“There was nothing gross about her. She was …” Trey chuckled and held up his hands again at the storm brewing in his friend’s eyes. “Sorry.” He paused, because at least for the moment, they weren’t seconds away from brawling. They’d spent a lot of years fighting and wrestling with each other and the rest of Gavin’s brothers. Heath, two years younger than them, was a little more distinguished and hadn’t fought as often, but Nick, four years younger and currently deployed in Afghanistan, was a born fighter. Stetson, the youngest of the bunch besides the caboose, Austin, loved to fight more than he loved to eat. No wonder the kid had been so impressive at football, leading the state in sacks his senior year. Trey smiled at the memories of rolling around on the soft carpet of the Strongs’ living room: Mama scolding them not to hurt each other, Ella cheering for both wrestlers, and Cassandra usually being brought to tears because she didn’t want anyone hurt.
When enough time passed that Trey knew Gavin wasn’t going to volunteer his blessing, he pressed his advantage, or maybe his luck. “So we’re going to let Ella decide.”
“I never agreed to that,” Gavin fired back.
“You know how ticked she’d be if she thought you were trying to control her.”
Gavin rolled his neck around and blew out a breath. “Where’s Cassie when I need her? She’s so sweet, she’d be asking my advice and obeying exactly what I said.”
“I think you underestimate Cassie as well,” Trey said. “I know she’s been off on study abroad trips and humanitarian missions, and I was able to catch up with her in the Dominican Republic last year when she came to one of my rides with some friends. She’s still a sweetheart, but she was more than capable of putting my cameraman in his place when he got a little too flirtatious with her.” Interestingly enough, Cassandra had been every bit as beautiful as Ella, but she hadn’t lit a fire in Trey. He’d still thought of her as a little sister to protect and tease. Ella was in a completely different box, and he’d only flirted with her for a few minutes.
“Good. At least I’ve trained one of them right.”
“Ella’s even tougher than Cassie. She’s not going to date me if it’s not right for her.” Trey cringed at his own words. Please let it be right for her. Maybe he was living in the la-la land Gavin had scoffed at, thinking he could settle down, but he wanted that, and he especially wanted an incredible woman like Ella to be with night and day.
Gavin studied him for a few seconds, then nodded. “All right. You can d— … date my sister.” He cleared his throat as if getting rid of the painful sentence. “But if she’s not interested, you back off. And no matter what, you be respectful—no prolonged kissing or anything disgusting like that.”
Trey would’ve found his tough, self-assured friend having a hard time even saying the words date or kissing comical if desire hadn’t rushed through him at the thought of prolonged kissing with Ella. She was not only perfectly gorgeous and appealing; she’d always had a sass about her that he loved, and a positive, fun personality. She really could be the one for him.
He wanted to hug Gavin but knew now was definitely not the time. Well, there was never a good time to hug Gavin. “All right,” he agreed. “I’d better get going.”
“Me too. I promised Ella to have a bike ready for her.”
They fell into step back across the wide loft area above the open first floor and then down the grand staircase. Neither of them said anything, and Trey could still sense some tension from his friend, but he’d gotten approval to date Ella. That alone made him want to burst with excitement over the possibilities of the next few days. One long weekend to woo the gorgeous and impressive Ella Strong. He was definitely capable and more than willing. He grinned as he held the door for Gavin, but quickly wiped the smile off his lips when Gavin noticed and growled, “You haven’t gotten her to agree to date you yet.”
He hadn’t indeed. “I’ll ease into that one. Remind her that we’re friends first.”
“Friends I’m okay with.” Gavin slapped him on the shoulder—brief contact with people other than his family was usually okay—and took off for the rental shop. In the summer, it housed mostly mountain bikes, but it also stored hiking and biking gear and even equipment for spelunking, rappelling, and rock climbing. In the winter, it was full of skis, snowboards, and winter equipment. Trey loved this place—the entire valley, really. He smiled as he went to retrieve his own bike and meet with the group going on this next adventure. He could definitely see himself settling down in the valley that had embraced him as a skinny, under-loved preteen come to live with his uncle and aunt because his mom couldn’t handle him.
Now he’d seen the world and had loved each adventure, but he was ready for something more stable. The Strong family had always provided stability and happiness to him. Settling down with one Ella Strong sounded perfect to him. If only he could help her see how happy they could be together.
Chapter Three
Ella drove her car, with Austin sitting in the back and complaining that she wouldn’t let him sit shotgun because of stupid air bags, around the resort all the way to the west. Her eyes flitted to the bracelet on her left wrist as she gripped the steering wheel. Like the desperately in love girl she was, she’d put it on and planned to never take it off. Trey had given her a bracelet, just like she’d given him ten years ago. Did he really still have his? Did the bracelet mean anything to him?
She stopped at the gate, punching in the code that luckily hadn’t changed, then proceeded up the slot canyon that opened into the gorgeous smaller canyon where her parents’ home was. True, she hadn’t been home since Easter, but she was floored by the massive log cabin situated a respectful distance from her parents’ rambler home.
“That’s Gavin’s house?” she asked Austin.
“Yep. I get to live there now too. Isn’t it swee-eet?”
“It’s … huge.”
“Yeah. It’s our bachelor pad.”
They pulled into the circular drive, and Ella was impressed with everything from the freshly cut lawn to the curbing around flower gardens bursting with color and without a weed in sight. She especially loved the wraparound porch and all the windows. Not a blind in sight, either. Didn’t Gavin worry about women from the resort gawking through his windows? Yet this canyon was private, well marked, and protected by the gate and security cameras. The resort people had plenty of spots to explore without intruding on the owners’ privacy.
She climbed out of the car as Austin jumped out and said, “C’mon, I’ll show you around.”
“Let me grab my suitcase.”
Austin hopped up and down impatiently as Ella walked around, opened the passenger door, and grabbed her purse, her water bottle, and a smaller carry-on bag. She looked wistfully at her parents’ house as Austin tugged her up the sidewalk. How she wished she could be hugging her mama and joking with her papa right now. Was this illness more serious than Gavin had let on? Gavin definitely de-dramatized everything. Someone could be on their deathbed and he’d say they had a cold. After she went on the bike ride with Trey, she’d check in and see what her mama had to say about the quarantine and her papa’s health.
Austin flung the door open, and Ella’s eyes widened at the open floor plan and all the light the windows brought in, but she couldn’t help but cling to the memory of Trey basically flirting with her, checking her out, giving her the bracelet, and asking her to come on this bike ride. She was only here for a long weekend, but she wouldn’t mind the fulfillment of some fantasies where Trey was the hero. She smiled to herself and bit at her lip, touching the bracelet on her left hand.
“Cool, eh?” Austin bragged, spreading his arms wide.
Oh yeah, she was supposed to be checking out the house. She was glad it was just Austin around; Gavin would’ve noticed her starry-eyed expression. She glanced around. The entire main level was open with a large living area, kitchen, and dining area. Only the mudroom leading to the garage and the office to her right were separated from the o
pen space. There were so many picture windows or French glass doors that you could see clear through to the grassy backyard—complete, she noticed, with a swimming pool and a basketball court—and past that, to the forest and mountain slope behind the cabin. Wooden beams supported the upper story, and Ella thought the design was ingenious, with most of the main floor being open for two stories all the way to a pitched, vaulted ceiling high above. There was a huge balcony ringing the upper story, and doors led off of it, but the bedrooms must have been stacked on top of the four-car garage.
“Look, a fireman pole!” Austin yelled. She looked up. There was indeed a fireman pole, and Austin raced up the grand staircase to demonstrate how to slide down. “Cool, eh?” he repeated as he landed on the main level again.
“So cool.” Ella’s brow furrowed, remembering what he’d said as they’d gotten here. “You live here now?”
“Most of the time.” He shrugged his thin shoulders. “Mama’s busy with Papa all the time, and Gavin likes having me around. He’s my coach. We have a bro code, and he’s teaching me how to fight and be a man and all of that. Stuff Mama probably wouldn’t approve of.” He gave her an exaggerated wink.
Oh my, he was cute, and she doubted Mama or anyone told him no very often. Yet it broke her heart that her dad was doing so poorly that Mama would shift responsibility of Austin to Gavin. Plus, Gavin was incredibly busy running a multimillion-dollar resort. Was Austin basically raising himself?
“Do you want some treats? It’s Free Friday, so I gotta get lots in.” He grinned at her.
“You eat mine for me. I’ve got to change quick.”
“Will do, sis.” He headed for the open kitchen area with knotty cherry cabinets, a grayish-white granite countertop, and a rough-edged tile backsplash with the same color theme; the latter decorated the walls that weren’t glass. She absolutely loved Gavin’s house.
Carrying her small suitcase up the stairs, she called down to Austin, who already had a gallon of chocolate milk and a package of Oreos out on the counter, greedily pouring himself a glass so large she doubted he’d ever finish it. “Which bedroom is mine?”
“Oh!” Austin stood on his barstool and pointed. “The one that has the bed made.”
Ella chuckled and started ahead. There were four large bedrooms off of the main balcony. Sure enough, two of them did not have their beds made, and the one that did had a suitcase next to the bed and some other bags stacked on the bed. Boys. She’d been so impressed with this gorgeous house and how clean it looked. Apparently, that didn’t reach to the second story and bedrooms.
She walked into the fourth bedroom, and a soft sigh escaped. It wasn’t feminine by any means, but it was perfect. Large windows showcased the mountain behind her with all its lush trees and foliage. The furniture was made of barnwood, and the dark wood floor covered by a plush white rug. The bedspread was navy and white, and the walls were pale blue. With a few decorations, this place would have a nautical feel and remind her of her college days, when she’d escaped to the beach every opportunity she had. There was a spacious attached bathroom with a separate marble shower and a huge jetted tub. Everything was sparkling clean as if the maid service had recently been by. This place was nicer than even the suites at the resort. It was definitely not a bachelor pad, with the exception of Gavin and Austin not making their beds.
She rolled her suitcase into the bathroom and the attached walk-in closet, where she quickly found a tank top, some biking shorts, and her bike shoes. She hadn’t used these as much as she would’ve liked during college, but this summer she’d been able to get out on her bike a couple of times a week. She’d known before coming here to put her bike clothes at the top of the suitcase. Excitement rushed through her, partially for the bike ride, mostly to be around Trey again. Spending time with her lifelong crush was definitely not something she’d planned on for a weekend home.
As she stepped back out onto the balcony, the front door flung open and Gavin stormed in. Gavin was always determined, often in a hurry, but he seemed even more rash as he crossed the threshold.
“What the—” Austin cried out, flinging his hands and knocking one into the large glass full of chocolate milk. It sprayed the clean countertops, then bounced and hit the floor, leaving puddles and dousing the gorgeous cabinets as well.
Ella hurried down the stairs as fast as she could in the awkward biking shoes. She worried that Gavin would yell at Austin. This gorgeous house was impeccable and probably close to brand new.
“Sorry, bro,” Austin burst out. He scrambled across the counter, grabbing some kitchen rags lying there, and started mopping up the mess while basically sitting on top of it.
“It’s okay, bud. No worries.” Gavin rumpled their brother’s hair and set to work pulling more clean towels out to mop up the mess, getting some wet to wipe it clean, then going over the cabinets and floor again with a dry rag.
Ella had stopped and was staring.
“Help a guy out, would ya?” Austin called.
Ella smiled and grabbed one of the towels, wiping the counter clean, then rinsing it in the sink and wiping at it again.
Gavin glanced up. “Thanks.”
“Sure. You’re … surprisingly chill about your beautiful house getting destroyed.”
Gavin shrugged and focused on Austin, who was already refilling his glass of chocolate milk. “It’s just a house.” Gavin took all the dirty rags, bundled them up, and dropped them in the sink.
“Where’s the washing machine?” Ella asked.
“There’s a set in the mudroom, but each bedroom has their own washer and dryer in the closet.”
“Wow.” She must’ve missed that in her hurry to change. “This place is incredible, bro. How long ago did you finish it?”
“About six weeks. Just got the landscaping done days ago.”
“I love it.” She did find it strange that a single guy would build such a house, but maybe there was someone significant in his life. If he could build a house since Easter, maybe … “So, is there someone special in mind that you built this house for?” She winked.
Gavin’s gaze slid to Austin. The little man was dunking cookies and plunging them into his mouth. “Just my bro.”
Austin looked up and gave him a thumbs-up and a toothy grin. “Bros before girls,” he said.
“Oh, you did not just say that,” Ella said.
“Sticks before chicks,” Austin taunted.
“You are a little punk.”
Austin laughed. “Just kidding, sis. I love the ladies. I’d only put Gavin before them.”
Gavin grinned. “Good kid, eh?” He whirled on Ella. “Your bike’s waiting outside. You can ride it down to meet the group.”
“Oh, perfect. Thanks so much.” She started toward the door.
“Hey, can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.” She stopped and turned to her oldest brother. Gavin was always taking care of all of them. Such a great guy. She’d do anything he asked.
“Don’t let Trey flirt with you, and if he asks you out, please say no.”
“Excuse me?” Anything but that. Her dream man was finally stopping and taking notice of her, they were both here for the week with all kinds of exciting possibilities laid before them, and Gavin was asking her … No, not happening.
Gavin’s eyes flicked to the bracelet on her wrist before he glanced out the massive windows. “You know I love Trey like a brother, but you’re young and inexperienced and he’s dated the entire world.”
Wow. Both assumptions hurt. Then again, she’d seen through social media that he was probably right about Trey. “I am not young and inexperienced,” she began. “I’ve been away to college for four years. Do you think I just sat in the library every night?”
Gavin glanced at her again, a muscle working in his jaw. “I prayed that you did.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Gav, I really appreciate you being the tough, big brother who’s going to protect the entire family, but I’m a big girl. I ca
n make my own decisions.” And one of those decisions was going to be spending as much time with Trey as she could. He’d flirted with her and given her the bracelet. It had to mean something.
Gavin slowly nodded. “I know you can, and will, make your own decisions. I just …” He pushed out a breath. “Don’t want to see you hurt.”
Ella knew that was his motivation, and she didn’t blame him, but she still couldn’t tolerate being treated like a child. “Thanks for caring.”
“But if Trey asks you out?”
“I’m definitely going.”
“Look.” Gavin focused on Austin, who was obliviously dunking Oreos in his fresh glass of chocolate milk and shoving them in his mouth while he played on the iPad. How had that iPad avoided getting covered in chocolate milk a few seconds ago? “I’d trust Trey with my life.”
“But not with your sister?” she shot back at him.
“It’s not that I don’t trust him. I don’t think he would disrespect you or push any boundaries, but he’s six years older than you and has years of experience dating. He’s seen the world and dated most of the women in it. Do you really want to be another number to him? I’m sure he’ll treat you good, probably treat you like a princess all weekend, make you fall for him, and then he’ll head off to his next job and his next girl without looking back.”
Ella hated, hated the picture Gavin was painting of Trey. Yet in her gut, she was afraid it was probably accurate. Sure, she’d dated in college, but she’d never dated a man with the appeal and confidence that Trey had. She could sense that Gavin’s prophecy would absolutely come true. Trey would treat her amazingly—maybe she’d finally get those kisses she’d dreamt about since she was a teenager, and she’d most definitely fall head over heels for him—but it couldn’t possibly mean to him what it would mean to her. He’d seen too much, dated too many fabulous women; how could she possibly capture such a man’s heart like she’d role-played in her mind over and over again? A simple Instagram search of #treynelsonstunts would pull up page after page of different pictures of gorgeous women with their arms wrapped around him.
Don’t Date Your Brother’s Best Friend: Strong Family Romances Page 3