One Kiss: A Brother's Best Friend Romance

by Annabelle Love

  She smiled once the server had placed their dishes before them, and even though this meal was unexpected and unwanted, she had to moan at the sight of the rack of lamb with baby potatoes and green beans. Simple fare that transcended a whole other level by a cranberry jus that had her moaning around the bite she’d taken.

  Aidan laughed. “I think you’re enjoying that, sis.”

  James’ voice was husky. “See, I told you you were hungry.”

  She was enjoying the dish too much to do little else than glower at him. “I’m in control of my stomach. Not the other way around.” Not that he seemed to believe that.

  James had practically frog-marched her and Aidan to the car a half-hour after she’d arrived at the offices, insisting she needed to eat and then sleep. In that particular order.

  Aidan snorted at her militant rebuke. “BS. You might be able to sell ice to polar bears but that doesn’t mean we can’t read through your sales crap.”

  She pouted, but then shot him a grin. “Sales crap? You do realize what I’ve done this last year alone, right?”

  James ran a finger around the rim of his crystal glass. She tried not to gulp at the movement, nor at the banked heat in his gaze. Those fingers… She shuddered. What she wouldn’t give to feel him touch her damn nipples like that.

  Bad Hannah!

  Bad, bad, bad!

  “I for one would like to know, Hannah,” James told her silkily, “I know Aidan always sells his sister short.”

  Aidan snorted. “Thanks for that, bro. Leave me out in the cold, why don’t you?”

  James grinned at him. “You daren’t do anything else.”

  Hannah frowned at that, then wriggled her shoulders uneasily. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You’re a ball buster, sis.” Aidan grinned at her as he cut off a huge piece from his ribeye. “Embrace it, Ms. Feminist of the year.”

  “I’m not a feminist,” she immediately denied, scowling harder when James and Aidan immediately roared with laughter.

  Jeez, what was it with today?

  She was sick of being laughed at, dammit.

  “We’re getting weird looks, you guys. Shut the heck up,” Hannah said, frustrated.

  Her brother and James shared a look then snickered silently as they retreated to their meals. She huffed. “Look, I’m not a feminist. I just believe in equality. Why should two people who do the same job, work the same hours, and put in the same amount of dedication have different salaries simply because one has a penis and the other doesn’t?”

  “You’re preaching to the converted,” James retorted sagely.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Hannah retorted back.

  “It means you don’t have to preach to us about equality. We already implement that in all our contracts.”

  She jerked her chin at him. “What about maternity leave?”

  James barely bothered to blink. “Three months for the mother, six weeks for the father.”

  “Paid?” she retorted again.

  “Of course,” James said with a frown, then clammed up when he took a bite of his own steak.

  She cocked a brow at her brother. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”

  Aidan merely shrugged, but it was James who said, “Because it’s no big deal.”

  No big deal?

  She out and out gawked at James now. “Are you being serious? Your PR company needs shooting. C’mon guys. This is huge. A company like you, trolling out equal salaries and implementing them, and maternity/paternity leave as well? It should be shouted about!”

  James shrugged. “We don’t need to shout about it. It’s exactly how it should be in our book.”

  “From your perspective, I know what you mean. You have to see that it’s a massive deal, though. And not just for public opinion on Arias. But because people need to hear this is happening. You’re too large a company to let this get swept under the rug.”

  To her brother, she batted her baby blues—well, greens—and pleaded, “Please, Aidan, throw out a press release or something.”

  “It will just invite scrutiny, Hannah,” Aidan sighed. “That’s the last thing we need at the minute with the contracts we’re juggling.”

  She huffed, but before she could say another word, James butted in, “You never did tell us what you’ve been doing this last year at your firm, Hannah. I meant it when I said I was interested.”

  Aidan shot him a suspicious glance, but it wasn’t half as suspicious as hers. “Why do you want to know? And don’t think I’ve dropped this particular subject.”

  “Because we know very little of what happens when you’re in Florida,” James remarked.

  Her brother’s grin was rueful. “He’s right, sis. It’s like pre-cell phone tower days when you go south. We hardly hear from you at all until you visit.”

  She grimaced. Was he right? She called, didn’t she?

  “I didn’t mean for it to be like that. I’m just busy,” she said after she processed that. Trying to remember the last time she called Aidan was too hard, which was proof in their favor.

  “But that’s my point,” James slotted in silkily. “Busy doing what?”

  “Marketing,” she rebutted, clucking her tongue. “I picked up an athletic clothing company last week. The account’s going to be incredible by the time we’re done with it.”

  “That your biggest catch?” James asked, but there was no sarcasm in his tone. Nothing that said, ‘is that all?’

  Still, she reacted like it was.

  “No. I’ve hauled in three more accounts these last six months. I managed to hook them because of some slogans I crafted for them. I’ve brought in contracts worth thirty million alone this past eighteen months,” Hannah announced.

  “Well done, sis, that’s awesome.” Aidan’s pride was evident. “I always knew that smart mouth of yours would get you far.”

  She smiled at her brother but shot James an irritated look because she was certain she’d heard him make a faint moan at her brother’s unfortunate choice of words.

  Smart mouth in a dirty mind took on a whole other meaning.

  Deciding that changing the subject was imperative, she ruefully slotted in, “I’m putting weight on. I’m getting too used to eating at places like these. The company always insists I wine and dine my new clients in upscale restaurants.”

  “And yet, you don’t look like you’ve gained an ounce of weight.” James’ words weren’t as bland as Hannah assumed he’d intended. His gaze traveled over every visible inch of her until she was squirming in her seat.

  “What are you doing checking out Hannah?” Aidan teased, nudging James in the side.

  James grinned. “I’ve got eyes, bro. And, it would seem, she hasn’t.”

  Aidan being Aidan—somehow as smart as Einstein and dumber than a Eugenics textbook—failed to pick up on that. Instead, he looked her up and down and declared, “He’s right. You look skinnier if anything.”

  Hannah grimaced. “I gained weight over the summer, but I’ve shifted a few pounds recently.”

  Stress, misery, and tension had a habit of biting into one’s appetite.

  Not that she could say that. Not with him at the table.

  Damn him for noticing, anyway.

  “Why? You’re slender enough as it is.”

  “James, shut up, would you?” she spat through gritted teeth. “Women always diet. It’s what we do, unfortunately, to please men.”

  James frowned. “That boyfriend of yours better not have told you you were fat or something.”

  She sighed. “I never said that, did I?”

  “No, but the implication was there, Hannah. What’s going on?” Aidan demanded as he pushed his knife and fork onto the plate, having finished his huge steak and enormous side of swanky, rosemary salt-shaken fries.

  “Nothing’s wrong, and nothing’s going on, Aidan. Stop looking for trouble where there is none. I’ve been working hard, that’s all. You know how it is w
hen you’re feeling stressed.”

  “You work too hard.”

  She snorted. “You can talk.”

  Aidan grinned. “I like what I do. It’s fun for me. I don’t find it at all stressful.”

  “Well, what I do is fun for me too.”

  James slithered in like a snake with his gambit, “But Aidan’s love of his job isn’t affecting his appetite.” He shot the large, empty, platter that Aidan had pushed away moments before and wryly stated, “As you can see, he eats for two.”

  Her brother grunted. “I’m offended.”

  “Shut up about my weight, you two.” She huffed again and took another bite of her meal. She was full, but half the dish was left. Self-consciously, she eyed it, knowing both men would notice. Still, she couldn’t stuff her face on it, not without wanting to puke. She was far too nervous, and it irritated the hell out of her that James had noticed, not her usually observant brother.

  Adrian got to his feet. “I’ll be back in a minute.” To her, he grinned. “I’ll get the waiter over here with the dessert card, sis. That will entice you to eat if nothing else will.”

  When he clapped James on the back then headed through the sparse seating in the upscale restaurant, where white linen tablecloths and leather banquettes married hand in hand, she was left alone with the enemy.

  Damning her brother’s bladder, she scowled down at the cutlery, then picked up her fork again and began toying with a potato.

  “Why don’t you tell your brother what’s really going on?” James asked.

  The question could have been snide. But it wasn’t. If anything, it was curious.

  “What are you talking about?” she immediately replied, dismissing his words with a shake of her head that sent her hair over her shoulder.

  “I mean, you’re so tense it’s ridiculous. Be thankful he’s too blind to notice stuff like that otherwise you’d have been interrogated from the start of this meal.”

  Too blind? That was how James saw Aidan? Huh.

  She always thought Aidan saw far too much.

  Still, that didn’t hold her attention for long. She bit off, “The implication being that… what? That’s how you’d have handled me?”

  Because that was exactly what she needed. Handling.

  James' grin was sly. “You know me well, sugar.”

  “Don’t call me sugar,” she snarled, instantly bristling. “I’m not one of your blonde sluts who asks how high when you tell her to jump.”

  “Such anger, Hannah,” came the immediate response, but she could feel him eying her up, trying to suss her out like she was a puzzle in need of solving. “If we ever got together, you’d never be able to lie to me. You’re adorably horrible at it,” he told her silkily.

  “You’d never be able to handle me if we ever got together, James. Then you’d have to care about someone other than yourself.”

  Hannah’s sharp tone had James cocking a brow.

  “That’s a little harsh, wouldn’t you say? I care about Aidan, and I care about your parents, and believe it or not, I care about you.”

  “You don’t need to care about me. That’s not what I want nor is it why I’m here.”

  Almost too quickly James asked, “The reasons for which are…?”

  She slashed a hand through the air. “I’m not talking about this with you.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s none of your business,” she snapped, the frustration building.

  “What isn’t?”

  Hannah blinked, startled to see that Aidan had reappeared, and just in time to hear her last hissed retort. She had all the luck today it seemed.

  “Nothing,” she said with a weary sigh. “Nothing that matters anyway.”

  Aidan frowned. “If it matters to you, then it matters to me, sis. You know that.”

  “I do, but now isn’t the time.” She shot him a weak smile.

  “I was asking Hannah if she’d like to try out the Orion with me, Aidan.” James cleared his throat. “She said yes.”

  Hannah’s eyes widened, but before she could refute that, her brother turned on James. “What the hell, man? It’s a prototype. You know it’s not road certified!”

  “I tried her out this morning. She’s driving like a dream. Surely you want Hannah to see exactly why you’re doing so well? And who better than with me? You know I’ve got advanced licenses. She’ll be as safe as houses with me.”

  Hannah gawked at him. “I don’t want to go in that pimp mobile!”

  “Hey!” her brother retorted. “That baby is my pride and joy, sis.”

  Guilt flooded through her. “I didn’t mean it as badly as it sounded.”

  “She did,” James retorted archly, shooting her a grin so wicked she longed to slap him.

  Aidan huffed. “Now my pride’s hurt. Take her out but be damn careful with her, James. And I’m not even talking about the Orion.”

  Hannah snorted. “At least I know I rank higher on your priorities than a car.”

  “Only just,” Aidan replied, winking at her until she had to hide a grin.

  “That’s settled then,” James inserted, his tone oozing with glee.

  She shot him a glare, wondering how the hell he’d managed to achieve the impossible. The last thing she wanted was to be alone with him. But alone in a tiny tin box for who knew how long?

  This week was turning out to be a real doozy.

  Chapter 4

  The minute James’ foot flatlined the gas, Orion reacted like the thoroughbred she was. The car shot off around the private track where the garages were housed and where this little beauty was stored, then he took her off course and onto the open road.

  The compound was on a mountainous hillock, and by rights, though the road was an open road and accessible by the public, until they reached gates that were secured and required passes to gain entry, it was still Arias Industry’s land.

  That meant, though Orion wasn’t certified yet, they weren’t legally breaking any laws.

  James knew his money could grease many palms, but he preferred not to hassle his lawyers too much. The sharks were overpaid as it was without him handing them fodder to feed on.

  As they flew past grassy terrain and headed over to a road that would take them higher up the mountain to a viewpoint he knew Hannah would love and would never have seen on previous visits, he took a real joy in her being with him as he played with his new toy.

  Once on the right track, he let Orion loose to do her thing and basically watched on as the auto-pilot kicked in.

  “It’s self-driving?” she squeaked, as she watched the wheel twist and turn while his hands were on his lap.

  Her squeak had him snorting. “You know that technology isn’t new.”

  “Yeah, but it’s… it’s being tested. Right? And this isn’t a functional car. It’s a sports car!”

  He grinned. “If we time it right, she’ll be the first baby out on the market. Incredible, huh? That’s why Aidan and I are so proud. We’re light-years ahead of the other competition when it comes to the style of the vehicle, as well as the engine. It’s hybrid, sure, but it handles like Orion’s a racecar.” He rubbed his hands together. “This is going to change the way we see cars.”

  She let out a long breath that had him peering at her rather than the road ahead.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” she immediately denied, but he watched as she folded her arms across her chest.

  “Liar. What is it with you and lies today, huh?” he demanded, frowning at her. He didn’t like that she didn’t trust him, and he hated it even more that he’d only just figured it out.

  How hadn’t he seen her suspiciousness of him before now?

  Had she shielded it from him?

  Had the kiss been the last straw, and it had ripped off the mask she wore to hide from him?

  But why kiss him in the first place if that was how she truly felt about him?

  His gloomy and, he’d admit, distr
essing thoughts were broken when she let out a long sigh. “It’s just… I’m tired, James. Really tired. And I’m sick of this rollercoaster feeling, you know?”

  He didn’t. But he couldn’t tell her that, could he?

  “Sure,” he lied. “Is there anything Aidan or I can do to help?” The offer was freely given. With or without her sweet, pilfered kisses, he’d always be there for her.

  She shook her head, but sadly whispered, “No.”

  “Liar.”

  When she flung herself around to glare at him, throwing her whole body into it, James simply shrugged. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want to talk to Aidan. I’m well aware you needed to speak to him today.”

  Hannah gritted her teeth. “Yet you purposefully invited yourself to lunch anyway?”

  He smirked. “You know what killed the cat.”

  “I wouldn’t call you a cat. I’d call you an ass,” she said as she turned her head to look out the window.

  “My feelings are hurt,” he snarked, folding his arms across his chest as he spoke. “Look, you think you invented sarcasm? You think you’re the first one to be obstinate around me? Credit me with something here, Hannah. I know you might think that my trust fund alone paid for things like this baby, but it wasn’t. Aidan and I would always have made it to this playing field. With or without my family’s money.”

  She turned back and blinked at him, then ducked her head to stare down at her lap. “I know that,” she said softly. “You don’t have to tell me that like it’s some revelation.”

  “I don’t? Well, apparently, you’re forgetting that I’m a pretty smart guy myself. Aidan isn’t the only whiz kid on our two-man team. What’s going on? Can Aidan and I help or not?”

  Silence fell between them until she admitted, “I don’t know, James. Truthfully. I don’t.” She ran a weary hand through her hair. “I-I feel like you could, but at the same time, I’m not sure if it’s just pointless asking you, getting you both involved in something I don’t even know if I want. Damn, I hate feeling like this.”

  “Like what?” James asked sounding almost desperate, wanting to understand.

  She closed her eyes. “Out of control. I had all my ducks lined up neat in a row, you know? I never imagined that one thing, just one, would come and knock them out of place.”