Nex

by Cheryl Douglas

  “That’s nice.” My mother was the same way. Never a knick-knack or throw cushion out of place. “My mama always says you don’t have to be rich to be tidy.”

  “See, your mama and I would get along just fine. What’re you worried about?”

  That comment implied he thought he’d be meeting my mama someday. I couldn’t imagine that happening. She’d take one look at his ripped jeans, tattoos, and the chains hanging off his belt loops and proclaim him a sinner not worthy of her baby girl. If only she could have seen him tonight; she’d realize he’s not only worthy of me, he may be too good for me.

  I stepped in his path, giving him an impulsive hug. “I know I already said this, but thank you for tonight, for letting me stay here.”

  “Mi casa es su casa. Just remember that.”

  How easy it would be to imagine myself living here with someone like Nex to come home to every night. But that was a fantasy for another stage of my life, years from now. Not when I was finally able to pursue my dream of going to college.

  “Thanks.”

  He kissed me, slowly tearing himself away with a groan. “G’night, gorgeous. See you in the morning.”

  As he closed the door, I pressed my palm against the raised panel, thinking morning couldn’t come soon enough for me.

  ***

  I slept like a baby, but since I was used to waking up early for school, my internal alarm clock went off before seven. Thankfully, I heard noises coming from the kitchen, so I knew I wasn’t the only early riser in the house. I was a little apprehensive about going out there, but my grumbling stomach insisted.

  I quickly used the washroom and brushed my teeth and hair before making my way down the hall. I considered whether I should have slipped on a bra under my thin cotton tank, but it was too late to tiptoe back down the hall. He spotted me. Wow, these Steele brothers had some seriously good genes.

  “Hi,” I said, stepping farther into the large kitchen and offering my hand. “You must be Brody. Nex has told me so much about you.”

  With an amused look on his handsome face, his eyes ran down the length of my body. “I wish I could say the same.” Engulfing my hand in his, he said, “What’d you say your name was?”

  “I didn’t.” Damn, I really needed that bra, but short of withdrawing my hand and crossing my arms over my chest like an adolescent ashamed of her budding breasts, I had no choice but to stand there and take it. Fortunately, he had something of his own to hide and the black, lightweight pants he was wearing weren’t helping.

  His gruff chuckle made me smile as he dropped his head. “Busted, huh?”

  I knew it was a guy thing, early morning and all that, so I wasn’t taking it as a compliment… or an insult. “How about we agree to keep our eyes above the shoulders, shall we?”

  He laughed, making me smile. “I guess I can agree to that, but it won’t be easy.” He pointed at a stool at the breakfast bar. “Have a seat. I was just about to make a pot of coffee.”

  I did as he suggested, watching him move about the kitchen like he lived there. “My name’s Jaci, by the way. Jaci Ross.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jaci Ross. So tell me how you managed to sneak out of my brother’s bed so early on a Saturday morning? When he texted to tell me to expect company this morning, I didn’t expect you two to come up for air ’til noon.”

  I blushed at the implication, imagining if Nex and I had crossed that line last night, Brody’s assessment of the situation might have been accurate. “I slept in the guest room last night. Your brother and I aren’t… that is to say we haven’t…” I blushed, unsure how to finish that sentence.

  After filling the coffee maker with water and coffee grounds, he turned to face me, crossing his arms over his muscled chest. “Let me get this straight. You haven’t slept with Nex, yet you’re sleeping over? My little brother must be losing his touch.”

  I laughed, appreciating his attempt to make me feel at ease. “Tonight was supposed to be our first date, but I got into a little trouble at a party last night and he came to bail me out.”

  “What kind of trouble?” he asked, frowning.

  It wasn’t difficult to imagine all of the Steele brothers acting the way Nex had last night. Though clearly dangerous when crossed, they seemed to have a chivalrous quality I admired. “My girlfriends got drunk and kind of left me stranded at some party without money for a cab.”

  “Some friends,” he muttered.

  I knew I should try to defend my friends, but it had been a pretty shitty thing to do. “Then there was this jerk who got a little grabby.” My torn shirt would indicate he’d gotten more than a little grabby, but Brody didn’t need to know that. “So I called your brother and he came to rescue me.” I smiled, propping my chin in my upturned hand. “My hero.”

  He scoffed as he turned to reach into the overhead cabinet for glasses before digging a container of orange juice out of the fridge. “I’ve never known Nex to be all that heroic unless he had an angle.”

  I wasn’t naïve enough to believe Nex wouldn’t expect his chivalry to eventually be rewarded, but I didn’t think I’d mind rewarding him one little bit. “So you stay here when you’re in town?”

  “I had my own place,” he explained. “But I got a great offer on it a couple of months back, so I sold it. I was ready for a change. Just haven’t been in town long enough to find something else yet.”

  “Yeah, Nex said you’re a professional poker player. That must be pretty cool.”

  I glanced around Nex’s kitchen while waiting for Brody’s response. It was much more traditional than I would have expected. Dark, smooth granite, top-of-the-line stainless appliances, white French cabinetry, a huge breakfast bar and sitting area surrounded by windows that provided a beautiful view of mature trees surrounding a pool and hot tub.

  “Yeah, it is,” he said, drawing me away from my admiration of Nex’s home. “Couldn’t imagine doing anything else. What about you?” he asked, passing me a glass of juice. “What do you do?”

  “Thanks,” I said, taking a sip. “Right now, I’m a waitress at some dive biker bar.”

  He smiled. “Must be how you met my brother, huh?”

  “Yup. But I just do that part-time to help with school. First year at University of South Florida. ” He raised an eyebrow, making me laugh. “Don’t worry. Nex isn’t robbing the cradle or anything. I’m twenty-four. I needed to take some time to save money before starting college.”

  “What’re you studying?”

  “Business,” I said, sighing.

  “You don’t sound too enthused about it.”

  “Honestly? I wanted to go to culinary school. There are a couple of great Cordon Bleu schools in Florida, but my boyfriend and mother convinced me it would be easier to get a real job back home with a more practical degree. Fancy chefs aren’t in high demand in a small town, and since I don’t have the money to open my own restaurant, I figured they were probably right.”

  “Hold up a second,” Brody said, raising a hand. “Did you just say you had a boyfriend?”

  “Sorry, I meant ex-boyfriend. We were together a long time. I guess it’s just a force of habit.”

  “I know what you mean.” His blue eyes flashed with something resembling sadness, but it was gone so fast I wondered whether I’d imagined it. It would be hard to read a man like Brody, given his knack for remaining impassive. “So you love to cook, huh?”

  I knew what he was getting at, so I smiled before asking, “Does your brother stock that fridge or is it just for decoration like most bachelors’?”

  “It would probably be empty if not for his housekeeper, but it looks like she was here yesterday.”

  “In that case,” I said, jumping off the stool, “I can probably work with what he has in there.”

  “I was just teasing,” he said, touching my shoulder as I leaned over to peek in the fridge. “You don’t really have to cook me breakfast.” The coffee maker beeped, and Brody snagged two mugs from a glass-
front cabinet.

  “It would be my pleasure.” I had never cooked in a kitchen like this before. I was practically salivating when I saw the spread in front of me. It made me wonder whether his housekeeper prepared his meals too, but I suspected Nex, with his limited culinary skills, wouldn’t know what to do with half this stuff. “Besides, I’m starving myself. I’m ashamed to admit I had a liquid dinner last night.”

  “Ah, I’ve had a few of those myself.”

  “This looks cozy,” Nex said, frowning as he leaned against the wall leading from the hall to the kitchen. “Breakfast for two?”

  I couldn’t believe he would be jealous of his own brother, but I had to admit Nex’s possessiveness was kind of hot. “For three, now that you’re finally awake,” I said, smiling at him. “I hope you don’t mind?”

  “Why would I mind?” He accepted the mug of coffee Brody offered him with a muttered thanks before claiming the stool I’d vacated at the breakfast bar. “So I see you two have been getting acquainted.”

  What did he expect me to do, lie in bed until he woke up and was ready to make the formal introductions? “Uh, yeah, we have.”

  “I think I’m going to grab a quick shower before breakfast,” Brody said, stealing a strawberry from the pint I’d just washed.

  “Yeah, and try putting some goddamn clothes on while you’re at it,” Nex said, glaring at him.

  That’s what he was upset about, the fact his brother’s six-pack abs were on full display? Not that I’d noticed or anything.

  “Somebody woke up on the wrong side of an empty bed this morning, Jaci,” Brody said, grinning at me. “See what you can do about cheering him up while I’m gone, would you?”

  I tried to hide my smile behind my coffee cup as Brody left the room, but Nex’s accusatory look told me I was busted. “Please don’t encourage him. Asshole makes a play for every woman I date, just to piss me off.”

  “Do they ever take the bait?” I asked, teasing him.

  “Even if they did, Brody wouldn’t take it that far,” he said, shaking his head. “One thing he does have is family loyalty.”

  “Good to know,” I said, setting the strawberries on a paper towel to dry before I started slicing them. He was frowning at me when I turned around. “What’s wrong?”

  “You like my brother?”

  “Sure, he seems nice,” I said, shrugging. “Why?”

  “But you’re not into him?”

  I laughed while rounding the counter, intent on giving his overactive imagination a rest. Linking my arms around his neck when he turned to face me, I stepped between his legs. “There’s only one guy I’m interested in these days, Nex. And I’m looking at him.”

  He flashed a quick smile before kissing me. “I like the sound of that.”

  I gestured to the flour and sugar I’d set on the counter, along with a set of mixing bowls. “Seriously, I hope you don’t mind that I’m making myself at home in your kitchen.”

  “Baby, you can make yourself at home here anytime you like,” he said, burying his face in my neck as his hands cupped my ass. “In fact, I’m thinking I could get used to this. Waking up to you, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and a homemade breakfast.”

  “Your brother actually made the coffee.”

  “Don’t be too impressed,” he said, trailing his lips along my neck to my jaw. “That’s about the only thing he can do in the kitchen.”

  “Speaking of which, your cupboards and fridge are seriously stocked. Does your housekeeper cook for you?”

  “Once in a while she takes pity on me,” he said, grinning as he tipped my head back so he could nip my jaw. “But I asked her to get the basics for you to create your masterpiece tonight. I know you said you wanted to hit the farmer’s market later, but I figured I should get the staples.”

  “You got all this stuff for me?” I didn’t know why, but I was more touched by that gesture than I would have been by some expensive, impersonal gift. It proved that he listened, that he knew what I loved and was doing his best to accommodate me.

  “Sure, it’s no big deal,” he said, shrugging.

  “Actually, it’s a really big deal to me,” I said, kissing his bristly cheek. “Thank you.” I’d cooked for Scott hundreds of times throughout our relationship, and he barely remembered to thank me most of the time, much less compliment me on the meal I’d prepared.

  He pulled back, looking me in the eye. “You blow me away, girl.”

  “Why? What do you mean?” I asked, resting my hands on his shoulders. Unlike Brody, Nex had come out wearing athletic pants and a T-shirt, but I wished Brody had been the one clothed while Nex treated me to a morning dose of eye candy.

  “Most women would hate the thought of cooking for a guy so early in a relationship. They’d think it would set a bad precedent or something, but you actually seem to enjoy it.”

  “I do. I love it.” I had to admit I didn’t appreciate the way Scott had sometimes taken me for granted, but I had a feeling Nex wasn’t like that. Based on what he’d told me about his relationship with his hard-working mama, I knew how much he respected women. “And I can’t wait to cook for you,” I said, rubbing my hands together. “So how do strawberry pancakes sound? Or I could do crepes? You decide.”

  “Both sound great.” When I turned away, he grabbed me, hauling me against his chest while wrapping his arms around my waist. “I seriously love having you here.”

  I turned my head, inviting him to kiss my cheek. “I’m glad, ’cause I seriously love being here with you.”

  Chapter Seven

  Nex

  Jaci had already proven her talents in the kitchen that morning, so as she dragged me around the farmer’s market, I couldn’t wait to find out what she had planned for me tonight. She said it would be a surprise, and I didn’t press. I could tell how much it meant to her to be able to do something nice for me, and I was touched. I couldn’t remember the last time a woman had wanted to treat me without expecting something in return.

  “Where do you want to go for lunch?” I asked, glancing at my watch. “It’s almost one.”

  “You know what I’d really love to do?” she asked, her eyes lighting up. “Have a picnic.”

  There were some fabulous restaurants within walking distance and she wanted to have a picnic? Reminded me of something my mother would have suggested, and I couldn’t deny that simple suggestion solidified my opinion of Jaci. She was someone I needed in my life, maybe even for the long haul.

  “Whatever you want, beautiful.”

  She reached up to touch my cheek, looking at me as though I’d just presented her with a flawless diamond instead of agreeing to her proposal for lunch. “I love that you’re so laidback, that you just kind of go with the flow. I need that.”

  She wasn’t telling me she needed me, but it was a start. “I guess I’ve always been that way. I love my work, but I don’t take anything too seriously. Life is meant to be enjoyed, right?”

  “I can’t tell you the last time I made time for stuff like this,” she said, gesturing to the rows of neatly arranged fresh food. “The simple pleasures. I used to love going for long walks in the country, getting up early to watch the sun rise, going for a dip in the lake on a Sunday afternoon, or just baking in the sun for a bit. I miss that.”

  On the off chance I could convince her to spend the summer with me instead of going back home, I’d make sure every day was about enjoying the simple things she seemed to love so much. “You need to make more time for yourself,” I said, watching her select a freshly baked breadstick. “I know school is important to you and you have to work to pay the bills, but you’ll burn out if you don’t take time to just relax once in a while.”

  “I know.” She sighed. “That’s why I was looking forward to today. It’s a chance for me to just kick back and do the things I love: cooking, shopping, impromptu picnics.” She grinned. “This is already turning out to be one of the best dates I’ve ever had.”

  I’d go
ne to great lengths to impress a few women—helicopter rides, private planes for surprise dinners or weekends away, exotic trips where we rarely left the suite—but the past few hours with Jaci had surpassed them all. She got me. I got her. And for once, the chemistry I shared with a woman was building instead of fizzling out and fading away.

  “Me too.”

  She took her time selecting everything she thought we would need for our picnic lunch and dinner before following me to the checkout.

  When she reached into her purse for her wallet, I said, “Don’t even think about it.”

  “But this is my way of thanking you for last night,” she said, extracting her debit card from her wallet.

  Never, in all my years of dating, had a woman ever offered to pay for anything. I knew I shouldn’t be surprised Jaci was the first, but I was torn between being insulted and impressed. “You repaid me with a delicious breakfast this morning. Now we’re even.”

  “But—”

  I leaned in for a kiss, not caring how she felt about public displays of affection. The little white-haired lady in line behind us pursed her lips and Jaci blushed, prompting me to warn, “There’s a lot more where that came from unless you put that wallet away.”

  She quickly stuck her wallet, along with the card, back in her purse as she followed me through the checkout line. She helped me load the bags in the trunk before she said, “We should head home and put this stuff in the fridge before…” She bit her lip, shaking her head. “I mean, we should head back to your place.”

  Home. Damn, now why did I like the way it sounded when she referred to my house as our home? “Sure. That’ll give us a chance to grab a blanket, basket, and bottle of wine for the picnic.”

  She gripped my arm when I reached for her door handle. “Do not tell me you have a picnic basket.”

  I laughed at her surprise. “It’s not like I ran out and bought it or anything. Ryker and I have to go to a lot of these events because charities either commission us to build bikes for them or we donate them to good causes. I usually bid on auction items. Sometimes I win. That’s how I got the picnic basket. Can’t say I’ve ever used it though.”