The next morning, I rummaged through my suitcase for something appropriate to wear for my interview at the community college. I figured even if I was taking Luther up on his offer, a job was still a good idea.
The only dress I had was one I’d worn for a college presentation in my senior year. I’d gained a bit of weight since then, so I wasn’t sure it would fit, but it was my only option.
I was changing when the doorbell rang. I hadn’t ordered anything, so I assumed it was a delivery for Luther.
I wriggled into my dress, sucked in my stomach, and tried to zip it up. My arms wouldn’t cooperate. Frustrated, I headed for the door.
I cracked it open and called out, “Luther, can you help me?”
Silence. “Luther?”
I left the door ajar in case he came by and bent down to dig through my overstuffed bag for shoes. I had just pulled out a practical pair of heels when a wolf whistle echoed from behind me.
I spun around in surprise, tripped over my bag, and ended up sprawled on the floor. Laughter filled the room. I propped myself up on my elbows and looked toward the doorway.
There stood Luther’s brother, Aaron, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Well, well, well. Stubby’s all grown up.”
Aaron and I had been classmates all through school, and he’d always been a major pain in the ass. “Wow, you really got me there,” I retorted, struggling to stand in my uncomfortably tight dress.
Aaron strolled over and extended a hand. He looked so much like Luther, just younger, with lighter hair and their mother’s blue eyes. I accepted his help reluctantly and let him pull me up, and he promptly wrapped me in a hug.
“It’s good to see you,” I said.
Luther cleared his throat from the doorway. His expression was unreadable.
“Did you call me?” he asked. Then his gaze shifted to Aaron. “What are you doing in here? Are you Luther?”
I found myself smiling at Aaron’s easygoing nature. Maybe he hadn’t matured much since school, but he was a decent guy.
When I looked at Luther, he was staring at me. I realized my dress was still gaping open.
“Can you zip me up?” I asked.
He moved closer as I turned my back to him. I held my breath as he zipped up my dress. His fingers grazed my skin, sending a shiver up my spine. “Thank you,” I mumbled, hurrying away from him and straightening my hair.
Luther gave me a once-over that made me feel weird and off-balance. “What time is your interview?”
“Two o’clock.”
He nodded. “Aaron might still be here when you get back. He’s renovating his apartment and needs a place to stay for a couple of nights.”
I shrugged. “That’s fine.”
“Do you remember him from school?” Luther asked.
I slipped my heels on. “Of course; we were in the same year. Don’t you remember? Or were you too popular to remember anything about me from back then?”
Luther ran his tongue over his teeth. “I remember,” he said softly.
“Right,” I said, flustered. “Well. See you later, then.” I headed out to my car.
I was halfway down the driveway when the door slammed shut behind me, startling me, and I stumbled over a large rock. Luther caught my arm and steadied me. I brushed off my knees and looked up at him.
An adult who needed to get her life in order and not get distracted by men.
He broke the eye contact first, handed me a banana, and cleared his throat. “Eat this on the way. You’ll need food if you’re gonna ace your interview.”
“Thank you,” I said, a little confused by the gesture.
“Can I trust you?” he questioned.
I responded by nonchalantly peeling the banana and taking a large bite, just to mess with him. Only after I had swallowed did I realize how suggestive that action might have been.
Luther froze, his gaze fixed on me as I blushed furiously. He cleared his throat. “I’m glad you’re still doing the interview. Even with our arrangement in the works, it’ll be good for you to gain some new experience.”
“Now you really do sound like a dad,” I complained.
He got a shifty look. “Maybe…don’t tell Aaron about what we’re planning? Not yet. He’s kind of a blabbermouth, and I don’t know if I trust him to keep it quiet.”
I shrugged. “He’s your brother. Honestly, this whole arrangement is your deal. Just let me know what I need to do.”
Aaron, perched on the kitchen island, shot me a quizzical look. “Man, why are you bunking with Lilly?”
I settled onto a barstool, my leftover Chinese food spread out before me. “Well, it’s her brother’s house. I don’t exactly have a say in the matter.”
Aaron slurped a noodle, his gaze never leaving me.
“What’s with the staring?” I questioned.
I almost choked on my food. I wasn’t into Lilly. Sure, she’d matured since I last saw her, but she was still annoying, overly dramatic, and…Chad’s little sister.
“You’re nuts,” I retorted. “I’m not into her. I’m just trying to get along with her since we’re living under the same roof.”
Aaron’s lips pursed in disbelief. “Sure, whatever you say. Would it be weird if I asked her out, then?”
I almost choked on my food again. A flurry of excuses swirled in my mind. I wanted to shut him down, but it didn’t make sense. I shouldn’t care who Lilly dated. I certainly didn’t have any claim on her.
Well, except for the part where my little ruse would fall apart quickly if the media got wind of Lilly dating my brother while she was supposedly with me. On the bright side, that kind of family drama would be enough to keep the tabloids busy for weeks.
I wasn’t sure what my face was doing, but it was enough to make Aaron chuckle. “Relax, man. If it’s going to make you that uncomfortable, I’ll wait until you guys aren’t roommates anymore.”
“That sounds like a plan,” I agreed, finishing the last of my food. “Besides, we both know that when you say ‘ask her out,’ you really mean ‘try to score with her.’ I don’t want to hear that under my own roof.”
Aaron threw his head back in laughter. “Really, Luther? I do more than just sleep with girls. At least I put myself out there. I haven’t seen you with a woman since Savannah.”
Then she cheated on me, and eventually she dumped me for some rising country music star. I was mostly over it now, but back then? I had trusted her. I had loved her. And yeah, maybe that was why I’d taken such a long break from dating ever since.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” Aaron said, breaking my train of thought.
“It’s okay. You’re right; I haven’t been in a serious relationship for a while.”
Aaron tossed his empty food container into the trash. “How about a swim? It’s been ages since I’ve come to the beach.”
I opened my laptop, the constant dinging of incoming emails serving as a reminder of my responsibilities. Between everything happening with Scotty and now Penelope, I couldn’t afford to take any time for fun.
“Come on,” Aaron urged, pulling me into a headlock.
Screw it. Work wasn’t going anywhere. I wriggled out of his grip and pushed him against the counter. “Race you there.”
Aaron and I had a great time horsing around at the beach, and we’d just gotten a food delivery from a hibachi place in town when Lilly got home, smiling wide and bright.
“You got the job?” I asked, excited for her.
“Yes! I start next Monday. It’s part-time, so it might take me a while to save enough for my own place, but it’s a start.”
“Congratulations,” I said, grinning back.
She moved past me, and her chest brushed against my arm, sending a shiver down my spine. I sprang back to put some space between us, feeling awkward after this afternoon’s conversation with Aaron.
Aaron’s heavy footsteps drew my attention. He stopped in front of Lilly, lifting her into a hug. I envied their easy camaraderie. Touch seemed so easy for them.
I couldn’t be jealous of my own stupid brother. Right?
Aaron vaulted over the couch and turned on the TV. “Let’s watch a movie while we eat. Something with explosions. I’d let Lilly choose, but she’s into those sappy love stories.”
“You’re absolutely right,” she said, following him. “What’s wrong with wanting a real romance?”
Aaron made a face. “If you ever find a guy who treats you like those movie guys, I’ll give you a hundred dollars.”
Lilly settled onto the loveseat across from Aaron. “Don’t underestimate my need for a hundred dollars.”
Aaron laughed.
“But if I find a man like the ones in the movies,” she went on, “I won’t need a hundred dollars, because I’ll have found something priceless.”
I slumped next to Aaron as he scrolled through the streaming apps. Lilly took a bite of her grilled shrimp and let out a soft moan.
When she looked at me, I felt a flutter in my stomach.
This was ridiculous. Childish to be attracted to her. Foolish and selfish.
“Are you going to answer that?” Aaron’s voice broke through my thoughts.
I glanced down at the phone vibrating in my hand, Henry’s name flashing on the screen. I could feel Lilly’s eyes on me and the gnawing hunger in my stomach for something other than food.
“Henry,” I said into the phone, “Can I call you back? I’m in the middle of dinner.”
I sucked in a breath. “I have a plan.” I glanced at Aaron, still not ready for him to know. “I can’t talk about it now. I’ll email you, okay? We’ll need to get our lawyers working on it.”
As I hung up, Lilly quickly averted her gaze.
She was so much younger than me. My best friend’s little sister. Pretty soon, I’d be literally paying her to spend time with me. Talk about an uneven power dynamic. By all rights, she should be forbidden territory.
But her proximity was suddenly making me uncomfortably aware of my own arousal.
But someone needed to inform my brain of that, because it felt so right.
