Obsession Falls (The Haven Brothers #1)

“Your brothers must be excited.” Three of Asher’s brothers were career firefighters with the TFD, including my brother-in-law, Levi.

“They assumed I was fucking with them at first.”

“Naturally.”

The door opened again and I glanced back to see my brothers Luke and Zachary waltz in. Zachary nudged Luke and gestured to the table with the girls—because of course he did—before coming over to the bar.

“Hey, Asher,” Luke said. “I hear the fire department is lowering their standards.”

“How did you know about that?” I asked.

His brow furrowed. “Everybody knows.”

“I didn’t know.”

“That’s because you don’t talk to anybody.”

I shrugged. Fair point.

“Congrats, man.” Luke slapped Asher on the shoulder. “I don’t know how Chief Stanley is going to handle another Bailey on his crew, but that’s his problem.”

“He’s handled Gavin all these years,” Asher said. “That must make him some kind of saint.”

“That’s a fact,” Luke said. “Gavin is nuts.”

Asher chuckled. His youngest brother came by his reputation honestly.

“As charming as this all is,” Zachary said, his voice thick with sarcasm, “I have more important things to do. Catch you dickheads later.”

He went straight for the table with the girls, sauntering over with his hands in his pockets. Z was all confidence with women. It was probably well-placed. I doubted he had much of a problem getting laid.

Asher shook his head, like he was mildly amused. He’d been a family man for years. Picking up girls in a bar had to be the last thing on his mind. It was part of why we got along. I didn’t have a wife and kids—nor did I want them—but I wasn’t any more interested in that scene than he was.

Luke leaned a little closer and lowered his voice. “You know, there’s a table full of hot girls over there.”

“So?”

“I’m pretty sure the blond one in pink has been eying you since we got here.”

“Not interested.”

“Seriously?” Luke looked at Asher, as if he’d have an answer, but he just shrugged. “Is there something wrong with you? Everything works, right?”

I glared at him. “Do you want me to take you down in front of all those girls?”

Luke grinned. “Not particularly. Look man, I’m just trying to help. You want to be sad and alone, that’s fine. I’m going to have a little fun with some out-of-towners.”

He strolled off, his cockiness low-key compared to Z. But it was still there. Those two read from the same playbook. Luke was just more subtle about it.

“I’m not sad and alone,” I muttered.

“What was that?” Asher asked.

“Nothing. My brothers are annoying.”

“Yeah, so are mine, but what are you gonna do.”

Dad finally arrived, taking up half the doorway with his broad shoulders. Paul Haven was a big guy from lumberjack stock. His brown hair and beard were peppered with gray and he wore a faded blue plaid shirt and jeans.