by E. L. Todd
“You’re right… I’ll call him tonight.” Her phone rested on the surface next to her drink, so the screen was visible when it lit up with a phone call. It vibrated on the table and made a loud clanking noise.
I spotted the name on the screen.
Finn.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I need to take this.” She took the call and held it to her ear. “Hey, honey.”
I could hear Finn’s voice over the line, deep and masculine. “Sorry I didn’t call you back yesterday. I was stuck at the hospital for an extra three hours. Had three ambulances come in at the same time, and we were understaffed.”
Why did this man have to be so sexy? His voice was naturally seductive, and he was a hero every single day of his life. He was incredible. And hearing him speak to his mother with such respect was a turn-on too.
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” she said. “I can only imagine how hectic it can get. What are you doing now?”
“Just stopped by the store. Ran out of laundry detergent.”
“You know I can do your laundry whenever you need, honey.”
Finn chuckled over the line. “I know, Mom. But you did my laundry for eighteen years. You’ve paid your dues.”
I didn’t want to sit there and listen to this.
“I’m actually having lunch with Pepper right now. We’re at the Cheesecake Factory. Would you like to join us?”
No.
“I’m just a few stores down from you. That’s ironic.”
“Is that a yes?” she asked excitedly.
“Sure.”
“Alright, I’ll see you soon.” She hung up then looked at me. “You don’t mind if Finn joins us, right?”
Yes, I did mind. “Of course not.”
“Great. I saw him so little during his ten years in the military that I try to soak up every moment I have with him. When he first enlisted, I was so crushed. Watching your little boy go off to war like that…it’s the worst feeling in the world. But when I see who he’s become, I feel so proud.”
“You should be proud.” He was the most honorable man I’d ever met. He was a war hero, and not once did he brag about it. He was always respectful of everyone around him, but he wasn’t afraid to put someone in their place when they deserved it. He was protective of the people he cared about. He really was the perfect man.
“I am,” she said. “It’s too bad you never really got to know him until recently. He missed your wedding and all the holidays…”
“I’ve gotten to know him since he got here, and I admire him. He’s such a contrast to Colton.”
“Yes, they are very different.”
Finn walked inside a moment later, wearing jeans and a tight t-shirt. Every woman in the bar turned his way the second he made his presence known. Eyes grazed over his muscular arms and his tall height. The man was so ripped that I wondered if he was unhealthy for having such little body fat. He spotted us, and his eyes settled on me.
Even with his mother in the same room, he looked at me the way he always did.
Like I was his.
His mother rose and hugged him. “Honey, I’m so happy to see you.” She hugged him tightly, just the way a mother hugged her son on the first day of kindergarten.
He allowed her to squeeze him as much as she wanted. He patted her on the back gently, not embarrassed by his mother’s affection. “I’m happy to see you too, Mom.” When he pulled away, he righted her chair for her and helped her sit down.
I’d never seen him pull out the chair for anyone, not even me.
This man was killing me.
He came around the table and took the seat beside me.
I could smell his scent the second he was near, feel his masculine presence flood my veins. My heart started to slam into the walls of my chest as my nerve endings fired off in excitement. His arm brushed against mine as he got comfortable.
I hoped it wasn’t obvious to his mother how attracted I was to her son.
He turned to me, and it was one of the few times he addressed me by my name. “Hey, Pepper.”
It felt weird not hearing him call me baby. I definitely preferred the nickname over my actual name—at least on his lips. “Hey…”
“Pepper and I were just talking about Colton,” his mother said. “I’ll give him a call tonight to smooth things over. I just needed some time to adjust to everything. Losing Pepper is the hardest part of all this. I want her to move on and be happy with a new man…but I don’t want to let her go either.”
Finn grabbed his menu and looked at the options as he spoke. “I don’t want to let her go either.”
4
Colton
I kept staring at Finn on the other couch.
Because he actually had a shirt on.
Since the day we’d moved in together, that had not happened. Regardless of the weather or the company, he always chose to go shirtless. Seeing him fully clothed was just weird. “What’s with the shirt?”
He kept his eyes on the TV.
The doorbell rang.
“That’s why.” He turned off the screen then rose to his feet. “You have a date coming over?”
“If I had a date, my shirt would definitely be off.” He walked to the front door then returned with my mother in tow.
“Mom?” I rose to my feet, surprised to see her show up unannounced.
Finn stepped away. “I’ll be in my room…”
I stared at my mom in surprise, shocked she would stop by without calling first. Judging by the remorse in her eyes, she was there to make amends.
I was relieved that this was finally over, that she would be my mom again. “Hey…”
She came into the living room and took a seat. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I want to apologize for the way I reacted. Your father is sorry too. It was so much information to process at one time, and I just couldn’t handle it.”
“I know, Mom.”
She patted my thigh. “We couldn’t care less about who you love or who you want to be with. It doesn’t make a difference to us at all. Do whatever makes you happy. Life is so short, so be honest to yourself.”
“Thanks…” I wish she’d said this weeks ago, but late was better than never.
“Losing Pepper was so hard for me. I always worried one of you boys would marry a psycho girl…and then you brought home Pepper. She’s lovely. Absolutely perfect. She’s such a part of our family that I can’t picture life without her.”
“Maybe we can get Finn to marry her, then. Keep her in the family.”
She chuckled. “Not the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” She looked around the living room before she turned back to me. “This is the first time I’ve seen his new place. It’s very nice. I find it hard to believe that he picked out everything.”
“Pepper did, actually.”
“See what I mean?” she said with a chuckle.
“But we aren’t going to lose her, Mom. She’ll always be in my life. We love each other too much to let go.”
She smiled, but it was in a painful way. “I know. It just won’t be the same when she remarries.”
I nodded slightly. “Yeah, I guess. But she won’t disappear either.”
“True. I was so upset when I imagined you hurting that wonderful woman. She’s already been through so much. We’re the only real family she’s ever had.”
“And we’ll always be her family,” I said. “No matter what.”
She patted my thigh again. “So…do you forgive me?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course, Mom.”
“Great. So…are you seeing anyone?”
“You really want to talk about this?” I asked incredulously. “You hardly asked that when I was straight.”
“Well, you were with Pepper for five years. That’s a big chunk of time when I didn’t have to ask. So…?”
“I’ve been kinda talking to this guy named Aaron, but I don’t think it’s going to go anywhere. I need to put myself out there more, but it’
s been difficult. I’ve been a little intimidated by everything.”
“You have a lot to offer, son. Nothing to be intimidated by.”
I smiled, relieved I had my mother back. “Thanks…”
She patted my arm. “Finn tells me you moved in because you quit your job. Have you found anything else?”
“I actually have a job interview tomorrow. It’s for an environmental group. I hope I get it because it’s something I’m really interested in. It’s been a while since I’ve had an interview, so hopefully I make a good impression.”
“You will. Just be yourself.”
“I wish I could be Finn. He could walk in and nail any interview—without being a lawyer.”
“That’s because he’s confident. Just be a little more self-assured. People notice those things.”
And all the women noticed Finn’s particularly attractive traits.
“I had lunch with Pepper yesterday.”
“You did?” I asked in surprise. She never mentioned it to me.
“Yeah, it was nice to catch up. She assured me that she’ll always be in our lives and that she was in a good place. Colton, you’re very lucky to have a woman like that love you. She’s so loyal to you. That’s rare.”
If I had been married to someone else, my divorce would have been completely different. I couldn’t imagine anyone else being so compassionate and understanding. But Pepper treated the situation selflessly, caring about me instead of her. “I know…she’s the perfect woman. I just hope she finds the perfect guy.”
“She will, honey. All in good time.”
I walked in the front door, spotted my brother at the kitchen table, and did a terrible version of the moonwalk across the hardwood floor.
Finn watched me, a slightly bored look on his face. “I’m guessing the interview went well.”
“Yes.” I did a spin in place then gave him two thumbs-up. “So good, they hired me on the spot.”
“That’s awesome, man.” He smiled slightly, as wide of a smile as a man like him could make. “I told you everything would fall into place. So, when are you moving out?”
I gave him an angry look. “That’s all you care about?”
“I said congratulations, and I meant it. But yes, I care about you moving out.”
“I don’t get my first paycheck for a couple of weeks, and I’ve been blowing through my savings like crazy.”
“On what?” he asked. “Because you don’t pay rent or utilities here.”
“When I had to spend double on utilities and food when I had a roommate…”
His eyes softened when I made the comeback. “Fine. You can stay a little longer.”
“I wish I could get my old apartment back. I wonder if that hunk wants a roommate.”
“I doubt he wants a roommate who’s going to spy on him in the shower.”
“Hey, I would not do that.”
Finn raised an eyebrow.
“I mean, I don’t think I would do that.”
Finn shut his laptop. “You made up with Mom, and now you’ve got a great job. Seems like everything is falling into place for you.”
“Now I just need to get laid.” I pulled out my phone and called Pepper. “I got it!” I shouted into the phone before she even had the chance to say anything.
“Really?” she said in excitement. “Oh, that’s so great. I’m happy for you.”
“Let’s go out tonight. Hit the bars. I want a drink in my hand and a guy in my bed tonight.”
She chuckled. “Ambitious, huh?”
“Very. I’ll tell Zach, and you tell the girls.”
“I’m on it.”
I hung up and turned to Finn. “Want to go out with us tonight?”
He eyed his paperwork. “I’ve got a lot of stuff to do.”
“Come on, celebrate with me. Your brother is getting his life together. We need to commemorate the occasion.”
“You don’t need to invite me just because we’re living together. I understand you have your own friends and your own life.”
I raised an eyebrow, having no idea what that meant. “Huh? I consider you to be a friend too. I’m glad that we’re closer now. I would have invited you even if I lived somewhere else.”
Finn tilted his head slightly. “Really?”
I’d never heard Finn express an ounce of doubt about who he was. He didn’t care what people thought of him, especially me. “You’re, like, the coolest person I know. Of course I want to hang out with you. And since I don’t have to compete with you for girls, that makes it a little easier.”
He finally chuckled. “Alright, you convinced me. But I’m not the coolest person you know.”
“Then who is?” Zach was awesome, but there wasn’t anything special about him.
He rose to his feet and stacked his papers together. “Pepper.”
We met everyone at the bar. I was dressed in a collared shirt and dark jeans, but Finn didn’t own anything nicer than a t-shirt so that’s what he wore. He didn’t need anything nicer because his rugged good looks and masculine tattoos did all the work for him.
We walked inside and found them sitting at our favorite booth in the corner. Zach was there, sitting close to Stella like he was still working on sealing the deal with her. They were always back and forth. She played games, and Zach always fell for her ploys. Tatum wore a gold dress with nude pumps, her hair pulled back slightly. But Pepper looked like a pinup model in her little black dress and wavy dark hair. Skintight, the dress showed all of her curves and left nothing to the imagination. In silver heels with a matching clutch, she was hogging the attention of every single guy in the building.
When Pepper saw me, she got out of the booth first and opened her arms to me. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks.” I moved into her embrace and hugged her tightly. “They offered me the job on the spot. I couldn’t believe it.”
“I can.” She pulled away and kissed me on the cheek. “When do you start?”
“Well, I have to do training all next week. And then I start next Monday.”
“Where’s your training?”
“Southern California. At first, I was excited to travel there, but then I realized I’m going by myself, so it won’t be that great.”
The excitement melted off her face. “So you’re going to be out of town for an entire week?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“I just… That’s a long time.”
I shrugged. “At least I’m getting paid for it, right?”
“Yeah…”
I moved to Zach next and hugged him. “You’re buying my drinks tonight, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” he said. “You deserve it.”
I hugged the girls then turned back to Pepper.
She was staring at Finn, neither happy nor sad to see him. It was just a stare, the same kind he gave to people, a look that was moody and unreadable.
He gave her the same stare in return—like he loved and hated her at the same time.
5
Pepper
I felt Finn stare at me, his eyes roaming over my curves in my dress like he didn’t give a damn if anyone saw. When his eyes met mine, that same ferocity was in his gaze, like he was pissed at me, when I’d done nothing to deserve his anger. It always seemed to be that way with us, like we were in a twisted game.
He stepped toward me, and his fingers brushed against my wrist. “Can I get you a drink?”
It was a harmless question, but with that deep voice and the slight shadow on his jaw, it seemed far from innocent. “Martini.”
He moved to Stella and Tatum. “Girls, you want anything?”
Stella was still mad about his rejection, so she brushed him off. “There’s plenty of other men in here who would be happy to get me a drink.”
“Like me.” Zach leaned in. “I’ll get you whatever you want, baby.”
“Lemon drop,” she answered.
Zach took off like a dog fetching a ball.
F
inn turned to Tatum as if nothing had happened. “What about you?”
“I’ll have a martini too,” she answered.
“Coming right up.” Finn turned away.
“Whoa, what about me?” Colton asked. “I’m the man of the hour, right?”
“You’re already living with me rent-free,” Finn said as he glanced at his brother. “I’ll tell Zach to get you something.” He walked to the bar, looking like a walking orgasm. Every woman in the bar was aware of him the second he walked inside. I was hoping he wouldn’t come out tonight because I didn’t want to watch him leave with someone else.
But now that Colton was going to be gone for an entire week, completely out of the state, I feared that even more. Finn would be home alone with no witnesses keeping tabs on him. And I would be alone too.
We’d been struggling to restrain ourselves lately. Like two horny teenagers waiting for their parents to go out of town, once the opportunity presented itself, we would be too emotional to think straight.
I couldn’t let that happen.
Zach returned from the bar far quicker than Finn did. “Colton, if you really want to get laid tonight, maybe we should go to a gay bar.”
“I love gay bars!” Stella threw her hand in the air. “So much more fun than regular bars.”
I didn’t hate the idea—especially since there would be fewer women to hit on Finn. When I looked at the bar, I already spotted a woman sinking her claws into him, her hand resting on his forearm as he waited for the bartender to finish making our drinks.
The man couldn’t go anywhere without pussy being thrown at him.
God, it was annoying.
It was even more annoying that I cared. “I’m always down for whatever.”
“What do you think, Colton?” Tatum asked.
He shrugged. “I’ve never been to a gay bar. That could be fun.”
“I say we do it.” He turned to Stella. “But I don’t want the dudes to think I’m available, so I’m gonna need to rub up on you a little bit.”