Fall for Him

by J.C. Valentine

  Fall for Him

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  J.C. VALENTINE

  Books by

  J.C. VALENTINE

  Night Calls

  Stranded

  That First Kiss

  Surrender to Love

  Trust

  Wayward Fighters

  Knockout

  Tapout

  Blue Collar

  Sweetest Temptations

  Forbidden

  Dance for Me

  Lie to You

  ABOUT THIS BOOK

  Two men. Both brothers. One life-changing decision.

  I made my choice. One perfect weekend assured me I was right. One set of pictures proved me wrong.

  Graduating college was supposed to be a happy time. Instead, I lost my best friend and suffered the worst kind of betrayal. Now, my whole life is in flux. I need my best friend. I need answers. There’s only one way to fix this. It’s time for a change. It’s time to take back control of my life, and the only way to do it is to face my problems head-on.

  Even if it means walking into the lion’s den to do it.

  For you, my loyal readers.

  One

  Love is an affliction of the heart rendering it incapable of understanding what’s good and bad for it. It’s because of this that I left the city and drove nonstop overnight to West Virginia to force my best friend to talk to me.

  Annie cut herself off from everyone after she found out her boyfriend cheated on her. Unfortunately—through no fault of my own—the other woman was me. As soon as I knew Jason had a girlfriend, I ended it, but the damage was already done.

  Now, I am determined to get my friend back. After Rebel sent me those pictures of him and Florence in bed together, I realized that I’m in over my head. I’m in love with a man who seems determined to ruin me, and his brother—who seems to be in love with me—is waiting in the wings. Before I created an even bigger mess by turning to Ransom for answers and comfort, I quit my job at Mirage then packed a bag and headed out of state.

  Annie has always been my rock. I desperately need her guidance and support. Our relationship might be strained right now, but I’m hoping that if I’m standing right in front of her, it will force her to talk to me. If not, I brought Brody to help smooth the way. He’s good at talking people into things.

  “She’s not coming.”

  “She’s two minutes late. Chill, she’ll be here.”

  I don’t like it, but I admit that Brody makes sense. I’m totally stressing. Taking his advice, I force myself to look away from the parking lot. We’re sitting on a bench in the middle of the park. The view of the tree-lined river snakes through the landscape before us, flowing beneath a red iron footbridge and out of sight. It’s actually pretty relaxing to stare at.

  Until my mind takes a detour, and I find myself thinking about the last time I was sitting in a park and who it was with. I ignored Ransom’s heated words then, but I can see now that he was right. I’ve been sticking my head in the sand and ignoring what’s happening right in front of me. Well, not anymore. I’m determined to sort my life out, starting now.

  The grass ruffles behind me, and Brody and I turn around at once to see Annie heading our way. She looks even more beautiful than the last time I saw her. Her blonde hair has grown out some, brushing her shoulders in a sleek bob. She’s gotten some sun, too, her skin holding a healthy golden glow. The dress she wears is fun and flirty, grazing her knees and showing off her baby bump. Pregnancy suits her.

  Nerves hit me as I stand up, and a shaky smile forms. “Remember what I used to tell you about eating those watermelon seeds?” I call out to her as I start a slow approach. It seems better to break the ice with a bit of light humor than to fall into the dreaded awkward silence.

  Sucking her lip between her teeth, Annie bites back a smile as she approaches. Brody is the first to reach her, opening his arms and enfolding her in his big Brody bear hug. My heart is racing as he releases her and we face off. I don’t know how to talk to Annie anymore. The last time we spoke a word to each other, it involved tears and her telling me she couldn’t stand to look at me.

  My instinct is to grab her up and hug her tight, to tell her how much I missed her, and to scold her for running off in the middle of the night and not returning any of my messages. I’m just not sure of how I will be received. My stomach bottoms out when I consider the possibility that she might turn me away. I don’t think I could take the rejection.

  Then I look at Annie—really look at her. She’s still chewing on her bottom lip, and her hands are folded protectively over her abdomen. She looks just as uncomfortable and unsure as I feel, and with a sudden bout of clarity, I realize how ridiculous all of this is. We’ve been best friends for four years, and this shouldn’t be happening. I want my friend back in my life, so I’m taking her back—kicking and screaming if I have to.

  Throwing my arms out to my sides, I arch my brows expectantly. “Well, don’t just stand there, stranger. Get over here, and give me a hug!”

  Her smile grows rapidly, and then Annie is crossing the space between us faster than I thought a woman in her delicate condition could move. Her arms go around me, and I automatically fold mine around her. We hug like we haven’t seen each other in years. Holding my friend like this feels so damn good that I grow misty-eyed.

  “I can’t believe you came all the way down here.”

  “I can’t believe you did, either,” I tell her. “I thought you hated Virginia.”

  Drawing back, Annie wipes her thumbs under her eyes and sniffs. “I really do. As soon as I got here I knew I shouldn’t have come, but my parents, you know? As soon as I crossed the state line, it was like stepping into a vortex.”

  “Are they holding you hostage? Do you need Brody and me to rescue you?”

  She laughs, and it’s soft and sweet and music to my ears. I know it’s sappy, but I never thought I would hear that sound again. I’ve freaking missed my friend like crazy.

  “My parents are being great, actually. Maybe too great? Even though I’m an unwed mother-to-be, they’re being surprisingly supportive. I think it’s because they never really trusted Jason.”

  I could say a lot about that right now, but I hold my tongue. Just coming here was risky, so dishing out I-told-you-sos is a chance I’m unwilling to take. “Are you planning to come home any time soon? I could really use a friend right now.”

  Annie sighs. Starting across the lawn, Brody and I follow her to the park bench and seat ourselves on either side of her, boxing her in. “Honestly, I don’t know. There’s not much to do here, and I’m bored out of my mind, but I have the support I need right now.”

  “If you’re worried about running into Jason,” I say, “you know you’re always welcome to stay with me. I keep a bat by the front door now for ex-boyfriends who need a little extra incentive to stay away.”

  She chuckles, making me smile. “That’s really generous of you, Joe, but I just don’t know. Everything is changing right now. My whole life feels like it’s in flux, and I just need some time to figure it all out before I make any major, life-changing decisions.”

  Staring off at the water, I feel strangely hollow. I think the culprit is a profound sense of disappointment and loss. I was really hoping that Annie would be so miserable here that she’d jump on the opportunity to come home. The last thing I expected was for her to actually want to stay.

  “I think I know how you feel,” I reply solemnly. And I do. If I were her and I had the choice of staying where I am and going home to the shelter of my parents’ arms, then I’d choose them in a heartbeat. But I don’t have that luxury.

  Annie’s green eyes, full of concern, find mine. “What’s going on with you?”

  “O
h, you know,” I say lightly. “Men.”

  Her eyebrows lift. “Plural?”

  “Turns out Professor Scott has a twin.”

  Her eyebrows have officially disappeared into her hairline, and her eyes have grown so wide, I’m afraid they might tumble right out of her skull. “Seriously? How does that work?”

  “Unfortunately, it doesn’t.” Great, now I’m depressed again. I came all the way here hoping for a pick-me-up, but I can feel my heart splintering just thinking about that text and those pictures. I wish there was a way to scrub my brain clean of these vile, damaging thoughts.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Honestly? I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

  A mischievous grin spreads across her face. “How about with the amazing sex.”

  Our combined laughter fills the air. Good old Annie. She always knows how to lighten the mood and bring a smile to my face.

  “I forgot my phone in the car.” Brody’s gruff statement reminds us both that he’s sitting right here, and suddenly, I feel very guilty. He’s off the bench and walking away before either of us can say anything. I frown as I stare at his retreating figure. I know for a fact that he has his phone because he was checking it when we arrived. It’s no secret that he’s interested in the two of us being more than friends, but that just isn’t in the cards. Which is why I know that he’s using his phone as an excuse to break away.

  “You’re breaking that man’s heart,” Annie murmurs as we watch him disappear into the car. “Have you thought any more about giving him a chance? He’s a really good guy.”

  “I know he is.” I sigh regretfully because Brody is a hell of a catch. I don’t need glasses to see that, but my heart’s already been claimed. It’s just too bad that it’s by an asshole like Rebel. I only have myself to blame. I should have seen it coming. “Maybe if we weren’t already such good friends I could see him as something more, but I just can’t. And frankly, he deserves better than what I can offer him.”

  “That’s crazy talk. You’re a great catch. Besides, some of the best relationships are built from friendship.”

  “You’re absolutely right about that. So why don’t you ask him out yourself?” I grin at her. “You two would make an amazing couple. You are friends, after all.”

  Annie pulls a face and huffs as she turns around to look out over the water. “Dating is off the table.”

  “Why?”

  Her hands open at her sides as if to say isn’t it obvious. “I’m heading into my second trimester. What guy wants to hook up with a pregnant woman?”

  “Plenty of guys. I hear some men have a fetish for pregnant women.”

  “Ew, Joe. Seriously. Even if that’s true, Brody isn’t that kind of guy.”

  “How do you know unless you ask him?” I don’t know why I’m pushing this so hard. Maybe it’s because my friend looks down, and I know she needs a little encouragement. Or maybe it’s because I need to get rid of this guilt that seems to swing like a pendulum over my head when it comes to Brody and me dating. If my two best friends hooked up, I’d finally be off the hook.

  “I’m not asking Brody about that.”

  “Ask me about what?”

  Annie and I look up to find Brody striding toward us. I don’t know how he does it, but Brody is the kind of guy that manages to make a simple pair of jeans and a hoodie look hot. I glance at Annie and notice that she’s recognizing the same thing about him. Her eyes are trained all over his body, scanning from head to toe. She probably doesn’t even realize that she’s staring, which is why it’s so funny. And cute. These two should totally get together. I wonder if Annie has ever really looked at another guy besides Jason. Having dated since high school, probably not.

  Which is why I have to throw her under the bus.

  “We were just talking about whether or not you have a fetish for having sex with pregnant women.”

  “Joe!” Annie looks like she’s ready to reach out and slap me. Or die of embarrassment.

  “Uh, I don’t know,” Brody says slowly, his brows pinching together as he seats himself on Annie’s opposite side. “I’ve never fucked around with a pregnant girl before.”

  “I’m sure it’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” Annie tells him. “Joe is just being her irritating self. Just ignore her.”

  Not to be deterred, I turn sideways on the bench so I’m facing the two of them. “Hypothetically, let’s say Annie asked you out on a date. Would you be interested?” Annie’s scowl deepens and she opens her mouth, no doubt to chew my head off, but Brody is already speaking.

  “Sure, I guess. Why are we talking about this again?”

  “We weren’t. We’re not,” Annie rushes out. “Joe just got it in her head that you and I should hook up, but like I told her, no one wants to hump a whale, so she should find herself a new day job.”

  Unable to help myself, I start laughing. Annie’s face is tinged red with embarrassment, and Brody just looks confused and lost.

  “Why are you laughing, you psycho?”

  I shake my head, covering my mouth with my hand to quell the laughter. “This just reminds me of old times.” How we used to bicker back and forth. The eternally lost look in Brody’s eyes. I wonder if that has anything to do with the years of playing football. I hear repeated concussions can be a bitch.

  Annie’s expression slowly evens out, and then her mouth curves up in a soft, reminiscent smile. “We did have a lot of fun together, didn’t we?”

  “Yes, we did.”

  “You girls are crazy,” Brody remarks. Extending his arms across the back of the bench, he slouches down, getting comfortable. “I’m still trying to figure out how I got stuck hanging out with you two.”

  “Oh, come on,” I complain. “You know you love us.”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  Reaching behind Annie, I sock him in the shoulder with my fist. “Be nice, or I’ll leave you here when I go home.”

  “That’s supposed to be a threat? I kinda like it here. It’s relaxing.”

  I raise my brows. “You’ve been here for less than a day. You know nothing about this place.”

  “Annie’s here. What else is there to know?”

  Annie’s head whips around to look at him, and while I can’t see her face, I can see his. Their gazes are locked, and there’s something in Brody’s eyes that makes me wonder...

  Two

  “You should totally apply for a job.”

  “That’s never going to happen,” I say definitively.

  Annie, Brody, and I are in her childhood bedroom. She and I are lying in her childhood bed covered in some frilly pink duvet facing each other while he is on the floor. It’s late, way past either of our bedtimes, and we’re discussing what else but my love life.

  “Why not?” Annie questions, a baffled look on her face. “You get a job there and force him to look at what he’s missing out on every day of the week. A major benny. You can totally screw with that bitch’s head. Imagine how pissed off she’d be if she had to watch him eying you up for an executive promotion every day.” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively before popping a piece of buttered popcorn into her mouth.

  In the last hour, I’ve filled Annie in on—nearly—every detail of the last year of my life. She knows all about Rebel and Ransom and the conundrum I’ve found myself in. She also knows about my alternative lifestyle as an exotic dancer. It took a lot for me to open that can of worms, but it turns out that all the anxiety that’s built up the last four years was for nothing. Honestly, I always just assumed that she and Brody would reject me the instant they found out, but I didn’t give them nearly enough credit. Annie was shocked and a little saddened that I felt I had to pay for my education that way, but she didn’t judge me for it. Brody just said he thought it was “hot,” and that he would have done the same thing if he didn’t have a full ride in scholarships. As for me, I feel like an utter fool for having kept it a secret from them for so long. I should have
realized that true friends don’t turn their back on you just because they disagree with you, and these two are definitely the truest friends a girl like me could ever ask for.

  Judging by the excitement in Annie’s eyes, she probably thinks my life reads like a soap opera. I can’t say that I disagree. At least I don’t have to worry about people dying and being resurrected; although, it’d probably be easier to sort through that than having twin lovers. At this point, my life is better suited to an episode of Maury Povich.

  As much as I’d love to burst that bitch’s bubble, I’d rather avoid adding any more unnecessary drama in my life.”

  Brody, who’s camped out on the floor, chooses that moment to sit up. Propping his arm on the edge of the mattress, he leans his chin on it, brows drawn low as he regards the two of us. “If you really want to make the man suffer, fuck his brother. That way, he has to go to bed every night knowing that you’re in another man’s bed. If you still want him but you have to get ‘that bitch’ out of the picture first, then go with Annie’s plan,” he suggests.

  I lift my brow. “Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?”

  “With you two girls gabbing ‘til all hours? Not likely,” he scoffs. “Plus, you’re eating popcorn. How dare you not offer me any. I’m fucking starving down here.” Extending his hand, he motions for the bucket of popcorn, looking like a man whose dreams have been answered when Annie hands it over.

  “Oh, yeah,” I say, laughing as I watch him shove a fistful into his mouth. “You’re really wasting away.”

  “Muscle burns more calories,” he replies around a mouthful of food. “And, as you can see, I’m all muscle. Therefore, more calories.”

  I look over to find Annie’s gaze laser focused on Brody’s thick bicep. It flexes with every handful of popcorn he lifts to his mouth, almost as if it’s a stack of weights rather than a feather light puff of air.