“Are you seriously that dense?” Cooper demanded.

“She’s the one who rejected me,” Eli reminded him. “If there’s an injured party here, it’s me.”

“You’re really that dense.” Cooper sighed. He was leaner than his brother, but he moved like a predator, all grace and coiled strength. And he was bigger than Eli. Donna Simons had raised two giants. “Our sister came today to ask you for another chance. Do you understand now?”

Eli’s blood went cold, and he scraped a hand down his face, groaning. Aria had come here because she wanted to take a chance on him, and he’d sent her away. She might be strong, but she was also sensitive and in a vulnerable state. “Shit.”

“Yeah, shit. Dumbass.”

The insult didn’t sting.

“But that’s all right, because we’re here to help.”

Eli couldn’t help but be skeptical. After all, he’d just eaten a fist.

“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Justin burst out, apparently unaware they were on a mission of peace. “We’re not here to help. No way this bozo’s going to be part of the family. He hurt Aria.”

“And he clearly regrets it,” Cooper said evenly. “He looks like death.”

“Go to hell,” Eli snapped.

Cooper shot him an impatient glare. “Shut it, bro. I’m trying to do you a favor here.”

“Oh, so, that’s what you’re doing?”

“You want a chance with Ri? Stop running your mouth and let me handle this.”

“Why are you so sure I want to be with your sister?” Given his apparent dismissal of her this afternoon, her brother couldn’t be sure of his intentions,

“You’d be stupid not to,” Cooper replied, staring at him as if he were, indeed, stupid. “She’s too good for you.”

Ouch. “Thanks for clarifying.”

“Any time.”

“I still prefer you to him.” Eli gestured in Justin’s direction.

“Thanks, mate. You’re a smart guy.”

“Are you two finished flirting with each other?” Justin asked. “Can we get back to the punching now?”

“Have at it,” Cooper said, crossing the room to pick an apple from the fruit bowl. “I’ll wait over here.” He bit into the apple and chewed slowly.

Eli couldn’t believe what was happening. He looked at Justin. “As much as I’d love to hit you again, I don’t think it would accomplish anything,” he said.

“Speak for yourself,” the larger man replied. “It would make me feel much better.”

Sighing, Eli spread his arms wide. “Do it, then.”

“I’m not going to hit you like that.” Justin looked appalled by the idea.

“I’m not going to fight back,” Eli told him. “I want a life with Aria, and brawling with her brother isn’t the best way to start it.”