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Author’s Notes

They have opened up Pandora’s Box and don’t know how to handle it.

Should the brother be scared of Tori?

I’m not like her sister. Yeah, Tori is going to own her crap, and I think that’s what’s throwing the brothers off, but Malea’s manipulating butt is going to make me miserable.

I really do feel bad for poor Scott. He is unaware of his wife’s actions.

If you were Tori, would you turn your sister in?

Would you blab all your sister’s manipulations to your brother-in-law?

What would you do?

What do you think Tori should do?

Ugh… On another writer’s note: Another idea popped into my head this afternoon, and I had to spend about six hours hammering it out on a keyboard.

Man, it’s good. I think I’ll post it next year. I’m going to ask my cover designer if she can find me some good, nice-looking guys surrounded by a woman.

Yes, it’s another Why Choose scenario. I don’t know how I get into these. Or where they come from.

Help my pen… but don’t slow it down… those are my prayers.

Enoy… and Happy reading. Your author, Sylvia Hubbard

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Chapter 16 – Don’t Bother Her

Tori was going to hold on to her upset for her niece and nephew, in case what she did broke up their parents. Yes, Tori would take the blame if she were to cause a divorce between Scott and Malea. However, Tori had learned a long time ago that manipulating the truth was never a good thing. And she swore she wouldn’t do it for herself or anyone else. The product she had become ultimately yielded no rewards.

After last night, Tori needed a lot of therapy. Her sexual session with the Carter Brothers had opened up doorways to her soul she didn’t know were there.

FOCUS! she ordered herself, sitting in the driveway of the apartment complex.

You’re the way you are now because you hated the person you were.

Just like she told Shawn, her moment of clarity happened sharply after her father passed, and Tori came home to an empty house with no one to wallow with her in her grief. Malea was with her family and had not called to check on her. And then it came crashing down when Tori had to write his obituary. Knowing when she died, no one would say anything nice about her had been like a slap in the face—a harsh, depressing reality.

Yet, she’d burned a lot of bridges with friendships and past relationships, believing she had to manipulate people to get her way, and there was no other way.

She couldn’t even explain what she was or what drove her, but she knew things inside of her weren’t right, and there was a lot wrong that she didn’t want to face with therapy.

She had spent almost the whole year producing the rugs from her soul that had changed the tide on her hobby.

Others had seen and felt her art, and it had been lucrative; Tori was glad about that. However, whenever she looked at them, it only delayed the inevitable: she would be alone for the rest of her life. She needed to sell them so she wouldn’t get depressed looking at them. And she was glad others didn’t mind paying a lot of money for them.

Daddy, what do I do? she asked the universe, as she slowly trudged into her home.

There were her father’s journals, which were in a corner of her attic that her sister occasionally asked for, but Tori never wanted to go up there and relive a time in her life when no one seemed to like her. Hell, she didn’t like herself, and most likely her father had written the truth, even though he never said it to her face. This was why Malea wanted those journals, because they would entertain her.

I know what I was, and I don’t think I could take it knowing how miserable I probably made my father.

A text from Beck came through her phone. “Just confirming the staff will be there in the morning to assemble the sheds.” After a moment, another text from him rolled in. “Just received a text from the electrician who’s cutting his honeymoon short to come to your project.”

Tori gasped and called him directly. “You sent him everything? Is it that important?”

“Historically, yes. Everything you sent me, and then I sent him pictures of the wall where we might find the drop. If what your friend says is true, I would assess the value of the building after the renovation could be over five million dollars,” Beck informed her. “You could get the grants you need for the courtyard and renovations and the entire grounds.”

Her heart leaped in excitement. “Thank you, Beck.”

“No, thank you, friend.”

She cut the conversation and started to call her sister, but stopped herself, knowing she really didn’t want to share the news with Malea.

Thank Duncan. Call Shawn and share the news. Brag to Kevin just because.

Invite all of them over so she can celebrate with them in more ways than one.

But she shouldn’t. What had happened had been a one-night thing.

No one could live like that forever. Nights like last night only happen once in a lifetime. They wanted to tag-team her with Shawn, but it wasn’t as if they wanted her in their lives like that forever.

Putting the phone down, Tori leaned her face in her hands.

They’re a distraction. Just focus on your goals and projects, she told herself. Focus on what your father wanted.

Yes, her father would be proud of this project, but now that she could complete her father’s vision, what could be next?

Forcing herself to stay focused, Tori changed into her favorite tank top and headed to her crafting room, which held the door to the attic. She hadn’t been inspired to make a piece in a very long time.

And as she entered the room, she felt a sense of difference, as if a new vision for her art had emerged. Getting the journals didn’t feel urgent at the time, but putting her feelings on canvas enveloped her.

Running her hands over the tufting gun, Tori looked at the blank canvas and then closed her eyes to envision what she felt.

This was a different loneliness. Not just emptiness, but a longing and hurtful loneliness. When she initially started tufting, she would need to draw a pattern, but now she could freely apply a pattern to what she was envisioning.

Three hours later, she was halfway through the piece, but the feeling of hunger was starting to distract her from her focus, so she went to her kitchen, wishing Duncan was there to fix her something to eat, Shawn was there to entertain her, and she could bug Kevin just because.

Stop thinking about them!

Tori looked around for her phone and realized she’d left it in the car. Her mind had been so focused when she’d gotten home, she hadn’t even thought about anything else. Grabbing a long coat, she went to her driveway and realized her tire was flat.

Checking over the rubber, she felt a glass shard deep in the tire and realized she must’ve driven over something around the apartment complex she had checked out earlier. Getting her phone, she started to call roadside service, but then called Shawn, knowing this was a perfect excuse to talk to the brothers.

Wasn’t this what fake husbands were for? She asked herself wickedly.

“You missed me?” he asked when he answered.

“Well, of course,” she responded teasingly, playing into their facade. “But I also have a flat and I was wondering if my brother-in-law would like to help his sister in law?”

“Are you stranded? Are you okay?”

His concern touched her. “I made it home, but it’s late, and I felt bad about calling roadside so late when there are other emergencies out there for others. I’d rather bother and inconvenience Kevin, but I’ll understand-“

“I’m coming,” Kevin growled in the background.

Shawn confirmed. “He’s leaving out now. How was your day? Did you get to catch up on work?”

It felt so sweet to have someone share her day with her. “My day was great, I even got some artwork done, but I got hungry and had to stop. And yes, I did catch up on my work. Oh, if Duncan’s nearby, please tell him thank you. The electrician saw the plans and is cutting his honeymoon short to travel back here and locate the exchange box. The stress off my shoulders that this problem could be fixed soon is such a relief.”

“I’ll let him know. He had a run over to the island for some repairs. I wish I could come over and hold your hand while Kevin changes your tires, but I have a late-night surgery.”

Tori blushed at his flirting. “You guys should be tired of me.”

“Never.”

Damn! That shouldn’t make her feel so damn good. Looking at her calendar, she noted, “You’ll see me in a couple of days. With the dinner at the Cosgroves, right?”

“Yes, but now that I have had a taste of you, Tori, I’d love another taste. Sooner than later, if you desire.”

Lawd! She found it difficult to refuse. “How about tomorrow night?”

She needed to space herself, or she’d find herself consumed by these men.

“Seven?” he suggested. “I’ll bring dinner. And we can watch a movie. Go over our schedules.”

“That’s perfect,” she said. “Goodnight, fake husband to be.”

“Sweet dreams, fake wife to be.”

How easily it felt to have endearments and really mean them, talk intimately with him, and want to make dates.

Going into the kitchen and seeing only junk food, she looked at her food delivery app to find only healthy food options.

She was about to settle on a chicken salad before she received a text from Shawn.

Spoke with Duncan and he said you’re welcome, but don’t forget your bet with him. He also figured you hadn’t eaten, and most likely, since we’ve occupied your time, you haven’t gone grocery shopping, so he’s sending over dinner tonight. Enjoy!”

Tori smiled, loving how they took care of her. Wow! She shouldn’t worry about what everyone thinks and let these three brothers spoil her.

Each one had a talent or skill she liked in and out of bed. They were open to her being with each one separately and together.

Grabbing the rest of the roasted chickpeas while waiting, Tori wandered up to her crafting room again and started working. So consumed in her art, Tori didn’t realize almost two hours had gone by, and she was hungry again. She’d finished the rug and started framing another one before she put the gun down and took off her earphones.

The chickpeas were only to hold her over until the food and Kevin arrived.

The doorbell ringing made her grab her long coat again and answer the door to grab the food.

But Kevin was there holding a dinner tray and bags of groceries. His hands and work clothes were filthy. She could tell he had been wearing those clothes all day, and seeing him all grimy was a turn-on.

“Are you going to just stare at me, or are you going to take the food?” he demanded.

She was a little shaken that Kevin looked so ruggedly handsome, all dirty and disheveled.

Taking the food from him, Tori also held the door until he came in, removing his work boots outside of her door before walking straight into her kitchen. Locking the door behind him and immediately following him, Tori found herself no longer hungry for food.

Dropping the coat to the floor, she walked up to Kevin brazenly.

“Your tires were worn,” he was saying, washing his hands. “You should have gotten them changed months ago, Tori!”

There was a lot of warning in his voice, which should have made her stop unbuckling his pants, but Tori was too far gone, and she wanted what she wanted.

“There’s a shower in the guest bathroom,” she said, opening up his shirt with one hand.

Kevin pushed her hands away with his wet, large hands and stepped back, taking deep breaths as if he were trying to hold something back. “I’m dirty,” he complained.

“And I can get you clean,” she urged, tugging on his arms, pulling off his shirt, while still fiddling with his belt and opening his pants, to guide him to the guest bathroom she’d always had prepared if Beck needed to use it before he went home from his long days at work.

Kevin rolled his eyes at her ridiculousness, but was letting her pull him in that direction. “Woman, I’m only coming to fix your car and drop off the food,” he growled.

“How’d you change the tires without my keys?”

“When I was here last time, I made a copy of your key,” he admitted.

“But I didn’t give you permission.”

“All your tires are changed, woman. Brand new ones.”

Yes, he had made an unauthorized copy of her keys, but she was actually grateful that he had gone above and beyond what she had asked for. Plus, seeing him in his work attire, with his powerful scent mingling with the sweat of his work, was an aphrodisiac to her senses.  

By this time, they were at the doorway of the bathroom. “And I should thank you.”

When he started to speak again, she pressed her finger against his lips. “Shhh… It’s fine.” At the same time, Tori had reached her hands into his hands, gripping the base of his shaft.

Kevin threw his head back, sucking air through his teeth. “Tori, we aren’t… we promised-“

Standing on her tiptoes, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth down in a kiss, not caring what he promised his brothers. This was all about her and her needs.

They’d opened up a Pandora’s box, and she was going to use any one of them when she cared to ease her sexual appetites. Her shirt was really thin, and with nothing underneath, she could feel the heat from his body pressed on hers.

“Let me wash you up, and then suck you good,” she whispered through hungry kisses. “You won’t be breaking any promises, Kev. Just let me do all the work.”

“Fuck! Woman!” he growled, possessing her mouth the way she liked it and then lifting her to walk into the bathroom while still kissing her with that beautiful mouth of his.

She reached back when they were by the shower to turn the hot water on. It only took a moment to throw off her tank top, and then she giggled as he lifted her into the water. By this time, Kevin was stepping out of his pants and underwear and then joining her under the water, while she scooped up the loofah and body wash.

Since she knew Beck used this shower, she always kept fresh items in there, including men’s body wash, so the smell was pleasant on Kevin’s skin as she kissed and scrubbed his tall, muscular body.

And she made sure to scrub hard, as if trying to massage his muscles, while removing a whole layer of skin from his body. “Turn around,” she ordered so that she could do his back.

She used her breast against her back to deliver the soap while she scrubbed his back, but her other hand went around the front, stroking his shaft also. His head was down watching her, and she knew what strokes he liked by the groans he gave or how his body tightened up. Kevin wanted to be gripped hard and given nice, firm strokes from base to tip repeatedly.

Scrubbing all the way to his feet, she got down on her knees and ordered him to turn right back around.

He obeyed, and she deliberately took her time, knowing he watched her the whole time. When she got to his shaft, she delicately used her hands with a gob of soap and washed over, under, and between his legs, then as soon as she rinsed him off, her mouth did the same thing.

“Fuck, your mouth… so good, Tori!” Kevin breathlessly praised.

Tori loved how he had to throw his head back as she replicated her hand movements, keeping her mouth nice and tight in a smooth, back-and-forth stroke. Her hands continued to touch his thighs, around to his ass, and even up on his chest.

Kevin was weak for her and needed touch, even though he looked like he didn’t. She loved how he showed his weakness to her; at this moment, he grabbed the back of her head, but let her mouth do all the work. Her hand moved down between her legs, and with each stroke she pumped down her throat for him, she circled her clit in rhythm to her oral massage, getting herself closer to fruition while her mouth took care of him.

His grip tightened around her face, almost yanking out her hair follicles, but she loved his roughness. The more he showed his arousal to her ministrations, the more turned on she became until… she gurgled as he pushed past her tongue as his shaft pulsed hard while shooting his hot juice down her throat.

All she could do was hold her breath, but that increased her peak, and she found her whole body shuddering in conjunction with his.

Kevin sank to the floor of the shower with her and pulled her as she gasped for air. “Tori! Damn you!” he growled.

She smacked her lips as water cascaded all over them. “You didn’t break any promise to your brothers.” Turning to the water, she rinsed her mouth.

He picked up the loofah and had that look, as if he wanted to say something, but then hardened himself. Taking his time, Kevin meticulously soaped her down. She rose to her knees and loved the firm rubbing on her chest, and then he guided her around so he could do her back, thighs, and legs, and then when he turned her around, he teasingly licked between her legs.

“If you want to break your promise to your brothers, you keep at it, Mister,” she warned. “But don’t put that guilt on me.”

Kevin wickedly chuckled and rose so they could rinse off and then get out of the shower.

Coming down from his sexual high, he reprimanded her, “Tori, you just can’t take control like that.”

“I was hungry and we weren’t in the bedroom,” she said with a giggle, not taking his angry tone seriously. “And what did you guys exactly promise?”

He rolled his eyes. “We swore we wouldn’t bother you or have sex with you.”

She assumed it meant they didn’t want to overwhelm her and were being considerate not to wear her out. “You didn’t break your promise, Kevin. I had sex with you.”

“I came over here unwashed to make sure I didn’t.”

Still naked, she moved over to him, running her hands over his body, and teased, “But that’s when you smell the best. You’re like raw and nasty-“

“Fuck Tori!” he stepped away from her, but she could see he was running his hand over his towel-covered crotch. “You don’t know me. And don’t you dare do that again.”

“I’m not making any promises,” she said through her chuckles, watching him grab his clothes and storm out of the bathroom.

Wrapping her towel around her body, by the time she came to the front room, he was driving away from the house.

Getting back to the kitchen, she looked through the healthy groceries that she knew had been picked out by Duncan and then the delicious dinner he chose for her—a beautiful white chicken salad, featuring wild lettuce and spinach leaves, and a handmade vinaigrette.

After putting up the groceries, she shoved a couple of forkfuls in her mouth, still chuckling about the nice distraction.

Wandering to her office, her computer was the last property she had looked at this afternoon. Knowing the financial trouble that was going to arise once her sister’s crap spilled out, Tori still felt bad for her niece and nephew.

This place could provide them with a steady income while they were in college, and then once they graduated, they’d be able to take over and care for the property. Her nephew had expressed a desire to own property when he grew up, a while ago, when he was helping her work on her apartment building.

This would be a cool incentive for them to graduate as well. In two weeks, they’d be home from school, and Tori remembered Malea was going to throw a small backyard barbecue for their homecoming. Tori could acquire the property and then present them with the keys and codes as a gift for a first-year college graduate.

Immediately, she put a bid on the place and reminded herself to check on it by the morning.

After eating, she went up to her attic. Thoughts about her father’s goals spurred her to search out the journals.

In the far corner were her father’s boxes. All his clothes, furniture, and other items had been donated, but she never went through his personal papers and books. Malea would occasionally mention taking these since Tori wouldn’t look through them.

Yet, Tori didn’t want to go through them because she knew it would make her miss her father more while also sinking her deeper in loneliness, which she knew could evolve to depression.

Being around the brothers had really lifted her spirit and made her mentally high enough to brave going through her father’s personal papers.

After remembering her sister mentioning journals, Tori found the boxes her father demanded to be kept at his hospice. In a small trunk no bigger than a boot shoe box, she saw about six thick journals with about three hundred pages each.

He numbered them and seemed to write in them when the mood struck him. As she flipped through them, she realized they weren’t day by day, but rather when the need arose.

What was very strange was that all of them started with:

Dear Tori…

Now, why would her father address only her in his journal entries?

Picking up the first and last journals, Tori took them to her bedroom, put on her headphones to soothing sounds, and decided to use her bathtime to scan through the journals.

___ *** ___

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

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