by Linda Kage
Colton seemed similarly shocked by my confession. He choked on his piece of gum. “Uh...excuse me?” He pounded on his chest before coughing the gum back up. “Did you just say—”
“Yes!” I snapped, totally losing all patience and modesty. But since I couldn’t talk to Brandt about this, and I was too embarrassed to tell Reese how I’d thrown myself at him, then...Colton would do. “Yes, okay. I asked him.”
Jaw falling open, Colton gaped at me a moment before saying, “You...you seriously asked Brandt...” He couldn’t even finish the question, he was so stunned.
“I know!” I wailed, covering my eyes with both hands. “I can’t believe I did it either. What the heck was I thinking? You don’t just ask your best friend to sleep with you. Who does that?”
“Well, honestly...” Colton rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “It wasn’t that awful of a question. But what I can’t believe is that he turned you down. I always thought he’d be a lot easier lay.”
I laughed, glad for the comic relief. But then my shoulders sagged. “If I’d asked you to take my v-card, would you have turned me down?”
“Hell, yes,” he answered immediately.
I blinked, shocked at how rapidly he answered. Then, curling my shoulders inward, like a dog shying away from its brutal master, I whispered, “Really?”
“Well, yeah,” he drew out the word as if his answer was obvious. “You’re Brandt’s. He’d kick my ass if I even considered it. If you haven’t noticed, the guy’s scarily protective of you”
I scowled and gritted my teeth. “Yeah, I know he’s protective. But he doesn’t consider—”
“No.” Colton shook his head as if I actually had no clue. “He’s like...you don’t get it, do you? You are his.”
My heart thumped hard at his insistence. “Excuse me?”
“He guards you like...shit, I don’t even know, maybe a snarling pack wolf standing watch over his injured mate. It’s as if you’re a part of him, the most vulnerable part. So...yeah. I’m confused as hell that he actually turned you down.” He squinted. “Are you sure he turned you down?”
“I am absolutely positive. We argued about it for a good hour. He swears it would ruin our friendship.”
“He...wait. You argued about it?” He seemed amused by that, which made me narrow my eyes.
“Yes! We argued about it. A lot.”
“Sarah. Oh, Sarah.” He closed his eyes and slapped his hand over his face. “Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. You don’t try to use reason with a man when you want to play slap and tickle with him.”
“You don’t?” When he grinned and shook his head, I scowled. “Why not?”
Colton sighed. “Because dicks don’t respond to reason; they respond to stimulation.”
“So...?” What the heck was he saying?
“Seduce that motherfucker, and he’ll fold like a house of cards.”
“I...” My pulse accelerated. “Do you really think so?” But then I shook my head, remembering Brandt’s pale face and haunted eyes when he’d told me we could never sleep together. “No. No, he turned me down, end of story. I’m not bothering him with it again.”
“What? No!” Colton lurched toward me, grabbing my arm. “You can’t give up now. Get back on that horse and catch your man.”
“Colton.” I closed my eyes and shook my head. “You don’t understand. I hurt his feelings. I picked at something and went somewhere I never should’ve gone. Not to mention how humiliating it was to get rejected. I’m not going through that again. I’m not doing that to him again.”
Fingers gripped me harder. “No, you don’t understand. He needs this. He loves you, I know he loves you. You are the end-all, be-all for him, Sarah.” My breath caught at his certainty. It reminded me of how Reese had been so sure of Brandt’s feelings too.
Did our families really see something in him I couldn’t?
“And whatever scab you’re picking at,” Colton went on, making me wrinkle my brow and focus on his face. “...Needs to come off completely. Please don’t give up on him. Just...trust me.”
My lips parted when it struck me he knew what Brandt was keeping from me. Hurt that Brandt had told him and not me, I began to shake my head. But the seeking expression on Colton’s face made me pause.
Trust me, he’d said. Brandt needed this.
But needed what? Sex with me? That sounded laughable.
Then Brandt’s words from the night before wavered through me. I’d do anything for you. I just can’t do this.
What the hell did I not know?
He had looked so vulnerable and lost. I couldn’t...no, I wasn’t going to listen to Colton and put Brandt through that again.
Except his brother said, “Please. If you have ever loved him, you’ll try. Just one more time.”
I closed my eyes. If Colton knew what Brandt’s secret was and was this determined that I help him break through whatever was keeping us apart, then...
“Okay,” I whispered, unable to believe I’d just agreed to this. “Maybe one more time.”
“Great.” Colton released my arm with a grin. “You won’t regret it, and I promise you, Brandt will appreciate it too. In fact...damn, I have an idea. Wait just one second.”
He stood, dug into his pocket, and pulled out a cell phone. After dialing, he pressed it to his ear and walked a few steps away so he could talk more confidentially to whoever was on the other end of the line. Then he hung up and strolled back to me, grinning.
“It’s all set up,” he announced. “This Saturday, you are to meet your contact at two p.m. sharp by the entrance of Victoria’s Secret at the mall, got it?”
“My...contact?”
He grinned and ruffled my hair. “Trust me.” With a glance at the time on his phone, he winced. “Damn. I have to meet with my advisor now.” Glancing up, he sent me a thumbs-up. “Good luck. See you on Saturday.”
“I...wait! What exactly is happening on Saturday?”
Instead of answering, he waved over his shoulder and kept hurrying away.
I frowned after him, suddenly very worried about what I’d just agreed to.
SARAH
When Saturday came around, I didn’t tell Reese or Mason where I was going, because I was sure Mason wouldn’t approve of anything to do with me possibly losing my v-card, and well...mostly because I wasn’t all that sure where I was going...or what I was doing. I still had no idea who I was meeting or where they’d end up taking me from there. I hoped my “contact” knew who I was because...yeah, I was clueless who they were, and honestly, I was completely uncertain about any of this.
Brandt had told me no, and he’d really meant it. I should respect that.
But Colton had texted me a message this morning, reminding me and assuring me everything would work out. I had no idea why I was trusting a seventeen-year-old who couldn’t even bother to stay home when he’d been grounded. But he seemed so sure of his idea, and I wasn’t sure of anything, so...I went with it.
Hopefully Colton’s instincts were better than mine and this wasn’t the stupidest thing I ever did.
I told my family I was going to the school library and took off in my SUV in the opposite direction as the campus. As soon as I reached the mall, my stomach began to clench. I hated parking there; their handicapped parking section left no room for me to lower my wheelchair without totally getting in the way of other traffic trying to park. I loathed inconveniencing others and forcing them to wait for me; they always seemed so impatient and irritated about me even existing, but I gritted through it and even made it inside without getting run over or cussed out. Plus!
Victoria’s Secret was located near the middle of the mall, close to the food court. My stomach growled as the scent of the various restaurant kiosks wafted out to greet me.
Mmm, I might have to pause for a soft pretzel with salt and cheese before the day was over.
Actually, I was debating whether I should head that way first, when someone called, “Sarah! Hey, there you are.�
��
When I spotted Brandt’s sister Caroline hurrying my way along with her friend Zoey—whose husband also used to work at Forbidden with Mason—I blinked in surprise.
“H-hi?” I said uncertainly.
Was Caroline my contact? I totally hadn’t been expecting that.
“Hey, woman!” She swooped in for a big hug. “How’ve you been? I was so excited when Colton told me you were finally ready to lay claim to Brandt, though honestly, it took you long enough. I’ve lost two bets to my husband so far, sure you’d have brought my brother to his knees years ago.”
“I...uh...” Yeah, I had no clue what to say to that.
But seriously, did everyone think we’d end up together? Why couldn’t I see what they saw?
“So, are we ready to get this show on the road?” Caroline popped behind me, grabbing the handles of my wheelchair so she could push me along.
I looked up to Zoey for help. “Show? What show? What exactly are we doing?”
Zoey opened her mouth to answer, but Caroline steamrolled right over her. “We’re buying you all kinds of sexy underthings to help you seduce Brandt into finally giving it up to you. Colton’s idea, but I approve.”
My jaw fell loose, which caused Zoey to laugh. “Are you sure you want to get mixed up with the Gamble clan?”
Actually, no. I wasn’t very sure about this at all. I was a little shocked both Caroline and Colton were so willing and enthusiastic to plan something like this against their brother.
But Caroline answered for me, bending down so she could bump our cheeks together. “Of course she does. We’re like sisters already. Might as well make it official.”
“Wait, what?”
They made it sound like they were trying to help me wring a proposal out of Brandt or something. Though the idea made my heart leap, it was way more devious than I was planning to be.
Honestly, I’d just wanted to stop feeling pathetic. I’d wanted to take control of my life.
But this seemed to be going way off grid from the path I’d planned.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I hedged.
“It’s perfect,” Caroline assured as she pushed me into the lingerie shop. “Trust me.”
~*~
An hour later, I had a shopping bag full of three pairs of matching bra and panty sets, a new scented body spray, and...condoms. Ribbed for her pleasure.
Why I hadn’t been able to say no every time Caroline shoved something in my arms, I’ll never know. But I flushed thinking about the contents. I looked around because it felt as if everyone was looking at me and knew what kind of naughty things I’d purchased, but all the different occupants at the food court seemed to be minding their own business, completely oblivious to my bag full of tricks I held clutched for dear life in my lap.
“You know,” Caroline mused from across the table where we all sat. “I’m glad the hubby suggested we move back to Illinois from Lake Tahoe after I got pregnant with Teagan. It was nice there, but this is home. I missed you guys so much. Mmm.” She moaned and closed her eyes as she chewed. “Great idea by the way about stopping at the food court, Sarah. These pretzels are delish. And I don’t have to share any of it with an eighteen-month-old or begging husband.” She groaned again blissfully as she took another bite.
“They are pretty good,” Zoey agreed, sounding almost guilty as she glanced at her phone’s screen for like the tenth time since we’d stopped at the food court to eat. Then she dunked her pretzel bite in cream cheese before coating it with cinnamon.
“Oh my God.” Caroline stole her phone from her. “They’re fine. Stop checking in.”
“Who’s fine,” I asked, brushing some salt and a bit of drool off the corner of my lip.
“Colton and Ten are babysitting both her kids and mine while we’re shopping,” Zoey answered, biting her lip. “I know Ten’s a great dad, but to be suddenly stuck with three—”
“That’s why I sent Colton over to help,” Caroline interjected. “They’ll be fine.”
“Where’s Quinn?” I asked.
“At work. He was so excited this morning; he gets to assist with three major operations today.” Zoey’s husband had gotten a residency at Ellamore’s Regional Medical Center. I secretly called him Dr. Hot Pants because he looked so good in scrubs.
I was about to ask when he’d stop needing a supervisor and drop the residency so he could go into practice on his own, but my phone rang.
After fishing it free from my purse, I brightened. “It’s Reese.”
Caroline grasped my wrist before I could answer. “Don’t tell her what we did,” she whispered, glancing at my naughty bag.
I shook my head, confused. “Why not? I’m pretty sure Reese would support your plan.”
“Oh, there’s no doubt about that. But she can’t keep a secret like this from that husband of hers to save her life, and I have a feeling Mason wouldn’t be too supportive of Operation Bang-Brandt.”
Good point. I wouldn’t want to put Reese in that position.
I nodded sagely before answering, “Hey, what’s up?”
“Eva just went into labor.” Reese sounded harried and out of breath.
“Oh my goodness!” I clapped out my joy and swung a grin toward Caroline and Zoey. “I didn’t think the baby was due for another—”
“Two weeks, I know. But when has E. ever waited the full term to pop out a kid?”
True.
“So that means Mason and I are leaving, like right now, and taking the kids over there to babysit Pick and Eva’s crew. We’ll be gone a few days. Will you be okay? Or do you need—”
“I’ll be fine,” I rushed to reassure her, knowing she was in a hurry. “Don’t worry about me. If I need anything, I’ll just”—my gaze caught Caroline’s— “I’ll ask the Gambles.”
“Great. We love you. Take care. See you in a few.” Reese hung up before I could say anything else, so I just laughed at her enthusiasm and hung up the phone.
“Pick and Eva are having their baby?” Zoey guessed.
When I nodded, both she and Caroline squealed in delight and jerked up their own phones, mostly likely to text their hubbies. My first impulse had been to immediately tell Brandt the news. But watching Zoey and Caroline contact their guys made me pause and feel as if I was trying to slot him into the husband position, especially after everything I’d bought today. And that was totally not what I wanted to force him into.
I was still happy and content being just his best friend. I wasn’t trying to push for more. The sex part was just because I only trusted him to help me ease into the next stage of my life, except I’d kind of forgotten why I was so determined to lose my virginity in the first place. Being a virgin certainly wasn’t painful or in any way uncomfortable. I was perfectly happy to stay this way for the rest of my life if need be. If only assholes like Seth—
Oh, right. Seth.
I’d started this whole stupid crusade because I wanted to show that jerkface I could attract a man without him being paid to do me.
But the more I wanted to shove Brandt into the role of the doer, the crappier I began to feel about the whole idea, especially after the way he’d reacted the first time I’d asked him.
“Oh my God, my husband is a genius,” Caroline squealed, looking up to shake my arm. “With Eva going into labor and Reese and all them leaving to babysit the other three Ryan kids, you know what this means, don’t you?”
I wrinkled my brow, having no clue what that meant. “That Eva and Pick will now have four kids?” I guessed lamely.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “No. It means you’ll be home alone for the next few days.”
“Oh,” Zoey gasped, catching on. “That’s perfect. I thought we’d have to wait weeks to organize seduction night, but...wait, does Brandt have to work tonight?”
“Nope.” Caroline read the screen of her phone with a grin. “Colton says he’s off both tonight and tomorrow.” She looked up and wiggled her eyebrows at me. �
��So that gives us two nights to work with.”
Uncertainty churned through me. “You know, I’ve been thinking. Maybe trying to force Brandt into—”
“It’s a great plan,” Caroline cut in. “Just trust us.”
Trust them.
Sure, my mind screamed very uncertainly.
I have no idea why trusting Brandt’s siblings felt like the worst idea ever. Shouldn’t they know what he needed more than I did?
No, I was his best friend. Not them. I knew him better. And he would not appreciate this...at all.
I think that was when I decided I wasn’t going to go through with Operation Bang-Brandt, even though I’d just let Caroline believe otherwise.
~*~
When Caroline encouraged me to follow them to Zoey’s house from the mall, I agreed. I didn’t think there’d be any harm in it, since the alternative was me going home alone.
Ten was waiting by the door when we arrived. For some reason, Caroline had grabbed my bag-o-sin from my SUV when I’d parked. I had no idea why—I certainly wasn’t changing into anything here...maybe even anywhere. I was probably going to “lose” the entire bag as soon as I got home.
“Hey, Hot Wheels,” Ten greeted me first thing. “Did you pick out something really naughty?”
“Oh my God,” I gasped, my face going beet red. I guess I should’ve known everyone would be in on Operation Bang-Brandt.
Yeah, now I really couldn’t go through with it.
“Leave her be,” Caroline groused, jerking the bag out of his reach when he tried to peek inside.
“Where are the kids?” Zoey asked, glancing around.
“In JB’s room, watching a movie,” Colton answered as he emerged from the hall.
When Zoey started back that way to check in on them, Caroline called after her. “Hey, grab your makeup kit while you’re back there.”
“So...” Colton grinned as he wandered to me. “Was my plan genius, or was my plan genius?”
