Spotlight (Holland Brothers, #4)

by Rebecca Jenshak

This one is for all the girlies who have ever felt unlovable. I wrote Flynn for you.

“Sure you do. I’m your next boyfriend.” I smile and laugh softly to myself. The moonlight flashes against his teeth enough for me to tell he’s smiling, too.

“I know I’ve only known you for a few minutes, but you aren’t the kind of woman a guy forgets so easily.”

“A person’s name is usually the least interesting thing about them, so if you’re only offering a few pieces of information, I want the ones that tell me more about who you really are.”

“I knew you were beautiful, but the closer I get, the more out of my league I feel.” His voice has a direct line to the butterflies in my stomach. “You’re full of shit.” The traitorous butterflies flutter anyway.

“I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

“You smell good,” I tell her. “And I can’t get over how beautiful you are.” She blushes. “Well, you’re hideous.” I bark out a laugh and her lip curves into a shy smile. She’s fucking with me. That’s fine. I don’t need her to say she’s attracted to me. I feel it.

“Fine, I’m attracted to you,” she admits with a coy smile. “I knew it.” I did, but hearing it lights me up. “Don’t let it go to your head, Hotshot.” “Too late. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever met just told me she was into me.” She laughs. “That is not what I said.” “No? I must have misunderstood.”

She nods and takes another drink of her wine. Her blue eyes are like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Bright and sparkly like sapphire in the sunlight. My brothers would give me so much shit if I ever said that out loud, but I don’t care.

When Gigi pulls out her lunch, anyone nearby always stares in fascination at the spread. But my favorite part is the notes he writes her. Every single day her lunch comes with a handwritten note, usually on a Post-it, occasionally a receipt or lined paper. Sometimes the notes are sweet, sometimes funny. Poems, jokes, drawings, or just a simple I love you.

Her stunning blue eyes flick to my palm and up. “Flynn, is it? You look more like a Richard or a Dick.” Claws out. Meow. I’m grinning at her and she’s looking back at me like I am the spawn of Satan.

I would have taken great, good even, but I guess interesting will do. It was interesting to see her too. And by interesting, I mean fucking fantastic.

but I just love everything about books. They’re family and friends, connection to a big world out there.

Right next to the eight, Flynn signed it, Dick. And what I presume is his number is scribbled underneath.

I know from experience with my brother Knox. The fastest way to piss him off is to touch his bike… or his woman. Both and you’re a dead man.

“I only have one critique.” Her body language stiffens immediately. I lean forward, closing some of the distance between us. “Nine inches is not the perfect length.” Her cheeks flush as she understands my meaning, but she keeps that haughty body language. “No?” “Too big.” I lean back. “Chicks think they want that sort of size, but they’re never prepared for it.” “And you know this because…” I grin back at her, waiting… waiting… waiting… Her mouth falls open. There it is. “I don’t believe you.” She won’t quite meet my eyes though. “I could prove it to you, but I think that might get me kicked out of here.” I glance down quick at my crotch and back to her.

She grins, clearly loving baiting me as much as I love being baited by her.

“It’s okay. I like your name too much to shorten it anyway. O-liv-ia,” I say it slowly, enjoying every syllable. “Don’t do that. Don't say my name all sexy.”

“Done. If I throw a no-hitter, then you’ll go out with me.” “You’re serious?” Her brows lift. I nod my agreement. “Do you know how rare those are?” she asks. Now it’s my turn to laugh. “As rare as meeting a woman like you probably.”

Brogan’s been busy changing the group name again by the looks of it. Flynn Holland SUPAFANS

“Here’s your ball,” she says. “It’s all yours,” I say and instantly that adorable grin is back. She clutches it to her chest protectively. “Thank you, Hotshot.” “Welcome, munchkin.” She really is the cutest dang kid.

“Then go out with me because you want to.” She glances over at her daughter holding her pink bouncy ball and then back to me. “Okay, Hotshot.” “Really? That worked?” I clear my throat. “I mean, of course it did.”

Her being such a thoughtful mom is so fucking hot. But damn, I really want to see her.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, then step forward and hug him. I think my action takes us both by surprise because he chuckles as he wraps his arms around my waist.

My heart races faster when his gaze drops to my mouth. We’ve spent two nights together now and still haven’t kissed. I feel like if it doesn’t happen soon, I might die. “How long does it take her to brush her teeth?” An odd question, but I answer it without thought. “A couple of minutes. Why?” He tugs me to him with our linked hands and his other hand moves to the side of my neck as his mouth crashes down on mine. His fingers glide around to the back of my neck. My lips part in surprise and invitation, and Flynn doesn’t waste any time sweeping his tongue in to play with mine. My heart leaps in my chest. It isn’t a typical first kiss. It’s filled with months of anticipation and longing. He isn’t soft or gentle, and he doesn’t hold back. Neither do I.

The surprised look on her face, like how dare anyone dislike me, is cute.

“Stop talking and kiss me, Hotshot.” “Yes, ma’am.” I crash my mouth down onto hers.

“No, I…” She swallows and then takes a breath. “You can’t dangle that giant thing in front of me and then suggest a board game. Give a girl a second.”

“What am I going to do with you?” I ask, walking us slowly back to the bed. “I don’t know,” she replies breathlessly. “I have a few ideas though.” “Oh yeah?” She sits on the edge of the bed, and I inch closer, forcing her onto her back. “Do any of them include me being inside you?” “All of them.”

“Yeah?” His lips pull into a smirk. “You want to be my plant lady?” “Yeah, I think I do.” My heart rate speeds up as I hold his gaze. I’m pretty sure we’re talking about more than plants right now.

“Goddamn, baby.” He groans and gives me a little more. “Are you sore?” “If you pull out now, I will kill you.” “I love it when you talk sexy to me.” He bites the side of my neck and then kisses the same spot.

All Flynn’s brothers and their partners. Hendrick and Jane, who I immediately recognized as a former actress from one of my favorite childhood TV shows, Knox and Avery, who look like complete opposites, her in pink and all smiles and him in black with a scowl (except when he looks at her), London came with Brogan, and of course Sabrina with Archer.

It isn’t Dad working in the garage listening to music, it’s Knox. Dad wasn’t around because he was never around. But my brothers were. They raised me. I am who I am because of them. I owe them everything. Maybe that isn’t how I want the story to go, but it is. How it happens from here on out is on him.

“Do you know what it’s like for your own father not to give a shit about you?” A sardonic laugh leaves my lips. “Let me just tell you, it fucking sucks.

“Someday I’m going to have kids, and I’m going to be there for them in all the ways you weren’t. Every game, every birthday, every milestone. I won’t be like you, and they won’t grow up questioning whether or not their dad gives a shit about them. I let you have a lot of chances to be in my life, but you’ll get a lot less to be in theirs. I will protect them from you the same way Knox tried to protect me from you. So, it’s on you. Come to the party, or don’t. But decide if you’re in or out once and for all.”

“Hey, Knox.” “Yeah?” He turns to face me, brows lifted. “Thank you.” “For what?” “Keeping us all together, raising me, protecting me as best you could, putting your dreams on hold…pick your poison.” He stands, giving me a look of bewilderment. “It wasn’t poison. I love you. You’re my baby bro. I’d do anything for you. Even visit you in New York if I have to.” “It wasn’t anything. It was everything.”

me with hope. “Are you serious?” “Yeah. I want to win here, with this team, in this city, with you and Greer and my family up there cheering me on. I thought being a part of the best team in the league was the most important thing, but now that I have the choice, I don’t want to leave. This is my home. You are my home.”

“I love you, Olivia. You are it for me. I want to be your husband and a father figure to Greer. I want to have a bunch more babies, too, if you’re into that. Otherwise, we can just practice a bunch. I want to do life with you, all the fun, hard, messy, chaotic things. Over the past few months, I’ve realized that I don’t care what the future looks like as long as it includes you.”

Holland Brothers Archer Congrats on the engagement! Olivia is great. Excited for you both. Brogan The Holland Brothers are officially off the market. Eat your heart out, ladies. Knox Oh boy. Let’s not get carried away. You’re sure about this, baby bro? Me Positive. Hendrick It’s a big step. Husband. Father. Me I’m not worried. I learned from the best. The four of you.

I wonder what it’d be like if our mom was still here. I like to think she’d be happy with how we all turned out. Hendrick has followed in her footsteps, revitalizing the bar she loved so much and naming his daughter after her. Knox has her big heart and natural caretaking side. Her fiery side too. Archer has that same quiet but perceptive way about him that Mom had. And he’s carried on her love of 80s rock music. Brogan may not have been her son by blood, but no one made her smile like he did. He loved making her laugh, and when he cracks a joke or does something silly, I think about how she’d love that he still does that for all of us. As for me, I don’t remember her as well as I wish I did, but I see her every day in my brothers. I know she was a great mom because she’s a part of all of them. So in some ways, it’s like she’s still here.