"Max and I met a long time ago, and he shot my fall cover for Vogue."

"You were naked," Forrest pointed out dryly.

The big lug had been quiet during the whole exchange. Another man recognized Claire and apparently took naked pictures of his woman and he was suddenly alive and ready for some a.s.s kicking. Adam shook his head.

"I wasn't naked. I had a sheet over me."

"It was pretty obvious you were naked underneath." Forrest waved a hand toward Max. "And this is the guy who took that picture."

Claire crossed her arms over her chest. Her almond eyes shooting fire at Forrest. "Not that you have any say in the matter, but Max is good at what he does."

Rafa and Zander let out a chuckle. Claire turned and gave them the same look. The two men cleared their throats.

Rafa stepped forward, took Claire's hand and brought it to his lips. "You're famous, aren't you? A singer. A friend of mine likes your music."

Claire smiled at Rafa. "Thanks."

"Let me take you out to dinner tonight," Rafa continued.

Oh, h.e.l.l no. Adam moved forward to wipe that arrogant smirk off Rafa's face, but Forrest beat him to it. He grabbed Claire's hand and pulled her against him. For a brief moment, Claire looked like she was going to check him, but thought better of it and stayed in his arms.

"Stay away from Claire," Forrest warned.

Rafa shrugged carelessly. "Is she yours?"

"Claire is busy."

Rafa raised an eyebrow. "Doing?"

"Him," Adam, Blake, and Jason said together, looking in Forrest's direction.

Claire threw her hands up in frustration and stepped out of Forrest's hold. "h.e.l.lo, I'm right here." She let out a breath. "What did I walk into? The battle of the biggest b.a.l.l.s?"

No one answered.

She picked up her black textured Mulberry overnight bag and threw it over her shoulder. "Well, go on. I'm out." She stopped and surveyed each one of them. "Where's Lily? I haven't talked to her since the accident."

"You hurt my sister?" Zander asked.

Unable to continue this conversation any longer, Adam raked a hand through his hair. "Listen girls, I got s.h.i.t to do with my friends. You want to take your frustration out on me then flag football it is." He walked up to Rafa. "I'm going to allow you one good hit tomorrow. And that's only because I understand why your panties are in a bunch. After that, you hit me hard, I hit you hard back." He a.s.sessed the other two men. "You girls can decide who gets that one lucky hit tomorrow."

Chapter Twenty-Four.

"Without exception, all epic loves start with a ma.s.sive dose of l.u.s.t."

Anonymous Panic clawed inside Lily's gut to her throat. Wringing her hands, she glanced at the large industrial clock on the wall. Barely fifteen minutes had pa.s.sed and her parents had not said a word. She glanced at the door. No Adam. Lily inhaled a deep breath and put on a brave face. "Say something," she said at last. "I've broken one of the Serrano rules. Tell me how much I've disappointed you."

"Is it true, bebe?" her mother asked. "Is Rafa telling the truth?"

She looked at her parents; no disappointment in their eyes, only concern. "I'm starting my eight week." As if the baby had always been there, Lily ran a hand over her stomach and smiled. "I was scared when I found out, so I didn't tell you."

"You can tell us anything," her father said.

Lily smiled weakly. "I know, but I'm single and pregnant. Not exactly an ideal situation for me." She tried to sound brave, calm. Instead her voice cracked, on the verge of tears.

Her father touched her shoulder. "Parents want their children to make their own path and find happiness. But our expectations should not drive your happiness."

A small silence settled between her and her parents.

"Is that why you're going to marry that young man? So you won't be single and pregnant?" Her father continued.

"Adam. His name is Adam. And the answer is no." Even with all trepidation over failing her parents and their expectations, she'd never marry Adam for the sake of their child.

"You don't marry because of a child." Her father continued. He didn't appear to be convinced by her answer. "Marriage is about love, the heart." He touched the left side of his chest. "Feeling like you're home when that person holds you."

Moved by her father's words, Lily once again felt the tears coming. She brushed the corner of her eyes. "I feel that way with Adam. He owns my heart."

Her father's hands cupped her arms. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "And you own his? He never said he's in love with you. Although he's determined to marry you." As he spoke, his voice was calm. It carried Lily away, like it always did.

"I wouldn't marry him if I didn't think he did."

"It's not about what you think, querida," her mother said, coming to stand next to her. "It's about what he lets you see and trust. You need to be his hope as he is yours."

She nodded, letting her parents words sink in.

"Why haven't we heard about him, querida?" her father asked.

Because until recently our relationship was based only on s.e.x. But she couldn't tell her parents that. She was their darling. "Adam and I were complicated."

"We understand." Her father studied her face. The love they have for their children clear in his eyes. "We never want you to settle," he continued. "No matter what the situation is, never settle for anything less than the whole enchilada."

By the whole enchilada, he meant love. The love her parents shared. The fact that she'd broken a Serrano rule was now an afterthought. As always, her parents' main concern was for their children to be happy. Unwed, pregnant and all.

At that moment, she knew things were going to be okay. "You'll give him a chance?" she asked just to be sure.

"If he's important to you then he's important to us."

Tears immediately began streaming down her face. Relieved, she fell into her parents arms for a long embrace. "Te amo." Her mother's gentle laughter reverberated in her ear like the sound of angel wings flapping.

"He seems like a nice young man," her mother whispered in her ear. "He's very protective of you."

Lily chuckled. "Just a little."

"Well, if this isn't a Kodak moment."

Lily froze at the sound of Rafa's voice. Well, one hurdle down. Now time to deal with her brothers.

"Rafa," her father warned.

"It's okay, Dad." Lily stepped out of her parents arms and eyeballed her brothers. Their faces were a crimson shade, and their eyes seemed to spark with fury. "Why are you so angry with Adam? It takes two, you know."

"Thanks," Zander muttered. Muscles and veins strained against his skin. "We needed that mental image."

"He doesn't love you," Rafa said.

Ouch. The words stung, so much so that she gasped. Her mother stepped forward and shot Rafa a stern look.

"You've gone too far, Rafael. I expect you to show Adam respect."

All three of her brothers uttered a grunting sound.

"Your mother is right," their father spoke. "You need to show some respect."

"I called in a favor to a friend to run a background check on him," Zander said, as if nothing else mattered.

Lily's eyebrows shot up in shock. "What?" She glared at them, unable to believe what she was hearing. "Why would you do that?"

Zander shrugged. "You got burned with Nate. It's not going to happen again."

But she wasn't thinking about Nate or his cheating ways. She could care less about that chapter of her life. It was her past. Adam was her future. The world circled around her as her thoughts scampered to what Zander had started. A reporter might have not been able to get all the information, but Zander could. Zander would if she didn't put a stop to it. She had no intention of keeping Adam's past buried, but one obstacle after another. One day she'd tell them everything, but not today.

"You need to call your friend and ask that they stop." The urgency or rather panic in her voice caused her brothers to look at her. Knowing they would be able to see straight through her, Lily looked away.

"Is he married?" Max asked.

"My G.o.d!" She whipped around and shot them an angry piercing stare. "You guys are idiots. Do you really think I would shack up with someone who is married?"

"So then what are you hiding?" This time it was Rafa who spoke, his dark eyes narrowed on her. "You're hiding something about him."

"Just stop whatever you started." Her voice cracked.

"Lily," Zander said, approaching her. "What's going on? Tell us what's going on and I'll stop it."

But she couldn't. Adam trusted her, she could never betray him. "Please." She pleaded, feeling herself drowning in fear. "Just stop whatever you started." She herself was still learning about Adam's childhood, the fact that he took his father's life. She still had no clue what happened after that, she only knew this reporter was going to great lengths to expose him. There had to be a reason, which she intended to find out but at her own pace, not by her brothers' overbearing ways.

"Zander," her mother said, "call your friend and close your background check." She looked at her daughter. "Lily is a grown woman. We trust her to make the right decision."

"He could be a f.u.c.king killer!" Rafa said through clenched teeth, sounding disapproving. He threw his arms in the air. "Just because he's some famous rich boy doesn't make him greater or bigger than us. You guys..." he looked at his parents, "may have decided to drink the Adam Kool-Aid, but we haven't. Zander will not stop digging until we find out what Lily is refusing to tell us."

Feeling light-headed and a bit disoriented, Lily grabbed her purse to find her phone. She scrolled to Adam's name and pressed the TALK option just as Zander extended his hand to her.

"Liliana?" Adam's voice was filled with questions, concern. And the muscles of her heart tightened with an incredible force.

"Give me the phone," Zander said. "Let me speak to him."

She looked at her brother. The arrogance now replaced by uneasiness.

"I'll be there in ten," Adam said.

Zander took the phone from her. "She's fine. She'll see you later." He disconnected the call and handed Lily the phone. "I'll call the investigation off."

Rafa released a guttural roar. "Are you kidding me?"

Zander turned to his brother. "Relax, bro. Lily's our sister." His eyes searched hers. "But if he's in trouble, know that you can trust us."

Thanks, she mouthed.

Zander nodded and threw an arm over her shoulder. "Come on, let's catch up."

Lily hesitated, not trusting her brother. He pulled his phone from his pocket, went through his contact list and typed.

Drop it.

For confirmation he showed the text to her and pressed SEND.

"We would never hurt you Lily. We are just concerned."

"We're still kicking his a.s.s in football tomorrow," Rafa muttered, his displeasure in full display.

Sometime during the course of the day, Lily began to relax around her family. Rafa's nostrils were still flaring, but for the most part his rage seemed to have gotten under control. Especially when Keely and Minka arrived with their parents and the wedding became the main topic of discussion.

They were all gathered in the garden; even Claire had joined them, when Adam and the others pulled up and headed in their direction. Jason and Blake greeted their in-laws. Their women like magnets went into their arms. Claire was engaged in a conversation with Max; she glanced over at Forrest. Tension thickened the air between them until Claire broke their connection and turned her attention back to Max.

Adam had either gone swimming with his friends or freshly showered. His hair was wet and looked like he ran his fingers through for some sort of manageability at the last minute. He had changed into a fitted heather grey sweater, clinging to every muscle on his chest and emphasizing his broad shoulders; cuffed, dark denim jeans accenting brown, rugged boots; and a rustic cashmere scarf thrown around his neck, adding a great layer to his outfit. He embodied the fall weather.

His eyes stayed on her as he took slow, deliberate steps toward the group. He looked alert, tough, and in complete protective mode. Lily could only stare, heat churning in her belly.

After a short, polite conversation with everyone, he took her hand in his. "Hey." His mouth smiled, but his eyes searched hers, silently asking if all was well. She smiled at him and his shoulders relaxed a bit. "Let's go home." He glanced at her brothers and Lily held her breath. "Shave your legs for tomorrow. See you at three."

"What's that about?" she asked Adam once they were in his car.

He chuckled. "Your brothers challenged us in flag football."

"Oh, Rafa said something about beating your a.s.s tomorrow."

His laughter deepened, as if no way in h.e.l.l any of her brothers could touch one hair on his skin. She believed it. He backed out of the driveway onto the main road. "I promised them I'll give free aim to at least one good hit."

"Have you ever played?"

"I've played football. Same thing."

The concept was the same but there was one major difference, no physical contact. The main rule of flag football was instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag from the ball carrier to end a down. Something told her all of them had no intention to follow the rules. "You're just as bad, you know."