How to Handle a Heartbreaker

by Marie Harte

  “Truly. The last six-pack he brought had roses on the labels.” Flynn shuddered and in the next breath said, “So Brody has a thing for Abby but he’s afraid to tell you about it.”

  Brody choked on the beer he’d been drinking. It took him a full minute to catch his breath. He wiped his watering eyes and saw both Flynn and Mike watching him. “You are such a fuckhead,” he said through gritted teeth to Flynn. In a louder voice to Mike, he explained, “I think Abby is attractive. I’m not afraid to say it or anything.”

  “Attractive? More like your personal wet dream,” Flynn felt the need to add.

  Brody punched Flynn in the arm. “Shut up.” God, he could feel his cheeks heating. It didn’t help that Mike had yet to take his gaze from Brody’s face. “Abby’s pretty. It’s um, it’s weird she looks like Lea.” Just saying Lea’s name seemed wrong, somehow.

  Mike blew out a breath. “I can’t catch a break with you people. For the last time, Abby is not Lea. I’m not crushing on my neighbor. I think we all know they’re two different people.” He stood up, hulking over the table at a solid six foot four. The guy was huge and had a fist that made a man want to be anywhere but on the other end of it. He smacked Brody in the side of the head.

  “Damn it.” Brody rubbed his temple and scowled at his assailant. He’d been right before. Mike was a bully.

  “I’m not blind. Anyone with a pair of eyes can see the way you drool over Abby.”

  “I don’t drool.” Offended, Brody frowned—he never acted stupid over women. “She’s hot. So what?”

  “So the fact that she looks like Lea has me thinking maybe you used to lust after my wife.”

  Everyone stopped moving, and Brody stopped breathing. “It wasn’t like that,” he said in a garbled voice, because it very much was like that. He’d never acted on his feelings, but that he’d had them at all made him feel like a first-class heel.

  “Brody, I know you loved Lea. Like a sister,” Mike said kindly, and that made Brody feel even worse. “She loved you too. Hell, she loved all you morons. She was a peach.” His fond smile seemed free of sadness, and Brody wondered how Mike didn’t still hurt at the thought of his soul mate now dead and gone. Apparently he really had made peace with her passing.

  “It’s been almost six years. Colin’s birthday is in little more than a week.” Mike shook his head. “The past is the past. Yeah, Abby looks like Lea. It was weird at first, but now, when I see her, I see Abby. Not my wife.”

  This was the most Mike had discussed Lea in years. Brody looked at Flynn, only to see him equally fascinated with the conversation.

  “So you’re saying it’s okay if Brody and Abby go at it like dogs in heat?” Flynn asked.

  “Jesus, Flynn. Watch your mouth.” Mike scowled. “Colin has big ears.”

  Brody took exception to the remark as well and yanked Flynn’s hair.

  “Ow, damn it. Pulling my hair like a girl? Please.”

  “Don’t talk about her like that. She’s your girlfriend’s best friend, you idiot.”

  “I know that.” Flynn glared back. “Doesn’t change the fact you want her but you won’t make a move. The woman is as slow as molasses when it comes to dating. And to my shock, suddenly so are you. Make a move, son. You’re almost forty.”

  “In nine more years, asshole. We’re the same age.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not afraid of intimacy. I’m dating the love of my life. By Christmas we’ll be engaged. It’s all about commitment.”

  “Intimacy? Commitment? You need to be committed, Dr. Laura.” Brody laughed. “God, it’s like all you need is a pint of ice cream and a DVD of Beaches and you’ll be on your way.”

  Mike agreed. “Brody called it. What’s up with the inner feelings, princess?”

  “Who’s a princess, Dad?” Colin asked, looking minty fresh and sparkling clean. His hair stuck up in front, matted with soap he hadn’t quite rinsed out.

  “Your aunt Flynn,” Brody answered for him.

  Colin thought that hilarious. “Aunt Flynn.” He clutched his belly laughing. “You’re such a girl, Aunt Flynn.”

  “Come on. Let’s go over how to wash your face again,” Mike said as he rose to escort Colin back down the hall. “Aunt Flynn.” Mike shook his head and chuckled on his way to the bathroom.

  Alone with Flynn, Brody punched him in the arm.

  “Damn it. Cut it out.” Flynn punched him back.

  “Good to know you just sound like a pussy.” Brody rubbed his sore arm. “Why the fuck did you say that to Mike?”

  “Because you’re dragging your feet with Abby. Man up, bro.” Flynn cocked his head, studying him. “Gary and Rick have been talking about her. Whenever I see them, they ask about her.” Their friends Gary and Rick were a pair of electricians they often worked with on new housing projects with certain developers. All of them had gone out with the girls months ago. Clubbing at a spot downtown, and the guys had been coming on to clueless Abby like it was hunting season.

  Brody hadn’t liked it then. He liked it even less now. “What do they want?”

  Flynn just looked at him.

  Brody swore. “Dumb question. I know. It’s just… Whenever I talk to her, I wonder what Mike will think.”

  “And now you don’t have to worry. He’s over Lea. Done. Finito. And he has no designs on Abby. You heard him.”

  Yeah, he had. One part of Brody breathed a sigh of relief, while the other part of him struggled to accept that his only roadblock now was the stubborn woman. Nothing to stop him from pursuing her but her objections…and the possibility of making a mess for Flynn with Maddie if he screwed things up.

  On a personal note, Brody was killer good in bed and had a great reputation. Looks, charm, money. What could Abby possibly find at fault with him? “Great. Now Mike’s not an issue. I get it.” Brody hated to say it, but the truth wanted out. “Problem is, I get the feeling she doesn’t trust me. Or like me.” He shrugged. “I don’t get it. I’m hot, built, and financially set. What’s not to like?”

  “Besides your ego? Heck if I know.” Flynn considered him for a moment, then leaned in and lowered his voice. “Look, you don’t know this. Maddie told me, and I’m sworn to secrecy.” But Brody was his brother. Flynn had to tell. It was the guy code. “Abby had a hot and heavy thing with some asshole over a year ago. He messed with her head, has her thinking she’s fat and unattractive.”

  Brody could kind of see the plump reference. No way Abby was fat, but she had curves. Not a stick-thin twig, but a real woman with a body made for loving. The word lush came to mind. Brody had had more fantasies about her curvy body than he’d had about any woman. Ever. He might have worried that her resemblance to Lea had carried over into an unhealthy fixation, except he genuinely liked Abby as a person.

  He figured after they had sex a few times, the newness would rub off. He and she could chalk up the experiences to pleasure, remain friends, and move on to bigger and better things. And maybe he’d stop thinking about her all the time.

  “I know she has issues.”

  “No, man. You’re not hearing me. She’s a sexy woman with issues, so she’s vulnerable to any guy who’ll treat her right. Who the hell wouldn’t want her? She’s smart, sweet, and really, really built.” Flynn swallowed hard. “Hey, I’m with Maddie, but I’m not dead.”

  “So glad you noticed.” And there, Brody didn’t like that Flynn had taken an extra look at the woman. Since when had he ever been so possessive before? He dated casually and parted as friends. He wasn’t an asshole, just a guy with a healthy sex drive who liked variety. He shouldn’t care that Flynn thought her sexy. But he did.

  “She knows Gary and Rick,” Flynn continued. “They’re decent guys, and she likes them. You know damn well they like her. How long before one of them has the balls to ask her out?”

  That didn’t work for Brody on any lev
el. “Great. So what do I do? She’s sarcastic or snaps at me whenever I try to be nice.”

  Flynn gave him a baleful glare. “This afternoon you brought your monster dog into her house after it dug up her garden. Not smart.”

  “I can’t help it. Mutt likes her. He’s always trying to get closer.” Like I want to.

  “Do something to fix this or she’s going to be out of your reach.” Flynn paused. “I love you, man, like Maddie loves Abby. You can’t mess this up.”

  Brody groaned. “You think I don’t know that? Trust me. If I could ignore my dick, I would. But any time she’s near me, I can’t think about anything but her.” Even when she’s not near me, I think about her. “It’s like, I don’t know. I like her, you get me?”

  “Yeah, I do.” Flynn cleared his throat. “So step carefully with Abby. Just don’t let Mike—”

  “Hear that you broke her heart,” Mike said from the hallway as he entered. “Or I’ll smash your face in.”

  “What if she breaks my heart?” Brody asked in jest, though inside he meant every word.

  “That’s what beer is for. Right, Flynn?” Mike taunted.

  Flynn scowled. “You ever going to let that go?” When Maddie and he had gone through a rough patch, Flynn had tried to drown his sorrows in cheap beer. Not a pretty sight.

  “Well,” Brody drawled. “Maybe if you hadn’t gotten sloppy drunk on light beer, we’d be willing to overlook your girlishness. But seriously. Bud Light?”

  Flynn called him a horse’s ass. Then Mike insulted Flynn’s sudden intake of estrogen, and the fight really got started when Brody happened to remind the pair that they’d agreed to watch Mutt for him in another week when he ran to Anacortes on a job—one he planned to bust his ass to finish because he needed to hurry home before he lost Abby to someone else.

  He took another drag of beer while Mike put Flynn into a headlock and thought again about how best to use his resources to nail a stubborn woman he desired more than his next breath.

  ***

  Five days later, Abby glanced at her clock and smiled. “With eight hours to spare.” She hit send on her computer and shot her completed manuscript to her agent. On time and within word count. I am awesome.

  This rounded out her four-book series, giving her a bit of latitude before she started her next project. She wanted to sing with pleasure, the heavy weight of her deadline sloughing off her like yesterday’s troubles.

  “Time to celebrate.” Maddie pranced into the office she and Abby shared, waving a box of chocolates. She wore a skin-hugging black catsuit, complete with a tail and a headpiece with ears. Painted-on whiskers over her cheeks and a black nose gave her some cute to go with the sexy.

  “What the slutty cat said,” Vanessa chimed in from the doorway. She had a bottle of champagne in hand and still wore her work clothes. “Let’s share some chocolate and booze and get ready for the Halloween party.”

  Startled to see Vanessa in a good mood about a party, Abby stared.

  “What?” Vanessa set down her stash and uncorked the bottle. Then she poured into the coffee mugs in Abby’s coffee area. “Unconventional, but it works.” She handed one to Abby, then another to Maddie. After pouring herself a glass, she lifted the mug in a toast. “To our erotic romance writer. Wishing you many sales.”

  Abby and Maddie exchanged a glance. “Um, thanks?” Abby waited for Vanessa to add a snarky comment about raunchy books or smut, but her roommate tipped back her mug and drank.

  Maddie shrugged and took a sip as well. “Don’t question good fortune, Abby. Run with it.”

  Needing the drink, Abby took a sip. The bubbles tickled her nose. “Thanks, Vanessa.” She paused. “I can’t help it. I have to know. Not that I don’t appreciate this, but the last time I finished a book, you patted me on the back, then sneered.”

  “You sneer a lot, but I do remember that particular expression on your face. Not pretty, Vanessa.” Maddie grimaced.

  Abby agreed. “Then, after sneering, you told me you thought I could probably sell more if I named my next characters Dick Cocksalot and Lady Legsopen and made it a historical romance. Which you thought was just hilarious.”

  As expected, Vanessa broke into a grin. “Oh come on. That’s funny…Dame Fellatio.”

  “You’re horrible.” Abby had to laugh. “Don’t give up your day job.” Which was crunching numbers for a big-name corporate accounting firm.

  Maddie laughed. “Legsopen. Classic.” She pointed a warning finger at her cousin. “And don’t even think of applying that name to me, Big Foot.”

  “Seriously, Vanessa. I didn’t know they made heels in size gargantuan.” Abby took another swallow of champagne.

  “It’s ten and a half,” Vanessa snapped. “See what happens when I try to be nice? It never works.” Vanessa finished her champagne and poured some more. “I made Joshua Taggert cry today.”

  They stared at her.

  “The new guy?” Abby asked. “The one who just graduated from college?”

  “Yep. That’s the one. It was just…pathetic. Sure he’s the boss’s nephew, but he screwed up a major account. The only reason our client didn’t end up paying penalties through the nose was because I checked and rechecked him.” She took another drink. “Though in my defense, I wouldn’t have called him an incompetent twit if I’d known Mr. Peterman had already read him the riot act.”

  “Interesting. I didn’t know twit was considered an insult past the fifth grade,” Abby said.

  “Shut up.” Vanessa laughed. “Oh my God. It was just… Why am I always the mean one for saying the truth? How come I’m always the one with the biggest balls wherever I happen to be? And believe it or not, I really am a woman.” Vanessa looked strained.

  Abby took note. “Um, I don’t think we’ve ever questioned your femininity.”

  “Yeah, well, apparently if you’re assertive, you’re a bitch.”

  “This isn’t news.” Maddie finished her mug of champagne and opened the chocolates she’d supposedly brought for Abby. “It’s still an all-boys club out there. Remember little old me? Sexually harassed by my boss? I quit because I knew I couldn’t win against him. Mr. Moneybags and his—”

  “Small penis.” Abby had heard the story more times than she cared to remember.

  “Yep. Small penis.” Maddie nodded. “Versus me—beautiful but poor designer.”

  “Not so poor anymore,” Vanessa added.

  Maddie beamed. “Nope. Business is getting better every day. Maybe that’s what you should do. Leave your firm and open up your own company.”

  Vanessa shrugged. “Maybe. I’m happy at work, actually. I just wish everyone would perform at my level, instead of me always having to yank them up to swim next to me.”

  “Swim?” Abby snorted. “More like your peers are treading water next to Ms. Corporate Shark.”

  Vanessa smiled through her teeth. “Ha ha. And on that note, I’m going upstairs to put on my costume. Try not to embarrass us, would you, Abby? You are not wearing that bozo costume. Maddie, take care of it.”

  Maddie mock saluted her. “Yes, mein führer.” She laughed again. “Bossy, but you have a point.” They both turned to Abby.

  “What?”

  “Tonight, you celebrate,” Maddie answered. “Men will be at the party—eligible bachelors. Remember the hot electricians who ask Flynn about you almost all the time? When’s the last time you had a man, anyway?”

  She blushed. “It’s been awhile. I’m fine about it.”

  “No, you’re not.” Maddie looked her over critically. “But we’re not ruining tonight by mentioning asswipe again.”

  Kevin. He haunted her with bad memories. What hurt was that she’d really loved him. Unfortunately, he hadn’t loved her.

  “Nope. Get that miserable look off your face. I have this, Vanessa.”

 
“Good. If I can be a bitch and be okay with it, you can be a freak and run with it,” she said to Abby before turning on her big heel and leaving.

  “Vanessa!” Maddie tried hard not to laugh. “Oh man, Abby. You are so red right now.”

  “She’s such a jerk.” Abby should never have confided in her friends about her breakup with Kevin. Even her family thought they’d mutually gone their separate ways. Not that he’d dumped her because…because she wanted to explore certain needs.

  “Yep, and that’s why we love her. Now…” Maddie circled around her, studying her like an ant under a microscope. “What to do with you. Something exotic, sexy. And no flats or moccasins tonight.”

  “Oh well. I don’t have anything else to wear.” She hated heels. Comfort all the way for mundane Abby Dunn.

  “Good thing I was planning on tonight for you.” Maddie smiled, her expression unnerving. The woman looked way too pleased with herself. She dragged Abby with her upstairs and into her bedroom.

  Abby’s hand still curled around her mug of champagne, and she took a drink for courage. “I don’t know why you bother keeping a room here. You’re always with Flynn.”

  “Yes, but this is my home. I don’t know that I’m ready to cohabitate yet. Besides, he needs a bigger closet.”

  “No doubt you measured.”

  “Yeah, and it’s more than six inches.” Maddie pinched her finger and thumb together.

  They both laughed.

  “You’re such a dork.”

  “Correction. I’m a sexy dork.” Maddie’s grin turned sly. “And speaking of sexy… Rick and Gary won’t be the only hotties in attendance. The McCauleys will be there tonight too.”

  Abby found it hard to breathe. Brody. “So.” She coughed to clear her throat. “Why not my hobo outfit? It’s cute and comfy.”

  “It completely covers you from head to toe, not to mention it makes you look like a sack of potatoes. And that stick with the red bag on it? Get over it.”

  Maddie pushed some clothing aside in her closet and pulled out a very short, very sheer Grecian-styled robe. “Ah. There we go. I bought this for you last month because I knew you’d try to wimp out at the last minute. And here we have Aphrodite. Goddess of love. You write romance. See? It fits.”