Oh, right, she was on painkillers.
“Hi, this is Rob. How’s your hand?”
“Rob? Dr. Reed?” Her voice sharpened. “Did you get my message? About my bird?”
“Yes, I did. I have your bird. She’s a lovebird, right?”
“Yes!” Melisa said. “Her name is Cassie. Is she okay?”
“Doing great. Listen, I didn’t mean to steal her or anything. I had to leave the Giving Tree Toy Drive to go to work at the hospital so I asked my brother to pick up my bird, Casey.”
“You have a lovebird named Casey? No wonder they got confused. Well, that’s great. Can I come over and get Cassie then?”
Rob’s stomach flattened, and he scratched the back of his neck. “There’s only one problem. We’re up near Lake Tahoe right now.”
“Lake Tahoe? But why?” Her voice drifted off.
“Vacation. Declan headed here directly. I had no idea he picked up your bird, too. I got out late last night and came straight over without checking my email.”
“Oh … When are you coming back?”
“Not until after Christmas. I can bring Cassie back then. I promise I’ll take good care of her.”
“But I’ll miss her,” Melisa said, sounding like one of her kindergarteners.
Rob’s heart twinged, and he felt his chest caving in. “I’ll bring her right back. Not a big deal.”
“Didn’t you say you stayed up all night? You worked late and drove?’
Rob couldn’t stifle a yawn. “True, but I’m having coffee right now.”
“He has the bird?” A male voice boomed in the background. “Let me go. I’ll bring Cassie back.”
Oh, right. The Big D was there.
Melisa mumbled something to Larry, then got back on the phone. “Larry says he’ll come up. Can we get your address?”
Not what he was looking forward to, but of course, it was the right thing to do. He should give up on her. Just because he’d been in love with her since she was a baby dressed in pink didn’t give him the right to hold onto her, especially since he’d betrayed her family.
He dictated his Lake Tahoe address and hung up.
“What are you looking so glum for?” Declan punched his shoulder on his way to the coffeemaker.
“You took the master bedroom, and you took some lady’s bird.”
“A lady’s bird?” The blonde behind him slinked toward him, wearing only a terry cloth robe. “You must be the rich half-brother.”
“Brother,” Rob said. “I don’t know about rich, but the master bedroom’s mine.”
“Hey, you can’t expect us to sleep in the bird room,” Declan said, clamping his arm around the blonde and slurping her a wet kiss.
Yuck.
The woman got into it big time, rubbing and twisting herself against his brother’s naked chest. A pair of Rob’s Harvard sweatpants slung low on Declan’s hips.
“It’s my house. My room.” Rob had to remain firm. His brother was full of blarney, just like his Irish mum who inconveniently had a fling with Rob’s dad and left her little bit of Declan on the doorstep one fine Christmas morning. From then on, Declan told the world how he was supposedly given the short end of the stick as the redheaded stepson. In reality, he walked all over his half-siblings while both parents, including Rob’s mom, the “evil” stepmom, catered to him hand and foot, spoiling him.
Declan wasn’t expected to get good grades. Declan could go out and raise hell. Declan got a car when he turned sixteen. Declan didn’t have to take music lessons. Declan got all the girls.
Fine, Declan and his girl ignored him. He’d let Declan deal with big Larry D in about three hours.
“You know what?” Rob snapped his fingers to break up the tongue hockey. “You stole a lady’s bird. You deal with her boyfriend. He’s driving all the way from San Fran, and I doubt he’d be happy.”
“Excuse me?” Declan lifted his lips from the blonde. “You’re the one who told me to take your lovebirds. I thought you got a mate for Casey and named her Cassie. Cute. Casey and Cassie.”
“I said bird, singular.”
“Nope, you said birds, plural.”
“Whatever.” Rob downed the rest of his coffee. “I’m hitting the slopes. You two coming?”
“You got that right.” Declan patted the blonde’s behind. “We’re coming, all right.”
Ugh. Rob raided the refrigerator. At least with a woman’s touch, they had food. “What’s with all the Christmas decorations?”
“Courtesy of Auntie and Uncle Reed’s Christmas Tree Farm. Casey and Cassie made the most money for the toy drive, beating out the kissing booth. Svetlana here, is an interior decorator, and she volunteered her services when I collected the prize package. Like it?”
“It’s not bad. Now, run along and have fun, but when I get back from the slopes, I want my room back.”
“What for? It’s not like you’ll have any company needing a king-sized sleigh bed.” Declan chuckled as he hooked his arm around Svetlana and together they wiggled their way upstairs to Rob’s master bedroom.
Ho, ho, ho, indeed.
Chapter Eight
“We’re going to get that weasel,” Larry said, pounding his fist into his palm for emphasis. “I bet he hatched up stealing your bird when he saw you in the ER. Why didn’t you let me go in with you? I could have put the fear of God in him.”
“Because you’re not next of kin.” Melisa’s head pounded, and her broken hand throbbed. How was she going to stand sitting in Larry’s truck for the three-and-a-half hour drive over and another three-and-a-half back?
Maybe she should leave Cassie with Rob. But then, who knew what would happen? She was a shy bird, and she could be petrified of Rob at this very moment, cringing inside her cage and die of fright.
“Larry, maybe I can ask one of my brothers to help. I mean, you’re nice and all that, but really, it was an honest mistake, and I don’t want you going over there and beating up Dr. Reed.”
Larry crossed his arms and everything bulged, well, everything above his waist, not that Melisa would ever look lower. “Why? You want to be alone with him or something?”
Actually, that was exactly what she wanted. Thank you, Larry for pointing it out.
“Hello? Excuse me? And what if I do? He invited me to go up to his ski lodge.” Melisa primped her hair with her good hand. “Maybe I should take him up on it.”
“Only to get the bird.”
“The bird happens to have a name, Cassie. But I doubt Rob wants you at his place.”
Geez, Louise. Where had she gotten this confident? Or was it foolhardy? Daring? Fey? Crazy?
This was her perfect opportunity. A snowy day, high up in the mountains overlooking a pristine lake, two lovebirds, Casey and Cassie, what could go wrong?
“You just want to score drugs.” Larry crossed to her kitchen counter and shook the painkiller jar.
“That does it. Out. Out.” Melisa pushed the big lug. “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, thanks for saving my Cassie, and see you next year at school.”
“Wait.” He dug in his heels, and there was no moving a two-hundred fifty pounder if he didn’t want to move. “You can’t drive. You’re all loopy.”
“You have a point. I guess I’ll just spend Christmas without Cassie.”
“I can go, really. You stay here and rest while I make the drive.” Larry puffed out his chest and spoke with his most gallant Dudley Do-Right voice.
“I couldn’t put you out like that.” Melisa patted his arm. “I’m sure Dr. Reed will take good care of Cassie.”
“If he actually has her.” Larry narrowed his eyes. “How do we know this isn’t a ruse to kidnap you?”
Oooh, if only. A lightbulb exploded over Melisa’s head. “Of course, you’re right. Rob doesn’t really have Cassie at all. In fact, Dad called this morning. He’s going to investigate two other owners who haven’t responded, Mavis Bean of Sausalito and Philomena James of Lafayette. I should check and see if
he got their addresses.”
Melisa swiped the list of emails from the table and gave it to Larry. “Besides, how do we know the people who emailed back saying they don’t have Cassie are telling the truth?”
“We don’t. They all could be a lying pack of wolves.” Larry scrutinized the list. “Want me to check it out?”
“Could you? Please?” Melisa put on her most doleful pathetic puppy look.
Oh, she was being mean, and as a teacher, she would heartily disapprove of such hazing techniques, but really, what harm would there be for Larry to be occupied doing a good deed for her?
“Count on me, Big D.” Larry sounded like a cross between a used car salesman and a cartoon superhero. “I’ll leave no stone unturned, and I’ll text you to keep you apprised.”
“Awesome. Make sure you call my father and brothers to coordinate the search.”
“Have no fear.” Larry picked up his jacket and marched to the door. “I won’t rest until Cassie is back in your cage.”
Melisa shut the door and grabbed her car keys. This was ballsy, stupid, but doable. She’d wait a few hours and skip her dose of painkillers, drink lots of black coffee and make the drive herself.
Wouldn’t Rob be shocked to see how resourceful she was? He’d hand her the bird, maybe examine her hand and make sure the bones were setting correctly, and then she’d come back to surprise everyone.
Ta-dum! Overprotected Melisa did it all by herself.
# # #
Late in the afternoon, Rob shook the snow off his jacket and propped his skis against the side of the lodge. He’d gotten in quite a few awesome runs, but the lack of sleep the night before was catching up to him. Several sets of tire marks criss-crossed over his driveway along with footprints going every which way.
Had Melisa and Larry shown up already and taken the bird? He checked his phone, but she hadn’t left him any messages.
Rob cracked the door open and turned on the lights. “Dec? Did Melisa come by for her bird?”
No answer.
Sheesh, knowing them, they were upstairs playing snow bunny on his bed. Rob stomped up the stairs and turned toward the master bedroom.
The door was partially open, so he knocked on the frame and stepped in.
Whistles and chirps greeted him. Someone had moved the birdcages. Rob flipped on the light and both birds were there, jibber jabbering and flapping their wings. The bed was made and everything was put back in place. Had Declan moved out?
Rob ran his hand through his hair. Unbelievable. Declan actually had a considerate bone in his body, or had it been Svetlana? Yes, he’d been grumpy. Who wouldn’t after not sleeping all night?
He walked to the birdcage. “You two had a good day?”
“A sweet, a sweet,” Cassie said. “Kissee, kissee.”
“Trill, loo, loo, tweet, chirp,” Casey sang.
“Surprise.”
Surprise? That didn’t sound like a bird.
Rob startled and turned toward the sound. Melisa Hart jumped from the closet and sprang into his arms, embracing him.
“What are you doing here?” he blurted, even as he hugged her back. She smelled so sweet and wonderful, like berries and flowers. What parallel universe had he dropped into where Melisa Hart, the off-limits baby sister of Connor, would greet him as if he were her boyfriend?
“I came to see you.” Her cheeks flushed a bright pink. “And to pick up my bird.”
“Where’s that fireman? The one who drove you?” Nerves prickled the back of his neck.
“I ditched him and drove myself.” She beamed proudly at him.
“You what? How about your hand, and the painkillers?”
She winced and her eyebrows turned down. “I skipped a dose and drank a lot of coffee. You’re not happy to see me?”
“I am. I’m surprised. I’m not sure why you’re here.” Rob was fast digging himself into a hole. “You’re Connor’s little sister.”
“Yes, wonderful observation.” She bit her lip, and it did all sorts of funny things to his insides.
“So, this thing about your family hating me?”
“That was ten years ago. I guess I should be going then. Thanks for taking care of Cassie.”
“Wait. Let me check your hand and readjust the splint. The swelling should have gone down. You’ve been icing it?”
“I’m fine.” She stepped back and tucked her left hand behind her back. “I’m sorry for barging in on you. Your brother thought it’d be funny if I surprised you. I should have texted.”
“I love to be surprised. Especially by you. Don’t go. I mean, it’s getting dark, and you shouldn’t skip doses. How’s your head? Are you hungry?”
Oh, what the heck? He’d been waiting for a chance his entire life. He was no longer Connor’s friend. That pact they’d made about baby sisters was null and void. Melisa was all grown up, and she was here, smelling so fantastic, and it’d been a crazy week, and he should be excused if he went a little off script …
Either she moved first, or he did, but it didn’t matter because he was finally kissing her, and she was kissing him back. Her lips were soft and luscious, and he was losing all coherent thought, immersed in her, his fingers weaving through her hair. She was no longer someone’s little sister, but a living, breathing woman—the most beautiful woman in the world, slim and petite, full of soft curves and little chirps of pleasure, or were those the lovebirds singing?
A man didn’t get many chances, especially for the one he’d never had a chance with. Tightening his grip around the woman he’d always cared for, Rob lifted her and laid her gently on his bed.
He broke the kiss and turned himself side by side with her. She really was pretty, and not just that, she was kind, a wonderful teacher, and hopefully forgiving. Would she judge him for what he did ten years ago?
He might as well ask now. Get her answer before he sunk too deep, as if he wasn’t already all the way in. Sweeping her hair from her face, he asked, “Is this what you want, despite everything that’s happened?”
“Yes.” There went that lip bite again that made him all squishy and warm and achy inside. “Except you have to tell me why.”
“Why what?” A spike of panic drilled into his chest.
“Why you slept with Connor’s girlfriend.” Her whiskey colored eyes searched him, firm and unyielding. She wasn’t a woman who’d turn on her family, who’d risk hurting her brother, and yet, by coming here today, she’d taken a giant step.
He owed it to her to be honest. But would she believe him?
Chapter Nine
Melisa didn’t want to talk. Not now, not when she was finally kissing Rob, and it was better, more exciting than all her fantasies and speculations put together. He felt so right, the way his lips tugged on hers, and the hard planes of his body, the tight grip he had on her, as if he never wanted to let go.
But then he’d broken the kiss and while she’d panted for more, and would have trusted him to take her wherever he desired, he’d stopped to ask her if this was what she really wanted. Despite …
And she’d been disappointed and relieved. Disappointed that he hadn’t been caught up in wild, unrestrained passion, but relieved that he was still the same, sane Rob she’d always known him to be. Reliable and responsible, but still très hot.
“Tell me why,” she repeated. It had never made sense to her why he’d thrown away his friendship, and not just with Connor, but with her entire family, for a one night stand that hadn’t led anywhere.
Rob’s throat bobbled, and he blinked hard. “I didn’t sleep with her ten years ago. It was a lie.”
All the blood drained and pooled into her gut. Her jaw dropped and she slapped the bed. Ouch. How could she have forgotten about her hand?
“Easy there.” Rob caught her wrist and held her splinted hand tenderly.
“How could you lie about a thing like that?” Melisa’s voice was shaky, and she couldn’t trust herself not to scream or weep. “You think what you did
to my family was a joke?”
“No, in all seriousness. It wasn’t a joke. It was a lie to help a friend.”
“That doesn’t make it any better.” Her head shook, and her shoulders shuddered. “I … I just can’t believe you. I can’t. Why would you throw away your friendship with Connor for a lie?”
“It was something Elaine wanted, actually needed me to do.”
“Why?”
His lips thinned, and he averted his gaze from her, hiding something. “It’s not my secret to tell.”
“That’s not good enough. You’re weaseling out.” She withdrew her hand and propped herself up on the bed, sitting up. “You hurt Connor. You hurt all of us. I don’t know what kind of man could stab his best buddy in the back and then walk off as if nothing happened.”
He cringed as if she’d stabbed him in the heart and gave the knife a few twists. “You’re right. I hurt everyone. I hurt myself, and most of all, I ruined your trust in men. It’s not easy being the guy you used to look up to.”
“Yeah, I was quite a pest, wasn’t I? Rob would never do anything bad. Rob would always do the right thing. Rob’s gonna get straight A’s. Rob never lies. I’m surprised no one put a muzzle on me.”
He stroked her cheek. “It wasn’t easy for me either. When I lost Connor and your friendship, it cracked my heart in two, and I knew I could never go back.”
“So, why’d you kiss me?” she muttered, a dark cloud of resignation sank over her heart. “Why start what you can’t finish?”
“I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to know what it’d be like. I waited for you to grow up, but I lost the chance when you grew to hate me, instead.”
“I don’t hate you. I just don’t understand.” Melisa’s heart splintered. “You hurt my brother. He loved Elaine. Sometimes, I think he still does. I’ve seen the way he looks for her whenever we drive by her old place, the way he devours news about her—her achievements, accolades, success in her field. What I don’t get is why you stepped in. Did you have a crush on her? Or was it to get something over my brother? Jealousy? He was the captain of the football team and you were the president of the chess club. Was that what it was about?”
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