vittanos willow by Aliyah Burke Read Free Book Online Page B

steaming biscuits.
    “Nothing,” she said, accepting the dish of hash browns from
    Binh.
    “Shouldn’t lie to us,” they all reminded her.
    “Can’t I just smile?” she quipped, getting up to grab the pitcher
    of juice.
    Ajani held up his glass and she refilled it. “I suppose, but we
    want to hear about this date you had earlier this week.”
    Her light pecan eyes snapped to the blond in the group. He held
    up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t tell, they guessed. And I can’t lie to
    them.”
    “Right,” she scoffed. She believed that about as far as she could
    throw him.
    “Well,” Ajani prompted, picking up his fork and beginning to
    eat.

    Vittano's Willow
    47
    With a sigh, Chantoya sat back down and started to tell them
    about Osten, but a knock sounded on the door. The men exchanged
    glances before looking back to CJ with questions in their gazes.
    Moving quickly, CJ went to the door. She swung it open to re-
    veal the man who had made her feel like the most precious woman in
    the world from the way he kissed her, caressed her, and respected her.
    He was dressed in another pair of sinful jeans, blue ones today.
    A dark-green shirt was visible beneath the expensive jacket. She could
    smell the light hint of aftershave he wore. His dark eyes moved eagerly
    over her body before meeting her questioning gaze.
    “Osten?” She glanced nervously over her shoulder. “What a
    surprise. What are you doing here?”

    Osten’s heart plummeted as he imagined her in the loving em-
    brace of that other man. “I came back to make sure we were okay.”
    Doesn’t she want me?
    Her hand tightened on the door. “We’re just fine. I—”
    “Who’s that at the door, CJ?” a deep masculine voice interrupted
    her. Instead of waiting for an answer a man appeared behind her and
    met Osten’s gaze.
    Immediately bristling at the familiar way he touched CJ’s shoul-
    der, Osten sized up the man he now considered a threat. He was even
    more handsome close up. Tall and lean, the Asian carried himself with
    amazing confidence.
    Osten took in the red shirt he wore as well as the biscuit he was
    holding in his hand. “Oh,” he lied. “I didn’t know you had company.
    I’ll see you later.”
    “Who are you?” the question was asked immediately.
    “Who is it?” another masculine voice yelled.
    The man behind CJ hollered back. “Don’t know. Some guy.”
    Osten heard chairs sliding across the floor and within seconds
    he found himself under the furious scrutiny of three men. Three big and
    strong men. One Asian, one African-American, and one Caucasian.
    CJ licked her lips and looked behind her at the men glaring be-
    tween her and Osten before she glanced back at him and sighed.
    “Osten, I’d like you to meet my brothers.”
    Brothers! Brothers? Only Osten’s expertise of controlling his emo-
    tions allowed his surprise to be kept off his face.
    Chantoya pointed over her shoulder at each man as she named
    him. “Ajani, Thurston, and Binh. Guys, this is Osten Scoleri.”

    48
    Aliyah Burke
    The grins that crossed their faces worried Osten. They were ones
    of men laying a trap.
    Jesus, I feel like I’m sweating!
    Ajani reached out with his hand. “Nice to meet you, Osten. We
    were just sitting down to breakfast, why don’t you join us. There’s
    plenty.”
    Impressed by the strength in the hand shaking his, Osten replied
    easily. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
    The blond man shook his head. “Nonsense. We would love to get
    aquatinted with you. Hear all about how you know our little sister
    here,” Thurston assured him.
    Ajani pulled him past CJ and into the apartment. The door
    closed behind him and he found himself being escorted to the table. He
    shrugged out of his jacket, thrilled that even amid the tension in the
    room, CJ couldn’t hide her appreciation of his body from him.
    As she took his jacket and hung it up, Osten shook hands with
    the other two brothers. He waited while they brought