by R. C. Martin
GF: I doubt it. What’s up?
Me: I called Judah. Before coffee. OMG! I left the most spaz-tastic vm!
GF: Did you tell him yes?
Me: What? Did you hear me? BEFORE coffee! It was a disaster.
GF: Did you say yes?
Me: That’s SO not the point.
GF: Proud of you.
GF: You’re not a spaz.
GF: Drink your coffee.
I smiled in spite of myself, annoyed but not at all surprised by the way Geoffrey managed to calm me down in two minutes flat. While I still felt mortified over my most recent word vomit, Geoffrey was right about one thing—I needed coffee.
Not like I can take the message back, I told myself as I filled my mug. Now all I can do is wait.
As I doctored my mug of sanity, I was suddenly that much more grateful my sister would be in town for the day. I needed the distraction.
Chapter Eleven
By mid-afternoon, I made up my mind. I had to stop acting like a psychotic-stalker-chick and just pretend my phone didn’t exist. Judah hadn’t returned my call; and if I was being real, I knew it wasn’t fair to be surprised. After the message I left, it made sense that I probably extinguished any and all interest he had in me. Checking my phone every fifteen—okay, eight—minutes wasn’t going to erase my ridiculous, babbling acceptance to his dinner invitation. I knew the sooner I came to grips with reality, the more I’d be able to enjoy Harper.
Aside from the burden of embarrassment I was lugging around, my day was actually pretty great. Most days with Harper were. We were close, and always had been. With less than eighteen months between us, I didn’t know life without her. Even better, she couldn’t remember life without me.
Of course, being two of three females in a house of four growing up, we had plenty of fights. PMS, crushing on the same guy, stealing each other’s clothes—there were plenty of opportunities for us to find a reason to yell at each other. Still, at the end of the day, there was no one in the whole world who loved me like Harper; and in the same breath, I would shout from the rooftops that there neither was, nor would there ever be, anyone who loved Harper like me.
Brunch with Sarah was a blast. She scored us a table at Lulu’s, one of Fort Collins’ most popular restaurants, known for its delicious French cuisine. We had too many mimosas, which led to an astounding consumption of beignets and an obnoxious amount of laughter. It had been a long time since the three of us hung out together, and it was nice spending time with just us girls.
Following a couple hours at Lulu’s, we parted ways. Harper then insisted on spending the afternoon window shopping. Since the weather was nice, and I knew how much she loved popping in and out of the shops that lined the main drag through Old Town, I didn’t argue. For a while, we just browsed, catching each other up on the last few weeks we’d been playing phone tag. It didn’t go unnoticed the way she expressed more interest in what I was up to, while all of my inquiries about her led to vague responses of how busy she’d been hanging out and enjoying the first few weeks of summer. I didn’t press, sure I’d be able to get the truth out of her at some point before the day was done.
She’s seeing someone, I surmised confidently. I just know it.
“Oh, my god—The Smitten Kitten,” Harper gushed, wrapping her hand around my elbow. “Let’s buy something.” She pulled me into the boutique, and there was no stopping her.
“Harp, I thought we were window shopping.”
“We were,” she replied, looking back at me from over her shoulder.
Those green eyes of hers shimmered with mischief, and I squinted at her in return. Her red hair, just a shade lighter than mine, was grown out to her shoulders. It was pulled back into a ponytail that danced across the freckled skin at the base of her neck.
“Now,” she went on to say, “we’re buying outfits for dinner tonight.”
I arched a single eyebrow at her and asked, “We’re going out? Again?”
Harper rolled her eyes, freeing my arm as she approached a rack full of dresses. “I love the hell out of you, Teddy, but your little ass needs to get out more. I mean—fuck—you’re twenty-two and it’s a Saturday night.”
She gasped as she took a dress off the rack and pushed the hanger under my chin. The little green halter number draped down my front, and I looked down at it. The hem extended barely past mid-thigh.
“You would look hot as hell in this!”
I shook my head at her. “You know I don’t wear dresses this short. Besides, green is your color. It brings out your eyes.”
She scrunched her face at me playfully and then held the dress out in front of her. “I should try it on, huh?”
“Yeah,” I chuckled. There was no point in arguing with her. I knew she’d already made up her mind. We were going out that night, and at least one of us would be wearing a new dress. “Try it on.”
“Okay,” she agreed with a grin. “But you’re buying something, too. Don’t think you aren’t. In fact…” Her voice trailed off as she shifted her attention onto the dresses again. I waited while she hunted, following her to the next rack when she didn’t find what she was looking for right away. “Ah-ha!” she sang.
Harper held up a multicolored, spaghetti-strapped, halter top, maxi dress. The neckline could hardly be considered such, the V-neck cut of the fabric quite dramatic, dipping all the way to the empire waist. It was obviously a dress that wouldn’t allow for a bra, but it flowed generously to the floor. I also couldn’t negate the bohemian style striped pattern was quite pretty.
“Bet you have a pair of wedges you could wear with this.”
She was right, of course. I did have a pair of nude wedges that would work with the outfit. Still, I was hesitant.
“I don’t know, Harper. It won’t cover my whole back, and—”
“You have all that fucking hair, bitch! Wear it down. Tattoos covered. Problem solved.”
I narrowed my eyes at her and snatched the dress out of her hand. “You know I hate it when you call me that.”
A grin spread across her face. “You know I love it when you do as I say.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I mumbled on my way to the fitting rooms.
Twenty minutes later, we were leaving the shop with two new dresses in tow. On our drive back to my apartment, I even somehow agreed to let Harper straighten my hair—a chore I knew would take at least an hour. We were both fully aware I would never agree to do it myself; but it was also common knowledge how much she liked to play with my hair. I was such a sucker when it came to my big sister.
“So, since you’ve decided we’re getting all dressed up, where are we going tonight?” I asked as she pulled into the parking lot of my building.
“Have you ever been to Aussie’s?” she asked nonchalantly.
“Aussie’s? Aussie’s Steakhouse?” I deadpanned.
She smiled at me as she shifted into park and turned off her car.
“Harper, you are aware that I’m a recent college grad and you are a teacher, right? We can’t afford Aussies, especially not after the money we just dropped at The Smitten Kitten.”
“Teddy Bear,” she cooed, reaching over to rest her hand on my knee. “Tonight, money is no object. I’ve got you covered, okay? Come on. Let’s go upstairs. We need to shower so I can start on your hair.”
I gaped at her as she climbed out of the driver’s seat. It took me a minute to regain my wits—but when I did, I stepped out of her vehicle and saw she had already grabbed her overnight bag and our dresses.
“Money is no object?” I repeated. “Seriously? You better start talking, Harp.”
With a giggle, she walked past me, headed for the stairs. “Come on, Teddy. We’ve only got a couple hours.”
I scowled at her as we climbed the three flights of stairs to my front door. It was quite obvious she had something up her sleeve, and I was fairly certain I wouldn’t like it.
“You know, you might think you can get me to do anything, but you’re wro
ng,” I stated as I unlocked my apartment. We entered my unit, and I went on to tell her, “If you don’t start being a whole lot more transparent, I’m going to sit my tatted ass on that couch and watch you get ready for whatever fancy dinner you’ve planned. I don’t even like steak.”
“First of all,” Harper began, dumping her things on the aforementioned couch, “they serve more than steak at Aussie’s. Second, your tatted ass is going out with me tonight.” She turned and pointed a finger at me before she headed for the kitchen. “Third, I’ll be as transparent as you want me to be after—”
When she stopped speaking, I folded my arms across my chest and waited impatiently for her to continue. When she didn’t, I squinted in the direction she had gone and stifled a sigh of annoyance.
“After what, Harper?”
She popped out of the kitchen in an instant, an empty glass in her hand—tucked against her chest—and a sly smile curling her lips.
“Who’s Jude?”
It wasn’t until she asked that I noticed the card she held in her opposite hand. My jaw fell open at the same time my cheeks flushed. My stomach tingled anxiously, and I had to tighten my arms around my chest to keep myself from reaching into my purse for my phone. Not that I thought I’d find anything.
He’s not going to call, I told myself.
“Teddy, you’ve got some explaining to do. Those flowers? Holy hell!”
I snapped my mouth closed when it became apparent I had no words. I knew I could tell Harper anything. I had been doing it for forever; but the humiliation that accompanied the story she wanted was far too fresh.
“Right, well, I’m going to just hop in the shower,” I stated as I turned away from her.
“Oh, no you don’t,” she laughed, sprinting across the room. She took hold of my elbow and spun me back around. “I’ll spill if you will.”
I hesitated, and she arched an eyebrow at me. Knowing I wouldn’t win our tug-of-war, I surrendered.
“Okay. Fine.”
Chapter Twelve
Judah arrived at the golf course fifteen minutes to the top of the hour. When he turned into the parking lot, he spotted Benjamin as he pulled his clubs from the trunk of his BMW X5 SUV. He was dressed in navy shorts and a striped t-shirt. Judah smiled to himself, knowing Benjamin would be content to soak up any amount of sun he could throughout their game. The man was meant for a beach town more than mountain country. Judah always teased that with his brother’s blond hair and blue eyes, he would have fit right in on any southern coast—if only Benjamin overcame his fear of the ocean.
When Judah’s phone rang from within his pocket, he ignored it and stepped out of his matte black, Mercedes AMG G 63 SUV in favor of greeting his one and only brother. “Pretty boy,” he called out good naturedly. “You ready to get your ass handed to you this morning?”
Benjamin looked over at him and laughed as he helped shorten the distance which separated them. “Who are you calling pretty, slut,” he jibed, offering Judah his hand.
He accepted the gesture, fully prepared for the hug that would follow.
“Good to see you, man,” said Benjamin.
“You too, kid.”
They were only two years apart, but since the moment Benjamin entered Judah’s life, he had always been his kid brother. He was also three inches shorter and an estimated twenty pounds lighter, so he didn’t argue when Judah called him as such. Instead, he shook his head and strapped his clubs over his shoulder.
“We’ll see who’s doing all the talking after the eighteenth hole.”
“Mmhmm,” Judah hummed, opening his trunk to retrieve his own gear.
They headed into the clubhouse together, exchanging small talk and pleasantries. It didn’t take much effort for them to find Eddalyn, who was at the bar, casually sipping at her coffee. Even with no one to impress, she was as poised as ever. When she saw them headed her way, she smiled unabashedly and clasped her hands together in excitement before sliding from her seat.
“There’s my long-lost nephew. Oh, it’s so good to see you,” she greeted with open arms.
Benjamin sat his clubs down and wrapped her in an embrace. “You too, Aunt Eddalyn. Sorry it’s been so long.”
“Oh, nonsense,” she tutted, waving away his apology. “I understand how the world works, dear. You’re a busy man chasing after his dreams. It’s a hard job, making all of us proud, but you’re doing just fine.”
“Stop. You’re making me blush,” he teased.
Eddalyn laughed at the same time Benjamin’s phone chirped from within his pocket. When he reached for his device, Judah was reminded of the call he missed a few minutes earlier. Curious who had tried to reach him early on a Saturday, he reached for his, too.
“Boys,” Eddalyn spoke, her warning unmistakable in her tone. “Do I need to take those things away from you? We’re here to play golf, not work.”
Benjamin chuckled, and Judah didn’t miss the goofy grin that spread across his face. “It’s not work this time. I promise—one text and then it’s off.”
“Very well,” Eddalyn conceded. She then looked at Judah and arched an eyebrow at him.
“If he gets to read his, I at least get to listen to mine,” he said in reply to her silent demand.
Before either of them could say otherwise, Judah turned his back on his family in order to play the voicemail that awaited him. When the sound of Teddy’s voice slipped into his ear, his chest swelled victoriously.
It was quite apparent she had been nervous, her words jumbled and uncertain. He wasn’t sure why, but when the message came to an end, he found himself replaying it. He liked the sound of her voice—the way it captured her innocence and her presumed inexperience. As he listened, he pictured her with the phone pressed to her ear, her long red hair draped over her shoulders, and her sexy, little body in whatever she slept in the night before.
I want to taste her lips, he thought to himself as he restarted her message a third time. I want to sink my teeth into her skin. I want to know how many other freckles she’s hiding.
He allowed himself to grab hold of the way her shy demeanor refreshed him like a cool drink on a hot day. He enjoyed all the ways in which she expressed herself—nothing contrived or exaggerated. She was alluring and enticing with not an ounce of manipulation.
“What is it?” Benjamin pulled Judah from his imagination, clapping a hand on his shoulder. He leaned in close enough so only Judah could hear as he asked, “Last night’s booty call forgot her favorite pair of panties?”
A smug smile pulled at Judah’s lips as he pocketed his phone. Truth of the matter was, there hadn’t been a woman in his bed the previous night. Even so, he wasn’t about to let Benjamin know that.
“Last night’s booty call wasn’t wearing any panties.”
“Come on,” Benjamin insisted with a laugh and a shake of his head. “I’m about to beat your whore ass.”
After four hours of play, Eddalyn was the victor of the day. Famished from their morning spent on the course, they enjoyed lunch together in the clubhouse. It was midafternoon when they parted ways—Judah and Benjamin headed for Judah’s home. They talked about work for a while, knowing their evening would likely not leave room for such discussions, and then hit the showers in preparation for dinner.
They drove to Old Town separately but arrived at their destination at the same time. With a few moments to spare, they headed to the bar to wait for their anticipated company. It took all of fifteen minutes before Benjamin began to grow anxious. Judah flicked his gaze down at his watch when his brother looked over at the front door for the sixth time. The man had hardly touched his drink, which made Judah convinced the love-sick fool needed it.
“Calm down, kid,” he muttered before he took a sip of his scotch. “It’s not even five minutes after the hour.”
“What?” Benjamin shrugged as he brought his attention back to the table at which they stood. “I’m fine.”
“Sure you are.” Judah shook his head
but was relieved when Benjamin took a swig of his beer. “You haven’t told me much about her, by the way. I have no idea what I’m in for tonight.”
“She’s great,” he practically gushed in reply.
Judah coughed in a failed attempt to mask his amusement.
“Fuck you,” said Benjamin through a chuckle. “I’m serious. She’s smart and she’s funny—god, she’s funny. She’s got the foulest mouth I’ve ever heard on a woman, but it’s sexy as hell; mostly because she’s actually really sweet, which is such a beautiful contradiction. She’s a knock-out, too.”
“How’d you meet?” asked Judah, hoping to keep his brother distracted for a while longer.
“At a charity event.”
“Of course,” he replied, not the least bit surprised.
Benjamin sat on the board of three separate charities. It had always been a big passion of his, giving back. There was a time in his life when he needed all the help and support he could get. He believed, wholeheartedly, that he wouldn’t be as successful as he was if not for the advocates who fought for him when he was a child.
“It was an orchestra concert event,” he went on to say. “It was put on by a group of teachers and professors from all across Colorado one weekend in April. It was actually quite a successful night. We raised over twenty grand.”
“Congratulations,” murmured Judah sincerely.
He knew how much the organization which funded fine arts education meant to Benjamin. It was his favorite of all of his charities.
“Anyway—at the banquet following the concert, she was there. The music teacher from her school was one of the volunteers who played in the band.”
“So, she’s a teacher?”
“Yeah. Third grade.”
Judah nodded dubiously. He remembered his third-grade teacher. Sexy was not how he would have described her—at eight or at thirty.
“And what do you know about this sister of hers?”
“Honestly?” Benjamin reached up to scratch his jaw. “Not much,” he admitted. “She’s single. Recent CSU grad. That’s all I’ve got.”