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Author’s Notes: I’m writing this note for the future and for the current.

For future readers, this will be the last chapter available for free, provided you’re reading this once the story is complete.

If you’re a current reader: Yes, you, because we haven’t finished this book, I’m still giving out free chapters, but if you want to support my work, you could give a kind donation so you can make sure you can read the book until the end. CLICK HERE TO SOLIDIFY YOU’LL GET TO THE END OF THIS BOOK. It’s only $6.99

I should warn you, there are story spoilers in this chapter.

You were introduced to Beck Hardy in She Works Hard for the Money. And the electrician is none other than Dag Roth from Delilah’s Desire.

I’m still keeping my eye on Duncan. He’s intense. And in this chapter… lawd, yes he did. Please let me know which brother you are getting into. I’d love to know.

Okay, happy reading… Your Author, Sylvia Hubbard

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Chapter 4 – That Would Never Happen

Rattled. That was what Tori was, and she didn’t mind her sister driving them back to the hospital campus.

Of course, Malea was chatting on about how this was going to help, especially with Scott deep in debt.

“Wait,” Tori caught up. “What do you mean, Scott is deep in debt? When did that happen?”

“I didn’t want you to worry about it. I didn’t want you to think we needed your money to pay for our loss.”

“Malea, we’re family. I’m not some stuck-up, greedy, penny-pinching bitch. If there was some problem, you could have said so.”

“Nothing that a steady job for both of us won’t fix. We took out two double loans to help the kids at college, plus Scott wanted to start his private janitorial business finally. We thought things would eventually start making money, but with everything so expensive, we didn’t account for the cost.”

“I took business administration and could have looked things over and helped out, Malea,” she implored.

“Asking for help is so hard when you’re the oldest, Tori. I’m supposed to be the one helping you out.”

“We’re sisters. Real sisters and not the fake stuff Kevin’s trying to push down my throat.”

Malea chuckled. “You noticed that too. He was being over-cringy, and did you see Duncan, who couldn’t stop staring?”

Tori was glad she wasn’t the only one feeling the weird vibe Kevin and Duncan were putting out. “He smelled me.”

“What?” her sister asked.

“I put some sweet almond shea butter on between my legs while I was in the bathroom, and when we were dancing, Duncan could smell that. He whispered it while we danced and said he liked it too.”

“Are you serious? Wow. I’ll tell Shawn-“

Tori cut her off. “No. I don’t want to make it weird for him – for us. I’ll do what you used to do and keep my distance.”

“And don’t wear sweet almond shea butter,” her sister teased.

When Tori arrived home, she remembered the small bag in her purse that she had meant to throw in the washer. Yet when she looked through her purse, the bag was gone. Did she leave it in the bathroom? Her sister would have seen it in the toilet stall and said something because the bag looked like a medium-sized change purse.

Dear Lawd, she hoped her bag hadn’t fallen out in the blue room, and the brothers were discovering her dampened panties.

Tori racked her brain to figure out where the bag could have gone, but was at a loss as to its whereabouts.

Running another bath, she soaked herself in the tub as usual before getting her special waterproof toy.

She imagined herself and Shawn alone in the blue room sensuously dancing slowly like Duncan had done, but she forced Shawn’s face into her sight. He leaned over and whispered how good she smelled before falling to his knees, pressing her on the couch, pushing up her dress, and diving his face between her legs after moving her panties to the side. His tongue licked and suck in all the right places, bringing her to fruition as she gyrated her hips in the warm water, still holding on to remnants of her fantasy and keeping her arousal high. In her imagination, she was still in the blue room listening to him swallow her sweetness in gulps, and when she looked over at his face – fuck, Kevin.

Startling herself out of her fantasy, she gasped, opening her eyes.

Dammit! Tori cursed herself for ruining a good second coming.

Standing up from the water, her bath spoiled by her unscrupulous imagination, Tori dried herself and started reaching for the sweet almond shea butter, but she stopped and chose lemongrass shea butter instead.

She should discover what scent Duncan disliked and wear it to keep him away.

Throwing on a tank top, Tori flopped down to the kitchen to make herself a tea and ponder what crime show she was going to watch while she answered emails and flipped through some plans for the new building.

She also wanted to follow up with the contacts she had made today at the hospital.

By the time she got up to her bed, she didn’t turn on the television, and whatever work she was going to do fell by the wayside as she fell into a deep sleep, exhausted from the night’s events.

***

Her exercise timer went off at six in the morning, and she was shocked that she wasn’t out of bed. This had been the first in a long time she hadn’t jumped out of bed at five and shut the timer off before it rang. Usually, it was because she was sick, but today Tori was feeling fine, except that she had slept wrong on her left hand, and it was slightly swollen; however, this made the ring fit more snugly.

Jumping out of bed, she went down to her basement and did her forty-five minutes of walking and stretches before coming to her kitchen to make herself a bowl of oatmeal with blueberries, chia seeds, and bananas.

Even after the morning’s activities, her hand hadn’t gone down, and she was worried there might be something more wrong with it. Could she be allergic to rose gold? She’d never worn it before.

She’d never worn gold at all. Usually, all her jewelry was silver.

The doorbell ringing caught her off guard at the same time a message came to her phone, and she walked over to the door while reading the message on her phone.

The message was from Shawn. I’ll get the ring resized today.

Assuming whatever was at the door had been a delivery and the driver was long gone, she swung open the door to Duncan and Kevin.

Duncan immediately took in her whole body from head to toe while Kevin stayed on her face, and then his eyes went even further to look above her head.

“What are you doing here?” she asked in exasperation.

“My brother needed me to come by and pick up the ring so he could have it sized. He said he was texting you to let you know.” Kevin spoke but didn’t make eye contact.

Duncan sniggered. Kevin elbowed him hard, and then Duncan turned around.

“Are you guys joined at the hip? Why did both of you have to come?”

“Because I was also dropping him off out on Jefferson and you were on the way,” Kevin said, but he seemed to be losing patience with her. “Can I just have the ring so that we can go?”

She briefly looked questioningly at Duncan, who still had his back to her, as she held up her hand to show Kevin that her finger was swollen. “I can’t get it off. I slept on my hand wrong, I think, and the swelling won’t go down.”

Kevin frowned harder, more upset than anything. “Could you at least put on some clothes so we aren’t looking at your nipples for the next thirty minutes while we figure this shit out.”

Tori looked down at herself and gasped, realizing she was still only wearing the long tank top. Rushing away from the door, she hurried upstairs and found a thick pink terry cloth robe that went all the way down to her feet. It was her after-bath robe that she loved to cuddle in at night, and it was still lying over the edge of her bed, smelling like lemongrass, which she’d lathered her entire body in before going to bed.

Duncan and Kevin had come inside by the time she came downstairs after forcing herself not to look embarrassed.

Kevin was getting off the phone when she came into the front room. They’d politely taken off their shoes and only entered the living room of her home, but Duncan, of course, found the farthest corner to stage in while Kevin greeted her as she came down the stairs.

“If we weren’t woke before, we certainly are now. Can you give me your hand?” Kevin asked. “Shawn said look for hives or red blotchy skin.”

Tori showed him her hand and watched as he inspected her palm.

“Let’s go in the kitchen and see if soap works.”

Leading him to the rear of her house, where her kitchen was, she really could feel Duncan behind them like a shadow following them and most likely trying to look through her robe.

She could almost feel his eyes all over her. Don’t you dare blush, she ordered herself.

Although this took everything in her, as they arrived at her double sink, each brother stood on both sides of her.

Kevin poured dish soap on her finger and massaged her entire hand pressing the soap under the band, but it wouldn’t budge over her knuckle.

“Do you have a window cleaner?” Kevin questioned with that deep frown that seemed stuck on his face.

She reached under the sink and found a bottle. He took it and had her rinse her hands off the soap. “What does that do?” she questioned.

“It helps,” Kevin snipped as if it was apparent, while he sprayed her hand.

Tori was starting to feel like she would have hated having brothers. Were they constantly weird, creepy, and sarcastic?

“Ouch,” she cried when he tried to move the ring over her knuckle, but at least he’d gotten it up a little, and the swelling seemed to disappear a little.  

Duncan snorted.

Kevin snarled at his brother angrily. “If you have a better idea, then help, fool.”

The brothers switched places.

Duncan tenderly took her hand and rinsed it thoroughly with soap.

“Why doesn’t he talk as loquaciously as you?” she asked Kevin, intently watching Duncan.

“He talks too much in my opinion,” Kevin snarled, leaning down on the counter right beside her. “My mother said since he was a water birth, he’d rather be in the water than walking around.”

Duncan snorted as he examined her knuckles and turned the ring around her finger.

“Wait? What?” she asked, questioning Kevin’s last statement.

“Duncan does talk, but only when he feels like it or when it’s necessary,” Kevin explained, leaning over her shoulder, intently watching Duncan just as she was. “Not for just anyone.”

As Duncan scrutinized the skin around the ring, she looked at Kevin. Their faces were mere centimeters apart, but she didn’t flinch in nervousness, and her eyes didn’t falter to look into his.

“You said yesterday he talked more than before. What did you mean by-” She gasped, feeling Duncan’s wet mouth engulf her ring finger and his thick tongue lick around the base of her finger while sucking viciously on her finger and using his lips to massage the ring over her swollen knuckle.

“I guess he can use his mouth for more than talking,” Kevin said as she still looked horrified while Duncan spat the ring in her palm.

“That was genius and damn good,” Kevin commented as Duncan moved her hand under warm water, still massaging her finger and rinsing the ring off.

“Thank you?” she hesitantly said, feeling very dizzy.

Duncan only nodded and handed the ring to Kevin, whispering to her. “I like lemongrass too.”

A warm chill swept up her back, and she knew he saw the flush on her face.

“Want to come with us?” Duncan asked.

“Come? Come where?” she asked, trying to catch her breath.

“To get the ring sized,” Kevin said as if it were obvious.

Neither had moved away from her, and having them so close on both sides of her was causing an uneasiness she was unfamiliar with, except… during bathtime.

She’d never felt this arousal so powerful out of a bedroom or tub. Were they doing this on purpose?

“I’m not dressed,” she said. “And I have a lot of work to catch up on since yesterday.”

“Do you always work all the time?” Kevin inquired.

Tori moved from between them, and they followed her back into the front room. “Yes, and I like it,” she answered defensively. “I like that no one is around telling me when I can and cannot work.”

“Oh, that’s how other guys usually act after that question,” the older brother surmised and shrugged his shoulders. “You do you, Tori. Being a workaholic isn’t a bad thing, especially for a woman, and men should dream of a woman like you, not try to tear you down.”

His response shocked her, especially since he still had that permanent disgruntled look on his face. “You don’t look like you would approve of a strong black woman. I’d surmise you for one that you like to control.”

“Only in the bedroom, Tori,” Kevin said, licking his lips.

“Good thing that will never happen between us.”

He only smirked and looked back at Duncan, who only frowned and rolled his eyes.

Kevin said, “My mother was a strong black woman and worked hard all her life to raise three boys. Of course, I’d want the woman I spend my life with to be driven, want better for herself, but when she’s in my bedroom and my world, I’m in full control of her, and I plan to give her pleasure beyond belief. She will want for nothing.”

Why did that make her shiver, and her mind went straight to seeing Kevin in her fantasy down between her legs, controlling her orgasm with his tongue, with a wicked smirk on his lips, while still holding that stern frown.

“I have work!” she declared. “You’ve got the ring so that you can go!”

Duncan only nodded at her, as if he were tipping an invisible hat, and left, but Kevin didn’t move.

Those hard, dark brown eyes stared at her, as if he saw what she had envisioned, and his gaze swept up her body, as if he wanted to do a lot more than what was in her fantasy.

“To be honest, when Shawn told me his plan, I didn’t think you’d be so easily persuaded, seeing as how I always thought you were a naive, spoiled, selfish little bitch, but seeing that you agreed to be a fake family with us, I just want to say, thank you for helping us.”

“I’m helping my sister and Shawn. This has nothing to do with you, Kevin, or Duncan.”

That wide smirk came on his lips, and he moved just as close to her as he was in the kitchen, but his arms were crossed over his well-built chest, giving her a layer of security that he wasn’t going to do anything physically to her.

“If that’s your response, then you really don’t understand family, Tori. Helping my brother get ahead helps his peace of mind, which in turn helps Duncan and me. We need each other’s lives at peace. It brings a powerful synergy between us, and we don’t mind sharing what brings us joy.”

“Then you’re welcome,” she taunted.

Kevin threw his head back as laughter burst from him. “You’re a delight, Tori. I didn’t expect that.” Taking her left hand, he moved his fingers around the base of her ring finger. “Do you like a snug fit?”

“Well, don’t make any permanent changes to the ring,” she warned. “I know you’re just letting your brother borrow this ring until you meet the woman of your dreams.”

“What makes you think I haven’t?”

Why did he have to look so intensely at her while asking questions like that?

“Because she’d be seriously jealous that another woman was wearing her ring. It’s an exquisite ring. I would be very jealous,” she responded.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said before he left.

Tori took a relieved breath, realizing she had been tense the whole time the brothers were there. Without them, she realized how empty her space was.

Get back to work! she ordered herself.

After lunch, she needed to meet with the construction director, Beck Hardy, to resolve the electrical problems in the building and then discuss building two sheds behind her unit to store some items she needed for the courtyard. Once the courtyard was built, the sheds could be used as storage for the apartments and the group home.

All the while she was working, Tori found herself missing the weight of the ring on her finger, and her thoughts occasionally went to thinking of Shawn, which then led her to think of Duncan and then Kevin. Dancing with them last night, feeling each of their bodies against hers, enjoying their movements, and the sway they pulled her into them. Each one had their own rhythm and showed her how they liked to move, as if teaching her what they desired from her.

Tori had to shake her head to make herself focus, but then she would think about Kevin’s mouth between her legs, desecrating her with his thick, dark pink tongue, loving her, as her body shivered in joy.

It took a long moment to quell her sexual thoughts as her construction director, Beck Hardy, arrived. He was a large, six-foot, red-haired white man with an indelible smirk on his lips, but a resting bitch face in his eyes. However, he was one of the best construction managers in the city.

“Are you sure your mind is here today, Ms. Tori?” he questioned. “I’ve seen you flit off several times.”

“I have a lot on my mind.”

“I can come back-“

“No,” she cut him off. “Please let’s discuss the electrical.”

“I can get someone in here to find it out, but he’s on his honeymoon. Perhaps a week to wait for him.”

She hated being put off so long. “And if I can’t wait that long.”

“Then I could find someone else, but I think they’ll come to the same conclusion – tear the whole thing down and start over.”

“These buildings are old, but they have good bones,” she conveyed. “The foundation is better than any current buildings, you said that yourself. Do you think this special electrician that I have to wait a week for will find it?”

“He could find an electrical needle in a haystack. As soon as he’s back, I will bring him over.”

Dreading what was to come, she asked, “And the cost?”

“He’s expensive,” Beck growled. “But very worth it.”

She knew Beck would be honest with her, and he wanted this project to come to fruition just as badly as she did. “Then I’ll wait. It’ll give me time to make sure I can afford him.”

“Good. I’ll have the materials for the sheds delivered by tomorrow, and then I’ll arrange for the men to build them by next week. If you could have a copy of the plans for the group home delivered to my office so I can get them to the electrician as soon as he’s back from his honeymoon by the end of this week, that would be helpful.”

“I can. Thank you, Beck.” She returned to her home to finish her work, or at least she tried, but her mind couldn’t stop thinking about the brothers.

If she didn’t stop the thoughts of Kevin’s delicious mouth, she would envision Duncan plying kisses from her hand, up her arm, over her shoulder, and licking his neck until…

His kiss would be sweet, reminding her of Shawn’s that night behind the garage.

And what would happen if this were happening simultaneously? Where would Shawn be in this foray?

Stop!

She had to be sick to desire that in real life. True, all those romance novels she read had featured women involved with more than one man, but those were fantasies; some she had used to help her with her toy, but in real life… what man would share a woman, and what woman would want to be shared?

All fantasies.

***

Around four in the afternoon, she received another text from Shawn.

“Your ring is ready. May I pick you up this afternoon to speak with you about what’s to come?“

Tori looked down at her screen, taking a deep breath to push the fantasies out of her head. This was real life! Focus! she told herself.

“Yes. Seven.” She confirmed with Shawn.

Without her sister, Tori needed to get over her sixteen-year-old crush on Shawn and act like a grown woman. She could do it with his brothers, so why did she become this shy little girl in his presence?

The fake marriage would help her obtain the medical contacts she needed and secure the grants she could apply for for her building, allowing her to pay off the building before it was finished. Additionally, she could attract reliable tenants to the building and have the best staff on hand.

All this could be achieved with the networking opportunities her supposed marriage could offer.

An ongoing fake relationship with Shawn would increase her network, but a real relationship with him could be everything she could dream of.

Tori raced upstairs to tear through her closet, searching for a lovely dress that would be perfect.

Perhaps Malea was right. Maybe she could persuade Shawn to a real marriage, and they would live happily ever after.

___ *** ___

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Her Substitute Husband… His Brothers (c) 2025 Sylvia Hubbard All Rights Reserved

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