Bring On the Heat

by Eden Bradley

  “What the fuck, Keegan. I told you not to go. How bad is it? Did you make her cry? I’m gonna bust your head open, you stupid—”

  “I fucked her. Alright? I fucked her in a goddamn closet. I couldn’t keep my damn hands off her.”

  The other end of the phone went deadly silent.

  Erik was beyond pissed. Which proved, without Erik ever saying a word, that he wanted Jules just as much as Keegan did.

  “I’ll fix it. I don’t know how but I’ll—”

  “Did you hurt her?”

  “What? You know I’d never fucking hurt her.”

  Not physically. Not ever. But he’d probably done a number on her emotionally.

  “Shit.” Erik’s voice held a definite sneer. “I know that, asswipe. I know you’d never hit her. But you did hurt her, didn’t you?”

  “She was already hurt. We didn’t call her. We should’ve fucking called her.”

  Another pause. “I know. Okay, I know. God damn it.”

  Something clattered in the background on Erik’s end and Keegan figured something metallic had just gone flying in the lab. Hopefully it wasn’t anything important.

  They both went silent then.

  “Call her,” Keegan said. “Call her and ask her to come to the house. I’ll follow her over. You talk to her then I’ll throw myself on her mercy.”

  “Yeah, like she’s gonna want to talk to me.”

  “Erik, we’ve got to do something. This situation is getting fucked beyond imagination. We gotta fix it.”

  Another silence but this time, Keegan knew Erik was thinking.

  “Fine. I’ll call you back.”

  Keegan hung up and settled back in the seat to wait.

  ~ * ~

  “Hey, did something happen out there? You look flushed. Are you feeling okay?”

  Jules pulled a smile for Lori, who frowned at her as she began cleaning up the kitchen.

  “My stomach’s a little unsettled. I’m not needed on the floor anymore so I figured I’d help us get out of here faster.”

  And keep away from Keegan.

  “Alright.” Lori didn’t look convinced but she headed back out the door. “Just make sure you go home and get some sleep. You’re starting to look pretty sick.”

  She did feel sick but not because she was coming down with something. Unless stupidity was in the same league as the flu.

  She must have lost her mind. That was her only excuse for what she’d just done with Keegan.

  The slight ache in her bare pussy, because Keegan still had her panties. The shaky muscles in her thighs…

  Stupid.

  But, oh my God.

  She nearly dropped the trays she was stacking just thinking about Keegan and that little alcove.

  Anyone could’ve walked in. Anyone could’ve seen them. And the gossip would start again.

  That bastard she’d met at an event three years ago, who’d seemed so decent, had turned out to be a complete asshole. A married asshole.

  But she’d been the one to take all the shit for his failed marriage. How the hell anyone had ever found out she’d been the foolish nineteen-year-old who’d believed his bullshit about having just gotten out of a horrid marriage and how he thought they’d clicked, she’d never really found out.

  But someone had and his wife had gotten hold of her phone number and raged at her for days. Vile texts and horrible voice messages. She’d had to get her phone number changed.

  That incident had almost, almost, made her swear off guys for good. But she knew she couldn’t let one dickhead ruin her for the rest of her life. She enjoyed guys. She enjoyed sex. She didn’t have a lot of hang-ups about it. If she liked a guy…if he treated her well and she wanted him…why the hell shouldn’t she enjoy herself?

  She’d more than enjoyed herself with Keegan and Erik.

  And that was the problem, wasn’t it?

  She’d thought there’d been some connection between them, something that went deeper than just the money and the lust.

  Damn it, she’d wanted them to call.

  “Hey, you really don’t look good. Why don’t you take off for the night? We can manage without you.”

  Jules looked up to find Carol, standing by her side. She and Carol had struck up a friendship from the moment Jules had interviewed for this job with the catering company when she was seventeen. Carol was several years older but they’d recognized a kindred spirit in each other.

  Which meant Carol knew her better than a lot of people, her mother included.

  When she didn’t answer right away, Carol frowned at her then pulled her out of the kitchen and into the room just behind it, where they kept the dishwashing machines. “What the hell happened? Spill it.”

  Leaning back against the stainless steel counter along the wall, she took a deep breath. “Keegan was here.”

  Carol nodded, not looking surprised. “And…”

  Jules took another breath. “And things got a little out of hand.”

  “What?” Carol’s blue eyes widened. “Did he—”

  “No. Wait.” Jules held up one hand. “Nothing like that. God, this is coming out all wrong.”

  Carol crossed her arms over her ample chest. “Then just tell me exactly what happened.”

  Sighing, Jules shook her head, trying to put things in order. “I needed some space. I headed for that little alcove down the hall before the bathroom. He followed me. We had sex. He left.”

  Carol’s mouth opened but nothing emerged for a good ten seconds. “That… That… Keegan? Really?”

  Grimacing, Jules sighed then let her head fall back as her eyes closed. “Shit. That’s exactly what happened and not at all what happened. I’m being such a bitch.”

  “No. No, you’re not. This whole situation—”

  “Is becoming a clusterfuck of the highest proportions. I know that. And they’re not totally to blame. I agreed, Carol. I took the money and I screwed them and I had a damn good time doing it. I just need to realize that that’s all it was to them. A good time and a charitable donation. Christ, they can probably write it off on their tax return next year.”

  “Jesus.” Carol lifted a hand to rub her forehead then pushed her hands through her shoulder-length blond hair. “They managed to fuck this up royally, didn’t they?”

  “No, I’m the one who fucked it up. I...let myself think there could be more to whatever it was we did.”

  “Oh, now wait just a minute. They never told you why they asked you to come to the house that night, did they?”

  “They said they saw me at their company’s reception. They wanted me. They found my weak spot and exploited it. My mom’s debt.”

  Carol grimaced. “Damn them. Yes, I know that’s exactly what it seems like, but they’re not that cold. You’ve seen Erik but I’m not sure you know how really screwed up he was after the fire.”

  “You mean how screwed up he still is.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s exactly what I mean. The guy was gorgeous before the accident. I mean, we’re talking male-model perfection. He was used to getting whoever he wanted, whenever he wanted. And Keegan isn’t too hard on the eyes either. Together, they were irresistible.”

  Carol paused and Jules found herself holding her breath, wanting more, needing to hear more.

  “And then the explosion changed everything.” Carol shook her head, sighed. “Erik withdrew from the world and it drove Keegan crazy. Keegan loves the guy like a brother. I know some people think he’s got a thing for Erik, a sexual thing but I’m not one of them.”

  “How do you know them so well?”

  “I was one of the first people they met when they moved here for the business. My sister…she’s a real estate agent. She helped them find the property. She fixed me up with Erik.”

  Jealousy pricked at Jules. She wanted to tear at beautiful Carol’s perfect hair like a raving bitch.

  Which Carol must have been able to see because she held out one hand, her expression turning
rueful. “Trust me, I was willing, but Erik wasn’t interested. And Keegan was never my type. But the guys are dedicated to working with local businesses and they hired me to handle their events. Our friendship just happened. They really are great guys. But then the accident turned Erik into this lifeless, bitter shell. It was like…watching cut flowers die. Does that make any sense?”

  Jules nodded, completely understanding. “But why me?”

  “Chemistry? Fate? Hormones?” Carol shrugged. “Who knows? But for the first time in two years, Erik wanted someone more than he wanted to hide.”

  “But he wasn’t going to come out of the shadows. If I hadn’t figured out he was there, he would’ve hung back and watched me and Keegan. And that’s all.”

  “Do you really think you ever would’ve known Erik was there if he didn’t want you to?”

  Okay, Carol had a point. If Erik had only wanted to watch, he never would’ve stepped out of the shadows. She didn’t know him well. Hell, she barely knew him at all. But she’d learned enough about him that night to know Carol was right.

  “Then what the hell happened with Keegan tonight?”

  Carol shook her head. “No idea. I only know that it’s totally out of character for him. Keegan’s a sweet guy and I don’t mean that in a bad way. He and Erik run the business together but Erik had been the public face until the accident. After that, Keegan was forced into the role. It’s not one he likes. I think he got used to Erik handling all the messy stuff. Keegan’s good at smoothing, at tying up the loose ends. They’re both brilliant engineers and, when they work together in the lab, it’s like they read each other’s mind. But they’re two very different men otherwise.”

  It wasn’t only engineering where they seemed to read each other’s mind. When they’d fucked her together, it’d been like nothing she’d ever experienced. The way they worked together…

  “Didn’t Keegan say anything at all tonight?” Carol prompted.

  “He wanted to talk but I couldn’t keep my hands off him. And afterward, I was too freaked out. God, what an absolute mess.”

  “So call him. Let him talk.”

  Jules couldn’t stop shaking her head. “Maybe I should just cut my losses and run.”

  She looked up at Carol for any hint that she agreed but her friend just stared at her.

  “If that’s what you think you should do.” Carol raised her eyebrows. “But you know that’s not what you want.”

  No, it wasn’t. Jules was starting to work up a good mad. At herself. At Keegan for waylaying her. At Erik for not calling.

  “Hey, Jules.” Lori stuck her head into the room and held out Jules’ cell. “This has been ringing for the past few minutes. You left it on the table. Thought it might be important.”

  Jules took the phone and gave Lori a weak smile. “Thanks. I better check to make sure it’s not my mom.”

  “No problem. Hey, Carol, that bitchy blonde is looking for you to settle up. Jon’s been deflecting her but he’s getting to the end of his rope with her. Sorry.”

  “Go on.” Jules waved her friend to the door. “I’m fine. Sorry I laid all this shit on your doorstep.”

  “Well, technically I brought it to your doorstep first so I feel kind of responsible. Just think about what I said, okay?” Then Carol rolled her eyes and straightened her shoulders. “Off to be the boss. Not as much fun as you might think.”

  Carol left but Jules knew her friend loved owning her own business, even with all the headaches. It’s what Jules had always wanted and the money Keegan and Erik had given her might actually make that dream come true one day.

  She wanted to bang her head against the wall. Her thoughts just kept going in circles.

  Checking her call record, she realized she didn’t recognize the number but whoever it was had called four times. Someone wanted to reach her badly.

  She hit redial. The phone rang once before being picked up.

  “Jules.”

  Erik. She’d recognize that voice anywhere. It had that distinctive rasp, the one that sent a shudder through her body. It held the same power as Keegan’s accent.

  “Yes.” She wracked her brain for something else to say and came up blank. First Keegan, now Erik.

  “How are you? Are you okay?”

  No, she really wasn’t but she wasn’t going to admit that. “I’m fine. Why are you calling?”

  Okay, that had sounded steady. So far, so good.

  “Can you come to the house? I’d like to talk.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we should’ve done this the day after.”

  “Are you talking about the day after you and Keegan paid me or the day after we actually had sex?”

  Okay, maybe not so steady.

  “Yes.”

  She waited for him to say more, to say anything. He left that hang there.

  The silence grew uncomfortable after several seconds and finally she couldn’t stand it anymore. “Fine. Will it just be you or will Keegan be there too?”

  “Do you want Keegan here?”

  “He told you what happened tonight, didn’t he?”

  Erik paused. “We can talk when you get here.”

  Damn him, he wouldn’t rise to her bait, to the slight sneer in her tone. Fine. “I can be there in half an hour.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  ~ * ~

  THREE

  “She’s on her way.”

  “Good. Apologize for me. Tell her I was a total dick.”

  “You can tell her yourself. Get your ass over here.”

  Through the phone, Erik heard Keegan blow out a breath. “No. She won’t want to see me. And I already started on the tequila.”

  Fuck. When Keegan drank tequila, it was bad.

  “Keegan—”

  “No. You can handle this one. I’m fucking sick of handling shit. I’ve done enough damage for the day.”

  “Shut the fuck up and get over yourself. If you really did fuck up so badly, then you need to be the one to beg her forgiveness. Don’t be even more of a dick.”

  Keegan fell silent and Erik wondered if he’d pushed his friend too far. When Keegan was depressed, the guy could stay silent for days. Like, not talk at all. It made Erik want to yell in his face just to snap him out of it.

  Finally he heard Keegan sigh. “Too late.”

  The call went dead.

  Sonofabitch.

  Erik wanted to throw the phone against the wall but managed to rein himself in. Barely. He had half a mind to drive over to Keegan’s house and drag him back before Jules arrived.

  Since Keegan only lived about a mile away, that wouldn’t be a problem. It’d take Jules at least half an hour to get here. If she even showed up.

  Damn it. What the hell was he supposed to say to her?

  Keegan usually handled this stuff, the messy stuff with women. Erik had been the one to make first contact but Keegan had been the one to smooth everything over when Erik was a dick and blew them off after a couple of days.

  Christ, he really had been an ass. He’d learned his lesson when the one girl he’d really liked had blown him off. Desiree. Beautiful girl. He’d actually thought about asking her to marry him senior year at Princeton. But she’d turned around and dumped his ass.

  He’d drowned his sorrows for an entire weekend. Keegan had been the one to pull him out.

  He didn’t want to fuck this up. He wanted to get to know Jules. She drew him in, like no one ever had before.

  Pacing the hallway, he was glad he’d told Jane and Bill Carlson to leave early today. He’d employed Jane to take care of the housekeeping and cooking and her father, Bill, was damn handy with a wrench and a hammer. And this old house needed a lot of work.

  He’d planned to do the renovations himself, had chosen the house because he loved a challenge. And this house was definitely that. He’d seen the potential right away. Keegan had laughingly called it a money pit and bought property down the road where he’d built a brand-new,
modern home. Green all the way, from the cork floors to the solar panels on the roof.

  How the hell he and Keegan worked so well together was still a mystery to some people. Erik knew their differences filled in the gaps in each other. Which is why Keegan needed to be here to help him fix this.

  Too late.

  He heard her car pull up out front. He knew it was hers because he recognized the engine noise. That deathtrap she drove should be condemned. Hell, they’d given her more than enough money to get a new car in addition to paying off her and her mother’s bills.

  Probably shouldn’t bring that up.

  Yeah, the money was going to fuck up everything, wasn’t it?

  Didn’t it always?

  He didn’t hear the bell ring as he walked to the door but he hadn’t heard the car drive away either. Which meant she was probably still in it. Talking herself out of seeing him.

  He couldn’t let her do that.

  His pace quickened and, by the time he got to the front of the house, he was running. Throwing open the door, he stepped onto the porch and nearly knocked her off her feet.

  “Whoa. Sorry.”

  He reached for her, grabbing her shoulders so she didn’t go tumbling back off the porch. She reached for him at the same time, her hands landing on his abdomen.

  They ended up closer than he’d expected to get to her tonight.

  And just where he wanted her. Plastered up against him.

  She stared up at him, her dark eyes wide, rimmed with red.

  Had she been crying?

  Shit.

  “Are you okay?”

  He forced the words from his dry throat as he slid his hands from her shoulders to her hips, pulling her even closer.

  “Yes. I’m fine.” She tried to take a step back but he wasn’t about to release her. Not yet. Maybe not at all tonight. At least, not until she heard him out. “You can let go now.”

  He ignored her, holding her gaze. “What if I don’t want to?”

  She blinked up at him, and he could have sworn he saw tears forming right before she sniffed and dropped her gaze.