The Wrong Brother (a perfect for you novel Book 1)

by Amanda Siegrist

  “How about you both leave? I’ll be fine, and we all need time to ourselves.”

  Dane crossed his arms. His expression turned fierce and unyielding—the same look he’d given her when she gave him lip at work.

  “I’m not leaving if Jaxson is leaving. I won’t leave you alone.”

  She mimicked his expression, folding her arms and giving him a stern stare. “I want to be alone.”

  “Tough.” He smirked, little devils dancing in his eyes. “You didn’t say please.”

  Her eyes narrowed. She wanted to bash him over the head with the book laying on her coffee table for being so obstinate. But then she also had the urge to laugh at his teasing.

  Before she could counter with her own witty remark, Jaxson rounded the coffee table and stood in front of her, shielding Dane from her view.

  “Give the guy a break, Gabs. Let him stay. Don’t push him away. Don’t ruin this thing going on between you two.”

  Whoa. What a change in his attitude toward Dane.

  “What happened to hating him?”

  Jaxson rolled his eyes. “I never hated the guy...much. He just pissed me off too much.” He sighed and squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sorry Mia wouldn’t even talk to you. I know that has to hurt you right now. I’m sorry she heard what I said. This is why I never wanted her to know how I felt. It’s my fault, and I’ll make it right. But don’t screw it up with Dane because of my mistake.”

  “Asking him to leave shouldn’t screw anything up between us.”

  Jaxson grabbed her other shoulder and pulled her closer. “You did this with other guys, too. Not every guy you dated was a loser. You pushed them away when you needed them. You push a lot of people away when you need them. The only one you don’t is Mia. Now, she pushed you away. As much as you think you want to be alone, you shouldn’t be. Let Dane do his thing.”

  She laughed, more so because she hated how much Jaxson was right. It was better to laugh than scream in frustration.

  “What thing is that?”

  Jaxson shrugged and chuckled. “I don’t know. You know I don’t like the details between you two. But he makes you happy, so I imagine he can make the night turn for the better.”

  He grabbed a quick hug and stepped away to leave. She grabbed his hand to stop him.

  “What about you? You shouldn’t be alone either.”

  A tiny grin lit up his face. “I’ll be fine.” Then he looked at Dane and nodded.

  Dane returned a similar gesture.

  They both stood in their spot until they heard the front door click. Dane must’ve taken that as his cue to move. He entered her space, although he didn’t pull her into his arms, almost as if unsure if he should. He was close enough where he could’ve. She wanted him to. But then again, she still also wanted him to leave.

  The tears were threatening once more. Jaxson left. He’d be alone in his misery.

  Processing the death of a suspect.

  Dealing with a broken heart.

  He shouldn’t be alone either.

  “I’m not leaving.”

  She shivered at the way his soft words hit her straight in the heart. The tenderness. The concern. The worry in three short words.

  “Maybe I want to cry. Maybe I don’t want you to see.”

  He reached out and took her hand. The minute his warm hand touched her icy cold fingers, a sense of rightness swarmed her system.

  “I hated seeing you cry. It’s not something I want to see again, but if you need to, then I’m here to hold you. To rub your back. To dry your eyes. Whatever you need from me.” His loose hand reached up and caressed her cheek. “Just don’t ask me to leave. I can’t leave. I won’t leave.”

  Damn Jaxson and pointing out why some of her relationships failed. Because she sucked at letting people in. Like, really inside her heart.

  Here was this sweet, adoring man begging to be let in.

  “I’m not hungry. I don’t want to eat.”

  That wasn’t what she had intended to say. Honestly, she didn’t know what to say. She wouldn’t make him leave, but she didn’t know where to go from here.

  He pulled her toward the couch and guided her to sit, snuggling her close to his side. “Then we won’t eat.”

  While her eyes didn’t focus on the game in front of them, she did focus on the softness of his touch—at the soothing way he rubbed his fingers up and down her arm. Nothing erotic. Nothing to get her blood pumping. Just a simple, soothing gesture indicating he was here, and he wasn’t leaving.

  They came suddenly and without warning.

  The tears.

  It erupted like a dormant volcano.

  Dane said nothing. He shifted her into his chest as she poured out all her agony from the day.

  Dane blinked a few times, then his stomach grumbled.

  Oh, damn. He was hungry. But he ignored it. Gabriella was in his arms, and the last thing he wanted was for her to wake up.

  The night had not gone how he imagined.

  She cried for so long on the couch, he’d been afraid she was going to make herself sick. He’d never heard a woman cry for so long. Could one even get sick from crying so hard? Well, she had developed a nasty headache once the tears abated. She’d said the lights hurt her eyes, and her head pounded.

  That had been the moment he picked her up and transferred her to her bed without turning on the lights. He grabbed a glass of water, some pain mediation, and a cold washcloth. He didn’t get many headaches, but a cold washcloth always helped him. He delivered the goods and helped her take the pills and laid the washcloth on her forehead. He had even helped her get undressed and put on a pair of pajamas.

  It’s as if all of her energy had been zapped from her body. Whether from the crying or from the events of the day, he wasn’t sure.

  He’d never seen anyone in so much pain before—not even one of his parents. He wasn’t sure he was doing anything right, but she hadn’t asked him to leave, so he figured he wasn’t doing anything wrong.

  She fell asleep shortly after moving to her bedroom with her head resting on his chest. He didn’t move a muscle other than to slowly rub his hand up and down her back.

  The evening faded into the dead of night. With a gentle twist of his head—because he didn’t want the slightest movement to wake her up—he saw the clock on the nightstand read two am.

  He must’ve fallen asleep at some point. He couldn’t remember what time that might’ve been, he’d been so focused on making sure Gabriella was comfortable.

  Although he didn’t want to wake her, he couldn’t resist placing a gentle kiss on her head. He ached to squeeze her tightly and hold her there for as long as he could.

  He almost lost her today.

  Some madman had shot at her.

  He couldn’t fathom his life without her. Thinking about it gave him the jitters. Strange, when a month ago the most he thought about was the next contract on his desk.

  His worst fear earlier today had been asking her to join him at his parents this weekend. Which wasn’t the best thing to bring up anymore. She was on administrative leave. How long? He wasn’t sure because Jaxson didn’t say. But her mind wouldn’t be able to focus at his parents with something so heavy on her mind. And she’d need her full attention at his parents.

  He always did.

  His mother was a saint.

  His father…

  Could never get off his case.

  Maybe he could bow out of the supper as well. Gabriella needed him.

  And then his mother would disown him. He couldn’t miss her birthday.

  A warm hand hit his cheek, smoothing across the rough surface. “I can practically feel your thoughts. Your entire body is vibrating.”

  His eyes sought out Gabriella’s. She was staring at him with what looked like contentment. No pain. No sadness. Just content. For the first time that night.

  “I didn’t mean to wake you up.” He kissed her lips softly.

  He truly didn’t mean to
wake her up. But damn, his thoughts about supper must’ve been heavier than he imagined, making him tremble with repressed anger. Dealing with his father always brought out his anger and irritation—sort of like dealing with Champ as well.

  A wicked grin split across her lips. “I also heard your stomach speaking.”

  Thank heavens her curtain was open and the light from a nearby streetlamp allowed him to see her smile. He adored every single one of her smiles.

  Before he could respond, her grin disappeared. “I’m sorry you couldn’t even eat. I don’t know why I got upset over something so si—”

  “So important to you,” he finished for her. He knew she didn’t like it when people interrupted her, but he figured she was about to say “silly,” and damn it, nothing was silly about last night. Her feelings weren’t silly. She had every right to be upset and hurt. It never felt good when someone you loved pushed you away. So, Mia’s actions hurt her.

  A small smile reappeared. “Thank you, Dane. For everything. How can I ever make it up to you?”

  His heart started to pound.

  This could be his chance to ask.

  But hadn’t he already decided it wouldn’t be the best time for her?

  Yep, he had.

  “A plate of your lasagna right about now would be great.”

  She giggled and sat up. “Now that you mention it I’m hungry myself. Let’s go have a late-night snack.”

  He followed her out of the room. He wasn’t about to pass on food. But he also wanted to continue to care for her, so when they entered the kitchen, he pointed toward the dining room.

  “You sit. I’ll get everything for us.”

  “You shouldn’t spoil me so much.” An appreciative smile adorned her sleepy face. But she didn’t argue with him and walked back out.

  It didn’t take him long to grab two plates and heat up the lasagna. Even reheated, it smelled divine.

  They ate in comfortable silence, obviously both very hungry. His fork clanged against the plate after he had scooped his last bite into his mouth.

  Rubbing his hand over his stomach, he smiled in her direction. “Best lasagna I ever had.”

  “Oh, stop. I'm sure your mother makes better lasagna than me. I suck at cooking.” Gabriella rolled her eyes as if she didn’t believe him.

  He chuckled. “My mom doesn’t cook. But even Francis’s lasagna is not this good. I swear.”

  She tilted her head, confusion littering her eyes. “Your mom doesn’t cook? Who’s Francis?”

  Over the course of their short dating period, they’d kind of glossed over the family talk. At least, on his part. She already knew what she needed to know about his family. It was messed up.

  She was a bit more forthcoming about her family life. He knew she had one younger brother who had followed in her footsteps and was a beat cop. Her parents were divorced. Her father still lived in New York City, working as an accountant. Her mother had moved to Florida and worked at a beachside shop. She said her mother was sort of a free spirit and went wherever the wind took her. Before Florida, she lived in Connecticut, Georgia, and Alabama. She wouldn’t be surprised if she somehow made her way to the west coast and started going up and down the states in that area.

  “He’s their cook. I’ve never seen my mom even pick up a pot and put it on the stove.”

  “I forget your dad owns the company you work for. It never occurred to me they’d have a cook.” She leaned forward and put her hand under her chin and rested her elbow on the table. “What’s your favorite meal by Francis?”

  Yeah, his father could afford anything and everything he could want. Hell, Dane had enough money to live in luxury if he so chooses. Money was always there—it wasn’t something he thought about. Since they had started dating, he hadn’t displayed his wealth. They usually picked up takeout and brought it back to Gabriella’s. Their night usually ended in bed. If they were feeling extra frisky, they didn’t even make it to her bedroom before having the most intense sex of his life. Every. Single. Time.

  He should be spoiling her more. It had never occurred to him, and now he felt like a cad.

  “His chocolate chip cookies are the best. I usually devour way too many of them.”

  The most brilliant smile lit up her face. “You need to snatch some for me the next time you visit if he makes them. I love chocolate chip cookies.”

  Wow.

  Another perfect opportunity for him to ask her to accompany him to supper this weekend.

  “I definitely will.”

  And for some reason, he was still a chickenshit about it. He couldn’t get the words out of his mouth.

  “So…” Gabriella started.

  “So…” he repeated, cocking a brow.

  Her lips twisted into a mischievous smile. “What’s next on your agenda of making me feel better?”

  By the teasing glint in her eyes, he knew what she was asking for. Ignoring the mess on the table, deciding the dishes could wait, he stood up and pulled her to her feet as well. Then he swooped her into his arms, eliciting a delighted giggle from her.

  “How about a massage?” He grinned wickedly. “Full body massage.”

  Her eyes heated with pleasure.

  That was the look he wanted to see from her.

  Not sadness.

  Not pain.

  Nothing but pure happiness and bliss.

  Maybe those other emotions would pop back up tomorrow morning. But for now, his Gabriella—the fun-loving, joking woman he adored—was back.

  He wasn’t going to waste a minute of it.

  Maybe when the sun woke up, he’d have the words to ask her to join him this weekend.

  Just maybe.

  14

  “Oh,” a startled feminine voice said.

  Dane glanced behind his shoulder. Mia stood in the doorway of the kitchen near the hallway. He hadn’t even heard the front door open.

  Damn.

  Had they even locked it last night after Jaxson left? Obviously not, if Mia simply walked in this morning.

  After their late-night snack and some delicious treats in the bed, they both slept like babies. Gabriella even woke up with a bright smile and exploratory fingers that still made his body tingle at her electrifying touch. She had decided to grab a shower, while he said he’d make breakfast.

  Mia’s appearance didn’t bode well that the morning would continue in glorious bliss. He should’ve figured the entire day wouldn’t be pretty.

  “Gabriella’s in the shower.” His right hand still held the edge of the cupboard door. His fingers tightened as he thought of Gabriella’s reaction.

  His mind went blank. He wasn’t completely sure how she’d react to Mia’s visit.

  Elation?

  Anger?

  More pain?

  It was the pain that concerned him the most. He despised seeing a drop of water fall from her eyes.

  Mia’s eyes shifted down toward the floor. “Thank you. I won’t be long.”

  She started to turn around, but her words sliced him like a knife to the gut.

  “Don’t.” He couldn’t keep the venom out of his tone.

  Yeah, sure. He knew Mia was hurting as well. For whatever reason. Honestly, he wasn’t sure why she was hurting. So what she found out Jaxson liked her. It shouldn’t have been cause for such a serious uproar.

  If she was about to make Gabriella cry once again, especially if she was planning on making her visit short, then nope. He wasn’t going to stand around and do nothing about it.

  She would not make Gabriella cry again. Not on his watch.

  Mia stopped and twisted his way. “What?”

  His eyes narrowed as his hand dropped from the cupboard. He folded his arms. His lips went into a tight line, and not an ounce of friendliness was displayed. It was the same look he developed whenever he dealt with his brother or a rival competitor trying to underhand him.

  “I said, don’t.” His voice was low and harsh. “Don’t you dare go in there
, say some words, and then leave like you aren’t causing anyone pain.”

  She shrank back as if he had slapped her across the face out of nowhere. Her bottom lip wobbled as if she were about to cry.

  Why?

  He didn’t need another woman crying in front of him. But damn it, he wasn’t about to let her waltz in here and cause Gabriella more pain.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt her last night. I needed some time to myself.”

  “Yeah, and what about what Gabriella needs? Do you ever stop to ask yourself that? Do you ever wonder that you take advantage of her friendship a little too much?”

  “I do not,” Mia objected, although her tone wasn’t as strong as she probably meant it to sound.

  “Really? So asking a friend to go undercover at your boyfriend’s work to see if he’s cheating is a normal thing people do?”

  Mia steeled her shoulders back in a rigid stance. “She didn’t mind.”

  “Well, I did.” He hurled his words at her, hating how much she didn’t see the pain she caused to her friend who was willing to do anything for her, no matter what.

  Yet, Mia callously turned her back on Gabriella last night without a thought or care.

  “Dane?”

  He whipped his head to his left, surprised to see Gabriella standing in the other doorway to the kitchen. How long had she been standing there?

  By the frown marring her beautiful face and the way her brows drooped low, she wasn’t happy. Her hair was wet and still needed a good comb-through. Her skin looked a bit red around her shoulders as if she let the hot water beat down on her. Even a few droplets of water clung to her collarbone, indicating she missed a few spots—or maybe it was from her hair because it wasn’t fully toweled dry. But it didn’t matter how angry she looked and barely put together with no makeup; she was gorgeous.

  But very angry.

  Damn it. He had a feeling it was all directed toward him. As if sticking up for her was the wrong thing to do.

  He wasn’t about to apologize. Not for one word. At times, it still grated on his nerves what Gabriella had done. That she had lied. Yes, he had forgiven her. And yes, he realized he never would’ve met her in the first place if she hadn’t done what she had. But when faced with Mia and her irrational behavior over something that shouldn’t have had her shoving Gabriella out of the door—well, it pissed him off. That she lied. That she thought him a lying, cheating dirtbag. All because Mia had asked her to do it.