by Tara Thomas
“You’ll be safe here.” He shot her a fake smile. “I have to shower, so I’ll see you later.” He walked inside, grumbling under his breath, still irritated that she’d shown up so early, and ran into Kipling and Knox.
“Whoa,” his middle brother said. “Where are you stomping off to?”
“To shower.” From the looks of it, they were both ready for the day. “By the way, I need to speak with you about something. Do you have time to get together later?”
“Sure,” Knox said. “Why don’t you meet me at my office at five? We’ll go have a drink and talk.”
Ordinarily, he’d agree, but not tonight. “Can’t do it tonight. I have a dinner date.”
“You’re not going to be here on my first night back in Charleston?” Elise asked from the doorway. Kipling shot him a look of sympathy, before leaving.
“No, I’m not. I made plans and I’m not cancelling.” He felt like a petulant four-year-old, but he didn’t care. Damned if he was not going to be with Tilly just because Elise had arrived.
“You don’t have to be rude about it; I was only asking a question.” Elise looped her arm through Knox’s. “Besides it’s no big deal. I’ll have dinner with Knox.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to take a raincheck.” Knox looked completely ill at ease. “I have dinner plans as well.”
“You do?” Keaton asked. That was interesting. Knox typically wasn’t one to go out of an evening for business and wasn’t seeing anyone that Keaton knew of.
“It’s business,” Knox quickly added. “Just business.”
Keaton got the impression it was a lot more than business, not that he would question him about it in front of Elise. Nope. Anything having to do with either charities or Knox’s love life would have to wait until later.
“But you were going to meet Keaton,” Elise countered.
“Only for drinks,” Knox reiterated.
“You can always have dinner with Kipling,” Keaton suggested, which was somewhat of an asshole move. It wasn’t fair to pawn her off on his brother.
“That’s okay,” Elise was quick to counter. “I’ll probably turn in early tonight. I’m sure I’ll be tired.” Lifting her head, she pulled her arm away from Knox. “If you gentlemen will excuse me.”
As she disappeared up the stairs, Keaton looked at his older brother. “I know I should probably feel bad, but I really don’t care. I don’t even know what she’s doing here.”
“She’s interning,” he said, his eyes filled with amusement.
“I’m glad this is so funny to you.”
Knox clapped him around the shoulders. “There’s no way you’re going to marry that girl. I forbid it. Let’s just get through the summer, okay?”
“Easy for you to say. You didn’t have your life partner picked out for you in the cradle.”
“Thank the heavens above.”
“Although, come to think of it, it probably should be you. I mean, you aren’t seeing anyone, you might as well marry her.” Keaton shrugged. “Bet it wouldn’t bother you at all.”
“You don’t know everything, little bro.” Knox looked at his watch. “I have to head into the office. Want to talk later this morning? I mean, I assume you aren’t a useful member of society yet?”
“No, but I have an idea and I want your opinion.”
They decided to meet for breakfast at eight. With that settled and Elise out of his hair for the moment, Keaton decided to take a shower and then see if Tilly was awake yet.
It irritated him that Elise had shown up and assumed he had nothing better to do than to hang out with her. Elise felt as if she was entitled to his company. She expected to snap her fingers and he’d do whatever she wanted.
Which was totally at odds with how he remembered her being. How her passiveness came out when it came time to give her opinion on anything that mattered. Then she’d go along with whatever Keaton wanted. It was infuriating as hell.
By anyone’s standards she was stunning. The sundress she’d had on this morning showed off her figure perfectly. Her skin was so pale, he guessed she probably kept the sunblock industry in business single-handedly. He remembered when they were in high school, she always wore her long blond hair in a ponytail. Today, it fell to her shoulders. And her eyes were just as blue as they’d always been.
Yet, even as stunning as she was, she did nothing for him. No, it was a sultry waitress who worked her ass off and refused to take anything from anyone who captured his attention.
* * *
Tilly stretched out in Keaton’s bed, thinking about the night before with a smile. It had been prefect. Keaton had been perfect. And his mouth? Oh yeah, more perfection. But even as perfect as the night had been, the truth about the danger she was in, stood nearby, waiting.
She slipped her hand between her legs as if she could conjure him up with her thoughts. Too bad he went for a jog; she could definitely go for an encore.
“Oh my God,” a familiar voice said. “Who are you and what are you doing in that bed?”
Tilly propped herself up on an elbow and looked toward the doorway that suddenly flew open. Elise stood there with a look of shock on her face and a see-through robe on. Damn, she was a bold one.
“Tilly?” Elise asked. “Tilly Brock?”
“Hello, Elise.”
“You and Keaton?” Her once-upon-a-time best friend asked the question as if it were the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard.
Tilly looked her up and down. “Well, it’s not like I just showed up half naked to see what would happen.”
Elise gasped and her eyes grew icy cold.
“I mean,” Tilly continued, “you couldn’t have been in the house longer than what … half an hour?”
Elise didn’t say anything and turned and left the room, but not before shooting Tilly a look that left her with the impression that the blond hadn’t surrendered yet.
* * *
“Oh my God, Tilly!”
Tilly nearly jumped out of her seat thirty minutes later at breakfast at Elise’s shrill good morning. Apparently, her plan was to pretend the conversation in Keaton’s room never happened. Tilly only regretted she hadn’t told Keaton, but there hadn’t been time. After Elise left, Tilly had taken a shower and when she got out, Keaton was waiting at the top of the stairs to walk her to the dining room for breakfast. His hair was still slightly damp. He’d mentioned he sometimes took a shower after jogging in the pool house.
“Elise,” Tilly said dryly.
Across the table, Keaton glared at his other houseguest. “Damn, Elise. Take it down a few notches.”
Elise sat down beside Tilly. “Tell me everything you’ve done since the last time I saw you.”
Was she serious? “Nothing much, you know. Shower. Get dressed.” She shrugged.
“What?” Keaton asked, as Elise’s fake smile faltered.
“Good morning, everyone,” Kipling said, strolling into the dining room and unfortunately saving Elise. He sat down and poured a cup of coffee. “Keaton, your car will be here in half an hour, and Tilly, your apartment will be cleaned by noon.”
The long-reaching, all-powerful arm of the Benedicts never failed to amaze her. Though before, that power had been used against her family. It was an odd comfort to be on the safe side.
And no matter what Keaton or Kipling said, she was going to pay them back for the cleaning service.
“Thank you,” she said. “I guess I can go back later today.”
Kipling looked to Keaton, who only answered with, “The hell you will.” She tried to say something, but he cut her off. “We don’t know who it was or if they’ll come back. You’re staying here.”
“You can’t force her, you know,” Elise said.
“We aren’t forcing anyone to do anything,” Kipling said. “Keaton, calm down. Tilly, until we have additional information, I think it would be best for you to remain here.”
“I don’t want to be an imposition.” She looked at Elise. “You
already have one houseguest.”
“And Lena is thrilled to have a house full again. Trust me, if you leave now, she’ll mope for days.” Kipling gave her a rare smile. “Don’t break her heart, Tilly.”
He was being overdramatic, which really wasn’t like the Kipling she remembered, but it was a nice change to Keaton’s overprotectiveness. Though, that was nice, too. It felt good to be wanted. She knew Keaton wanted her to stay, but she wasn’t sure she’d have considered it if Kipling didn’t feel the same way.
Keaton pushed back from the table. “I have to meet Knox for breakfast. Walk with me outside, Tilly?”
“Sure.” She’d wondered why he was only drinking coffee.
He waited until they were out of earshot before talking. “I’ll be back in about two hours. Please tell me you’ll still be here when I get back.”
He looked so worried. She pushed his hair back from his face. “I promise. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay here with Elise and Kipling.”
“Just Elise. Kipling’s probably going into the office.”
Ugh. Suddenly she remembered one of the reasons why she wanted to leave. “In that case, I promise nothing,” she teased.
He brought his head down low and whispered in her ear, “If you’re still here when I get back, I promise to make it up to you.”
“Oh? And just how do you plan on doing that?” She shivered as his breath brushed over her skin.
“If you have to know, I was up most of the night, thinking of all the reasons why your staying here is a good idea.” He kissed her neck. “Or rather, I tried to think of all the reasons. To be honest, I never got past you in my bed.”
The rumble deep in his throat may have been the sexiest sound she’d ever heard. “Hold those thoughts and we’ll discuss them in greater detail when I get back.”
“Two hours, right?”
He nodded.
“Don’t suppose there’s anything you can do to keep Elise in her room while you’re gone, is there?”
“Nothing that won’t get me arrested.”
“Don’t even joke. I’ve had enough of police officers to last me for just about forever.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He gave her a quick kiss and then he was off.
She didn’t want to go back into the dining room, but she refused to let Elise get the best of her. So instead of hiding out in Keaton’s room, she squared her shoulders and went to face the woman who used to be her best friend.
It was quiet when she returned to the dining room, but then she remembered Keaton saying that Kipling was Elise’s least favorite brother. Unfortunately, Kipling appeared to finishing up his breakfast and she knew he’d soon be on his way to the office. Her fear was confirmed when he stood and left right as she sat down.
Elise, strangely, didn’t say a word until he’d pulled out of the driveway and when she turned to face Tilly, gone was the debutante and in her place was a calculating shrew.
“How long have you been fucking Keaton?” Elise asked.
Even though Tilly had half expected the change in demeanor, it still came as a shock. That was the only explanation she could come up with as to why she actually answered the question.
“Ages,” she lied, just to see the look on Elise’s face.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care.” Tilly ate a bite of egg. She wondered when Elise started her internship and hoped it was soon.
“I can’t say that I blame you for not wanting to stay here,” Elise said, changing the subject. “I certainly wouldn’t want to hang out with people who were only putting up with me out of respect for my mother.”
“What?” Tilly asked even though she knew that was exactly what Elise wanted.
“Everyone loved your mother, Tilly. Mama Ann was the sweetest and dearest woman anyone ever met. But your dad was a rat. You know he was running around on your mom.”
Tilly couldn’t believe the lies spewing from Elise’s mouth. How was it lightning hadn’t struck her dead yet? “He did not.” It was paltry, but they were the only words she could manage to get out at the moment.
“Please. Grow up. Everyone knew about it. Why do you think you and Mama Ann spent so much time over here?” Elise asked.
Because before the scandal that ruined her family, her mother and Keaton’s mother had been best friends. They were always doing things together. Shopping, volunteering, hosting parties.
“Oh my God,” Elise said. “You really didn’t know?”
She sounded surprised, but Tilly had a feeling she’d been planning what to say since the second she heard Tilly would be hanging around.
“Of course I don’t know, because it’s completely made up.” It had to be, her father had been one of the kindest men she’d even known. And he’d adored his wife.
Elise stood with a look of pity that made Tilly’s stomach turn. She had to be lying. She had to be.
“I guess for some people, reality is just too hard to live with. That’s okay, you can live in your make-believe land.” Elise stood up and smoothed her skirt down. “I’m going to go shopping. Alone.”
Tilly tried not to snort as her ex–best friend walked away. Did Elise actually think that Tilly was going to ask if she could go? Seriously?
“And another thing.”
Tilly hated Elise’s voice. The very sound of it made her blood boil.
“You may have Keaton in your make-believe land,” Elise said from the doorway, and there was no hiding the satisfaction she obviously felt. “But here in reality, he’s mine. You’d do well to remember that.”
Tilly bit her tongue so she wouldn’t spout out the Now who’s living in make-believe land line she wanted to say so badly. No, she would sit right here and not move. She would not let that meddlesome bitch know how much her words hurt her.
* * *
“Come on in, Keaton,” Knox said. “Just let me grab my jacket and we’ll go get some breakfast.”
Knox gave a friendly “hello” and “how are you” to the two admins already at their desks. Both ladies looked up at him and smiled.
“Can I bring either one of you something back to eat?” Knox asked. “Barbara? Joy?”
Barbara was in her late fifties and had been working for Benedict Industries for as long as Keaton could remember. “Nothing for me. You boys go have a nice breakfast.”
Joy, however, was only a few years older than Knox. “You know if I even look at bakery food, I gain ten pounds.”
They both thanked him and told Keaton to stop by again soon. Keaton noticed that Joy’s eyes followed Knox out.
“I think Joy likes you,” Keaton said when the door closed behind them.
Knox rolled his eyes. “I don’t get involved with our employees.”
“I wasn’t suggesting that. It was a simple statement.”
As they walked to their favorite breakfast spot, Keaton counted no less than five women who said hello to Knox in passing. All that attention and, to Knox, it was no big deal. Keaton shook his head. A few weeks ago, it might have bothered him, but now? The only woman he had eyes for was Tilly. The only woman … Knox not paying attention …
“Damn.” Keaton stopped. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.”
“See what?” Knox asked, pulling him out of the middle of the sidewalk.
“Who is she and why haven’t you introduced her to the family?”
Keaton didn’t know it was possible for his brother to look that deathly pale and not pass out. For all that he might try to deny it, Keaton knew he’d guessed right.
Knox had a girlfriend.
A secret one.
Keaton smiled and started walking again. “That’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. Obviously, you’re keeping it a secret for some reason.”
Nope. He didn’t have to know who she was or why they didn’t tell anyone about their relationship. Not yet anyway. For now, it was enough to know she existed. And if Knox felt for her anything like what
Keaton felt for Tilly? He was glad his saintly older brother had found someone.
Knox didn’t say anything, but soon caught up to him. Keaton refrained from glancing his way and it wasn’t until they made it to the restaurant that Knox spoke.
“It’s not for the reason you think,” he said. “It’s … well … we’re complicated.”
Knox looked troubled. Because he didn’t like keeping his relationship hidden or because Keaton had figured it out?
“I don’t think anything,” Keaton said. “It’s not my business. Just don’t go getting married without telling me, okay?”
This time, Knox turned positively green. Keaton punched his older brother on the shoulder. “You need to loosen up some. Seriously, you’ll tell us when you’re ready.”
They stood at the counter to order. Even though it was early, the place was packed. Knox ordered his usual: a breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs mixed with sausage and cheese and topped with bacon. Keaton didn’t think that was best choice, seeing how green he looked moments before, but Knox was an adult.
Keaton took his order of French toast and slid into the booth across from Knox. His brother’s color looked better. Apparently, the greasy sandwich didn’t make his stomach worse.
“What did you want to talk with me about?” Knox asked.
“It’s an idea I had for Benedict Industries,” he said.
“You have an idea for the business?” Knox leaned back in his seat. “That will make Kip very happy.”
“Yeah, he’s been on my ass about working for the company.”
“He means well. Just doesn’t always come across that way.” Knox sipped his coffee. “But tell me about this idea you have.”
“It struck me during my summers overseas.”
“The ones in India with the water project?”
Knox would know about his not-so-public summers just as Keaton knew about his middle sibling’s own summers overseas. Except Knox spent his time learning about computer hacking as a military consultant in Afghanistan.
“Yes. It occurred to me that I’m in a position—well, we are in a position—to give back. In a way that few people are because of how successful the businesses have been.”
