by Q. Malone
She’s still hung up on Matt. Ah, there it was. The one thing standing in his way. She still had a thing for his brother.
Matt hauled the last box onto his truck and slammed the door. “That’s the last of it. I guess I finally get to start my new life.”
Jase crossed his arms and regarded his brother. “I guess so. I’ll checkin later when I know my schedule, and we can talk about your bachelor party.”
“Yeah about that. I don’t want you to do it,” Matt said.
“Why the hell not? I’m the best man. The best man is supposed to plan the bachelor party.”
“Yeah, usually, but not when the best man is you. Look, you haven’t got it in you to do it right. I happen to like strippers and a few recreational drugs. You certainly won’t have any drugs there, and as far as strippers, you’d likely get the ones who only dance with no extras. And I want a real party.”
“You’re serious, right now?” Jase gnashed his teeth. Matt did have a point. There was no way he was going to throw that kind of bachelor party, but he could manage some strippers and a big baller weekend in Vegas or Miami. He tried to remind himself that this was classic Matt, pushing his buttons for the fun of it, to see if he could make Jase compromise who he was. Which apparently was not the fun guy. “If I don’t plan it, who’s going to?”
“The rest of the groomsmen have it handled. All you have to do is show up.”
Whatever. It was Matt’s party. He could do whatever the hell he wanted. “Fine.”
“Good. Shit, maybe it’ll inspire you to have some fun. You’re too uptight.”
Jase rolled his eyes. “You know, Matt, you wouldn’t be so hard to get along with if you just stopped being an asshole.”
“You’re not the first person to tell me that, and you probably won’t be the last.” Matt grinned, but then quickly sobered. “In all seriousness though, I saw the way you looked at Megan.”
Jase squared his shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He was not going to get into it with Matt here in Megan’s’ driveway.
“Yeah, sure you don’t.” Matt nodded noncommittally. “But I’d be cool if you wanted to sleep with her. Shoot, it’s not like I’m hittin’ that any more. I gotta tell you though, I’ve had better.”
Jase’s fists balled up of their own accord. “Matt. Now would be a good time to shut the fuck up.”
Matt backed up with his hands up. “Whatever you say, little brother. I’m just trying to do you a favor.”
Jase didn’t need Matt getting in his head. When he and Megan got together he didn’t want Matt anywhere near the equation.
Chapter 4
“Okay, so can you act the whole thing out for me?”
Megan smacked Kyra Benson on the arm. “Some best friend you are.”
Kyra just laughed. “Oh honey, I’m sorry. When you called me to tell me, I just couldn’t believe it. Now I realize I missed the whole kiss too. I need full acting out, at least of the fall.”
“Just goes to show that you’re not allowed to leave me to my own devices. I clearly need a chaperone at all times. No more going away with Mr. Man and not taking me with you. Regaling you of my mishaps on the phone just isn’t the same.”
Kyra’s brow puckered. “So you’re telling me it was full-on ass over tea-kettle?” Kyra put a tequila shot down in front of her. “I mean that’s something out of a movie, Megs.”
Megan shook her head as she shifted on her bar stool. “Yeah, tell me about it. That shit would only happen to me.”
Kyra winced, horror apparent on her face. “I mean in front of Jase and that asshole-who-will-not-be-named.” Kyra swallowed her own shot. “I can’t even imagine. Well the underwear was cute right? Or weren’t you wearing any?”
Megan sputtered. “What? No, of course I was wearing underwear. A thong, but still, underwear. Okay, well, it was from Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy line, so it was barely there, but still. At least I wasn’t totally bare-assed.” Megan eyed her coworkers, making sure none of them were listening to their conversation.
They were all letting off a little steam at The Cantina afterhours, thanks to the project they’d just launched and she didn’t begrudge them their happiness and shots. She just wasn’t in the mood. She’d have gone home and opened a bottle of tequila on her own if Kyra hadn’t insisted that she had to come out.
“Okay, so that kiss?”
“Yes, but first, I’m sorry I interrupted the weekend. I was just in desperate need of my bestie.”
Kyra nudged another shot glass of clear liquid toward Megan. “Honey, times like that, it’s okay to interrupt sex weekend.” She signaled the bartender and ordered a round of margaritas.
Megan shook her head, laughing. “First of all, I’m so thrilled you have a boyfriend to be having sex weekend with, that I wouldn’t dare interrupt. Besides, I know you and Bryan don’t get that much time together with the preparations for the new release. I hated calling and interrupting whatever debauchery was going on with my tale of embarrassment and kissing and finding out my ex is getting married.”
“Just so you know, it was okay. Bryan only grumbled a little, but he was cool with it. He knows you’re my family. And it’s always chicks before dicks.” Kyra sipped her Margarita. “Okay, let’s leave kiss deconstruction for later and start with the marriage thing. How are we feeling? And by we, I mean you.”
Megan glanced dubiously at her glass before downing the contents. Fire erupted in her throat but the subsequent heat that spread through her body warmed her from the inside out. “Honestly, I feel okay, I guess. I don’t feel anything one way or another about him getting married. I’ve got a mild annoyance twinge, but that’s more like that thing where you see an ex and you want to be all loved up before they are.”
Kyra nodded. “Ah, the burn of competition.”
“At least I looked good. Well, I did before I was all exposed for the world to see. I have never felt more like Bridget Jones in my life.”
Kyra giggled. “Yes, but Bridge got her man in the end, didn’t she?”
“I guess you’re right. But I could have done without the humiliation.”
Kyra glanced over her shoulder. The moment she spotted her man, she grinned, and he winked back. Megan was so happy for her friend, especially since she’d been instrumental in getting Kyra together with their boss. Kyra had never looked happier.
“Okay, so that kiss?”
Megan flushed immediately.
“Holy cow. Are you blushing? Must have been some kiss.”
Yeah, it had been. But she hadn’t seen or heard from Jase since. Granted, she also hadn’t seen his car in the driveway. He was probably on back-to-back shifts at the hospital. As an ER doctor his schedule was erratic. “It was a hell of a kiss. But it’s been radio silence ever since.”
Megan brought Kyra up to speed, and her friend chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully.
“But he said that you should call him when you were ready to see him right?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, have you called?”
Megan winced. “Yeah, not exactly. What the hell am I going to say? Hey, can you come over to scratch that itch I’ve had going for a couple of years over you?”
“Sure, why not? I promise he’ll break speed records.” Kyra grinned.
“I dunno.” Megan shook her head. “I think it might have been a fluke kiss. You know one of those in the moment things that maybe you shouldn’t explore.”
“Why the hell not? Have you seen that man? I’m in love, and even I have to look twice. Those eyes, that physique, that jaw line. He looks just like that actor, Paul Walker. You’re nuts if you don’t call him. Give me one good reason not to call.”
“Dating two brothers? That’s more mess than I like.”
Kyra scoffed. “You’re always so brash and bold in real life, but when it comes to your love life you always make the wrong decisions, and you’re too cautious.”
“Well dating Matt taught me
to be cautious.”
“Jase isn’t Matt. That man has had a thing for you since he moved in next door. Throw the guy a bone and call him.”
“He’s not had a thing for me. If he did, he would have said something before now.”
“Are you blind? He’s always helping you around your place. The way he looks at you like you’re ice-cream on a hot Florida afternoon. That’s not being neighborly. Maybe he never said anything because he thinks you’re not over Matt.”
Megan wrinkled her nose. “But that’s stupid. I did the dumping. Why wouldn’t I be over him?”
“Dunno. You’ll have to ask Jase. But that would mean you also have to call him. Shit, give me your phone, and I’ll call him. Tell him I’m in labor or something.”
Megan giggled. “Hello, you’re not pregnant.”
Kyra shrugged. “So what? It’ll get him over here.”
Laughter bubbled out of Megan’s chest. “Fine, I’ll ask him to join us. Then you can see you’re wrong. That kiss was hot, but I’m not sure it’ll happen again. It was just way too awkward on Saturday.”
Kyra clapped her hands together and rubbed. “It’s not good to bet against me.”
“If I’m doing this, I’m going to need some liquid courage.” Tracing her fingers over her phone, Megan let impulse take over and sent a text she knew she’d eventually pay for.
***
Jase Collins entered the Cantina Bar looking for a mane of red hair. When he spotted Megan, she was drunkenly trying to climb aboard the mechanical bull.
When he’d received her text: I’m looking to get into trouble. He’d been a little surprised. He’d said to call, but he figured she’d think about it some more. But like hell he wanted her getting into any trouble with someone other than him.
When she spotted him, she beamed like it was Christmas morning, and he couldn’t help but grin back at her. She was stunning when she smiled like that with her eyes bright and dancing. He hadn’t seen too many of those smiles in a long while. She came running over and threw herself against him, wrapping her slender arms around his neck. Immediately his body went rigid.
“Jase, I’m so happy you could make it.” She tapped a hand on his chest.
He gritted his teeth against the onslaught of heat. “I’m glad you texted.” He eyed her up and down. “You doing okay?”
She giggled. “Yep, I’m perfect. Terrific in fact. Come meet my friends.” Megan dragged him through the crowd, holding his hand firmly in hers. She flagged down a couple and met them with a smile. “Bryan, this is Jase. Kyra, you two have already met.”
They all shook hands. As Megan leaned in to whisper something to Kyra, Bryan snagged Jase’s attention. “You got this? Or should Kyra and I make plans to take her home?”
Jase nodded. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take her with me.”
“Cool. I’ve never seen her like this before. I know Kyra’s starting to worry.”
Jase eyed the woman locked in conference with Megan. With her café au lait skin and long corkscrew curls, she was very pretty. And far more steady than her friend. She gave him a direct stare. “Hi, Jase.”
They’d met once or twice at Megan’s. “Hi, Kyra. How’s it going?”
She glanced at Megan. “About to get better, I imagine.”
Megan was pulled into another conversation from the group near their table, but she still didn’t let go of Jase’s hand. He could have released her, but he liked the way they fit together, her small, soft hand and her slim fingers twined with his. He was a goner in so many ways. The safest thing for all of them was if he got her home and into bed—without him. Then he’d take a cold shower. No, make that an ice bath.
Kyra kept studying him. “You know your brother is kind of a douche bag.”
He was so surprised by her directness that he couldn’t help but bark out a laugh. “Yeah, you might be right about that.”
“You don’t strike me as a douche bag. But then I was wrong about Matt when I first met him too. Are you a douche bag?”
“Kyra, that’s enough. Leave the poor guy alone,” Bryan said as he tucked her into his side and kissed her temple.
Jase shook his head. “Nah. It’s okay. She’s right about my brother. And I figure one douche bag in the family is enough.”
Kyra grinned at him as if he’d passed some kind of best friend meter or something.
***
It took Jase another thirty minutes before he could convince Megan it was time to go home and another twenty minutes for them to get to their tidy neighborhood on the north side of town. When they pulled onto their street, he slid a glance at her over the console. She was fast asleep.
Jase pulled into her driveway and inhaled deeply. He could do this. All he had to do was drop her off, then he could go to bed—at his place—alone. One of these days his fascination with her was going to be the death of him.
Megan stirred in the passenger seat. Her lids fluttered open, and she smiled. “Thank you for bringing me home.”
Jase cleared his throat. “No problem.”
Her pink tongue peaked out to pass over her lips, and he nearly groaned. He needed to get away from her before he did something stupid. “Now, let’s get you inside. I’m sure you’re ready for this day to be over.”
She rolled her head on the headrest to stare out the window and muttered. “How did I end up with the crappy brother? I should have ended up with you.”
The breath caught in Jase’s throat. She’s drunk. Don’t read anything into it. Just get her home. He got out and jogged around the front of the car. When he reached the passenger side, she already had the door open and was leaning precariously out of it.
“Whoa, easy there, Megs.”
“I got it. I’m not entirely helpless. I can make my way out of a door, you know.” Righting herself, she stepped out and slammed the door behind her. The tear of fabric and thunk of heavy metal settling into place pierced the quiet night air.
With a shriek, Megan whirled around. “My skirt. Oh my God.” She unsuccessfully tried to cover her now mostly bare ass with her hands.
Jase forced his jaw shut. He would not laugh at her. His shoulders shook. Well, at least not yet, not while she could still take a swipe at him. She teetered again, and Jase scooped her up, carrying her over his shoulder and she didn’t complain.
It wasn’t until he laid her on her bed that she spoke again. “Jase, I need your help with my clothes.” She slurred.
Fantastic. “I think I’ll help you with your jacket.” That was probably safest.
“Yeah, thanks.”
As he helped her slide out of the cropped blazer, she asked. “Jase?”
“Yeah, Megan?” He was trying his damnedest not to touch her, but she kept brushing up against him.
“Why haven’t you kissed me again?”
His mouth went instantly dry, like he’d swallowed a handful of sawdust. “Uh.” He hedged, unsure of what she was talking about specifically.
“You said to call you. And I did. But now you won’t kiss me.” Her words slurred together making the word kiss sound like kish.
Damn. He cleared his throat. “Megs, you’ve had a lot to drink tonight. Don’t worry. We’ll pick up where we left off.” Eventually.
She unzipped what remained of her skirt, and Jase swallowed hard. As she pulled the flimsy swath of fabric off, he tried not to stare at the expanse of pale flesh she revealed.
She chewed her bottom lip and tossed her jeans on a nearby chair. Averting his eyes, Jase pulled back the covers, praying to God she would just get in.
As she slid into bed, she touched his hand. “You didn’t want me?”
He stared at her.
“I thought you were interested when you took the place next door, but you never made a move. Then, well, I met Matt at that party. You would tell me, right? If there was something wrong with me. You’d tell me, wouldn’t you?”
She thought there was something wrong with her? “There’s nothing w
rong with you, Megan. You’re beautiful.”
“Then how come you never asked me out?”
“I barely knew you before Matt swooped in.”
She nodded and then reached for him. “And what about now?” Her hand rested on his chest, and she seared his skin through his clothes.
Jase cleared his throat again. “Now, I think you’re drunk, and you need some rest.”
“I don’t want rest, Jase. I want you.”
Her luminous green eyes blinked up at him, and he bit back a curse. Of course this would be his luck. Megan would finally tell him she wanted him when she was half drunk. “You don’t know what you’re saying, Megan.”
She frowned, deep lines furrowing her brow. “Just kiss me. Just once, and I’ll go to bed.”
Jase wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve this kind of torture. “Just one kiss?”
She grinned. “I promise.”
He expelled a breath. “Okay, lie back. And close your eyes.”
As soon as she was settled in bed, he leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. “Goodnight, Megs. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
***
Megan snuggled into her bed, letting the darkness roll over her. Jase smelled so good. Musky and earthy with a hint of citrus. Very different from Matt. How many times in the last year had she imagined herself with Jase instead of Matt? He was just a little harmless fantasy. And a fantasy never hurt anyone, right?
Thinking about Jase always felt as if her brain was taking a Sliding Doors vacation, just like Gwyneth Paltrow had. If she’d chosen a different path, she’d have had a completely different life. But Megan had let herself be charmed. When she’d first met Matt, she’d believed him when he said Jase was only interested in playing the field.
Without even trying, her brain escaped to her favorite Jase fantasy. Him waking up next to her in bed, hot, and needing to take her. Jase sliding down in the sheets, kissing the column of her spine. Teasing and torturing her.
Finally, resting a hand on the curve of her ass, he turned her over, bringing her hips to lip level. With a strong grip, he spread her legs and cupped her ass bringing her closer to him so he could feast.