The Better Brother

by Rye Hart

  After I ordered the food, I lowered myself back down beneath the covers. Julie rolled toward me and buried her face in my chest, her eyes still squeezed tightly closed.

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  “About what?” Julie asked.

  “Your hangover,” I said.

  Julie just laughed and nestled closer to me. She smelled like alcohol and perfume, the perfect scent for the morning after an amazing night.

  “Last night was perfect,” Julie said. “The hangover is just a reminder of that.”

  “Perfect?” I teased.

  “Don’t you think so?” she asked.

  She sat up just enough to look into my eyes. I grinned and pulled her in for a kiss, melting into her soft lips. Even with our heads pounding and our stomachs aching, I still felt that familiar surge of need when her lips danced against mine.

  “It was more than perfect,” I said softly. Julie grinned and laid her head down on my chest.

  I wrapped my arms around her and closed my eyes, letting her presence relax my aching body. The food would arrive soon, but I didn’t care. All I wanted to do was hold Julie and let the rest of the world disappear.

  It had been years since I felt so deeply for a woman. After what happened with my ex, I put relationships on the back burner and focused almost entirely on work. I never saw the point of committing to someone again. Then I met Julie, and everything changed.

  “I really didn’t expect to have fun last night,” Julie admitted with a laugh.

  “What? Why not?”

  Julie shrugged. “It was a company party. Business. I just assumed it would be boring.”

  “Oh, ye of little faith,” I teased.

  “Seriously,” Julie said. “It was amazing. You threw a great party. Everyone had such a great time.”

  “Especially me.” I kissed her forehead. “My clients loved you.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Julie said.

  “I do,” I said. “I’ve never seen half those guys warm up to anyone the way they warmed to you. You even charmed their wives, which is no easy task.”

  Julie shrugged again but didn’t get a chance to respond. There was a loud knock on the door, so I gently pushed Julie off my chest and hopped out of bed. Throwing a robe around me, I hurried over and opened the door.

  “Room service?” the man said.

  “Yes, thank you.” I stood back and let him wheel the cart inside.

  I grabbed my wallet off the table and tipped him, smiling and ushering him quickly back into the hall. Julie was still in bed, hidden under the covers but naked. I didn’t want him to catch a glimpse of something he shouldn’t. She was all mine.

  “Hungry?” I asked, pushing the cart closer to the bed.

  Julie laughed. “Yes and no. I feel like I could throw up.”

  “You need food,” I said. “We both do.”

  Julie nodded and groaned. She sat up just enough that the sheets slid off her breasts. My eyes flew immediately to her bare skin, and I felt my dick twitch. Just one look was enough to remind me of how it felt to be with her last night.

  We had collided like animals the night before, but it was the most intensely intimate experience of my life. When I saw her naked breasts, I couldn’t help but want to relive every moment of the previous night.

  “I thought you wanted to eat,” Julie said, shooting me a sly grin as she grabbed a muffin off the cart.

  “I do,” I said roughly. “Just not breakfast.”

  Julie took a bite of the muffin but kept her eyes locked on mine. My skin felt hot as I climbed back on the bed beside her. We were so close that my heart began to pound in my chest. My hangover was forgotten. All I wanted was Julie.

  “Are you going to kiss me or not?” she asked softly, putting the muffin back down.

  I grinned and moved closer. Our lips were inches apart when my phone rang sharply on the bedside table. I dropped my head to my chest and groaned.

  “Not now,” I mumbled.

  “Work?” Julie asked.

  “Probably.”

  I grabbed the phone and answered it without looking at the caller ID.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, brother.” Josh’s voice filled my ear, and I blinked.

  “Hey,” I said. “I didn’t expect to hear from you today.”

  “I thought we could plan dinner,” Josh said. “You said I could meet this mystery girl sometime soon.”

  As he spoke, memories from the party came flooding back. Josh texting me about meeting my new girlfriend. Julie agreeing to meet him. Me agreeing to the whole thing.

  “Oh,” I said. “Right.”

  “So,” Josh said. “What about tomorrow night? Does that work for you guys?”

  “Um.” I looked at Julie nervously. She was watching me closely, a confused frown on her face. “Do you want to have dinner with my brother tomorrow night?”

  “Sure,” Julie said, looking a little surprised. “It’s fine with me.”

  “She said yes,” I told Josh.

  “Great!” Josh said. “Well, I’ll text you the details.”

  “Sounds good.”

  We said a quick goodbye, and I tossed the phone on the bed. My arousal was gone and in its place was a huge ball of nervous energy. I was sure this dinner was a bad idea, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it now.

  “You okay?” Julie asked.

  “I’m fine,” I said too quickly. “Just still fighting this damn headache.”

  Julie nodded and grabbed her muffin again. She nibbled on it slowly as she stared out of the half-open window. I watched her for a few seconds and realized I wasn’t the only one feeling nervous about dinner.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “I’m a little nervous,” Julie said with a sigh. “Meeting the brother. It’s kind of a big deal.”

  I took her hand and squeezed it. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want,” I told her, trying to keep my voice even. I’m not sure why I even agreed to it to begin with.

  “Are you sure?” Julie asked. Her voice was soft. Shy. I’d never heard her like this before. It was adorable and made my entire body soften.

  “Of course,” I said.

  She considered for a moment and I held my breath.

  “No, I want to,” she finally said.

  I let out a breath. “Everything will be fine,” I told her. “I promise.”

  Julie smiled and nodded. We finished our breakfast and lazily made our way out of bed. We showered and got dressed, ready to head downstairs to check out. The whole time, I tried to get my own nerves under control.

  Despite my assurance that dinner would be great, I didn’t feel confident at all. Josh and I were still trying to build a brotherly relationship. He’d never once met a girl I was seeing. I didn’t know how I was going to handle this complicated situation, but I knew it was time. Dinner was planned. There was no way of getting out of it.

  “You ready?” Julie asked as I pulled my shoes on.

  “Yup.” I smiled and jumped up to grab our things.

  We walked downstairs, holding hands the whole way. We checked out quickly and then made our way outside to where the limo was waiting for us.

  Julie grinned and slid inside. I followed quickly behind her and tossed our things onto the seat.

  “Home?” I asked.

  “Sure.” Julie shrugged. “I should change at least.”

  “I was thinking…” I said slowly. “There’s this big event in the town square tonight. They’re lighting the Christmas tree, and I thought, maybe, you might—”

  “I’d love to.” Julie’s answer was fast and certain.

  By the time we pulled up to her house, I felt like my smile was permanently etched on my face. There was something about being with Julie that overwhelmed me. I wasn’t just happy. I was content in a way I hadn’t been for years. All my worries about dinner melted away as I followed Julie through her front door.

  “What time is th
e tree lighting?” Julie asked.

  “Sunset,” I said. “They always do a big carnival, and the tree lighting is the final event.”

  “You gotta love small towns,” Julie said.

  “Is that why you moved here?” I asked. “You just have a strong love for small towns?”

  Julie laughed. “Not exactly.”

  “No?”

  “No, I never thought I’d live in a small town,” Julie said. “I always pictured myself in a big city. Dallas, where I lived for years, or New York. Somewhere like that.”

  “So, what made you come here?” I asked with a frown.

  “Remember the ex I told you about?” Julie asked.

  I nodded, my stomach tightening uncomfortably.

  “Well,” Julie said. “After he ended things, I just felt like I needed a fresh start. My best friend found this house and told me about it. I wasn’t sure at first, but it just felt like the right thing. So, I moved, and now, here I am.”

  “No complaints here.” I grinned and walked over to her.

  She smiled at me and wrapped her arms around my neck. When we kissed, she melted into me. Her body curved forward as she pressed herself against me. We fell onto the couch, and suddenly, our hangovers were nothing more than a distant memory.

  By the time we were finished, the tree lighting festival had already begun. We got dressed quickly and walked into town.

  The town square was full of people, everyone crowding around the giant tree in the center of the square.

  “It’s starting,” I said.

  I grabbed Julie’s hand and pulled her quickly through the crowd. We pushed our way toward the front.

  “This is a really big deal here, huh?” Julie looked around with surprise. “I didn’t even know this many people lived in town.”

  I grinned. “It’s the biggest party of the year.”

  Julie just smiled and turned her attention to the tree. Seconds later, the whole thing was lit with sparkling Christmas lights. The colors lit up Julie’s face, making her pale blue eyes dance. I grinned and pulled her to me.

  “I like you,” I said simply.

  “Well,” she said. “It would be awkward if you didn’t.”

  “I’m serious,” I said softly. “I really like you.”

  Julie kissed me slowly, sighing and letting her tongue slide over mine. We lost ourselves in the feel of each other, forgetting that people were all around us.

  “I like you too,” she whispered.

  CHAPTER 17

  Julie

  The idea of meeting Michael’s brother had my nerves tied in knots. I spent most of the morning on my couch, sipping my coffee and trying not to overthink things. I couldn’t stop my brain from spinning, so I tried to work. My computer was open to my assignment, and I quickly began typing away. After five minutes, I knew it was useless.

  I grabbed my phone off my desk and moved back to the couch, falling into the cushions as I dialed Andrea’s number.

  “Hey,” Andrea said. “What’s up?”

  “I’m freaking out,” I said bluntly. “Michael invited me to meet his brother tonight. We’re all going to dinner.”

  “Oh, wow,” Andrea said. “That’s kind of…”

  “Fast?” I finished for her.

  “Yes,” Andrea said. “But that’s not why you’re freaking out.”

  I blinked. “It’s not?”

  “No,” Andrea said firmly.

  “Okay, wise one,” I said with a chuckle. “Enlighten me.”

  “You’re freaking out because of Joshua.”

  Andrea’s bold assumption immediately pissed me off. I hated her for even mentioning Joshua’s name. After all, I’d spent a long time getting over him. Now that I was happy with someone else, I didn’t want to think about my ex ever again.

  “This isn’t about Joshua,” I said. I tried to keep the anger out of my voice, but I knew Andrea could sense it.

  “It is, though,” she said. “Think about it. You spent months helping Joshua find his long-lost brother, right? And the, you spent over a year just waiting around to meet him. Joshua never introduced you. He never once let you be involved. I mean, did you even learn his brother’s name?”

  I opened my mouth to answer, but her question brought me up short. When I helped Joshua find his brother, I researched adoption agencies and foster families. I dug around to find the kid who had the right birthday, but I never learned any details. Not one.

  “No,” I said with a sigh. “Joshua didn’t really tell me anything about his brother. Once he found him, my job was done.”

  “Exactly,” Andrea said proudly. “Now, you have this guy who is excited to introduce you to the people he cares about. His clients. His family. You’re obviously important to him.”

  “I think so.” I smiled to myself.

  “You are,” Andrea said with confidence. “Which is why you’re freaking out.”

  I sighed and shook my head. She was right. I spent two years in a relationship with a man who couldn’t be bothered to truly care about me. With Michael, we were already so close after such a short amount of time. I’d fallen for this man completely and, deep down, I knew he felt the same way.

  “You just need to relax,” Andrea said kindly. “Go for a walk. Take a drive. Get some ice cream. Just get out of the house and clear your head. Tonight is going to be great, okay?”

  “You’re right,” I said. “You’re totally right.”

  “I always am.”

  I laughed and said my goodbyes. Andrea and I hung up, and I immediately took her advice. I walked into town and did a few laps around the square. The cold air whipped across my face and brought me back down to reality. By the time I made it back home, I realized I’d been freaking out for nothing.

  “It’s just dinner,” I whispered to myself in the mirror. It was almost time to get ready. “Just dinner.”

  ***

  “You look incredible,” Michael said when I opened my front door. “As always.”

  “Thank you.” I shrugged and stood back to let him inside. “Let me grab my shoes, and I’ll be ready.”

  “Take your time,” Michael said playfully. When I turned back to look at him, he was staring at my ass with a grin on his face.

  “Behave yourself,” I teased.

  “Never.”

  I shook my head and slid my feet into a pair of boots. I was wearing a simple, knee-length sweater dress. The weather was getting colder by the day, so my options were limited.

  “Ready?” I asked, smoothing out my dress and smiling at Michael.

  He just nodded and escorted me outside. We hurried to the car, which Michael already had warmed up for me. I slid inside as he shut my door and ran around the front of the car.

  “You nervous?” he asked on the way to the restaurant.

  “A little,” I said with a shrug. I didn’t want to admit it, but Michael already knew me well enough to see through my façade. “Are you?”

  Michael nodded. “My brother has never met any of the women in my life.”

  “Oh, I feel special,” I said, poking Michael’s arm.

  “You are.”

  “So,” I said. “Is this your adopted brother? You never said.”

  “My biological brother,” Michael said simply. “My adopted parents never had any other kids. Just me.”

  “Oh wow.” My eyes widened. “When did you and your brother meet, then?”

  “A little while ago,” Michael said without looking at me. He was staring intently at the road ahead of us. “I don’t remember exactly.”

  “That’s crazy,” I said under my breath.

  “What?” Michael asked. “What is?”

  “Nothing.” I shook my head. Now wasn’t the time to talk about Joshua.

  We pulled up to the restaurant, and Michael parked quickly. My head was spinning as we walked toward the entrance. Michael slid his hand into mine gently. I smiled at him, but I was still thinking about our conversation.

 
; How weird was it that both Joshua and Michael had biological brothers they didn’t meet until they were adults?

  We stepped inside, and a rush of warm air brushed my face. I shivered slightly at the temperature change. Michael wrapped his arm around my shoulders and kissed my temple. I grinned up at him, all thoughts of Joshua driven from my mind.

  “He’s probably already here,” Michael said. He looked around the dining area. “He’s always early.”

  I imitated Michael, my eyes scanning the room slowly. I didn’t know what his brother looked like, but I felt like I should help.

  As I looked around, my gaze fell on a familiar face in the center of the room. His head had been bent down, examining a menu. When he looked up, my eyes fell on his face, and my stomach clenched painfully. I would recognize that face anywhere.

  “What the hell is he doing here?” I asked out loud.

  Michael jerked and looked at me. Following my gaze, he saw who I was looking at. I stared up at him as an odd expression crossed over his face.

  “Who?” he asked nervously.

  “Right there.” I pointed at Joshua boldly, not caring that he could see me.

  Michael looked from Joshua to me, an unsettled look crossing his face. “Uh, that’s my brother,” she said quietly.

  “You have got to be fucking kidding me?” I asked him, turning to storm out into the parking lot.

  Michael followed close behind me, calling my name.

  “Julie wait,” he called.

  When I pivoted to face him, I saw Josh had followed as well, a dark look of anger on his face.

  “This is the girl you’re seeing?”

  Michael nodded. I just stood there, my tongue frozen to the roof of my mouth, my heart pounding in my ears.

  “Yes,” Michael said.

  “Julie?.” Joshua asked, a slight snap to his voice.

  “ I stood looking between the two brothers. Joshua’s stance was angry and confrontational, while Michael’s was more relaxed. How could he be so calm?

  “So,” Joshua said after a minute. “How did you two meet?”

  There was something in his voice that I didn’t like. It was almost like an accusation. I narrowed my eyes at him but didn’t answer.