As the class filed out of the lecture hall I graded papers in earnest. I had to if I was going to get them done by Monday. Grading was easy—reference the rubric and take points off for any requirement not met—but wading through the sludge that peopled handed in wasn’t so easy. I was pleasantly surprised when the first essay I read didn’t just meet all the requirements but was well written, too. I glanced at the name...
Nick Mercer.
That little cheat! No way did he write this.
Of course, I couldn’t prove it. But it was leaps and bounds better than the garbage he’d been turning in, so what was I supposed to think?
I slapped an A on the paper, went on to the next and tried to shove both Mercer brothers out of my head.
Chapter Four
Nick
“Hey, I’ll catch up with you later, okay?” I said to Noah as I headed toward the T.A.’s desk. Correction, not just any T.A. but the most beautiful teaching assistant, hell the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
“Sure thing, I’ll save your seat in Keller’s class.”
I nodded and took a second to gather my wits. Jeannie had a way of making me feel like a stuttering idiot. She’d glare at me in study group, gorgeous golden eyes blazing with life and fire and I’d go all mush-mouthed. It was hard to think around her.
I’d been pining over Jeannie Kingston since the beginning of the semester. The first moment I saw her I knew I’d had to talk to her. But with my parents taking up the bulk of my energy those first few weeks of class, and then the funeral and all those arrangements, it never felt right. Today was the last end to tie up as far as my parents’ estate was concerned. Couple that with being able to focus on my schoolwork enough to finally turn in a half decent paper, and I felt like I could finally talk to her.
Where Noah was broody and bitter about our admittedly tragic situation, I preferred to move forward. I’d like to think our parents would have wanted it that way.
Head bowed at her desk as she flipped through an essay, she didn’t look up when I cleared my throat. “I don’t mean to bother you but I wanted you to know my brother and I are very sorry we were consistently late to this class. It won’t be happening anymore.”
Her shoulders sank at the sound of my voice. Hm. That wasn’t good.
She looked up, glancing at my jaw. “Nick?”
I nodded, stroking the stubble I maintained. It was the easiest way for people who didn’t know us to tell me and my brother apart.
She crossed her arms, leveling a scorching look at me. I fought not to take a step back. Seemed a little extreme for being late. Even perpetually late.
“I just got done with your essay,” she said, pausing as if waiting for a confession.
“Okay?”
She lifted an eyebrow at me.
“Um, is there a problem with it?” I asked. “I worked hard on it. Knowing how strict you and Webb are, I gave it my full attention.”
Her expression softened, arms uncrossing slowly and brows settling into their neutral position. “It’s a lot better than the crap you’ve turned in before.”
“Thanks?” I ran a hand through my hair, not sure if she was complimenting me or angry at me.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Mercer?” Her words were cool, icy even but her eyes were filled with golden fire.
Goddamn, this woman was a beautiful box of contradictions.
I stepped forward, closing the distance between us as much as possible with a desk in the way, and before I knew it the words were out. “Have dinner with me, “ I said, surprising the hell out of myself.
Where had that come from? I’d wanted to talk to her. Hell, I wanted to see if I could talk to her.
Even more surprising was the flush appearing at her neckline, blooming up her throat and across her chest. I couldn’t help but smile as her lashes fluttered, hiding her downcast eyes.
She was flattered.
Well, she might be embarrassed but I was hoping for the former.
Her silence hung in the air, squelching my new found confidence along with any hope of hearing a yes come from her perfectly heart-shaped pout.
She took a breath, smoothed her hands down her pant legs and looked up at me with wildfire in her eyes. “You’re on.” She leaned forward giving me a clear view down her shirt to the wonderfully rounded tops of her breasts. “But I get to pick,” she said.
I grinned at her, unable to contain it. “Anywhere,” I said, voice low and gravely. Hell, I’d buy her a restaurant if she asked. Not that she would. Jeannie wasn’t the type.
“Great,” she said, smiling with her eyes. “Meet me in front of the building at seven.”
“Deal,” I said and got out of there before she changed her mind or I turned into mush-mouth again.
I’m not sure how I got to Keller’s class, I remember none of the walk over there—a side effect of Jeannie Kingston. That woman was magic. I’d never been so enthralled by anyone before, and there’d been plenty. Grandma warned us both from very early on that we’d have to beat the ladies off with a stick and it was true. Neither of us wanted for female companionship, ever.
But Grandma also taught us never to use our good genes for “evil” as she called it. She’d taught us how to treat a lady and neither of us had turned into man-whores like some of our peers with money and nice bone structure had.
All that aside, Jeannie was a puzzle who, despite my experience, I couldn’t figure out. And that fascinated me.
“What’s wrong with you?” Noah asked as I sat down next to him.
“Huh? Nothing,” I said, taking out my notes.
“You look weird.” He eyed my profile as I avoided eye contact.
“Well, if I do you do.”
That shut him up. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t want to share the news with my twin. Normally he’d be the first and person I’d tell. This felt different and I couldn’t put my finger on why.
Chapter Five
Jeannie
I fanned myself, trying to dissipate the flush burning under my skin. Fortunately, Webb was occupied with notes for the next lecture and didn’t notice the exchange between his T.A. and his student.
I made a mental note to check the school website for any policies forbidding fraternization. I didn’t think it was an issue. Technically we were both students but I still wanted to be extra safe.
The stack of essays beckoned as the next class filed into the lecture hall. I sighed and worked my way through the pile. I’d gotten about ten deep when my concentration wavered. Just a moment’s lapse and Nick slipped into my mind like he’d always been there. Once he was in, it was very hard to get him out. Like a movie I couldn’t stop watching I saw him hovering over my desk all quiet and sexy as he asked me to dinner, the grin that lit up his face when I agreed and the slight clench in his jaw as he peeked at my chest. The images tumbled through my head non-stop.
I picked up an essay and fanned myself with it.
I chewed on my lip, pondering exactly who Nick Mercer really was. I’d certainly misjudged him and I was very interested in finding out exactly how wrong I’d been. And if my initial impression was right, and he was precisely the person I assumed, I’d still have my fun. Even if he was only half of the equation I wanted.
And that was the problem. I’d never been in this situation before—wanting two men strictly for sex—and I had no clue how to go about getting them. In the books, it always worked one of two ways. Either both heroes already knew they liked to share and tempted the heroine into the idea. They wooed her as a team using whichever skill they had at their disposal. One would use words, telling her every perfect thing she’d ever wanted to hear while the other would use touch to convince her that however good his caress was now it could be doubly so.
Or the heroes were rivals competing for her in a show of alpha male bravado. They’d fight over her and eventually come to the conclusion that the only sensible thing was to share. I didn’t like those as much because what self-r
especting alpha hero would ever agree to sharing his heroine? They were still hot though.
In any case, neither were remotely close to my situation, and I wasn’t sure how to go about fixing that.
The rest of the day slogged by. Every bit of self-control I had was aimed at keeping my mind on those damned papers. By lunch, I’d gotten half done. I worked straight through, nibbling at my sandwich when I remembered to, and by the time the last class took their seats, I was almost done. Unfortunately, the last class was one I couldn’t just sit in the corner and grade papers in, not today at least. Today, I was leading an in-class study group for the people who’d fallen behind.
Webb was the only professor I knew who gave his students every chance to succeed. I asked him about it once, why he didn’t do weed-outs the way everyone else did them. He told me, “Jeannie, econ is hard enough on its own. I don’t need to be a dick about it, too.”
I packed up the essays to take home over the weekend and headed to the back of the lecture hall with my gaggle of mopey undergrads. Study group was better at keeping my head out of fantasy land but that meant I’d have to grade the rest of the papers at home, something I really hated doing.
It was the longest ninety minutes of my life. When class was finally over, I was the first one running out of the lecture hall.
“See ya Monday, Webb,” I called over my shoulder as I grabbed my coat and scarf.
“Bye Jeannie. Have fun,” he said with a tone that made me wonder if he had noticed me and Nick.
I flew through the building, excitement propelling me through the crowd with preternatural ease as I shrugged on my outerwear. I only had a few hours to get uptown, get ready and get back to campus to meet Nick. I bobbed and weaved around students and faculty before running straight into the chest of the other Mercer twin.
“Ooomph,” I said, colliding into the solid mass of his undoubtedly perfectly etched muscle. I would have fallen right on my ass if Noah hadn’t caught me by the arms and steadied me.
“Just who I wanted to see,” he said smoothly as if I hadn’t just run full force into him. His hands lingered on my arms longer than necessary, sliding down and brushing the back of my hands as he smirked at me.
A chill crept up my spine at his lingering touch. But as much as I wanted to stand there locked by his gorgeous gaze and let him keep touching me, I had to get moving. I had a date with his brother after all. “I’m kind of in a hurry, Noah.”
He smiled down at me, green eyes sparkling. “I can see that. Why don’t I walk with you?” And before I knew it Noah had taken the bag off my shoulder, slung it over his own and was guiding me through the building with a light touch at the small of my back. “I know that my brother and I haven’t made the greatest impression on you so far. I’d like the opportunity to rectify that.” He opened the door for me and we stood there looking at each other as the crowd filtered around us and the November wind whipped my curls around.
His silky tone and carefully chosen words told me everything I needed to know. I played it coy. “What did you have in mind, Noah?” I asked.
“Drinks. Later this evening.”
Motherfucker.
Why did every genie in every story grant wishes in the most twisted and inconvenient way possible? Wish for health for the rest of your life? You got it, but you’re dropping dead in an hour. Want a couple a million? Here ya go, but it’s all in doubloons—good luck spending it. Wish for a menage with twins? Sure thing, but first you have to figure out how to get them on board and they’re gonna ask you out separately.
My genie was fired.
“I’m already booked tonight,” I said keeping a light tone. “But I’m free tomorrow. How’s that sound?” I asked the cockier albeit very smooth Mercer brother.
“You’re on,” he said. “Meet me at West 3rd at seven.”
“Eh, gastropubs aren’t really my thing. How about Josie’s instead?”
He smiled. “Josie’s it is. I’ll see you tomorrow, Jeannie.”
And with that Noah Mercer got into the waiting black sedan and drove off.
“Shit,” I mumbled and wondered if the other Mercer was in the car too. Had Nick just watched me make a date with his brother?
Chapter Six
Nick
“What was that all about?” I asked as we headed uptown.
“What was what about?” Noah asked with a smile that told me he knew exactly what I was asking.
“You chatting up Jeannie,” I said simply.
“I asked her out,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.
I sank into the leather of the seat, body suddenly heavy and insides rumbling their dissent at Noah’s news. I didn’t think about what that meant for any chance I had with her. I didn’t think about how it was odd she’d agreed to go out with both of us. I couldn’t think about those things because the only thing I was focused on was how happy Noah looked. I hadn’t seen him look so happy in, hell, I don’t know how long it had been. Before the accident, I’d guess.
I cleared my throat. “I—uh I didn’t know you were interested in her.”
Noah snorted. “She’s the real deal, Nicky. Can you blame me?”
“No. No, I can’t, Noah.” I sighed and looked out the window as we stopped dead in mid-town traffic. I didn’t expect my brother to bounce back so quickly. Well, quickly wasn’t exactly accurate. Our parents died almost two months ago. After the funeral it had taken weeks for all the paperwork to get filed and attorneys to get things situated regarding their will. So, even though they were gone we’d been dealing with a lot of meetings and details that, at least for me, had kept the pain fresh. This morning finally closed the door on that horrific chapter of our lives and I was ready to move on. But, I fully expected Noah to brood about it for a while.
I expected even less that we’d both want to “move on”, so-to-speak, with Jeannie. I looked at my brother as he scrolled through his phone, seemingly without a care in the world, and noticed how much different he seemed. It was like a weight had been lifted from him. I sighed again.
“What’s your deal?” he asked, looking up from his phone.
“What do you mean?” I mirrored his tone from just a few moments ago.
“You keep sighing over there like someone just ran over your puppy.”
“Nothing,” I said, trying not to sigh yet again. “I hope you and Jeannie have a great time.”
I pulled out my phone. I wouldn’t compete for her attention. I wouldn’t compete with Noah for anything. I’d step aside and I’d never tell him. I scrolled through my contacts to cancel the date, realizing with a heavy, sickening feeling that I didn’t have Jeannie’s number. I only had her university email. Aside from the fact that the school had access to all email addresses under their domain and anyone had the potential to read my “Sorry, I have to cancel” message, I wasn’t the kind of guy who would cancel on someone via email. It was too far removed, and I didn’t want Jeannie to think I was brushing her off.
But without her number, I didn’t have a lot of options. I’d never stand her or any woman up. That shit was inexcusable. No matter how much self-confidence a person had, getting stood up always hurt in the worst kind of way. I refused to do it. Which left me with one option. Meet her, have a good time but not let it go any further than that.
I could do that. Right?
Chapter Seven
Jeannie
I watched the sedan drive at least one Mercer away. I could have a town car pick me up every day too but the subway was faster. I walked the half a block to my station, scanned my metro card and hopped on the waiting and slightly smelly subway car.
Two dates, two nights, two brothers. What the hell was I doing?
I thought about canceling on both of them about a dozen times in the time it took me to get from NYU to my parent’s brownstone uptown. But without either of the Mercers’ numbers, I was kind of stuck. I wasn’t technically doing anything wrong—I’d checked the university website so I was good the
re and one date did not an obligation make. I was allowed to see more than one guy at a time. I know, I know. They were brothers and that complicated the reasoning. The logic was flawed but it kept me from chickening out and not showing up altogether.
I wanted both of them and I’d been too scared to go after what I really wanted far too many times.
Thanksgiving for Three: An MFM Romance (Holiday Studs Book 2) Page 2
