by Layla Hagen
“Okay, I’ve changed my mind. I won’t have any of that.”
“Why not?” I climbed another step, which put me level with her.
“Because I might turn around and jump you.”
I’d never met anyone so sassy.
“I don’t have anything against that,” I assured her. “I promise I can carry you up these stairs no problem.”
I thought that would make her blush. Instead, she touched my right bicep with her thumb and forefinger, then the left one.
“Yeah, these seem rock solid.”
Winking, she turned around, walking up the stairs quicker than before.
Smiling, I followed her.
She took her time in each of the rooms, especially in the main one, heading straight to my piano, walking around it, touching the edge. I’d love to bend her over it, strip her naked, and sink inside her. A vivid image popped in my mind, and I had to make a concerted effort to focus on her words.
“So, I think if you record any clips of you rehearsing, or just being in this room, it would make fans happy. I’d say start doing this, and then you can go from there, depending on the fans’ reaction.”
“Sounds good.”
Something in my tone must have clued her in that my thoughts were elsewhere, because she turned around.
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything. Perhaps she could tell we were toeing on a fine line. It wasn’t just the physical attraction that made it so hard to keep myself in check. I liked talking to her about almost anything.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come after all.” Her voice was shaking lightly.
I didn’t even care about the damn party. All I wanted was an excuse to spend more time with her, but I didn’t want her to do anything she wasn’t comfortable with.
“Your call, Isabelle. I understand if you want to put some distance between us. But I really hope to see you at the party.”
Desire was in her eyes, and I kept mine on hers so she knew exactly what my intentions were. Then she asked, “Who knows how things might escalate though?”
When I answered, my voice was a whisper. “Yes. Who knows?”
I had it bad for her.
Chapter Five
Isabelle
Doting on my brothers was one of the finest pleasures in life. Of course, they sometimes saw “doting” as “nagging,” but we didn’t have to agree on everything, did we? Besides, they were equally “doting,” so they couldn’t hold that over my head.
“Ohh, you’re picking me up. I feel pampered,” I said when they both showed up on my doorstep on Saturday morning.
We were going to a breakfast hotspot near Josie and Hunter’s house. Our sister had given birth five weeks ago, and she insisted we meet somewhere that wasn’t her house because she felt a bit trapped.
We Ubered to one of the trendiest breakfast places near her house, The Bakery. We’d gone there right after they opened last month, and Josie immediately declared she wanted to come back. The restaurant became an instant hit and the lines were long, but luckily, I knew one of the servers, Cooper. He was a fellow guide at the tour agency where I moonlighted, and he got us the table. I wasn’t sure, but I thought he had a crush on me.
I texted Josie, telling her we’d arrived while my friend Cooper led us to our table.
I studied my brothers as we sat down. They were busy studying Cooper. I barely held back laughter.
“Are you going out with him?” Dylan asked once Cooper was out of earshot.
“No. I know him from the touring agency. We’re friends.”
“Aha, riiight.” Ian sounded unconvinced.
Dylan sat up straighter, keeping his eyes trained on Cooper when he returned to take our order. He spoke in short sentences, using a clipped tone. He’d gone into what I called “alpha intimidation mode.”
Ian shook his head, clearly having as much trouble fighting laughter as I did. I ordered for Josie too, because she’d messaged back saying she was going to be a few minutes late and was starving already.
“Guys, leave poor Cooper alone. I’m really not romantically interested in him,” I said once we were alone again.
“Hey, I didn’t do anything,” Ian said. “Dylan’s the Neanderthal of the family.”
I wondered what they’d do if I told them who I actually was interested in. Ian would probably go into the same mode right away too. He liked to say that Dylan got all the Neanderthal genes, but I had enough proof growing up that that wasn’t the case.
Ian yawned.
“Late night again?” I asked him. “Work or conquest?”
“Not work,” Dylan answered for him.
“Okay, then I don’t want any details, brother dearest. Wait, except one. Was Dylan out with you too?”
Dylan cocked a brow. “Why would you think that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you can get back in the game with Ian as your wingman.”
Dylan glared at me. “I don’t need a wingman.”
Ian laughed. “He always says that. Personally, I think he’s afraid I’ll be stealing his conquests.”
“Ha! Like that’s ever happened,” Dylan replied.
“Nah, I can’t see that happening,” I cut in. “But Dylan’s a lone wolf. Always did like to do things on his own without even telling us.”
“Yeah, maybe asking for advice once in a while wouldn’t be bad. To avoid shooting myself in the foot, like I did with Lina.”
I sat up straighter. That was an unexpected answer. Dylan had been in a relationship with Lina for many years before she abruptly broke his heart. Unlike Ian, who’d always insisted he was a bachelor for life, Dylan only started saying that after the break-up. He’d never given us details though. I’d pestered him for months to open up, if not to us, then someone else he trusted. I hadn’t wanted to nag, but if there was one thing I’d learned in my career as a therapist, it was that negative experiences and emotions were best aired out in the open, either by talking or writing them down. Out with the shit, so we could make room for good emotions, give them enough space to fill our lives with happiness.
Was he finally taking my advice?
Ian and I exchanged a glance. He looked as surprised as I’d felt. I didn’t push though, afraid Dylan would put his ice wall up around himself again.
“I asked her to marry me. She said she wasn’t ready. That she wasn’t sure she wanted to spend her life with me.”
Oh shit, shit, shit!
“Fuck!” Ian exclaimed, which summed up my thoughts. But something in his expression also told me this wasn’t completely news to him. Had he found out from other sources?
“I’m so sorry, Dylan,” I said sincerely. “But... honestly, I’m not sure what advice we could have given you. If she wasn’t sure after you’d been dating for so many years... Just know this. It’s not your fault. And it doesn’t mean you can’t be happy with someone else.”
Dylan snorted. “Not going to happen. I’m enjoying being a bachelor.”
Oh, if I saw Lina, I’d give her a piece of my mind. I rolled my palms into fists under the table, hoping Dylan couldn’t see how pissed I was. Yeah, the Neanderthal gene really did run deep in our family.
Josie arrived with Sophie, and I swear my heart exploded with joy. She was so tiny and pink. Josie carried her in a sling around her, and I only saw her tiny nose sticking out, as well as the little hands and feet.
Josie had cut her hair into a bob right before giving birth, but it had grown a little bit already. The look absolutely suited her; the brown tresses framed her face beautifully.
“My God, she’s cute,” I exclaimed. I wanted to hold her, but I was terrified of babies when they were so little. They looked breakable.
Ian seemed to be thinking along the same lines I was, but Dylan was brave. He’d even held little Sophie at the hospital right after her birth.
“Sis, are you sure it’s okay for you to be out and about with Sophie?” Dylan asked, voice full of concern.
“O
f course, I checked with the doctor. She sleeps most of the time anyway. At least during the day. The nights are more complicated.”
Our server brought the food right away.
It wasn’t Cooper. My brothers had successfully intimidated him.
I tried to imagine how Brayden would react if my brothers gave him the same treatment, and I was certain he wouldn’t be one bit intimidated.
“I’m starving,” Josie exclaimed. “But then again, I’m always hungry these days. And still craving impossible things. Lucky for me, my husband succeeds at everything he puts his mind to.”
“Like giving you and Sophie absolutely everything you want?” I asked.
“Exactly.”
“A man after my own heart.”
We’d ordered mushroom omelets, mashed avocado with tomatoes, black bean pasta, and eggs Benedict. They made their own bread here, and the wafts of nuts and raisins made my mouth water.
“Why are you two looking so intently over there?” Josie asked Ian and Dylan.
“Our server’s interested in Isabelle. So we’re interested in him,” Dylan said smoothly.
“Or, well, our former server. He seems to be avoiding us now,” Ian added.
Josie stopped in the act of cutting her omelet. “My God, so much testosterone,” she said.
“They’ve toned it down now. It used to be a lot worse when I was in high school,” I explained. Josie was older than us, and she’d moved to New York to a boarding school when she was in high school. Though she’d visited often, she’d missed out on a lot of things, such as Ian and Dylan’s overprotectiveness where I was concerned.
“But I do think we’re entering a new era where these two will channel some of their protective instincts toward Sophie,” I said.
Ian laughed. “Doesn’t mean we can’t annoy you two as well.”
I grinned, helping myself to some eggs Benedict from Ian’s plate.
“Hey, don’t steal my food!”
“Payback for being annoying,” I teased.
Dylan and Josie started laughing, and before long, Ian and I joined them too.
It took me right back to eating breakfast at our parents’ home as kids. We’d had laughing sessions, which I’d insisted upon, because I’d read in a magazine column that laughter had a therapeutic effect. I’d been a bit bossy even as a kid.
“What’s everyone up to?” Josie asked.
“Business as usual,” Ian replied. “We’re successful businessmen by day, Casanovas by night.”
Dylan winced. “Casanova, really?”
Ian rolled his eyes. “Oh, lighten up.”
“I actually have a fun new project,” I announced, “with the band GreenFire. They want me to do some psychological profiling of them and their fans to see what would appeal to their market.”
“Holy shit,” Ian exclaimed. “That’s huge.”
“They’re a great band,” Dylan said.
Both my brothers were huge fans.
Josie batted her eyelashes. “When can you introduce me to them?”
“I don’t think I can. They made me sign an NDA, but I did tell them I needed to tell my family.”
Josie narrowed her eyes, and I knew she was putting two and two together. She was a lawyer, but my sister could have been super successful as a detective too.
“Wait a second. The party you’re going to tonight is connected to them?”
I nodded in excitement. I’d decided to go after all, and after perusing my closet for a suitable outfit, I realized I needed something new. So this morning, I texted my group of girls. Josie had happily agreed to go shopping with me, as did Tess and Skye, her husband’s cousins and Josie’s best friends. Laney, my best friend, was coming too.
“And you’re sure you can’t sneak me in?” Josie was still batting her eyelashes.
I giggled. “You and Sophie?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m a mom now. Supposed to be all serious and a grown-up.” Although she made it sound like a chore, the smile on her face gave her away, and I knew she loved being a mother.
And not for the first time, I wondered if I’d ever be that lucky...
***
After breakfast, Josie and I headed to Soho. We were meeting in front of Tess and Skye’s lingerie shop. They were both already waiting for us outside. Tess was wearing a white tennis dress with her hair styled a boho-chic mix of blonde and brown strands. Skye’s brunette hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She also brought her son, who was sleeping peacefully in his stroller. Laney joined us last, handing everyone scones. My best friend was a surgical resident, and she was married to Tess and Skye’s brother, Cole. She’d been a widow when she’d met him, and I could often see the sadness of her past on her like a shadow.
I was grateful that I hadn’t seen that shadow since Cole entered her life.
“I bought these on the way. Just two at first, but they were so delicious that I went back for more,” Laney exclaimed, tossing a strand of her straight brown hair behind her shoulder.
“Gimme, gimme,” Tess exclaimed, then took a bite. “Wow. Where did you buy this from? It’s delicious.”
Laney pointed to a small pop-up shop right at the end of the street, and Tess nodded excitedly.
The mood was relaxed and happy. I loved seeing my friends and family content with life.
How fortunate we all were — family meant everything to us. Which made me think of my clients. If they were a little bit happier when they left my office, I considered my job well done. I always told them I couldn’t help them solve all their problems or have all their answers, but I could help them focus on the good things in their life.
“So, Isabelle, what’s the occasion we’re shopping for?” Tess asked.
I wiggled my eyebrows. “I’m partying with a rock band, and nothing I own fits the occasion.”
Skye laughed. “Girl, you can just say you were in the mood for shopping.”
“Okay. That’s 100 percent true. I needed a reason for my guilty conscience.”
I had more clothes than anyone needed, but pretty things made me happy.
Skye said, “We can try the boutique that opened right across from us. They have very unique outfits.”
Everyone nodded, except Tess, who was looking at me inquisitively. She said nothing, but I was sure that was because she was analyzing me.
Skye led us to a small shop called Le Fleur. On the entrance door were the names of different French designers written in white cursive letters. I’d never heard of any of them. The prices were not cheap, but the outfits were different from what I found at Nordstrom Rack and Macy’s. A beige dress made of linen and cotton caught my eye. It had a wood leather belt around the middle. I had no idea there was such a thing as wood leather.
“What exactly are you going for?” Tess asked.
Looking behind me, I grinned. All the girls were already picking out items for themselves.
“Oh, I don’t know. Something casual that I could wear on different occasions. The only rule is that I have to look gorgeous in it.”
“By any chance, did any of the guys catch your eye?”
I turned around fast. “How did you know?”
All the girls were looking at me.
Tess smiled proudly. “Instinct.”
Laney pouted. “How come they caught on? You’re my best friend.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Laney. I grew up in a big family. Picking up nonverbal cues was a vital skill,” Tess said nonchalantly.
“But I’m your sister, and even I couldn’t tell.” Josie sounded stunned.
“I might have had my poker face on because Dylan and Ian were with us. It’s habit. I don’t even think about it.”
“So, who is it?” Josie asked.
I pressed my lips together, shaking my head. “No, no. Saying his name out loud is going to make it sound more real.”
I might not have said his name out loud, but I definitely had Brayden on my mind. I enjoyed our shameless flirting.
But I was afraid that tonight would turn into more. I really didn’t think I could resist being around him and not act on this crazy attraction, even though I knew our lives were too different for us to even contemplate dating. Besides, his tour was going to start in a few months. I couldn’t lose my heart to him. What would I do afterward?
When I went inside the changing room to try on the clothes, I checked my phone, and my stomach fluttered. I had a message from Brayden!
Brayden: My sources tell me you’ve confirmed.
Isabelle: Sasha gave me away again?
I’d messaged her that morning.
Brayden: Of course.
Brayden: I’ll send a car for you. Besides, we have extra security guards today. Our drivers know their way in. And you’ll be more comfortable.
Isabelle: Wow, okay. Thanks!
I could Uber, but if he wanted to treat me like a princess, I wasn’t going to say no.
Brayden: I can’t wait to see you.
Isabelle: Just see, or flirt the panties off me?
Brayden: Both.
I leaned against the mirror in the dressing room, grinning.
Isabelle: Game on, Mr. Rock Star.
See? I couldn’t behave even when we were texting.
How on Earth was I going to behave when I saw him again?
Chapter Six
Isabelle
I felt like royalty when I slid into the back of the black BMW Brayden sent for me.
I was wearing my new attire and couldn’t stop fidgeting as I glanced at the back of the driver’s head. The car smelled faintly like sandalwood—like Brayden. Was this his personal car and driver? He did say he preferred to be driven everywhere, so all signs pointed to yes.
I’d bought Lars a present that morning, and I couldn’t wait to see his face when he opened it.
On the way to the cottage, I opened the Facebook app on my phone. The band had posted their first live video today. Lars was the one talking, since it was his birthday. They’d filmed in the rehearsal room, of which Lars did a small tour, explaining that they spent a couple days a week in there. I scrolled through the comments, trying to gauge the mood. I’d been right—fans were ecstatic at getting this little glimpse of the day-to-day life of their favorite band. Lars had then moved to the kitchen, showing them the corner where they usually ate breakfast and saying yogurt or cereal was his go-to every morning.