She was right, but still. “I told her it was casual. Temporary.”
Walker shrugged as he walked to the fridge, removing two bottles of beer. “If you feel like that absolves you, then I guess it does.”
“Bullshit.”
He smiled around the bottle he brought to his lips and shook his head. “I wonder what you would’ve tried to do to me if I wanted to just sleep with Audrey. No strings. No promises. Just orgasms.”
“I’ll still kill you,” I threatened just because he said the word orgasm. “Don’t say the word orgasm when you’re talking about my sister.”
“Hope is somebody’s sister too, Will.” We stepped out onto the backyard and enjoyed the silence. Both of us were lost to our own thoughts and mine inevitably turned to Hope. Sweet, sexy little Hope with those big green eyes and shapely curves that made my hands itch to roam every inch of her body. I wasn’t ready to give her up, not yet.
But I would be.
And soon.
Until then, maybe she’d be up for a little bit of down-low lovin’.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
Hope
It was Friday night and instead of getting dressed for a date or a night out with the girls, I was at home. Alone. Sketching. Ever since talking to Mikki, or maybe it was her confidence in the designs she’d seen so far, I felt more motivated than ever to make this happen. And yeah, sure, some of my motivation came from a desperate desire to forget about a certain gray-eyed paramedic who’d held my heart for far too long.
I sat on the couch hunched over my sketch pad, colored pencils surrounding me as I worked out the details of my first line, as Mikki had called it. Sketching was a soothing task that connected me with the designs and, the more I did it, the more I regretted letting so many years go by without indulging more often. But there was nothing to do about it now. What mattered was that I was sketching and creating and designing again.
The bell rang and my body tensed as my eyes sought out the time. It was just after eight, around the time Will would normally stop by. Standing slowly, I took several deep breaths and as I made my way to the front door, I went over what I would say to him. A relieved breath rushed out of me at the sight of my granny. “Big Mama, what are you doing here?”
She arched a silver brow and folded her arms. “Do I need a reason to visit my favorite grandchild? Other than testing out a new batch of my spiked iced tea, of course.” She didn’t wait for an invitation—not that she needed one—and squeezed past me and headed for the kitchen. “Working on a Friday night? Lord, I’ll never have any great grandbabies to spoil.”
I rolled my eyes, thankful she couldn’t see me since Big Mama had very strong beliefs about how elders should be treated and eyerolling was forbidden. “You have three grandchildren at last count, Big Mama. You don’t need anymore.”
She waved me off and pulled down two tall glasses, which she filled with ice. “Ain’t no such thing as too many grandchildren.” She handed me one of the glasses and shooed me into the living room. “I’m happy to see you’ve gone back to your sketches.” Her keen blue-gray gaze missed nothing as she sipped her tea.
“Me too. I didn’t realize how much I missed until I started doing it again.” And now that I had, I didn’t plan to give it up. I’d find a way to do both, if it ever came to that.
Big Mama sighed and set her glass down. “I’m happy one of you stayed to help me out. Lord knows it would’ve killed me to sell the diner, but I just hate that it was you. My sweet girl with her big dreams and you ended up stuck in little ol’ Tulip with me.” From any other grandmother, it might’ve sounded like a guilt trip, but I knew it wasn’t. Big Mama wanted every last one of us to go out into the world and conquer it, but as the youngest, everyone else had already left. Leaving me no option but to stay.
“I love you, Big Mama. I know you know that, and I hope you never forget it. I don’t regret staying here and helping you out; it was the least I could do after what you did for all of us.” I waited for the emotion to swamp me again, thinking about losing the parents I barely remembered, but it didn’t come. Just a small twinge of pain and something else I couldn’t quite describe. “But I have been wasting my time by not going after my dreams. If Hollywood is filled with waiters going to auditions between shifts, there’s no reason I can’t pursue my dreams and work a day job. I’m going for it all, Big Mama.”
“That’s real good, Hope. I’m happy to hear it. Does this have anything to do with a certain someone?” She wiggled her eyebrows in a move that no grandchild should ever witness and I darted out of my seat, nearly spilling my tea.
“I’ve got something for you,” I told her and ran out of the room to douse my eyes in gasoline. And to retrieve her gift. By the time I made it back to the living room with the box, Big Mama had refilled both glasses. “Open it.” I waited anxiously, watching her examine the shiny silver box with a big purple bow.
Big Mama unwrapped the bow carefully, lifted the box like it was a precious stone that could break at any time, and unfolded the tissue paper reverently. She gasped when her gaze landed on the purple fabric I had to go to three different websites to find. “Oh, honey, it’s beautiful!” She looked up, tears swimming in eyes that were the happiest I’d ever seen.
“Maybe look at the whole thing first?”
She laughed and lifted the silky fabric, examining every feature, every stitch. I chose purple because it was her favorite color and I added a bit of lace because everyone, even grandmas, liked to feel sexy once in a while. And to make it age appropriate, I added cap sleeves and a hint of lace over the chest. “You sure you don’t wanna sell this? I’ll bet you could make a pretty penny.”
“No way. This is a gift. For my favorite person in the whole world.” I winked and her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “Who else has a one-of-a-kind nightgown?” I knew that would make it easier for her to accept; the constant competition over everything between the older ladies in town was legendary.
“That much is true. Thank you, sweet girl.” She stood and wrapped her meaty arms around me, holding me tight. I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of the Avon perfume she favored, mostly because it was cheap and one of her friends sold it to supplement her income.
“It’s my pleasure. Truly.”
“Good.” She took another long sip and slammed her glass down, meaning she had something to say. “I’m cutting your hours, Hope, so you can focus on building your new business.”
“Absolutely not.” This was the main reason I hadn’t told her sooner. “I’m committed to doing both like I just told you. If there comes a time when I can’t handle it, I’ll let you know. I swear.” Besides, having one full-time job while starting a fashion line should distract me enough, exhaust me enough, that I won’t have time to think or pine or long for Will, never mind succumb to the temptation he presented.
Those blue-gray eyes studied me carefully and even though I worked hard to keep my expression blank, I knew Big Mama saw what I was doing. “Hmph,” she said and took another sip. “If that’s what you need to do, I support you.”
“Thanks, Big Mama. You’re the best.”
“Yeah and don’t you forget it. Now let’s finish these drinks; the girls and I are hitting the town tonight.”
I groaned. A girls’ night out for Big Mama and her friends nearly always meant trouble. “Call if you girls need a ride. Don’t do anything foolish. Well, illegal,” I amended because they acted more like twenty-somethings than I did.
“I make no promises,” she shot back and then kissed my cheek before disappearing into the night.
Still smiling, I went back to my iced tea and my sketches, feeling better about my decision now that I had Big Mama’s unofficial blessing. Maybe it was the tea or maybe this was what people who had their lives together always felt like, capable and confident and focused, but I liked it. A lot.
A few minutes later, the bell rang again and I opened it right away, thinking Big Mama h
ad finally realized she’d forgotten her newest batch of iced tea. “Realized you forgot your … oh. Will. Hey.”
He frowned, taken off-guard by my less than enthusiastic greeting, but he quickly masked it. “Hey, Hope.” That gorgeous smile of his never failed to make my heart race and my belly clench. With his honeyed skin that only made his thick black hair and eerie gray eyes look even more exotic, Will Landon had model good looks: broad shoulders, a wide chest that tapered down to a narrow waist, and long, strong legs that had carried many a stranger out of harm’s way.
I realized now that I’d never stood a chance against this particular Hometown Hero. “What’s up, Will?” My heart thundered and I hoped like heck I seemed nonchalant. Cool. Unaffected.
“It’s Friday,” he said, as if that meant something.
It didn’t. “Did we have plans?” Because I was damn sure the brunette warranted a meal outside of her home, maybe a movie or dancing or whatever other activities passed for dating with him. Me, I got takeout and secret sex. Mind-blowing sex, but still secret mind-blowing sex.
“Not exactly but Friday has kind of been our day together, right?” There went that smile again, the one meant to turn my insides to mush. It worked, even now, except my insides were slowly hardening to ice which was a lot harder to mush.
I shrugged. “Right. It has been but I’m busy tonight.” Which wasn’t a lie. I planned to sketch out a few more designs and narrow down my logo options to five.
He looked so damn confused, it was hard not to laugh and harder not to take pity on him. It wasn’t arrogance necessarily that had him so confused, but just the fact that I never turned down a chance to spend time with him. Ever. “Busy?”
“Yes, Will. Busy. As in I have other plans.” I tried really hard not to take offense at his tone, like I couldn’t possibly have anything else going on in my life other than waiting for him to show up and fall into my bed.
His smile spread but this time it was that lazy, sexy sleepy grin that, yep, had my parts lighting up. Down, girl. Not tonight. But Will stepped closer and my grip tightened on the doorknob, because I recognized the intent in his gray eyes. Temptation. I was tempted, believe me. “Change them.” His words were low and smoky, almost erotic.
Okay that was arrogant. “I can’t. I won’t.” He stared blankly, waiting for me to realize that he was all I ever wanted and let him inside. “Look, Will, go out and find someone else. We both know you don’t have a problem with that.” He didn’t even look fazed by my words, not even a little bit guilty or apologetic that he’d been caught with another woman on his arm.
And that was when it hit me all over again. I meant nothing to Will. Less than nothing, in fact. Then, his words confirmed it. “Why have someone else when you’re right here?” His fingertip titled my chin up so I looked him right in the eyes before trailing across my jaw and down to my collarbone. It was sexy as hell. And tempting. “So close,” he whispered in my ear, making me shiver.
I was in danger of giving in so I took a step back and shook off his touch. “Because, as I said, I’m busy.”
“Sure you are.” He snorted in disbelief.
That was it. I was done being insulted by this ass. This gorgeous, arrogant ass. “Goodbye, Will.”
It was hard to turn Will away but so satisfying to see that disbelieving look as I closed the door in his face.
Will
What the hell is her problem? I couldn’t say what exactly, but I knew something was up with Hope. She never turned me away, not in all the years I’d known her. Except Friday night, she had turned me away. I stood on her doorstep for five minutes after she slammed the door in my face, confident she would change her mind. Certain she was playing a joke on me. But she never came back—just locked the door and went back to being “busy.”
Busy, my ass. Something was going on with her and I was determined to figure out what. But first I had to get her to talk to me. And I would as soon as my shift was over.
“Landon, get your thumb outta your ass and let’s go! We’ve got a call.” Ry flashed a smile as he rushed past. I got my ass in gear.
Tulip was your average small town, which meant nothing ever really happened, nothing bad anyway, but being so close to the interstate, we had our fair share of auto accidents—mostly fender benders involving turned-around tourists. Still, the shift was barely fifteen minutes old and we’d already gotten a call. That had to be a good sign.
“You’re rushing me and you still aren’t ready?” Sometimes Ry was like a woman: primping every time he left to go anywhere.
“I wasn’t rushing you, just reminding you to stop picking lint from your belly button and look alive.” With a gleam in his eyes, Ry hopped in the passenger seat and tapped the door in the universal sign for “let’s go.”
“Whatever.”
“What crawled up your ass this morning?”
I gave him a sideways glance. “Up my ass?”
Ry shrugged. “Yeah. You’re acting like something’s stuck up there. Real deep. Or maybe it’s the other end.”
“Stop.”
Ry laughed. It was the man’s superpower, I swear, to be able to diffuse any situation and turn a frown into a damn smile. “Just sayin’. If you want to talk, I’m here.”
I didn’t. “Red sedan with Oklahoma plates.” I pointed to the car with the busted-up bumper.
“Where the other car?”
“I guess we’re about to find out.” When the hell would people learn to watch the road instead of their phones, radios, and passengers? A quick knock on the door and both of the elderly people inside shuffled out. “Hey, folks, I’m Will and this is Ry. We’re here to help. What seems to be the problem?”
The woman spoke first, standing too close with her hand on my arm. “Thank you, sweet boys, for coming out to help us. Some jerk in a blue sports car slammed into us when a deer darted across the road and we hit the brakes to avoid hitting him. Then he went around us and flew up the road.” The woman was clearly still shaken since her grip on my arm tightened by the second. “Roger was jerked forward and smacked his head on the wheel, the poor thing.”
Roger didn’t look too worse for wear besides a red spot on his forehead. He wore a goofy, affectionate grin and wrapped an arm around the woman. “Charla worries too much, but the smack was a little harder than I would’ve liked.”
“Say no more, Roger.” Will put a hand to his shoulder and guided him back to the ambulance.
A few minutes later, Jackson showed up in his cruiser wearing his uniform and a smile. “Ma’am. Will. What seems to be the problem?” Charla ate up his charming cowboy routine just as he knew she would. If it wasn’t such an effective tool in emergencies, I would have rolled my eyes at him.
Since Charla was flustered by the pretty boy, I gave him a quick rundown of the story she’d already shared. “I figured Antonio would be handling this.”
“He’s getting ready to go on his honeymoon.” He and Elka had a quick ceremony a couple of weeks back so a honeymoon made sense.
“Well then, I guess this is your problem.” Since Roger didn’t want to go to the hospital, despite his wife’s insistence, Ry and I were headed back to the office twenty minutes later.
“I’m calling in every favor I’m owed from everyone in town, Will. Penny’s first choice for a wedding venue caught fire and we need a new venue. ASAP.”
I looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “And who in the hell do I know in the wedding venue business? Ask Preston. If anyone would know, it’s him.” Even though the guy was a regular search and rescuer, he was still part of the family that founded the town and rich as hell.
“Good idea,” he said absently, his mind clearly on other things. You’d think those things would be his pretty little fiancée, but no, it was things like flower arrangements, cakes, and venues. No thank you. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.” I was fine the same way I always was, but I would be feeling better if Hope would talk to me. My g
rip tightened on the steering wheel as we entered Tulip until my knuckles turned white. “Nothing at all.”
My so-called partner barked out a laugh. “You are, without a doubt, one of the worst liars around.” At my offended look, he smacked my arm. “Everyone knows you brought some chick to Trivia Night,” he said. “Just like they know your car has been parked overnight at Hope’s place for weeks.”
Shit and double shit. Of course Tulip was the smallest town in the whole damn world so I shouldn’t be surprised that what Hope and I got up to on Friday night into Sunday morning hadn’t stayed a secret. I shouldn’t have been, but I was. “Brandy is just a friend.” That I sometimes had sex with, and by sometimes, I meant whenever we saw each other. Except Trivia Night and I didn’t want to talk about that.
“That explains Audrey’s warning.” And Hope’s cold shoulder and refusal to see me. At least now I knew what her problem was. There was just one more problem. “What’s the big deal?” I didn’t make Hope any promises and I didn’t let her think I was or would ever be her boyfriend.
“It was a total dick move. That’s the big deal.” Ouch. Ry wasn’t a guy who pulled his punches but he was generally a lot nicer than that about them.
A dick move? “Hardly. You’re overreacting—probably just trying to keep Penny happy.” Given what her ex had put her through, I wasn’t surprised to know she’d taken Hope’s side in a fight I hadn’t known was happening.
“My ability to keep my woman happy has nothing to do with you, Will. Trust me on that. But if you don’t think what you did was wrong, you’re a bigger idiot than any of us thought.” Thankfully he didn’t say anymore because we arrived at the station and he had paperwork to fill out while I restocked the bus.
I thought about Ry’s words for the rest of our mostly uneventful shift. Was I being a dick to Hope? No. The answer came quickly because I was sure and I was right. Hope wanted me and for a little while, she could have me. Maybe her feelings were a little hurt and I’d have to do something about that, but I wasn’t worried.
Undesired: A Best Friend’s Brother Romance Page 3
