Cook Brothers: The Whole Flipping Family

by BJ Harvey

  Cohen laughs and shakes his head. “Says the man who refers to himself as G.I. Joe.”

  “Touché, baby brother,” Bry says. Taking a seat next to Faith just in time to catch a leaping Lottie headed his way. Faith’s barely-there baby bump is the home for their new baby girl due in the winter. Bry has recently taken a research position at Lincoln Park Zoo alongside Faith, with both of them able to work from home as well as out in the field. It’s awesome to see them able to focus on their growing family and still continue to develop their careers.

  “If G.I. Joe gets to object, then so do I,” Jax says, not even bothering to get out of his seat. Jax and Ronnie are actively trying—a lot—to give Joey a sibling but have not had any luck yet. They’re happy to practice—aren’t we all—and aren’t worried. Ronnie says it’ll happen when it happens, if it happens. Besides, she’s busy with her graphic design business, and Jax is a full-time college professor now, and Joey is a whiz kid who is already running circles around her parents and uncles.

  “What’s your objection as to why Skye and Cohen should not get married today?”

  “What now?” Cohen grumbles, making me giggle.

  Jax’s lips slowly curve into a shit-eating grin. “I dunno, but I’m sure I can think of one,” he replies, earning a collective groan from the small congregation.

  “Right. I can solve this once and for all,” Abi says, standing up with her three-year-old twin girls on either hip. “Baby brother, do you love her?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you imagine life without her?”

  “No.”

  “Can Papa Rossi or her three hot Hulk brothers cut off your balls if you ever hurt her?” she asks, her lips twitching as she looks down at her husband and five-year-old son, Harry, and quirks a brow.

  “I’d cut them off for them,” Cohen replies without any hesitation whatsoever.

  “Jamie, Cohen loves Skye more than his own junk. That’s all the confirmation we need because we know how much Co loves his meat and potatoes,” Abi says, blowing us a kiss and taking a seat.

  Jamie shrugs. “Honestly? She’s right.” He turns to me. “We’ll have it added to the vows so it’s noted down…for future reference, of course.”

  Thankfully there are no more objections, and after Cohen swears to cut off his own balls if he ever hurts his brat, and I promise to love Cass even if he does remove his junk, Jamie declares us husband and wife and before he can say the words, “You may now kiss your bride,” Cohen and I meet halfway and near-on maul each other right then and there.

  Because why change the habits of a lifetime? And also, neither one of us want to give any of our siblings—or parents—the chance to cock-block us at our own wedding ceremony.

  Knowing we were getting married in our brand-spanking-new half-house living area, we decided to combine the usual end-of-flip tradition with our wedding reception.

  “Dad, can I screw in the damn light bulb yet? This suit is uncomfortable,” Axel calls out a few hours, a lot of food, and a few drinks—for those of us adults who can drink—later.

  April, Marcy, and Bettys’ heads all snap his way. “Axel. Mouth!” they growl in unison.

  “What?” he says, holding his hands in the air. “I’m just saying.”

  “Is there even a light bulb left to screw in?” Jax asks.

  “Wait,” Ronnie asks. “How many Cooks does it take to screw in a light bulb?”

  “How many?” I ask from my husband’s side.

  “I dunno. That’s why I’m asking.”

  “I know. It’s one,” Axel says, appearing in the middle of the room with a ladder in hand. He places it on the floor and climbs the two steps needed to make him tall enough to reach the light fitting, which ironically, already has a light bulb in it. Never one to let anything stop him, he unscrews the bulb, then screws it in again. That boy has more smart-assedness than all of the Cook and Baker boys combined. “There. It’s done. Thank fuck for that.”

  “Axel!”

  “What?”

  “You owe me five dollars, Axel Rhodes Cook,” Penny says from the bottom of the ladder, hands on her hips.

  “Do not.”

  “Do too. We need it for our wedding fund. You can’t expect me to look this fabulous without lots of swear-jar money.”

  Axel looks across the room to Jamie, his eyes pleading to be saved. To his credit, Jamie just grins at his oldest son and shrugs, ignoring the pre-teen’s rolled eyes before delivering what might be the best comeback he’s ever given. “That’s Karma, buddy.”

  And if ever there was a better way to end this chapter of our lives and start a new one, it would be with all of us happy, in love, and laughing our asses off at Axel.

  Because if there’s one thing we can count on, it’s the fact this is not the first time we end up laughing at Axel Rhodes Cook, and it definitely won’t be the last.

  The End

  Next up, there are some Chicago first responders to get their happy ever afters, including Skye’s three brothers; Marco, Gio, Luca, and the mysterious Rhodes.

  One thing is for sure; it’s going to be a wild ride, just like the Cook Brothers series was.

  Subscribe here for email alerts about my Chicago first responders series

  Keep reading for a sneak peek of Show Stopper—book 1 of the Chicago First Responders series and a special bonus scene from Marcy and Rick Cook.

  Marcy & Rick - Working It Out

  Bonus Scene - Marcy

  “Rick! Come here!” I call out from the den. I’m just about to shout out to my husband again when he answers.

  “Why?”

  “There’s a huge snowstorm coming. They said we might end up stuck at home for up to a week.”

  Again, he takes forever to reply. “And?” he says, pulling up his pants as he appears in the hallway.

  I frown at him, wondering about the pants thing, but having been married to the man for forty years, I gave up trying to work out any of the weird things he does a long time ago.

  Rick leans against the door frame, his lips curving up into that telltale grin of his which spells trouble for me—the get naked now kind of trouble. “So you’re saying we’re gonna be snowed in together…” He pushes off the wall and slowly stalks toward me, his eyes growing hooded the closer he gets to me. “With none of our offspring calling in…” He stops in front of me, blocking my view of the TV with his crotch.

  I look up at him and quirk a brow. “You know you make a better door than a window, right?”

  His lips twitch. “You saying my package blocks big screen TVs now? That’s a might big compliment, Marcy May.” I snort and shake my head.

  “Stop it,” I warn.

  “Stop what?” He smirks, and it’s a damn sexy one at that. As soon as he shoots me that knowing look that says he’s gonna get himself some, I’ll be done for.

  I fight against the pull and narrow my eyes, pointing my finger at him. “You know what. There’s no time for any of that. We’ve got to get ready.” I stand in front of him, expecting he’ll step back, but to no avail. His hands go to my hips as he tugs me flush against him and his growing interest. Forty-plus years and he’s still has the libido of a horny teenage boy. Twice a day my husband wants—and gets—whatever takes his fancy. It’s probably why we ended up with five kids. At least after our youngest son Cohen was born, he went out and bought a TV for the bedroom. Not that it stopped us.

  I rest my hands on his shoulders, my body melting into his warmth. I’d be a big ball of anxiety if it wasn’t for the strength of my man. He’s my shelter in the storms life throws at us. He also serves as a mighty fun distraction—hence the five kids, I suppose.

  He dips his face down, his warm breath fanning over my skin and not helping the Rick-induced haze he’s causing. “There’s always time for that, my love. Besides…” he says, his fingers kneading my lower back and moving down to my ass. “It’s good for stress…”

  “What is?” I ask, my breathing now labored
.

  “Me laying you out on that couch and wringing an orgasm or three out of you.” He lowers his mouth to mine until he’s speaking against my lips. “Maybe this stay-at-home order will do us good.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “We can rechristen the house.”

  I jerk my head back. “Rechristen?”

  Then he shoots me that panty-melting, thigh-clenching, lady-parts-watering smirk and I know I’m done for. My knees wobble and in the blink of an eye, I’m flat on my back on the couch with my husband hovering over me, his strong muscular arms braced on either side of my head.

  “Yeah…” he says, his rough voice causing tingles in all the right places. No! I have to fight this. There’s not time for tomfoolery now.

  I shake my head and try to push on his shoulders. “We have things to do—”

  “Yeah. Each other.” He lowers his weight down on me, knowing he’s won this time.

  “Later,” I breathe. “We can do whatever you want later.”

  He goes still. “Wait… Whatever I want?”

  “Yeah, buster. Anything.”

  “Well, shit,” he says, jumping off me like a kid at Christmas who’s just see a big box with his name on it. He holds out his hands and pulls me to my feet. “Let’s go, then. We’ve got things to do, then we’ve got things to do.”

  He drags me out of the den and into the kitchen. “Wait. You don’t even know what we have to get.”

  “Don’t care. Whatever it is, we’ll do it. Then we’ll come back home and stay home for as long as we have to.”

  “Rick, stop. We’re going to have to take two cars.” That gets him. He stops and turns toward me, his brows furrowed.

  “Why? We’re not suddenly turning into doomsday preppers, are we?”

  “No. But with all the kids and partners and kids coming to stay, we’re going to need to stock up.”

  He goes deathly still, apart from his eyes which are bugging out. He’s looking at me like I’m lost my goddamned mind. “First,” he says, all humor and excitement gone from his voice. “This house is not big enough for five more families.”

  I open my mouth to argue but his index finger pressed to my lips stops me. “And second, do you think that any of us would stay sane if we were all under the same roof?”

  “But my babies,” I say, near on pouting.

  His face softens, and he draws me in close. “You, my love, have a heart of gold and I adore you for it. But our kids barely survived living under the same roof while growing up. There’s absolutely no way any of them will wanna bunk down with their parents.” He does that melty gaze trick of his, the feather in his cap in his ‘how to wear the wife down’ arsenal. “There are things like face time and zoom and house party now. We can all be in our own houses with lots of space and absolutely no arguments between siblings and still see each other online if we want. I’ll even schedule catch ups with them all every few days if you like.”

  “That would be nice,” I say quietly, sagging into his arms and looking up into his eyes.

  Rick brings his face in close. “You know what would also be nice?” he murmurs, touching his lips to mine.

  “Yeah…” Then I spring into action, jumping out of his arms. “Walmart!” I giggle and run down the hallway. Rick’s thumping footsteps behind me make me grin, because I know this man like the back of my hand and as much as he likes to think he can play me, I give it back to him ten-fold.

  He catches me halfway up the stairs, spinning me in his arms and switching positions so he’s sitting and I’m now straddling him. “Back to my idea,” he says huskily, his hands roaming up and down my sides, skimming by breasts and leaving me breathless in the best way. But that doesn’t mean I still can’t give him shit.

  I sigh. “Oh, alright then…”

  Rick snorts and shakes his head, his arms wrapping around my back and pulling me down against him. “You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?”

  I shrug but don’t deny it. There’s no point. I rest my elbows on his shoulders and look the love of my life in the eyes. “Yeah, but I’m your pain in the ass.”

  “And I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he growls before his hand is in my hair and his lips are on mine, shutting me up.

  Well… until there’s no shutting me up, anyway.

  Axel - Bonus Scene

  Axel Rhodes Williams – Wedding Speech

  Hi. My name is Axel Rhodes Williams and I am eight years old. My Gran said I could write a speech to read out to everyone at the wedding reception.

  I wanted to say how much I love my mom. She is awesome. She helps fix people at work then looks after me at night. Or fixes people t night and comes home to see me off to school, then she sleeps.

  Jamie is cool too. He’s my Dad Boss. We work on houses together and cook hot dogs and he even makes sure Uncle Jax, Uncle Bryant, Uncle Cohen and Uncle Ezra put money into my swear jar when they say curse words like… nah, just joking. Mom said I’m not allowed to curse until I’m twenty-five. Jamie says I’m one of the guys so when it’s just us guys I can say damn and heck but that’s our little secret. I met Jamie when I saw the pizza guy take three pizza boxes to our new neighbor’s house and then I used my secret ninja skills to sneak into the house and try some. Mom said that makes me a thief. Jamie just grinned and gave me more pizza and a soda.

  Jamie always looks at my Mom funny, like his eyes are shining. And he always smiles in a goofy way that makes him look like me when I see yummy food like pizza and soda. He is also a good boss and doesn’t make me do too much work before letting me stop to have some food. He has taught me how to hit a golf ball and sometimes he even takes me to play golf with the guys and then we go to have a big dinner afterwards with lots of dude food while Mommy and Aunty Ronnie and Aunty Abi drink wine and talk about books, but really they drink wine and talk about the guys while Gran and Nana Marcy make yummy food that they leave for me to eat when I get home again.

  Mom always smiles and laughs now when Jamie is around. She’s always happy and I love that Jamie looks after the two of us and is an extra member of our family now. That’s how I knew he would be the best new dad I could ever have and now…Jamie, I’m glad you are my new Dad, Mom, I’m glad you’re my old Mom and together, I’m super happy that you are now April Cook and that you said I could be Axel Rhodes Cook if Jamie signs the papers that you’re going to give him.

  Jamie – Dad – you rock. Gran said I’m no longer the man of the house because you are now, but that’s okay. I’m happy just to be the big boy of the house and for you and me to keep looking after Mom like you told me our job was to do.

  That’s all I have to say. Axel, out!

  More in the Chicago Romance World

  Abi and Cade feature in:

  Game Saver—Abi

  New Series Out Now:

  Chicago First Responders

  Show Stopper – Marco Rossi

  (Keep reading for a sneak peek)

  Life Changer – Rhodes Anderson and Delilah Baker

  Miracle Worker - Gio Rossi

  Rule Bender - Luca Rossi

  Sneak Peek - Show Stopper Chapter 1

  Renee

  One thing that doesn’t work in your favor when you’re a real estate agent is a propensity for always running late.

  Unfortunately for me, it’s a Friday when I have back-to-back property showings and my alarms—all three of them—were all miraculously snoozed, and I now have only forty minutes to shower, dress, do my makeup, pour coffee down my throat and get out my front door. Because no house sales means no commission, which means no roof over my head, sexy heels on my feet or Starbucks in my hand, and I need all those things.

  Walking into the kitchen, having done the shower, makeup, and half of the dressing side of my to-do list, I spot my bleary-eyed sister Hayley staring off out the window, cradling a mug of steaming caffeine nectar in her hands. Hayley moved to Chicago from Wisconsin four months ago after a nasty breakup with her ex-boss, w
hich led to her being let go from her job at the same time.

  “You’re late,” she says without looking at me.

  “No shit, Sherlock.” I walk over to the coffee machine, quickly making myself a caramel macchiato with far more caramel than my hips need. But the maintenance of my curves is a serious business, and if caramel is the key, then I’m a devoted follower to testing and proving this theory to be true.

  “Guess I better add caramel syrup to the grocery list,” my sister mumbles from behind me.

  I snicker and face her, mimicking her pose with my coffee cup as I lean back against the kitchen counter. “You? Do the shopping?”

  “I am capable of running errands, you know.” I arch a brow, making her gasp. “I take offence to that. I can adult. . . occasionally.”

  “And apparently pigs can fly and the moon landing was a big, giant hoax.”

  Her lips twitch as she takes a slug of coffee from her mug.

  “Not going in today?” I ask, before taking my much-needed over-sugared caffeine hit.

  Hayley is a free-spirited wild child and has been since the day she was born. She lives life on her terms, on her schedule, and can sometimes have issues with authority. That has included calling off work because she doesn’t feel like it.

  “Late start.” Hayley works in the front office for the Chicago Fire soccer team. “It’s the team’s travel day so my boss said to take the morning off. There’s not much to do anyway.”

  “Nice.” I take a quick look at my watch and a big gulp of my drink. “Shit. I really have to go. I’ve got a showing just after lunch, and I need to go into the office first to get the marketing materials John made up for me. I also wanted to call in and see Grams quickly.”

  “And how is John?”

  I grimace. “Still asking me out once a week, but it’s more a case of, ‘when are you going to put me out of my misery’,’ nothing else.”