“The one who likes to do stupid shit,” Knox says. “I knew it was him from the sound of his voice.”
“And you didn’t think it would be nice to tell me that?”
“No, it was too entertaining watching you freak out.” He looks over at Easton. “You should’ve brought a knife and looked scarier.”
I flip Knox off. “Hilarious.”
“This is Libby, my assistant,” Knox introduces. “As you can clearly see, she’s extremely professional with me.”
“Oh, I’ve heard plenty about you, Libby,” Easton says, a wild grin on his face.
“Good things I hope?” I ask.
“Very good things,” he draws out.
“You two don’t look alike.” They only have a few similar features. While Knox is tall, Easton is on the shorter side with lighter hair. A few freckles are sprinkled over his nose.
“Same moms, different dads,” Easton answers. “Our mom was obviously smarter the second time around – choosing someone more handsome that could pass his looks down to me.”
“Go piss on a power line, asshole,” Knox says.
“I’m going to shower,” I say, taking my last bite of eggs and getting up from my chair. “I’ll let you two catch up.”
I give them a smile and then scurry to my room in relief.
Easton showed up at the perfect time. I need to think about the whirlwind that’s happened in the past twenty-four hours.
I’m going to have a few days away from Knox while he’s with his family, so that’ll give me time to figure out where I want to go with this and if I made a mistake.
Chapter Thirty-One
Knox
“I see someone has a crush. Very cute,” Easton says, cracking a smile while taking Libby’s abandoned chair.
“What the hell are you rambling about over there?” I grumble.
“You like her.”
“Who?”
He gives me a dumbfounded look. “Libby, dipshit.”
Do I lie or tell him the truth? If I tell him what happened with us last night, he’ll either try to play matchmaker or run her off, depending on how he feels about her. He and my grandma like to think they can pick and choose the women I date.
“She’s my assistant. We work together every day. I can’t exactly be an asshole to her.”
“I said it then, and I’m saying it now. You like her, like her.” He called me after the video released and grilled me about Libby when I divulged that she wasn’t an actress but my assistant.
“Is it supposed to be more serious if you say it twice?”
“Don’t be a smartass. Do you need me to point out the fact that she’s wearing your clothes, your hair looks like it was pulled at the roots all night while you pleasured her, and it smells like sex all over this place? I think it’s obvious she’s into you considering she’s screwing you. Ask her on a date or something.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“No.”
I stretch my legs out in front of me. “She’ll say no. She’s already made it clear she doesn’t want anything to do with guys like me.” Libby will let me touch her, but there’s no way she’ll step into the feelings zone with me or let me claim her. She wants to screw me and then not leave her number on my nightstand.
“What if we all do something together?”
“No.” I don’t want Libby to start pulling away because I’m pushing her too much, especially with Easton. He thinks he has a degree in matchmaking.
“If you don’t ask her, I will.”
“Prepare to get shot down, brother.”
“She’d be good for you.”
“Girls aren’t good for me, period. Do you remember my last serious relationship? It obliterated my reputation and almost fucked up my entire career. I’m happy with what I’m doing now. If Libby wants to fuck around, I’m game. But don’t be trying to plan a wedding or some shit.”
Easton has been with the same woman for three years, and he’ll probably end up marrying her. She’s good people, and they’re perfect for each other. So now he thinks that I need to settle down and do the whole domesticated thing like him.
“You can keep hooking up with all these random girls all you want, brother.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you’re giving me permission,” I say, sarcastically.
He holds up a finger. “But don’t be upset when the party is over, the booze is gone, and no one is there to love you.”
“Don’t try to pull your psychoanalyzing bullshit on me.”
“No psychoanalyzing bullshit, only telling you the truth. I obviously know you’ve had sex with her, but it’s not only lust and sexual chemistry I see, you want more. You might be trying to hold back because she doesn’t, but I know you better than anyone.”
Like she knew we were talking about her, Libby’s door opens, and she walks out with wet hair and wearing a robe.
“Question,” she says. “I know you planned on staying here tonight and Easton’s the next few days, but do you want me to change anything since he’s here now?”
“He’s going to stay at my place tonight,” Easton answers for me.
“Got it. I’ll book me a room here. Let me know if you need anything. You guys have fun.”
“Why don’t you come have a good time with us?” Easton asks. “We’re having dinner and game night at my place tonight. I have a guest bedroom you can crash in. It beats staying at another hotel, and you get to hang out with the coolest brothers in the world.” He flashes her a bright white smile, and I’m hoping she falls for it.
She shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. I don’t want to interrupt your whole brotherly bonding fun.”
“You won’t be. My girlfriend lives with me, so she’s going to be there.” He throws his thumb over to signal to me. “You’ll actually be saving this guy from being the third wheel.”
She nervously looks over at me, silently asking for permission.
“You know I’m always game for hanging out with you, sunshine,” I say.
“I guess it is better than hanging out by myself.” She runs her hands through her hair. “Let me blow dry my hair real quick and I’ll get ready.”
I nod, and she disappears back into her room.
Easton looks at me with a smug grin. “Date time, brother. I told you she’d want to come. Now get your bags and let’s get the hell out of here.”
“You go ahead. I’ll get a car and meet you at your place in awhile.”
I go to my bedroom when he leaves and change, putting on a ball cap and a jacket in an attempt to disguise myself. Easton hasn’t let it slip that we’re related to any of his neighbors, so we’re still trying to lay low. Easton’s girlfriend probably wouldn’t be thrilled if groupies started showing up at his door.
And trust me, they’d fuck him just to meet me.
They’ve already tried.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Libby
“Easton seems nice,” I comment next to Knox in the backseat of the SUV. We’re on our way to his brother’s house after switching vehicles twice to steer away from any possible paparazzi or fans. Knox said Easton doesn’t want people to know where he lives. “So what are the plans for tonight?”
I take in a deep breath and squirm in my seat.
What did I get myself into?
I not only agreed to hang out with Knox and Easton tonight, but I also agreed to spend the night with them. I hate being put on the spot.
“Most likely pizza and games,” Knox answers, raising his arm and resting it at the head of our seats. “We always lay low while I’m here. His girlfriend will kill me if chicks start hunting him down to get their claws in me.”
Understandable. I like this chick already. “That sounds amazing, to be honest. We need a low-key night.”
He laughs. “I think that’s what we do daily on the bus. Eat and Netflix.”
I look out the window when we stop in front of a brick ranch house in what looks like Houston suburbia.
Knox lowers his hat, covering his eyes, and ducks down as George pulls in the driveway. The garage doors open, and Knox waits until we’re parked inside and the door shuts before getting out. George opens his door and helps us with our bags.
“Go have yourself some fun,” Knox tells him, slapping his back. “We’re going to stay in for the night.”
“Thanks, boss. Let me know if you need anything,” he answers. “I’ll wait until you get inside before leaving.”
The floor flies open, and Easton is standing there with a bright smile and gleaming eyes. My chest warms at the love and adoration he has for his older brother. I’m glad Knox has someone like him in his life because from what I’ve heard about his family is that most of them look at him as opportunities and dollar signs.
I grab my bag, and Knox trails behind me as we walk through the door and into the house. We land straight in the kitchen, and my stomach grumbles at the delicious scent of garlic and pizza.
“Long time, no see,” a woman says, walking into the kitchen with a glass of wine in her hand. Her burgundy red hair is pulled back in a loose ponytail, and a pair of black-framed glasses takes up the majority of her face. She looks over at me with a genuine smile and holds out her free hand. “Hi, I’m Gretchen. I’ll admit, I was a little terrified when Easton told me Knox was bringing a girl with him tonight, but he gave you a good endorsement, which is surprising, considering he can be a judgmental asshole at times.”
“Hey!” Easton yells. “I only want the best for my big brother.”
Gretchen laughs. “That’s what I was trying to say.” She sets her glass down. “Come on, Libby. I’ll show you our guest room.” She goes to turn around but stops. “Are you both staying in there? Or is someone crashing on the couch?” She holds up her hand. “Not trying to make any assumptions here.”
“I’ll take the couch,” Knox says, stopping me before I have the chance to offer.
“No,” I rush out. “I can. I’m the one who’s barging in last minute, and it’s your brother’s house.”
Knox’s eyes dart my way. “I’d be an asshole if I made you sleep on the couch.”
“He does have a point,” Gretchen inputs. She leans forward to slap Knox on the back. “And who would’ve thought this guy could be a gentleman?”
“It’s when you find the right woman,” Easton says. “I was an animal until Gretchen tamed me.”
Gretchen rolls her eyes but cracks a smile at the same time. “He’s still an animal. Now let’s go get rid of those bags.”
I look around as I trail behind her to the guest room. The house is nice, but not what I was expecting. Knox wasn’t lying when he said Easton didn’t accept much except help with his tuition. The house is filled with feminine touches – flowers in colorful vases, furry pillows, and candles everywhere. I have a feeling Gretchen makes all of the design decisions here.
“Bathroom,” she says, pointing to the door as we pass it. “And here’s the guest room.” She flips on the light. It has a nice size bed, a TV, and a dresser. “There’s towels and extra blankets in the closet.”
“Great, thanks so much for having me,” I say.
“No problem at all. They usually outnumber me when we choose movies or which game to play, so I’m happy I won’t be stuck watching some ridiculous man flick.”
A knock on the door catches our attention. “I’m going to jump in the shower real quick,” Knox tells us, a stack of clothes in one hand.
“You know where everything is,” Gretchen says.
Knox salutes her and disappears into the bathroom.
“Gretchen made her scrumptious homemade pizza,” Easton says when we get back in the kitchen. “Is veggies and pepperoni okay with you?”
“I thought I smelled something delicious,” I say. “And yes, that’s perfectly fine.”
“Wine?” Gretchen asks. I nod and thank her after she hands me a glass.
“So what’s going on with you and my brother?” Easton questions.
I choke on my sip of wine.
Damn, he sure cuts to the chase.
“Seriously?” Gretchen asks. “She just walked through the damn door.”
“I can’t ask her in front of Knox, so it was now or never.”
“I work for your brother, and we’ve developed a friendship while on tour.” My answer sounds like I’m making a public statement.
“I’m a smart man. I know attraction when I see it, and I can promise you this, I’ve never seen my brother look at a woman like he does you.”
“What about Stella?”
“At the beginning, yes, but it was puppy love between them. He was young and dumb, but they were so familiar with each other it was hard to move on. They started to grow apart and realized their love was only temporary. Knox is cautious about who he opens up to now, but I can see he’s starting to with you. That means something.”
I fake a playful laugh. “I think you’re seeing things.”
“I’m not, and he might kill me for telling you this, but not only do I see it, he also confirmed it.”
“What?” I stutter out.
“He likes you. He told me himself.”
The wine glass in my hand nearly drops from my fingers.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Knox
If Easton thinks he’s sly by talking to Libby when I leave the room, he’s damn dumb. The walls are thin, and the bathroom isn’t far from the kitchen. I can hear their every word.
I wrap my hand around the doorknob, debating with myself whether I should go out there or not. I hesitate and then drop it, deciding to eavesdrop instead. If I join them, it’ll stop the conversation, and I won’t get to hear Libby’s answer. I lean my shoulder against the door and place my ear against it.
“Yes, I know your brother is attracted to me, but that’s all,” Libby says.
“He’s attracted to you more than just physically,” Easton counters. “He doesn’t only like you for your looks. He likes everything about you. He trusts you, and that’s very rare for him. Shit, sometimes I’m not sure if he even trusts me.”
Yes! Go little brother.
He’s going to law school, so there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s trying to work Libby like he would a jury.
“Babe, she’s only been here for ten minutes,” Gretchen cuts in. “Let’s not interrogate her before feeding her.” She laughs. “I apologize for my overbearing boyfriend.”
“It’s fine,” Libby replies. “I don’t blame him for being curious.”
“Just tell me one thing,” Easton says. “And then I’ll leave the conversation alone. Are the feelings mutual?”
Everything goes silent for a few seconds, but it feels like minutes.
“They are,” Libby finally says.
I back away from the door and punch my fist in the air like an idiot. If I can’t bring her to say those words, at least my little bro can.
This night just got a helluva lot better.
I feel a lightness in my chest as I put my ear back to the door, not wanting to miss a word of their conversation.
“But we can’t do anything about it,” Libby adds. “It’ll be too complicated.”
“Relationships are always going to be complicated,” Gretchen says. “No matter who you date. You only trade one problem out for another. We won’t keep bothering you about it, but think about how you feel when you’re with Knox and how it’d feel to lose that.” She laughs, and I hear the cork of a bottle of wine popping. “Now how about a refill?”
Shit, a point for Gretchen too. I knew I liked her.
“That sounds perfect,” Libby says.
Their conversation goes in a different direction with Libby talking about being on tour, and I finally undress and get in the shower.
Tonight is going to be a good night.
“Did you guys miss me?” I ask, strolling into the kitchen, freshly showered and in a delightful mood.
Libby is situated in a stool at the island, and Gretchen and Ea
ston are standing on the other side of it. Everyone is sporting a smile as they sip on their wine.
“No, we’re only happy you took your monthly shower,” Easton answers. “You were getting pretty ripe there, brother.”
I chuckle, flipping him off, and pull out the stool next to Libby to sit down. “They’re not interrogating you too much, are they?” I ask her.
Her fingers curl around her wine glass and she takes a big swig before answering. A light blush creeps across her cheeks. “No … not at all,” she replies into the glass. “We haven’t even brought you up.” I’ll let her get away with that response for now, but I’ll definitely be bringing up her admission when we’re alone later.
“You’re not always the center of attention,” Gretchen says, most likely covering up for Libby. She opens up a cabinet, pulls out a glass, and pours red wine into it.
“We’re not going for the hard stuff yet?” I ask, as she hands it to me.
“Absolutely not. Last time you two idiots got wasted and decided to see who could eat the most slices of pizza.” She stabs her manicured finger into her chest. “I’m the one who not only had to deal with your dumbasses but also got stuck cleaning up your mess. We’re saving the good stuff for the games later.”
“Games?” Libby asks. “As in drinking games?”
“Yes,” I answer. “What were you thinking? We were going to spend the night playing an intense game of Chutes and Ladders?”
I grunt when her foot rams into my ankle. “I’d actually prefer Candy Land, thank you very much.”
“Eh, I don’t think there’s a way to incorporate whiskey with Candy Land. It just doesn’t seem right,” Easton says, and then shuffles across the kitchen to open the oven. “And since there is four of us, I think Would You Rather? is the perfect choice.”
Libby groans. “Nope, too personal.”
I dip my hand down and run it along her thigh. “There’s nothing more I’d rather do tonight than get personal with you.”
She timidly moves my hand away while keeping her eyes forward, like she’s afraid they’ll catch onto what I’m doing.
Make Me Yours Page 40