Falling for the Wrong Brother

by Michelle Major

  “You’re brave and strong,” Griffin shouted back, “and soon to be soaking wet if you don’t sit down.”

  Maggie stuck her tongue out at him, then turned to lower herself back to her seat. At that very moment her footing slipped and she went tumbling into the cold water with a splash.

  She surfaced with a small scream, panting to regain the breath stolen from her when she hit the cold water. Swiping her soaking hair away from her face, she met Griffin’s amused gaze.

  “Don’t say I told you so,” she called to him, swimming toward the paddle that floated a few feet from her.

  “I wouldn’t dare.” She watched as he tugged his T-shirt over his head, and her mouth went dry at the sight of the hard planes of his chest. “I thought you were going to capsize us, not go for a swim.” He stood, then immediately dived in, his head emerging from the water a moment later. “You forgot to invite me.”

  “You’re invited,” she whispered, mesmerized by the water beading on his chiseled jaw. “But I should have warned you it’s freezing here.”

  He swam closer, encircling her waist with one arm. “All the more reason to head to shore so we can find a creative way to warm up.” He kissed her, their legs tangling under water, and as cold as her body felt, heat infused her belly.

  She pressed closer, craving more, then laughed as they both began to sink. “I should concentrate on treading water,” she said, pulling away reluctantly. “Maybe you should have stayed in the canoe so we wouldn’t be stranded in the middle of the lake.” She lifted her chin to glance toward the shore. “Are you up for a swim?”

  “No need,” he answered and, with another kiss, turned and swam toward the canoe. It had drifted several yards away but Griffin reached it in a few long strokes.

  Muscles bulged as he expertly lifted himself up and over the side, and Maggie felt her eyes grow wide. She was pretty sure she’d look like a beached whale trying that same maneuver.

  He grabbed the paddle and steered toward her. “Take my hand,” he told her and a moment later he’d pulled her up and over the side. As she suspected, she landed on her belly in the middle of the canoe, then quickly righted herself. He’d already retrieved her paddle, grinning as he handed it to her.

  “You planning to stay seated this time?”

  She gathered her hair in her hands and wrung the water out of it into the boat. “I think so,” she said, teeth beginning to chatter.

  They paddled to the shore in silence, and as grateful as Maggie was for the bright sunshine, she couldn’t wait for a hot shower to truly warm her.

  She hopped out as soon as they’d beached the canoe and they carried it up into the grass.

  Griffin grabbed his discarded shirt and shrugged it over his head, mischief dancing in his eyes as he took in the sight of her staring at him.

  “Would you rather I keep it off?”

  “Yes,” she blurted, then shook her head. “No. I can’t exactly think with all of that—” she waved her hand toward him “—staring me in the face.”

  He immediately pulled the shirt back over his head. “I don’t want you thinking about anything but—” he gestured to his body with a wink “—all of this.”

  “Good to see that a decade out in the world hasn’t changed your opinion of yourself,” she told him with a laugh, and he took her hand as they walked toward the house. “But right now we both need a shower.”

  She led him down the hall toward the bathroom, but he tugged on her fingers until she turned to face him in the narrow space. “You can go first,” he told her, releasing her hand.

  “I thought this was a together kind of moment,” she said, confused by his sudden reluctance.

  “I wasn’t joking when I said I’m happy just to be hanging out with you. You don’t owe me anything.”

  Maggie appreciated his willingness to be a gentleman, but she was long past the point of wanting that from him. “Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet.” She moved her hand up his body, running her fingers along the rippled muscles of his abdomen. “We’re just getting to the real adventure portion of the weekend.”

  He sucked in a breath, his eyes darkening. “Every second with you is an adventure, Maggie May.” He scooped her up, fusing his mouth to hers, and she twined her legs around his lean hips.

  They continued kissing as he maneuvered them into the bathroom and turned on the shower. As steam filled the small space, she took off her shirt, then undid the button at the top of her jeans.

  Griffin was already shoving down his shorts and boxers and her whole body stilled as he straightened again. She knew he had a great body but seeing him in his full glory was another thing entirely.

  “Wow,” she whispered and was rewarded with a slow, sexy smile from him.

  “Back at you,” he said and hooked one finger under the strap of her bra, tugging it over her shoulder. He moved closer, reaching around her to undo the clasp, and she was unable to do anything but try to catch her breath as the lacy fabric fell from her body.

  “Wow, indeed.” He dropped to his knees in front of her, and she swallowed, then let out a little moan as he pressed a kiss low on her belly, dragging her jeans and panties down over her hips as he did.

  Goose bumps erupted across her skin as his calloused palms skimmed the tops of her thighs.

  “You’re cold,” he said, straightening. He opened the glass shower door, steam billowing out, then stepped in, crooking a finger for her to follow.

  Maggie wasn’t even sure her legs would hold her at the moment but she managed to squeeze into the tight space behind him.

  He shifted so that the water sprayed directly onto her overly sensitive skin, and she closed her eyes, letting sensation wash over her. Griffin ran the bar of soap along her body, taking his time as layers of need built with his touch, and the spray of the water rinsed her. A moment later he knelt and nudged her legs apart. She opened for him, gasping at the first touch of his mouth against her center.

  “You don’t mess around,” she choked out and he gave a wicked chuckle that reverberated along her nerve endings.

  He kissed and sucked, nipped and licked until she thought she would lose her mind. Then she did lose her mind, crying out his name as pleasure roared through her, like fireworks erupting inside her body.

  Boneless with satisfaction, she pressed against the cool tile wall to keep from sinking to the floor. Griffin took his time trailing kisses up her body until he tenderly took her face in his hands.

  “Warmer now?” he asked, and the intensity of his gaze made her feel bold. She reached her hand between them, cupped his hard length and raised her brows.

  “Not quite,” she answered and felt him grow more rigid in her hand.

  With a groan, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Then let’s remedy that.” He skimmed his hand along her arm, encircling her wrist and tugging it away from him. “But don’t make me embarrass myself by losing control too soon.”

  She kissed the side of his jaw. “I make you lose control?”

  “Hell, yeah.”

  He turned off the water, stepped out of the shower and pulled two towels from the linen closet, wrapping one around his waist and enveloping her in the second. She looked down at her pink skin peeking out the top and reveled in how amazing this day had already been.

  She led him down the hall to the bedroom, cringing a little as she took in the simple quilt covering the bed and outdated furnishings. “It’s not exactly five-star accommodations.”

  “We’ll make our own stars.”

  “You’re a romantic at heart, Griffin Stone.” She dropped the towel on the braided rug as she slipped between the sheets.

  “Hold that thought,” he told her and disappeared down the hall. A few seconds later he reappeared, holding a condom wrapper between two fingers.

  “Romantic and practical all in one.” She
grinned. “My type A personality loves it.”

  “I had a feeling,” he said, letting the towel fall from his waist as he opened the wrapper and sheathed himself. She lifted the sheet so he could join her, and her heart sang as he covered her body with his.

  He kissed her long and deep and she arched off the bed with pleasure when he finally entered her. They moved together, and Maggie never imagined it could be so good. It was as if their bodies had been made for each other. She let herself be lost in the moment, and when stars rained down on her minutes later, Maggie knew she’d never be the same.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Work can wait until Monday.”

  Brenna shook her head. “Fridays at the office are the hardest to miss. If I pick up my reservation binder and the mail that’s come in, I can get caught up tomorrow so I won’t be behind on Monday.” She flashed a smile. “Feel free to report my dedication to the boss.”

  “Duly noted,” Marcus said with a laugh as he steered his Range Rover down the winding highway that led to Harvest Vineyards Saturday night.

  He’d gone to his house to shower and change, then returned to Brenna’s apartment, insisting on driving her to Harvest when he hadn’t been able to convince her to rest longer. She’d bounced back from her stomach bug quickly, and Ellie was feeling much like her normal self. Brenna’s neighbor was at the apartment now, staying in case Ellie woke while they were gone.

  Sirens sounded in the distance, and Marcus pulled onto the shoulder as the noise got louder and lights flashed behind the SUV.

  “I wonder what’s going on,” Brenna murmured when a fire truck and two police cars raced by.

  Marcus’s brows furrowed as the red and blue lights disappeared around a bend. “Not much out this way other than farms and the vineyard.”

  “You don’t think they were heading to Harvest?” She gripped the side door handle as Marcus accelerated, speeding along the quiet highway.

  He made the turn into Harvest, and Brenna gasped as they made their way up the long gravel drive. In the distance she could clearly see the bright glow of flames through the trees that bordered the vineyard’s main buildings.

  “It’s the tasting room building,” he whispered and she could hear the dread and disbelief in his voice.

  Fear spiked through her, sharp and deep, like a blade driven into her heart. If the fire reached the vines, it would be catastrophic for Harvest.

  “What could have caused it?”

  Marcus shook his head. “I don’t know.” He slammed on the brakes, parking at the edge of the clearing. “Stay here.”

  Before she could respond, he was out of the car and rushing toward the burning building. Brenna lost sight of him for several seconds in the smoke, then let out a sharp cry as bright flames licked the night air.

  She got out of the car, coughing when the wind shifted and smoke filled her lungs. “Marcus!” she screamed, then felt an arm wrap around her waist.

  “He knows what he’s doing,” Jana Stone yelled into Brenna’s ear. “Marcus worked as a volunteer firefighter when he first came to Stonecreek. He can help.”

  Brenna nodded even though she wanted to argue. She didn’t care if he’d been fire chief of the world. The thought of Marcus anywhere near that burning building made her blood run cold.

  Then she looked at Jana, stark fear etched into her delicate features. Brenna hugged the older woman’s shoulders. “They’ll contain it. We’ll rebuild.”

  “Again,” Jana said with a strangled sob.

  It seemed like a lifetime of watching the firefighters battle the blaze, but within an hour the flames subsided.

  Relief poured through Brenna as Marcus, along with Trevor, walked toward them, both of their faces covered with soot and sweat.

  “Did you get a hold of Griffin?” Trevor asked his mother as she broke away from Brenna to hug him.

  “I’ve texted and left messages. He’ll call when he can. Thank heavens no one was hurt.” She glanced toward Marcus. “It’s like déjà vu.”

  Marcus shook his head. “It’s not a total loss. The back corner is in bad shape, but most of the building is still intact.”

  “Someone needs to talk to the fire chief,” Trevor told Jana and Marcus. “It would be best if we were all there.”

  “Give me a minute,” Marcus murmured.

  “Of course,” Jana whispered. Before leaving with Trevor, she reached out a hand to squeeze Marcus’s arm. “Thank you for everything you did tonight.”

  “Of course.” As Jana and Trevor walked away, he turned to Brenna. “Did you call the sitter and tell her we’re delayed? I don’t want her to worry when—”

  Brenna launched herself at him, wrapping her arms tight around his neck as she kissed him. She felt him stumble back a step before he gained his footing. Then he lifted her into his arms. “I’m a mess, Brenna.”

  “My mess,” she whispered, breathing in the smoky scent that clung to him. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

  They held on to each other for several minutes. Brenna couldn’t speak with all the emotions swirling through her.

  Finally, Marcus set her on the ground, taking her hand between his palms. “I’m fine,” he assured her. “You don’t have to worry.”

  “I have every right to worry, stupid man.” She swiped at the tears clinging to her lashes. “I’m in love with you.”

  His strong jaw went slack. “Say that again.”

  She laughed. “You heard me.”

  “Yes, but I want to hear you say it again.”

  “I love you,” she whispered and leaned in to brush her lips over his.

  “Is it possible I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment?” he asked, smoothing a hand over her hair. “I love you, Brenna. I’ve loved you for so long, sweetheart. If I’d known all it would take to win you was running into a burning building, I would have found one months ago.”

  She gently swatted his shoulder. “It’s not the burning building, and no more of that kind of talk. It’s you, Marcus. You’re the strongest, kindest man I’ve ever met and I feel like the luckiest woman on the planet that you chose me.”

  “I’ll choose you a million times over,” he whispered.

  She laced her fingers with his. “Let’s go home,” she told him, knowing that as long as they were together she’d found her place in the world.

  * * *

  Griffin watched the light slanting through the window turn from gray to pink as the next morning dawned.

  Maggie lay snuggled against him, one arm draped over his chest and her knee pressing into his thigh. As conventional as she was in her waking life, Maggie slept like a crazy woman, constantly tossing and turning with limbs flung in every direction. She even talked in her sleep, mumbling bits of incoherent nonsense throughout the night.

  Griffin must have it really bad for this woman because he found even her wild sleeping habits utterly charming. After their first time together yesterday afternoon, they’d made lunch, then played a cutthroat round of Scrabble.

  She’d been horrified when he beat her, claiming that a true gentleman would have let her win. He’d countered that a real man knew she had enough brains to beat him without needing to be given the win. So with a gleam in her eye that was exactly what she’d done two more times.

  Then he’d carried her up to the bedroom and showed her the exact meaning of her winning word, amorous. They’d spent the evening on the back porch, watching the sun set over the lake as they shared a bottle of wine. He’d told her the ideas he had for the vineyard after talking to Marcus.

  Griffin still couldn’t quite believe how much he wanted to be involved in Harvest, especially given his determination never to return after that last fight with his father. He wondered what his dad would think of the man he’d become and knew part of what motivated him to stay in Stonecree
k was that he still had something to prove.

  Too many people remembered the disappointment he’d been to his dad, and he wanted to change that. He wanted to be recognized for how far he’d come in life.

  But it was more than that. He’d always loved the land, and there was something satisfying in marking the passage of time by the seasons of the vines.

  Maggie was also a big factor in his desire to make their town his permanent home. He smiled as she snuffled, then burrowed more closely against him. He’d told her initially that he wasn’t a long-term bet, and she’d still taken him on. Doubt niggled inside his chest, worry that the exact reason she wanted to be with him was because they could have this relationship with no real strings attached.

  Now he wanted strings and complications and everything that went with it. He wanted to show her he was there for the long haul. He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head and gingerly got out of bed so as not to wake her.

  They weren’t expected back in town until tonight, and Griffin was already looking forward to another perfect day with just the two of them.

  With the coffee brewing and a pan of bacon sizzling on the stovetop, he walked out onto the back deck, breathing deeply the sultry air of the late-June morning. If only they could stay this way forever, with no issues of family or work to invade this blissful bubble.

  A fish jumped in the center of the lake, making him smile as he thought about Maggie’s warrior yell from the previous afternoon. She was so different from the broken, humiliated woman he’d found on the sidewalk that first day back.

  He wanted her to always feel as confident as she had in the canoe. The thought that he’d helped her regain her footing filled his chest with a quiet, satisfying pride.

  As if he’d summoned her with his thoughts, Maggie appeared at the back door in a white T-shirt and denim shorts. Griffin took one look at her face and a sick pit opened in his stomach.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “We have to go back now,” she said, pressing a hand to her chest like she couldn’t get a breath.