today,” I gasp out. “I just… needed it.” Luke’s jaw clenches. “I’ve heard you. At night.” My stomach flips. I thought I was being quiet, but I guess not quiet enough. “Luke—” I didn’t mean to tell my entire family that I’m dating my ex’s three older brothers…But to be fair, the lie wasn’t even my fault. When my ex asked if I’d be bringing a plus-one to his holiday wedding (to my sister, by the way–don’t even get me started about that). I lied. I probably should’ve been prepared for followup questions, but when my ex asked who I’m dating, I drew a complete blank. That’s when his three gorgeous older brothers spoke up… at the same time. Now my family thinks I’m dating all three of them, Elijah, Luke, and Benedict. To make things even more complicated, they don’t seem to get along at all, and I may have given my v-card to Elijah six years ago before he ghosted me after one night. My life is chaotic enough as it is, trying to keep my tiny bakery afloat during the Christmas rush. The last thing I need is all three brothers coming after me. This is all supposed to be fake… even if the tension between us feels alarmingly real.I already fell for one Montgomery brother and got my heart broken. What would happen if I dare to let myself fall for three?

A year ago, my life was simple. I was just Ariel Anthony…a regular college student, cheerleader with decent grades, daughter of a struggling baker, and recently appointed step-sister to a guy I barely knew. Nothing special. Then came the storm. Not just the thunderstorm that trapped me in Professor Grayson's apartment that night, but the storm that followed. The one that's still raging around me, that I created. They don't warn you about men like Luther Grayson in freshman orientation. They don't tell you how a single glance from the right person can make you question everything you thought you knew about yourself. About what you want. About what you'd risk to get it. They also don't warn you about guys like Ethan Cross, with his perfect smile hiding something dark. The kind of guy who's used to getting what he wants and doesn't understand the meaning of the word "no." And no one, absolutely no one…prepares you for what it feels like when the person who's supposed to be your brother looks at you with something else in his eyes. Mom once said I had a gift for making complicated situations worse. If she only knew. My phone buzzed beside me, and I glanced down to see Luther's name on the screen. My heart still jumps every time, even when I'm aware of what could happen if people learned about the two of us. I should ignore it. I should block his number, focus on my classes, help Mom with the bakery, and pretend none of this ever happened. But I'm already reaching for the phone. That's the thing about crossing lines… once you step over them, it's almost impossible to step back. And I've crossed so many lines now, I can't even see where I started.