Bad Boys In Black Tie

by Erin McCarthy; Morgan Leigh Lori Foster

  Cassidy gave a very limp handshake and said again, “Uh ...”

  Both his brothers were here, looking for him? Pete stepped around the corner. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  Her eyes so wide they looked ready to fall out of her head, Cassidy turned to face him. Gil gave him the once-over, making particular note of the sheet, and started fighting a grin. He cleared his throat, looked up at the ceiling, shifted his position.

  Sam, who apparently saw nothing amiss, didn’t so much as blink. “Everything’s fine. We were just going to head out on Gil’s boat and thought you might like to tag along. Sorry if we interrupted. Gil said you hang out here a lot.”

  It struck Pete then, exactly what he’d just given away. He looked at Cassidy, but she was beet-red and mute with incredulity. Damn it, he’d embarrassed her.

  Gil cleared his throat again. “We can see you’re otherwise engaged. Later.”

  He and Sam started to turn away, but Cassidy said, “No, wait.” Using both hands, she shoved her hair out of her face. “We, ah, I had to go out now anyway.”

  Pete reached out and took her upper arms. “Cassidy ...”

  She wouldn’t quite meet his gaze. “I need to go to the mall. And then I have to visit my parents and ... you should go. Go with your brothers. Go on.”

  She actually shooed him.

  Pete crossed his arms over his chest. “Can I get my shorts first?”

  Poleaxed, she laughed too loud. “Yeah. Your shorts. I’ll get them for you.” And she practically ran out of the room.

  Sam said, “Am I missing something?”

  Gil grinned. “I believe the world just shifted.”

  “Ha ha.” Pete walked to the front door and held it open. “If you two hooligans want to wait at my place, I’ll be right there.”

  “What, and stand around outside? Your place is locked up.” Gil started for the couch. “We’ll just wait here.”

  “No.”

  “Yeah.” Sam joined Gil, saying thoughtfully, “Do you remember a certain baby brother making our romantic lives hell?”

  “I have a vague memory of that, yes.”

  Pete had tussled with his brothers many times. But not in a sheet. Odds were if he tried it now, he’d end up bare-assed and that just wouldn’t do. He didn’t wrestle with certain things flopping about unprotected. “Fine. But you’re only embarrassing her, not me.”

  Sam, the only blue-eyed one of the brothers, stretched out his long legs in ragged jeans. “You mean like Ariel was embarrassed when you caught her in my boxers?”

  “That was funny,” Pete declared.

  “Or when you tried to find out which Web sites featured Annabel on them?” Gil asked.

  “I was curious.” Then with disgust: “Come on, Gil. I was just teasing you then and you know it.”

  Sam settled in with a grin. “We’ll be waiting.”

  With nothing else to do, Pete stormed into Cassidy’s bedroom. She was perched on the edge of the bed, still pink but now dressed in jeans and a knit shirt. As if they could hear her, she whispered hopefully, “Are they gone?”

  Pete threw the sheet aside. “Hell, no. They stuck their asses to your couch and they’re not leaving until I leave with them.” He grabbed up his boxers and yanked them on.

  “I see.” She licked her lips with her gaze glued south of his navel. “Maybe I’ll just wait in here until then.”

  “Coward.” Pete eyed her as he zipped up his shorts and grabbed for his shirt. “You don’t have any reason to be embarrassed, you know.”

  “But I’m the sensible one. How sensible is this?”

  Oh, now that stung. Eyes narrowed, he stalked to her and, as she hastily leaned back, caged her in with his fists on the mattress at either side of her hips. “What exactly does that mean, Cassidy?”

  She swallowed hard. Braced on her elbows, her breath fast and shallow, she hissed, “You know what I mean.”

  Her hot breath brushed his mouth, and damn it, he wanted her again. “Explain it to me.”

  “You’re a ... a carouser.” Once she said it, she warmed to the topic. “A hound dog, a hedonist. You’re never going to settle down.”

  Pete went very still. He was ... well, hell, he was hurt. And a little confused. Cautiously, he asked, “Did you want to settle down?”

  “Yes! You know I do—someday.” Her gaze was defiant. “I have my plans for the future, remember?”

  “That’s right.” Plans that didn’t include him. Pete straightened away. If he didn’t put some distance between them, he’d be kissing her again and they both knew where that would lead. “You want a guy in a black tie, a corporate dude who’s just like Daddy.”

  “Don’t you dare be snide!” Temper shot her off the bed so she could glare up at him. “At least I have plans beyond getting laid!”

  A tap sounded on her bedroom door and Cassidy nearly fell over.

  Whipping around, Pete barked, “What?”

  “We can hear you, and since it appears this argument won’t be over any time soon, we’re going to go ahead and mosey over to your place. Don’t keep us waiting.”

  Eyes huge, her hand clutching his wrist, Cassidy whispered, “That was Sam?”

  “Yeah.” Pete ran his free hand over his face, far too frustrated for a guy who’d just had over-the-moon sex.

  “He heard me.” She freed her death grip on him to cover her mouth. “Ohmigod.”

  “Now don’t faint.” Amusement at her reaction took away some of the sting of her disapproval. “Sam’s heard worse, believe me. And if I had to make a guess, they were cheering you on.”

  “But you’re their brother.”

  “Exactly. It’s no fun to pick on a girl, anyway.”

  “Woman,” she clarified distractedly.

  “What?”

  “I’m a woman, not a girl.” Then: “This is so embarrassing. I’ll never be able to face them again.”

  Pete put his arm around her. “Sure you will. You’re my helper when I babysit, remember? And someday I’d like you to meet my sisters-in-law. They’re terrific.” He led her out of the room and to the couch that Sam and Gil had vacated. He felt safer getting away from the bed, where he could think clearer. Not much clearer, considering she looked well-loved, but at least this room wasn’t scented by their lovemaking, too.

  And it had been lovemaking, he realized. Not just sex. He’d had sex. Hell, he loved sex. But what he’d done with Cassidy was something ... richer. Only she didn’t seem to know it.

  He frowned, trying to figure out what to say to her.

  “You should go.”

  That pissed him off more. She did her best to rush him out the door. Talk about a wham-bam-thank-you. . . sir. “Look, Cassidy, we should probably get a few things straight.”

  “All right, but make it quick. I don’t want your brothers to come back here.”

  His annoyance rose. Why had he never realized what a bossy, irritating woman Cassidy could be? “You want me to cut to the chase? Fine.” He stood over her, forcing her to tilt her head back to see him. “I’m. Not. Done.”

  She scooted back on the couch. “Not done with what?”

  “Not what, who. One time having you isn’t near enough.” Color flooded into her face until she looked sunburned. “Now don’t start getting wide-eyed on me again. I don’t intend to get in the way of your grand plans. I’m sure your suited Romeo will still be out there after we’ve finished exploring this ... connection.”

  Her long hair hid her face from him. Her fingers twined together in her lap. Then she nodded. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  She looked up, and she was smiling. “I want to explore it, too.”

  Well. That hadn’t been as hard as he’d expected. “Great. So from now on, don’t go shoving me out the door.”

  “Tell your brothers not to interrupt and I won’t.”

  That made Pete smile. “If I told them that, they’d probably hang around as much as possible. It’ll be better
if I just don’t say much about you at all.”

  Her wry expression told him just what she was thinking.

  “Don’t judge me by your own standards. I’m not embarrassed to be sleeping with you. I’m just trying to protect you from them.”

  “Why would they bother me?”

  “Because I bothered them when they were—” Pete gulped. He’d almost said, falling in love. That’d really have her tossing him out the door. She didn’t want anyone like him, not permanently anyway. She wanted a suit, a stuffed shirt.

  Maybe he should meet her dad. Hmmm ...

  “What?” Cassidy gave him a funny look. “What are you thinking?”

  “Oh, nothing.” Shaking his head, Pete said, “We just like to rib each other, that’s all.”

  “Okay then.” She stood and started ushering him to the door. “Go and let them rib you so they won’t embarrass me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Pete pulled her into a hug first. “Cassidy? You were phenomenal.”

  Her grin was cheeky and fun. “Thanks. You, too.”

  Pete stepped outside and was just about to close the door behind him when Cassidy said, “Pete?”

  Such a cautious voice. Turning back, he raised a brow.

  Very softly, she said, “I’m not at all embarrassed to sleep with you.”

  “No?” That made him feel better—although he wasn’t sure he believed her.

  “No.” She pushed the door almost closed. “In fact,” she said through the narrow opening, “I’m looking forward to sleeping with you again.”

  The door snapped shut and the lock clicked into place. Pete stood there, grinning like an idiot, oblivious to his brothers watching from the stoop next door—until Sam said, “Yeah, it’s love. I recognize the signs.”

  “Most definitely,” Gil agreed.

  Pete jerked out of his daze. There wasn’t anything he could do about his brothers ribbing him, not after the way he’d goaded them back during their courtships, but he could at least move it to someplace private to protect Cassidy. She was embarrassed enough already. Eventually she’d have to get used to his brothers ... or would she?

  “Eavesdropping?” Pete grouched. “Don’t you two have anything better to do?” Fishing his keys out of his pocket, he strode to them and unlocked his front door.

  Sam eyed him in the intimidating way only an older brother could. Given the older brother was a certified bad-ass, intimidation came easily. “You don’t look too worried about being in love.”

  Gil bent to see Pete’s face. “He’s not blanching even a little.”

  Pete laughed. Yeah, he thought he just might be in love. What to do about it—that was the big question. He pushed his front door open with a flourish. “You might as well come on in.”

  Sam snorted. “As if you had a choice in that.”

  By rote, all three brothers headed for the kitchen. Didn’t matter where they were, the kitchen was the official meeting place for anything important. Pete assumed this meant they considered his situation with Cassidy important, not just fodder for harassment.

  He opened his fridge and tossed Sam a frosty can of Coke, then handed one to his quieter brother. Pete popped the tab on his own and started to drink, but Gil snatched it out of his hands.

  “You two are such hillbillies.” He turned to Sam, but Sam had that touch-my-drink-and-you’re-in-trouble look. Sighing, Gil rinsed Pete’s can under the tap and dried it. “Here. If you don’t have enough breeding to use a glass, at least clean the thing.”

  So saying, Gil got down a glass and filled it with ice.

  Sam had already guzzled half his Coke from the “dirty” can, and now he tipped it at Pete. “I’m more concerned as to whether or not you’re using protection than if you get a few dust germs off your drink.”

  Pete took a long swallow before saying, “You know, Sam, when I was a teen—hell, even when I was in my early twenties—it was amusing the way you constantly reminded me about that. But in case you missed it, I’m grown now. And I’m as responsible as you or Gil.”

  Both brothers cracked up.

  When Gil saw Pete’s fuming face, he choked down his laughter. “Sorry. Okay, so maybe where birth control is concerned you’re cautious enough.”

  “Thank you.”

  Sam was still snickering, which only drove home Cassidy’s point that Pete wasn’t a sensible choice for any wise woman to get involved with. Even his own brothers thought him reckless. That burned his butt big-time.

  Gil took a seat at the table. Sam hopped up on the counter. Pete lounged against the wall—and waited.

  “So,” Gil said. “Are you in love with her?”

  “Maybe.”

  Sam eyed him. “You really don’t seem too worried about it.”

  Shrugging, Pete admitted, “I’m more worried about what she thinks.” It took the rest of his Coke and three deep breaths before he screwed up the nerve to spill his guts. “She thinks I’m irresponsible, too.”

  “Too?”

  With a wry look, Pete pointed out, “Wasn’t that you two just laughing your asses off at me?”

  “Oh, now hey, we’re you’re brothers.” Sam straightened with annoyance. “We’re allowed to give you shit. You need it.”

  “Exactly,” Gil agreed. “But if Cassidy really thinks that about you, then she just doesn’t know you well enough.”

  “Don’t get any ideas about clueing her in,” Pete warned. “Our relationship is ...”

  “Delicate?”

  “I guess.”

  Sam leveled him with a look. “Sex was good?”

  “None of your damn business!”

  Sam held up both hands, but he was grinning. “Such a reaction,” he said to Pete, “means one of two things—either it was great and it has you floundering, or it was awful and you just wish it hadn’t happened.”

  Thoughtfully, Gil shook his head. “No, I’ve gotten to know Cassidy. She’s not awful at anything.”

  “An overachiever?” Sam asked.

  “Something like that. She’s one of those really organized women who knows what she wants and goes after it. She’s got like a five-year plan and a ten-year plan. Hell, probably a twenty-year plan.”

  “Looked to me like she wanted Pete.”

  Gil shrugged and took another drink. “All things considered.”

  Pete really wished it was that easy. Sure, Cassidy had slept with him—then more or less told him he couldn’t get in the way of her goals for a committed relationship. He rubbed the heels of his palms into his eye sockets, wishing he could figure her out. One thing was plain, though. “She’s into guys in suits.”

  Gil rolled his eyes. “Yeah, so wear a suit.”

  Everything always seemed so cut-and-dried to Gil. He was one hell of a businessman, making plans and decisions with absolute certainty. Nothing ever threw him off course. He was more suited to Cassidy than Pete would ever be. Thank God Gil was already married. “I can’t exactly wear suits to work out in the sports center, now can I?”

  Slapping his hands onto his thighs, Gil said, “I have a solution.”

  Sam groaned. “Here we go.”

  “Shut up, Sam.” Then to Pete: “Take a job with me. People love you. You’d be great at sales pitches, talking to the board, dealing with consumers.. . .”

  “But you’d have to wear a suit.” Sam shuddered.

  “That’s the whole point, Sam. He said Cassidy likes suits.”

  “So why the hell isn’t she wearing them? Did he ask her that?” Sam hopped off the counter. “The answer is not to do something you’d be miserable doing.”

  Gil stood, too. “Why would he be miserable working with me?”

  His brothers were both nuts, Pete realized. And he loved them. “I wouldn’t be miserable, but damn, Gil, you’re so good at it I’d be trailing behind. And Sam’s right, I can’t change my life for her.”

  Sam slung a heavily muscled arm over Pete’s shoulders. “I say stick with the great sex. It’ll win her
over for sure.”

  “Yeah,” Gil conceded, “that just might do the trick.”

  All three brothers laughed. It didn’t solve Pete’s problem, but being with his brothers today was just the distraction he needed. “Are we going out on the boat or what?”

  “We’re going.” Gil led the way out the front door. “It’s too nice a day to stay inside. But Annabel and Ariel are planning a baby shower or something, so they couldn’t go along.”

  “So I’m second choice, huh?”

  Gil winked. “Over my wife? Always.”

  “I’m driving,” Sam told them as he slipped on his mirrored sunglasses.

  Gil snatched the keys out of his hand. “No, you’re still shaking over the idea of Ariel being pregnant. I’d just as soon reach the boat alive, thank you very much.”

  Driving down the road with the setting sun in her face, Cassidy thought about all the time she’d spent at the mall. She’d done some shopping, and in the process, she’d ventured into a salon where she lost a good two inches of hair. The beautician had wanted to take off more than that, but Cassidy was too cowardly to do too much at once. She promised the woman she’d look at her hair when she got home, think about it, and maybe come back soon.

  Now at least the ends were smooth instead of poofing out like dandelion fluff. She liked the softer look. To her, it made a huge difference, making her wonder if taking off a little more might be a good thing.

  In the passenger seat of her car, a pretty pink bag rustled in the current from the open window. Inside that bag were her purchases of new underwear. Skimpy, sexy panties and two matching wisplike bras that she couldn’t believe she’d bought, and doubted even more that she’d wear. They didn’t look all that comfortable, but then, for the first time in her adult life, comfort wasn’t the point.

  On top of the bag rested a small box of positively sinful perfume. She’d loved the earthy, seductive scent the moment she dabbed it on her wrist. When she got home, she’d dab it in other places.

  Having sex with Pete had turned her into a carnal-minded monster. All she could think about was seeing him again.

  But for now, duty called.

  Cassidy pulled into her parents’ driveway, noting both cars. Good. She’d get this over with in one visit. Taking the walkway around to the side door, she entered the kitchen and caught her folks smooching. Some things, it seemed, never changed. In all the years they’d been married, her father continued to dote on her mother. As refined as he often seemed, he wasn’t above cuddling.