“Yes. You’re the best, Austin.”
Austin threw his arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely. “You are! Thanks for being my brother.”
Gavin gave a soft chuckle as he returned the hug. “It’s my favorite job.”
Austin drew back and said all maturely, “Okay, I know you need to go to work, but can we go do something this afternoon, just us bros?”
Gavin looked slyly at Trey and Ella. “You think we can leave these two unsupervised?”
“Yes,” all three of them said at once.
Gavin laughed. “Okay. I’ll go deal with the fires and emails at the resort, I’ll bring lunch from the resort restaurant for everybody, and then you and I will go up to the lake and go fishing.”
“Yes!” Austin’s eyes got big and he jumped into the air, pumping a fist. “Yes! I’m the best at fishing.” He turned to Ella and spread his arms as wide as he could. “I caught a fish this big last time … but it got away before we could get a pic.”
“Wow.” Ella gave an exaggerated look of surprise. “You sound exactly like all the best fishermen I know.”
Trey and Gavin hid their laughter.
Austin pushed at Gavin’s side. “Go work, quick, so we can eat lunch and go fishing.”
“I’ve got to clean up breakfast.”
“Trey’s got it,” Austin insisted. “His leg isn’t hurt anymore.”
Trey laughed. “For sure.”
“You and I can help,” Ella said to Austin.
“All right.” He sighed dramatically.
Gavin smiled and hurried up the stairs.
“I’ll help,” Austin said. “If you’ll promise to go swimming with me after we clean up.”
Trey liked the idea of swimming with Ella.
“I don’t want to go swimming again,” Ella protested. “Last night, I was frozen.”
“Not in the lake, you silly. We only jump in there on a dare.” Austin picked up some dishes and started toward the sink. “Gav keeps our pool at ninety. It’s like swimming in a hot tub. It’s so much fun. Please, El, please.”
Ella glanced at Trey. “What do you think?”
“I get to swim in a hot tub and see you in a suit? I’m in.”
“Watch it,” Gavin said, pumping back down the stairs.
Trey wiggled his eyebrows at his friend. “Have fun at work.”
“Be respectful of my sister,” he shot back.
Trey saluted him, and Gavin gave him a fist bump. Gavin knew Trey would treat Ella right, but thankfully he wasn’t pulling them apart anymore. Trey got to spend the entire day with Ella? He couldn’t imagine anything he’d like more. Crazy mountain bike rides, photo shoots, and mingling with fans didn’t stand a chance against Ella.
* * *
Ella rinsed off from her run and pulled her swimsuit out of her suitcase. It was a simple black one-piece, and in a flash she remembered one of Trey’s photo shoots in California a few weeks ago. Bikini-clad women had been lining the trails, cheering for him, then taking pictures with him after. So many different pictures of him filled her with jealousy that she’d finally had to close the app and considered deleting it.
She shook the memory from her head. Trey wanted to be with her, and he wouldn’t care what her suit was like. She had to trust him and forget about all the stupid social media.
She slipped into her suit and hurried from the room, almost running into Trey; he was waiting for her on the balcony, typing into his phone. He looked unreal in only his swim trunks. Ella sucked in a breath. Was this perfect man truly falling for her?
He glanced up at her and dropped his phone. It clattered on the wood floor and she winced, but Trey didn’t even seem to notice. He took a step closer, his gaze traveling over her. “El. Look at you … wow.”
Ella blushed. “Are you kidding me? You have bikini girls hanging all over you all the time, and you act like I’m something special?”
Trey’s eyes widened, and he shook his head. “I’ve never seen another woman who compares to how beautiful you are, Ella—not just outside, but in.”
Ella had never been the emotional type—that was her twin, Cassandra—but she was fighting to keep her lip from trembling and tears from spilling out at his sweet words. “Thank you, Trey.”
He took a step closer and his voice dropped lower. “Do you think Gav will curse me if we kiss in only swimsuits?”
“I think I’ll curse you if you don’t.”
Trey chuckled. Her breathing quickened as he gently grasped her upper arms and tugged her closer. Ella slid her hands along the firm muscles of his chest. Trey groaned and kissed her. This kiss was fierce, possessive, and made fire lick through her like an inferno. Trey’s hands moved around to the bare skin of her lower back, and he pulled her flush against him. Ella had never felt so close to a man, physically or emotionally. She wrapped her hands around his neck and clung to him, wanting the kiss to never end.
“Whatcha guys doing?” Austin asked from much too close.
“Holy crap!” Ella jerked away from Trey. He chuckled uneasily, and she fought to catch a full breath.
“Gav said I was supposed to shap-rone you and not learn how to kiss from you. Is this what he means?”
Trey reached out and took Ella’s hand, squeezing it gently. “This is exactly what he means,” Trey told Austin.
“Oh, okay. Stop your kissing!” he yelled before laughing. “That’s what Gav said to say. Come on, let’s swim!” He dodged off down the stairs.
It was all Ella could do to not grab Trey and start kissing again. She’d never felt anything as incredible as his kisses and his strong body holding her close.
He leaned in and she thought he might have the same intention, but he said in a rough voice, “No kissing in swimsuits, ever again. That has to be a rule.”
Ella wanted to kiss him right at this moment. Had that kiss affected him as much as it had her? Were they going to make rules together? That sounded like becoming a couple, which was exactly what she was hoping for.
She wanted to ask him, but he tugged on her hand and pointed out the two-story rear windows where deep blue water sparkled, outlined by concrete and then a green grass border. “Little man knows how to open the pool cover, I take it?”
“Yikes.” Ella hurried down the stairs with Trey. They rushed through the main level and out onto the rear patio.
Austin stood on the diving board, bouncing slightly. He wore floral swim trunks, and his skinny body looked adorable. He flexed and yelled, “Like my anorexic six-pack?”
Ella shook her head, laughing. “Where did you get that?”
“Working out with my best bro.” He grinned impishly. “Gav has a real six-pack; I have an anorexic one. Can I jump in now?”
“Go for it,” Ella called. “At least he waited,” she said to Trey.
Trey nodded.
Austin flipped off the diving board.
“Nice job,” Trey called when he surfaced.
“Thanks! Jump in!”
“We’re coming.” Ella glanced over at Trey. “I really like your six-pack. It’s not anorexic at all.” His muscles were beautifully defined but lean. He looked perfect to her.
Trey grinned and said, “I really like you.”
Ella opened her mouth to respond, but Trey lifted her off her feet, pulled her against his chest, and ran at the pool. Ella’s stomach swooped and she giggled as she bounced in his arms. Austin was cheering and laughing as Trey leapt into the deep end. The warm water embraced Ella almost as effectively as Trey’s arms.
They surfaced. He pulled her close again, then grabbed on to the side with one hand to keep them afloat. Leaning in, he softly kissed her, and the chlorine mingled with the peppermint taste of his delicious lips.
“No kissing!” Austin yelled, splashing them as he swam to the side to go off the diving board again.
Ella smiled, wrapping her arms around Trey’s broad shoulders. “I thought you said no more kissing in swimsuits.”
&
nbsp; “I figured we’d be all right with our little chaperone close by.”
“Really?”
“No. I actually can’t resist you, and I completely forgot about the stupid rule. Can you help me remember?’
Ella smiled and couldn’t resist as she kissed his bottom lip, then his top lip, then whispered against his mouth, “I’ll help you remember how good it feels to kiss me.”
Trey’s arms tightened around her. “Yes, you will.”
Austin screamed, “Cannonball!” and leapt almost on top of them. They were doused with water.
Ella smiled wryly. “Yeah, I think he’s got the concept of chaperoning down.”
Austin surfaced and laughed; then he asked, “Will you play sharks and minnows with me?”
“Sure,” Trey said. He lowered his voice and said to Ella. “Our chaperone’s great, but this afternoon I get you all to myself.”
Ella’s stomach filled with delicious warmth that surpassed the hot water. This afternoon. She was glad Gavin wasn’t still counseling her to guard her heart from Trey, because her heart was already a goner.
Chapter Twelve
Trey had a lot of fun playing with Ella and Austin in the pool throughout the morning. They showered, played some card games, and then ate lunch with Gavin. Around two, Gavin and Austin had their backpacks stuffed with gear and were finally ready to head to the lake.
“You gonna be bored without us?” Austin asked as Trey and Ella walked across the backyard with them.
It was a beautiful day, close to seventy, and Trey decided he would see if Ella was okay with staying out in the backyard. He wanted to just kiss her until the sun set tonight and rose again tomorrow, but the scare of how invested he’d become in the kisses while wearing only swimsuits so quickly told him he needed to tread carefully. He’d lost track of how many women he’d kissed, but he’d never felt his emotions and desires flare almost instantly, and he could easily lose the self-control he prided himself on. That wasn’t going to happen, especially not with pure, amazing Ella.
“So bored,” Ella drawled, winking at Trey, “but take your time. I want you to fish until you run out of daylight, because I know how much you love it.”
Gavin rolled his eyes at Ella and said to Austin, “We catch them, they have to clean them and fry them, right?”
“Yes, sir, trout fried in lots of butter, yum!”
“I don’t remember agreeing to that deal,” Ella protested.
“Please, Ella, please. I love me some fried fish, but I hate their yucky guts until they’re cooked.”
“I’ll help you clean them and fry them,” she conceded.
“All right. I guess it’s the best we’re gonna get. Let’s go, bro.” Austin gave Ella and Trey impulsive hugs, then trotted up the trail.
Gavin tilted his chin up to them. “Make good choices.”
Trey chuckled. “I’m planning on it.”
“Good.” Gavin waved and hurried after Austin.
Trey turned to Ella. “Alone, finally.”
She smiled sweetly up at him. “Now I want you to kiss me until you get tired of it.”
Trey arched an eyebrow and traced his fingertips along her jawline. “I’ve got news for you, lady,” he said, quoting Austin, “kissing you is good for me.” His voice lowered. “And I will never get tired of it.”
Ella ran her hands along his shoulders, making his stomach fill with warmth. “We’ll see.”
Trey framed her face and bent down close. Tenderly, he kissed her soft lips. He tried to take it slow, but the passion he felt for her and from her quickly overwhelmed him. He ran his hands down her back and cradled her close against him, kissing her over and over again and losing track of time or rational thought.
Eventually, when his neck hurt from bending down and his knee hurt from standing so long, he had to pull back and catch his breath. Ella was also pulling in quick puffs of air. She was so beautiful, he wanted to keep kissing her, but he took her hand and walked around the pool, settling next to her in a comfortable outdoor couch.
“Already tired of kissing?” Ella teased. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips looked swollen.
It was all Trey could do to trace her lips with his finger, place a chaste kiss on them, and then pull back. “Never, but I promised Gavin I’d make good choices.”
Ella bit at her lip and glanced up at him from beneath lowered lashes. “You’ve been with so many women. Am I really that tempting to you?”
“Dated, not been with,” Trey corrected. “Big difference.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “Good point.”
Trey settled back against the cushion and held her hand; pulling her close right now would not be wise. “I’ve dated a lot, Ella, but you are definitely something special. Truly, I’ve never felt this way about anyone.” His voice got husky and he had to clear his throat before repeating, “Never.”
Ella threw herself against him and hugged him fiercely. “Thank you, Trey.”
“For?” He grinned at her impetuousness. Holding her close, he savored her peaches-and-cream scent and promised himself he’d stay in control, but he was still going to enjoy holding and kissing her.
“For you.” She pulled back slightly and stared at him. “For being with me.”
Trey grasped her hands and said earnestly, “I know we just reconnected yesterday, but we’ve known each other for so long and I just feel this so deep. I want to be with you, Ella. I want to date you, get to know everything about you.” She gave him a watery smile and he hoped he wouldn’t make her cry, but he had to say this. “I know we’ll have to be apart more than we can be together for at least the near future, but do you think we can make a relationship work?” When she bit at her lip, Trey got a little concerned. “Do you want to be together?”
Ella nodded. “Yes, oh yes, Trey, I do!” Tears leaked out, and she brushed them quickly away. “Sorry, not trying to be the emotional woman, but if you knew how long I’ve waited to have you look at me like this, kiss me, ask me to be with you …” She glanced out at the woods and shook her head. “I wasn’t going to tell you that.”
Trey’s heart was thudding. Ella had been interested in him for that long? He remembered that when they’d been younger, she would sometimes stare at him, or Gavin would make a comment about Ella having a little crush on him, and of course there was the bracelet she’d given him when he left. Had that continued throughout high school and college? They hadn’t seen each other much in the past ten years. “You’ve been interested in me … for a while?”
Ella nodded quickly, still not looking at him.
“And I was too stupid and thick to notice?”
Ella glanced at him then, her dark eyes bright. “You shouldn’t have noticed me. I was way too young for you, and you treated me like a sister. Well, you were nicer than any of my brothers, but I knew you didn’t return my feelings and … Ugh!” She shook her head. “I should not be admitting all of this to you.”
Trey normally would’ve teased her about him being irresistible, but he could tell this was more than a young teenage crush. “Thank you for sharing with me,” he said cautiously. “How long have you … felt this way?”
She blinked at him, so beautiful and appealing. She was the irresistible one. He couldn’t believe he’d never noticed her in this way before yesterday. He’d always thought she was an adorable, fun, and sweet girl, but she was six years younger than him. He hadn’t really seen her in the past four years as she’d grown into the alluring woman before him, except in pictures or through stories from Mama.
“A long time,” she admitted. Blowing out a breath, she studied the pool cover. “When we were little, you were like my hero. You were always so nice to me, and you and Gav were both so much bigger and tougher than the rest of us, so I looked up to you. I guess I got interested in boys a lot younger than most, and I started daydreaming about you and fancying myself in love with you. You were the hero of every romance novel I read. It killed me when you were in high sch
ool and dating different girls.”
“But you would’ve been, like, eleven or twelve.”
“I know. I’m not saying it was logical, a little girl’s fantasies.” She pulled her hand from his and wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I should not be admitting any of this to you.”
Trey tried to smile reassuringly. He didn’t want to push her away, but a twelve-year-old Ella daydreaming about him was a lot different from this gorgeous, mature twenty-two-year-old woman daydreaming about him. “You can tell me anything,” he said instead of admitting to his thoughts. “Just tell me you still daydream about me.” He winked.
She nodded soberly. “Don’t get all cocky about it,” she warned, and Trey smiled at her fire. “I dated a lot in high school and college. It’s not like I sat home on weekend nights watching your YouTube videos and daydreaming about this day happening.”
“That’s good,” he said, though unexpected jealousy reared in him at the thought of her in another man’s arms. “But nobody could compare to me, right?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Unfortunately for me, no.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close.
“No other man would tease me and make fun of me. They’d be thrilled to be the superstar of my daydreams.”
“Oh, I am. Believe me, I am. What about your night dreams?” His voice deepened. “Am I the superstar there too?”
Ella finally smiled. “Unfortunately for me, yes.”
“Unfortunately?” he protested. “Any dream with me in it must be fabulous.”
Ella had basically admitted that no man had ever compared to him. It was a huge ego boost, but it was also a reassurance that they could have a lasting future. If she’d truly wanted him since she was a child, she wouldn’t be giving up on them, even if a long-distance relationship was tough. He’d dated enough to know that what they had between them was incredible. She was the one for him, and he’d never give that up.
“Oh, they are.” Ella braced her hands on the cushions beside him, leaned up, and kissed his cheek. “But not nearly as fabulous as the real thing.” She brushed her lips across his, then lingered on his other cheek. Then she slowly kissed her way down his neck to where his pulse was hammering out of control. She smiled up at him, obviously knowing she was in complete control here.
Don’t Date Your Brother’s Best Friend: Strong Family Romances Page 12