It Takes Two

by Allie K. Adams

  How the hell did he do that?

  “Was that Jason?” Bree stepped out of the bathroom minutes later wrapped in a towel, another twisted on top of her head. She frowned when Jeremy collapsed against the kitchen counter and grabbed his beer. “Uh oh, I know that look. The pout. The lean against something. The beer. It’s like the party all over again. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He took a drink.

  “Good. Then maybe you can help me.”

  “With?”

  She unwrapped the towel and let it drop, leaving her naked and beautifully exposed. Sweet Jesus. He clenched his jaw and swallowed hard, almost shaking with the need to touch her. “I seem to have dropped my towel.”

  Practically panting, he turned from her and closed his eyes, begging his body to not respond, to not surge with heated lust. “Cover up.”

  “Come on,” she purred, igniting his hunger and clawing at his control. “Don’t you want to check every inch of me to make sure I dried properly?”

  More than anything. But he couldn’t, not when he had to keep her safe without Jason. “I said cover up.”

  “Jeremy, what is it?”

  “We can’t do this.”

  “You mean without Jason?”

  “I mean at all,” he barked and whipped around. She still hadn’t grabbed that damn towel. Her pretty nipples puckered. That sexy bellybutton ring winked at him, tempting him. His fingers tingled to touch her. His mouth watered to taste her. “It was a mistake.”

  “It wasn’t a mistake.” Her voice shook as she grabbed the towel to cover herself. “Don’t push me away, Jeremy. Please.”

  “Stop.” The look in her eyes destroyed him. Confusion. Doubt. Fear. If he didn’t do this, if he didn’t hurt her, she’d continue to whittle away at his resistance until he broke. If that happened, the next threat may not be a false alarm.

  Don’t do it.

  He didn’t need his twin in his head right now. This was his decision and his alone. He had no choice. Bree’s safety took priority over anything else. He set his jaw as he regarded her. “What we did tonight can’t happen again, at least until this is over. It’s too much of a distraction.”

  Dude, stop!

  “Distraction,” she whimpered, clearly stunned. Her eyes widened as they swelled with the pain he induced. “Is that what I am to you?”

  Jesus, this was killing him. Swallowing hard to keep his voice even, he said, “I can’t protect you, not like this.”

  “Then get someone else to protect me,” she cried. Those tears would be the death of him. He was already close to losing it. If he had to spend one more minute watching her cry, knowing he’d caused those tears, he’d come undone.

  “It’s my job. I don’t trust it with anyone else.”

  “Jeremy,” she whispered before sucking in a sharp intake of breath. Then, after taking in another, she closed her eyes and let it out slowly before resting her cool gaze on him. That icy glare was the final nail in the coffin. Even before she said anything, he knew he’d lost her because of this. “I understand.”

  “You do?” He tried not to sound shocked. Her comment sent him reeling.

  “Our jobs come first. Selfish or not, it is what it is. You and I are very much alike.”

  “Bree,” he started, then stopped. That was exactly right. They were on the same page.

  Their jobs came first.

  “Let’s not make this any harder than it has to be,” she went on, her voice perfectly poised. When she smiled, it broke his heart. “Our timing sucks. Maybe someday we’ll get it right. But that’s not today, is it? Today we have to be adults and play by the rules.”

  “Yeah,” was all he said. He couldn’t trust his voice to stay steady for anything more.

  “I just hope it doesn’t take us another ten years to find each other again.”

  “It won’t. I promise.”

  Her smile saddened with the reality that he couldn’t keep a promise like that. No one could. “Do you remember what I said the night I left?”

  “I do.” He’d never forget. Those three words kept him alive when he should have died. Lying on that cold concrete, bleeding out and helpless to do anything but feel every life-sustaining drop of blood leave his body. Doctor after doctor telling Jason to prepare for the worst. It was the memory of Bree telling him she loved him that kept him alive.

  “I still love you, Jeremy. That will never change.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  Bree finished dressing before checking herself in the mirror. Wet hair, uncombed and wild—check. Eyes swollen from crying and no makeup to cover up the fact—check. Heart shattered, the chance of recovery slim—check. With a steady breath, she left the bedroom and headed into the dining room, joining the one who’d ruined it for every other man.

  “We need to talk about what’s happening and why.” Jeremy offered her a beer as if he hadn’t just ripped out her heart and threw it in her face.

  Swallowing her emotions and channeling every lesson on composure she’d ever had, she gracefully took a seat at the dining table. She was the president and CEO of a huge software company, damn it. She needed to stop acting like a child. She’d thwarted a hostile takeover, had gone toe-to-toe with her own board to do it. She could handle a broken heart. “I’m listening.”

  “It’s no secret Goggles has been struggling the past couple of years. You buying that radio station may have saved your company.”

  “Correction,” she said and stood to get herself a glass of wine. No reason for her to endure this without a little something to take off the edge. “It did save my company. Just so we’re clear.”

  “Are you through?” he asked in a growl after she returned to the table.

  “Not even close.”

  “Is that how it’s going to be between us now? Constantly trying to piss each other off?”

  “I could always drop my towel again.” She smiled sweetly.

  “That’s just mean.”

  “How about I promise to stay clothed around you if you promise to stop flashing that cute, crooked grin.”

  “I can’t promise that.” He curled his lips into that damn cute, crooked grin.

  Her smile widened. Despite the ache in her heart that would take a million years to heal, she had to admit—he was still fun as hell to be around. “You’re cheating.”

  “I’ll have to work on that.” He dropped his grin. “Let’s get back to what’s happening. When the radio station started making a profit, the instant the money hit Goggles’ bank account, it disappeared.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “It’s true.”

  “Stop messing with me.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. That intense look left nothing up to question. “Do I look like I’m messing with you?”

  “No, but…” She fought the panic stirring in the pit of her stomach. Gone was the playful banter between them. He was serious. What did this have to do with someone threatening to kill her? “I know KPGL is making money. I’ve seen the financials.”

  “Have you seen the actual money?”

  “W-Well,” she stuttered and swallowed thickly, that panic now tightening her chest. “No. That doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

  “Trust me. It’s not there.”

  “Are you sure?” Dread settled into her blood, slowing it. The panic had moved to her throat, threatening to close off her airway. “Any of it?”

  “Most of it is gone.” He sighed and thrust his fingers through his hair before he adjusted his glasses. “I’ve followed the trails. Every last one of them.”

  “And?”

  “They all lead to you.” He sighed again. Deeper. Longer. His shoulders sagged. “Bree, the board thinks you stole the money. That’s why I’m really here. They hired TREX to find it.”

  Holy shit. More wine. She definitely needed more wine to deal with this. She stood, filled her glass full, and grabbed the bottle before returning to the table. Drinking her body weight may not be the great
est coping mechanism, but it sure as hell beat freaking out that the money KPGL made had somehow disappeared.

  Oh, and let’s not forget I’m being framed for it.

  Wait. She slowly slipped at the wine as the realization sank in. “That’s why you came to the reunion. To my room. That’s why…” She sprang to her feet and backed away from him, the betrayal burning into her soul. “That’s why you wanted to end this before it ever began. A mistake? Come clean, Jeremy. You at least owe me that. You never came for me. You’re just doing your job. I’m just a job to you.”

  “You’re more than a job to me and you know it. I’ve been assigned to protect you.”

  “I’ve been assigned to protect you,” Jason corrected as he rejoined them and dropped onto a chair. “Jer has been assigned to find the money you stole.”

  “She didn’t steal it,” Jeremy barked.

  “I didn’t steal it,” she snapped at the same time.

  “Then tell us where it is so I can get Jer back to his R&R. This find was the worst possible thing he needed right now.”

  “Why do you say that?” Some of the wind left her sails as concern replaced her anger.

  “Do you really not know the answer to that?” He looked at her.

  “I have it under control,” Jeremy growled and glared at his brother.

  “You think so?” He nodded at the wine glass filled to the brim in one of Bree’s hands and the bottle in the other. “She’s double-fisting it, bro. That should tell you everything you need to know about how much control you really have over any of this. Over anything.”

  “Did it ever occur to you that you’re the reason he feels inadequate?” She may be pissed at Jeremy for breaking her heart and treating her like a job, but she refused to sit back while Jason belittled him for not being able to immediately smooth it over. “Not everybody knows the right thing to say at the exact right time.”

  “True, but—”

  “And another thing,” Bree cut him off, her anger redirected from Jeremy to his arrogant twin. “What right do you have to say anything? So he’s not the master of social cues like you. That doesn’t make him any less of a man.”

  “Come on. It’s not like that.”

  She couldn’t stop. Years of pent up frustration over the way Jason treated his brother flooded out. “Do you even know what it feels like constantly living in the shadows? Of course you don’t. You’re too busy casting the biggest shadow of them all and then doing whatever you can to make sure those of us invisible stay hidden.”

  Jason blinked at her, working his mouth, but remaining silent.

  “How well do you know your brother, Jason?” She spiked her eyebrow in challenge. No one knew him as well as she did. It was time she proved that. Whether or not they’d ever be more than friends, she would not let Jeremy continue to live his life according to Jason. Someone had to stand up to him. Since Jeremy would never go against his twin, Bree had to. “Do you honestly think he likes having to live up to everyone else’s expectations of what it is to be your twin?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “When are you going to see him for the man he is? He may look like you, but he’s not an exact replica of you and doesn’t have to be. That does not make him weak. He’s every bit as strong as you. Maybe stronger.”

  He took a breath, but she lifted a hand to stop him. She wasn’t done. Not even close. “Think about all the times you’ve played the hero, racing to his rescue like some sort of Superman. Did you ever stop long enough to think maybe he puts himself in those situations so you have reason to rescue him?”

  Narrowing his eyes, he regarded her, but continued to hold his tongue.

  “He has a beautiful mind. Did you know that? Did you know his IQ is high enough for him to be a member of Mensa? He refused the invitation to join. God forbid he does anything to take an ounce of that spotlight from you. Who’s the one without control? Is it really him? Or is it you?”

  The instant he lowered his gaze, her guilt robbed her of breath. What the hell did she just do? She didn’t just put him in his place. She’d attacked him, made it personal. That didn’t make her the better person. It made her the absolute worst.

  “I think the tension is getting to us all,” Jeremy offered in a quiet voice. “Maybe we should go to bed.”

  “Is she right?” Jason asked, barely audible, his gaze still hidden.

  “Jas, let’s just go to bed. We can talk about it tomorrow.”

  “Is. She. Right?” He lifted his guarded gaze and rested it on his brother.

  Jeremy snapped his mouth closed and worked his jaw.

  “Is she right!” He pounded his fist on the table and jumped up, sending the chair toppling over. “Do you do it on purpose?”

  He didn’t say anything and didn’t have to. His expression twisted as regret saddened his eyes. Jason’s shoulders fell slack, the reality weighing him down. The tension thickened between them, cutting off the air supply in the room. He shook his head as he regarded Jeremy, shock and betrayal evident in his hurt gaze.

  “Why, Jer? Why would you do that? Answer me, goddamn it.”

  This was her fault. She should have kept her damn mouth shut. “Jason, I’m sorry. I—” She bit her tongue as his lethal glare halted the rest of her apology.

  “You’ve done enough.”

  “Stop it,” Jeremy ordered and stepped between them. “Both of you.” He faced his brother. “Jason, you and I both know you’re better at playing the hero. It’s what you do. I’m the sidekick. Having Bree point it out doesn’t change anything.”

  “Un-fucking-believable,” Jason chuckled acidly. “You ungrateful son of a bitch. I gave up everything for you. Everything. My dream of playing in the NFL when I gave you a kidney. My chance at a team lead role within TREX since it’d take me away from being able to keep an eye on you.”

  “No one asked you to do any of those things.”

  “You would have died.”

  “It was my choice!” Jeremy roared and shoved his brother by the shoulders. Bree braced herself for the inevitable fist fight as the tension tightened to the point of snapping. Would Jason be the first to throw a punch? Would Jeremy be able to defend himself against someone trained in hand-to-hand? “You took that from me. I was ready to die and accepted my fate. You would have finally been free of the burden of taking care of the weaker version of you.”

  Jason paled as his mouth fell open. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re pissed at me and the rest of the world because you’re still here.” He spent several seconds studying his brother’s face, focusing on his eyes. “You’re wrong, you know.”

  “We are not having this conversation.” Jeremy turned from him.

  Jason grabbed his shoulder and whipped him back around. “You’re my brother. My best friend. Losing you would have destroyed me.”

  “You would have recovered.”

  “Jesus, Jer. Is being my twin so bad that you’d rather be dead?” When he blinked, a single tear escaped out of the corner of his eye and melted down his cheek.

  Bree sucked in a breath as her emotions closed off her throat. Jeremy had fallen into a dark, dark place. It would take more than her to bring him back. It would take more than Jason.

  It would take them both.

  “That’s not what he’s saying,” she jumped in and pushed between them. She had to do something to fix this before the raw truth caused irreparable damage, if it hadn’t already. Facing Jason while taking Jeremy’s hand behind her, she explained. “All his life he’s had to be someone else’s idea of who he should be. It’s exhausting living up to everyone else’s expectations of who you should be. Believe me. I would know.”

  She turned to Jeremy and nearly broke when she caught the amount of pain swirling in his eyes. “I fell in love with you in the ninth grade, maybe before, and have loved you ever since. I would never fall in love with someone not worth my time. You, Jeremy Richard Bowman, are more deserving of my love than anyone. Don’t you dare take tha
t from me.”

  Throwing her arms around his torso, she held on for dear life. He didn’t hug her back, so she squeezed harder. “Come back to me, Jeremy. Please come back to me.”

  Hesitantly, he wrapped her in his embrace. “I wish I knew how.”

  “You’ve always known, bro. She’s right. Stop trying to be such a callous asshole. It’s not who you are.”

  “It’s who you are,” he said under his breath.

  “Exactly.” Jason even grinned. “It’s who I am. Be you, not me. I’m me, not you. It’s just like she said.”

  “That’s not exactly what I said. I don’t even think that made sense.”

  “You hush,” he snapped at her with a bit of playfulness in his tone. “I’m being uncharacteristically heartfelt right now. Don’t ruin it for me. Dude, you’ve always worn your heart on your sleeve. Showing emotion doesn’t make you weak, Jer. It makes you human. You feel, man. I wish my emotions were half as deep as yours.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jeremy quipped, his tone lighter as well. “Your emotions are half as deep as mine.”

  “Now, that’s just mean. Come on, man. Let’s hug it out.” Jason squashed Bree between them as he embraced his brother. “Welcome back, bro.”

  TWENTY-THREE

  The evidence didn’t lie. No matter how many ways Jeremy followed the trail, every last one of them led him to the same result. Bree did it. She took the money. At least that’s what the evidence proved.

  He didn’t want to believe it. He couldn’t believe it. Why would she syphon money from her own company? She had plenty. Not only did Peter leave her as the majority shareholder, he also had quite the insurance policy with her as the sole beneficiary. She was worth millions even without Goggles.

  What was he missing? He’d spent every waking moment combing through account after account, following every trail and wishing for a miracle when he got to the end. And never getting one. The evidence he’d gathered was enough to put her away for years.

  He had to be missing something.

  It was now Friday, he wasn’t any closer to finding the money than when he’d started, and if he didn’t come up with a lead, TREX would bring in another forensic accountant next week. If only he could turn off his brain long enough to find the odd sock. It was right in front of him. Why couldn’t he see it?