Just One Inch

by Cassandra Dee

  But it was too late to cry over spilled milk. After several more fruitless attempts to identify the brunette, I gave up and now here I was, months later, engaged to be married. The sparkler on Jenna’s finger was a total shocker, for one. I’d seen a charge on my credit card statement from Harry Winston and thought what the fuck? Jenna bought herself a piece of jewelry costing a cool hundred thou? I was going to speak with her about it, but she beat me to the punch. At a dinner party that night, she pulled it out during appetizers, the females oohing and ahhing like a fucking Greek chorus. I’d practically choked when I saw what it was.

  “See?” she said proudly, letting the lights bounce off a five-carat diamond, blinding almost everyone in the room. “Isn’t it gorgeous? Jake picked it out, I knew he’d been eyeing it,” she cooed, winking at me.

  I didn’t say a word because it just wasn’t the place or time. The guests fawned over our hostess some more before turning back to the food. I was steaming under the collar but what was I going to do? We were in the middle of a fancy dinner party, and I could hardly stand up and stalk out, leaving a gaggle of gossip in my wake.

  Instead, I was an automaton going through the motions, bidding goodnight to my friends as they left with Jenna at my side playing the gracious hostess. I knew it looked right on the outside: we were the handsome couple with a beautiful San Francisco penthouse. We were perfectly matched, with my dark looks complementing her light, and everything appeared to be in sync. But I felt oddly hollow. It’s just a ruse, I wanted to roar. Everything you see is fake. Look at her tits! This chick has the fakest fake tits, rubbery and heavy, and if you punched her in the face I bet your hand would come glancing back at you because her cheeks and lips are so full of filler.

  But I was silent and miserable, with no clue how to dig myself out of this hole. It sounds perverse, I know. I was a CEO with multitudes of employees at his command and an empire to run, and I couldn’t shake this blonde who dogged me like bad hand.

  “Brother,” said Matt, “If you’re not feeling it, just call off the wedding. Fuck the deposits, fuck the flowers, who the fuck cares? If it ain’t right, it ain’t right.”

  Matt is the marketing whiz of our group, closest to me in age, older brother to Caleb and Cade. After our parents divorced, Matt stayed in the Midwest with Mom and Caleb while Dad moved Cade and I to San Francisco. But the distance was nothing. The four of us were close and worked as a team now, guiding Manning through the choppy waters of the pharma industry.

  “Brother,” repeated Matt. “A bitch is a bitch is a bitch,” he concluded, downing a shot of whisky in a gulp. “Better to lose your money to the markets than to some fucking ho,” he drawled. Growing up in Wyoming, Matt has a country accent and farm boy persona, but buyer beware – Matt’s sharp as a whip, graduating summa from the University of Wyoming and getting a Ph.D. shortly thereafter. Manning product is popular in the drug industry in part due to his efforts pushing our brand and the money lining my pocket proved it.

  “Fuck I know,” I growled, “but the thing is I don’t have a reason to break it off, you know, something concrete.”

  “You ain’t gotta have no reason,” drawled Matt. “The bitch ain’t kosher, you don’t buy,” he said with finality. I guess he was right and I needed the kick in the ass. Fuck me. Fuck my life.

  “I’m gonna find a way out of this, this is so fucking unbelievable and has gone far beyond what I ever imagined. Fuck me,” I repeated again.

  “You do you, brother,” said Matt, downing another shot. “I’ll see you at the family dinner tonight, yeah?” he said. “Dad says he’s bringing his new fiancée, and you’re bringing yours right? Or should I say … your soon to be ex?” he queried, an eyebrow raised.

  “Yeah, whatever,” I muttered. “The fucking doll needs to be kicked to the curb, I’m just gonna do it after this dinner is over. I mean, why the fuck should I throw a shadow on Dad’s announcement? He’s been single for so long, it’s a miracle he finally found someone to put up with his ornery ass,” I said.

  “Whatevs,” shrugged Matt. “Do it on your own time but that blonde has a way of testing your limits like I’ve never seen,” he said, shaking his head. “I mean, you were the one who was never going to get married, and now some chick’s got your ring on her finger? Damn man, and it’s not even someone you like.”

  I didn’t bother to reply, pushing back roughly from the bar.

  “Listen, I’ll see you there tonight,” I grunted. “Don’t be late.”

  And now here I was, dressed in a suit with Jenna on my arm, looking around for my family. It should be a substantial party. Supposedly Dad was going to introduce us four boys to his fiancée, and then meet her four daughters at a separate dinner. Only at a later date would the two families combine. What a happy Brady Bunch ending, my ass.

  “Sir, please follow me,” said the hostess, beckoning us in her wake. Jenna strode forward only to stop short when she reached the designated table. I, too, froze when I saw who was there, turned to stone by the turn of events.

  “Mom?” said Jenna. “Tina?”

  5

  Tina

  I must have looked like a startled rabbit. I couldn’t speak for a moment, my throat going dry, my vision oddly hazy. My twin had been oddly evasive lately, barely spending time at home, dodging my questions and looking shifty whenever I asked what was going on.

  “Look Tina, butt out okay?” she sniffed haughtily. “I’m doing fine in class and you’re just jealous I have a boyfriend whereas you’re still … you,” she said, shrugging. “Can’t you do something with your hair? It’s such … I dunno, curls are out, can’t you get a blow out or something?”

  I brushed my hair back self-consciously but it was no use. The curls sprang back into place like springs, a halo around my face. But I was sick of my sister’s nasty attitude and revealed some claws of my own.

  “You tell me what’s going on or find another driver,” I hissed. “I’m through chauffeuring you around.”

  That sparked some fear in Jenna’s heart given that Ubers don’t exactly come on campus.

  “Oh Tina, you know, I have a boyfriend up in the city now. In fact,” she confided, her voice hushed, “he proposed two days ago. He gave me a massive diamond ring but I can’t wear it around campus because other girls would be jealous.”

  I immediately sniffed something amiss. Jenna would never hold back on bling, especially if it’d make her the envy of other women. Either the diamond was flawed or she was making this all up.

  “Fine, do whatever you want,” I said stiffly. “But don’t come to me if you need my notes before exams.”

  “Oh Tina,” Jenna wheedled, cocking her head sassily. “It’s just Contracts this time,” she said. “I only missed two classes and I need your help.”

  “No way,” I said firmly. “There’s still three weeks before the final, so do your own reading. Besides, why don’t you study at your boyfriend’s? Does he not have a desk or something?”

  “Because he wants me to be his hostess,” she whined. “We go out almost every night, I swear it’s a job unto itself. But Tina,” she confided. “Tonight I’m meeting his dad and brothers,” she said with a dramatic air. “For someone who’s engaged, it’s about time I met his family,” she added, pouting.

  I sighed again. Jenna was onto another adventure, complete with fancy dinners and beautiful clothes. Meanwhile, I was just having dinner with our Mom again. Okay, fine. A date is a date. I had an hour to get ready before driving up to the city.

  “Listen Jenna,” I said. “Just be careful okay? You’ve told me nothing about this guy, you’ve missed a ton of class, and it’s weird, okay? Everyone at school is wondering what’s going on since you disappeared off the face of the earth.”

  “I just have a private life, okay?” she snapped. “Butt out Tina, I’m fine.”

  I sighed again and headed up the stairs. What could I do? I started changing and bracing myself for a tête-à-tête with Mother.
<
br />   6

  Jake

  The brunette was like a startled deer, her caramel eyes wide, almost quivering at the sight of me. He curls were riotous, streaming about her shoulders, and she was wearing a flannel dress. It was definitely her. The girl from the party, the one who I’d had the amazing sex with, was at this family dinner.

  “Mom?” asked Jenna again, staring at an older woman sitting next to my dad. “What are you doing here?” she demanded in a rush, her eyebrows beetled as her face turned an unflattering shade of red.

  The older woman was gracious and elegant, a genteel, older version of Jenna. Her blonde hair was swept back and she wore an expensive suit, laying one hand gently over my father’s.

  “Jenna, I should ask the same thing,” she purred smoothly. “Harold was going to introduce me to his sons tonight … but evidently you already know one of them,” she said, nodding at me.

  Before I could react, a familiar deep drawl interrupted from behind us. “Heya fam,” grinned Matt from behind us, his black hair damp, his smile disarmingly friendly though sharp as a razor. He stared blankly at Jenna before turning to the older woman.

  “You must be Mary,” he growled before leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek.

  I was fucking stunned. This woman was my dad’s fiancée and also Jenna’s mother? Even more unreal, Tina was here for some reason … the brunette of my wet dreams making an appearance in the most unlikely of places. What the fuck? Seriously, what the fuck?

  Jenna stuttered like a stuck lawn sprinkler before my father stood up, taking the reins. Harold wore an expensive suit, but fancy clothes can’t hide that he’s a bear of a man, a man who works with his hands as a successful general contractor. “Mary, Tina, Jenna,” he said courteously, nodding at the women. “Meet my rascal sons, Jake and Matt. Although it seems there’s some intra-family dating going on here,” he said with a deep chuckle.

  Holy fucking shit. Tina was Jenna’s sister? The woman I’d fucked senseless at the party was going to be my sister-in-law? What the fuck was happening?

  The brunette looked just as mystified, her eyes wide but observant, her lips trembling oh so slightly. Those luscious pink lips … their pale curve and slight glisten made me tremble, my body hardening immediately. How it felt to see those lips envelop my stiff cock …

  But I was shaken out of my trance by Jenna, pouting and rattling at my arm.

  “Jakey,” she said. “My mom is evidently getting married to your dad, so we’ll be step-siblings,” she said with a sneer of disgust. “But whatever, it’s not like we’re related or anything. In fact, we’re all adults so no one can tell us what to do,” she tossed off breezily, shaking her blonde hair over a shoulder. “Jakey’s already bought me a five-carat stunner. See? Check it out,” she said, waving the ring beneath her mother’s nose.

  Tina went completely still at the sight of the massive rock on my fiancee’s hand. Her expression betrayed nothing but a hot flush crept up her cheeks and her breathing quickened. Before I could interrupt, Mary murmured her approval.

  “Well Jenna honey, it looks like you’ve done well for yourself. Jake and Matt, please take a seat,” she said graciously. “Harold, where are your younger sons? I’d love to get a look at them too, and see if they have my other daughters in tow,” she added mischievously. “The world is so small that maybe Karina and Callie have flown out from New York. Who knows? It’s already been a day of surprises,” the blonde said with a wry smile for the group.

  “I’d say,” Harold growled in return, turning to the older woman with adoring eyes. “With social media and everyone traveling in such small circles, who knows what’ll happen next?” he shrugged.

  “Hear, hear,” chimed Matt, raising a glass. “Here’s to coincidences … and new beginnings,” he said with a pointed glance at me.

  What the fuck? What was my brother getting at? Obviously he knew I felt nothing for my so-called fiancée, but did he have any idea of who Tina was to me? Had he guessed? Suddenly, Matt’s intentions became clear. My fucking brother was gazing with silent appreciation at the brunette’s curves, and letting his eyes trail over her ample cleavage while savoring the slim white hand that held a wine glass aloft. I was filled with a murderous, red-haze rage.

  “Mary, Harold, to you,” I said through gritted teeth. “And to the Mannings,” I managed, shooting my brother a fuck-you look.

  But Matt was oblivious. He’d sidled into the seat next to the curvy brunette and was already making small talk, chit-chatting about some bullshit. He was probably relating some touching story of growing up on a ranch and playing with lambs. God knows, girls love that shit. But I realized I knew almost nothing about my mystery brunette, and my frustration and powerlessness were overwhelming. I needed to stop this fucking farce from going any further.

  “Jake,” said Mary as she settled a napkin in her lap, “tell us a little about yourself.”

  “Oh Mother,” cried Jenna before I could speak, “Don’t you keep up with current events? Jake is the CEO of Manning Pharmaceuticals. They IPO’d six months ago,” she said triumphantly. “They’re the first unicorn to go public in a year,” she announced in a loud voice, as if hoping the restaurant would overhear.

  “Harold,” said Mary, slapping my dad playfully on the arm. “You didn’t tell me that you were the Mannings of Manning Pharma. Of course I’ve heard of the company. I think my mother, Jenna and Tina’s grandmother, uses their diabetes drug.”

  “Darling, I didn’t want to say anything,” rumbled my dad. “Manning Pharma belongs to my boys. I’m just a plain old working man, rough around the edges,” he rumbled.

  “Oh you!” flirted Mary shamelessly, giving his arm a warm squeeze. “You’re the most sought-after contractor in San Francisco. Don’t play it down,” she said with a sweet smile.

  These aging lovebirds were so disgusting that I almost wanted to puke. But even more worrisome was watching Matt putting the moves on my curvy brunette. I could see him leaning close to her, his interest evident by his body language. What the hell? We were all step-siblings here. Didn’t he realize what a fucking disgusting lech he was?

  Meanwhile, Tina’s body language looked receptive. She was laughing at his jokes, and nodding in agreement with something he was saying. She took a delicate sip of her water, her eyes meeting mine momentarily over the rim of the glass. Goddamit. I needed her. Just the sight of those caramel eyes looking up at me reminded me of her on her knees in my bedroom, gazing sweetly up at me as she tasted my cock.

  I adjusted myself uncomfortably in the chair, my body rock-hard and ready to spew at a moment’s notice. Unfortunately, Jenna noticed and slipped her hand provocatively onto my thigh, her fingers trailing my bulge under the tablecloth.

  “We wanted to let you know that we’ll be getting married at Memorial Chapel,” she announced to the table before lowering her voice confidentially. “We’re going to have about three hundred guests, including Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Ellison. Because Zuck is one of Jake’s friends right? And Larry wants us to take his yacht for the honeymoon.”

  I was annoyed. Sure, these were professional acquaintances but I wouldn’t say they were friends per se. I mean, let’s get real. Sometimes you’ve got to slash another man’s throat in business, and I knew both Zuck and Ellison wouldn’t hesitate to cut me under the right circumstances. Hell, I’d beat their wives and children if it got me what I wanted.

  But I must have growled something that made Jenna smile brightly. Meanwhile, Tina flushed, looking at her glass. The brunette got up hastily, mumbling some excuse, and made her way to the back of the restaurant.

  “What’s gotten into her?” asked Jenna breezily. “Oh I know, we had finals and it’s been rough but she’ll be fine. Anyways, are you all free the first weekend in June? I’ve already reserved the chapel for that Saturday.”

  I couldn’t take it anymore. Getting up, I too made my way to the back of the restaurant in pursuit of the beautiful brunette.

&nb
sp; 7

  Tina

  This night was turning out to be a sheer nightmare. The quiet dinner with Mom had somehow morphed to include her newest boyfriend, but okay, three is fine. A nice dinner was a nice dinner, and I was already a goner with the plaid shirtdress. Inappropriate before, it was going to be doubly inappropriate in the swanky atmosphere of San Francisco’s newest mod restaurant. But I sighed and nodded, defeated before the night even began.

  But when Mom casually tossed off that she and Harold were engaged after a mere three months of dating, I was shocked.

  “Mom!” I cried. “I haven’t even met him yet! And I mean, you’re, you’re so … old to be getting married,” I said with horror.

  “Old but not dead, sweetie,” she chimed, looking at me wryly from the driver’s seat of her coupe. “Even seventy-year-olds get married,” she added mischievously. “It’s about time you did too.”

  I didn’t even want to go down this road. Twenty-five is not over the hill, not in the enlightened times of “leaning forward” and Bernie Sanders stumping for President. But I’d wisely kept my mouth shut. Any conversation in that direction wasn’t going to be positive, at least for me.

  So when she’d off-handedly mentioned that Harold’s sons were going to join us, I was already resigned. Just grin and bear it, grin and bear it, I reminded myself. Soon I’d be back in my apartment in my comfy PJs, readying myself for another night of cramming.

  But when the man appeared … oh god, all the blood drained from my body and I felt like a limp, lifeless doll. He was exactly as I remembered. I could catch a whiff of male aftershave as well as his personal scent, that heady, woodsy smell that concentrated itself behind his balls, the musk lingering in my nostrils long after I’d left him. The introductions went by in a blur. His name was Jake. I managed to catch that in the whirlwind of conversation, plus the fact that he was engaged to my twin.