by Jaci Burton
“What’s wrong?” her mother asked.
“Wrong? Nothing’s wrong. What could possibly be wrong? Do you need some help with dinner? How about I set the table? Want me to cook anything for you?”
“Ma belle, you’re babbling.”
She closed her mouth before more idiocy spewed forth. “I am?”
“Yes. Does this have something to do with Brett?”
The sound of a perfectly timed snicker behind her had her blood boiling. Leave it to Shannon to walk in at just the right moment. Or wrong moment.
“You know something,” her mother said, eyeing Shannon suspiciously. “Someone tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing’s going on,” Kaitlyn said.
“Brett’s painting Kait nude,” Shannon said, kissing her mother on the cheek and turning to wink at Kaitlyn. Shannon’s fiancé, Max, just grinned and walked by without a word.
Max was a smart guy. Even though a newcomer to the family, he knew when to keep his mouth shut and not get involved.
Unfortunately, both Aidan and Lissa took just that moment to step into the kitchen too. Kaitlyn resisted the urge to turn tail and run like hell.
“Wanna run that one by me again?” Aidan said, arms crossed as he leaned against the doorjamb.
“Yeah, in graphic detail, please,” Lissa added with a wide grin, wrapping her arms around Aidan and leaning against him.
“I don’t want to talk about this.” Kaitlyn turned away and busied herself by stirring the rice on the stove. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, her mind scrambling for a way out of this mess. She shot Shannon a vicious glare, but her sister only shrugged and grinned. “You can’t keep secrets like that around this family, Kait. You of all people should know that.”
“What secrets?”
Oh, God. Logan. This was not good. Not good at all. So much for them not finding out. Damn Shannon and her big mouth!
“Brett’s painting Kaitlyn nude,” Angelina said.
“Oh, that’s sexy.” Logan’s fiancée, Sophie, would think that. But Sophie was a sensual creature, so Kaitlyn wasn’t surprised.
“Really. How…fascinating,” Logan said, nearly sending the kitchen into a deep freeze with one glare of his icy blue eyes.
She knew Logan well enough to realize the cool tone in his voice meant he wasn’t happy. Too bad. She turned and faced them. “This is none of your business. Stay out of it and for God’s sake leave Brett alone when he gets here.”
Aidan arched a brow. “Brett’s coming for dinner? As your…date?”
She rolled her eyes, seriously thinking about running out the front door and avoiding the mess tonight’s dinner was bound to be.
“No. I invited him this morning. Though I didn’t know you two had grown so…close,” Angelina said, her warm smile not at all comforting to Kaitlyn. When her mother smiled like that, she had something up her sleeve. Like matchmaking.
Maybe Brett would cancel.
“So are you two going out?” Lissa asked, slipping into one of the kitchen chairs.
“No. We’re not going out. I wanted to have my portrait painted and Brett’s a phenomenal artist. So I asked him to do it.”
“And he agreed?” Aidan asked. “That surprises me. He hasn’t painted at all since Amanda died.”
“I had arranged to have someone else paint me, but at the last minute Brett canceled him and said you’d kill him if he allowed someone else to paint me nude.”
Aidan smirked. “He’s right about that.”
“Besides, we’re like brother and sister,” Kaitlyn pronounced, hoping that would put an end to any romantic thoughts her family had about the two of them.
Shannon snorted. “Nobody’s buying that one, honey. There isn’t a soul in this room who hasn’t seen how you look at Brett, who hasn’t felt the energy between you two. So you can knock off the brother/sister act because it’s not gonna fly with us.”
Kaitlyn pulled the spoon from the pot and rested it on the holder, then sank into the nearest chair. “I really wish you all would just leave it alone. It’s my business. I’m an adult. Brett and I do not have a relationship together. I commissioned a painting. He’s the artist. It ends there.”
Or at least that’s how Brett wanted it to end. She wasn’t about to let things lie between them. But she also didn’t need her family interfering. They would only make things worse. She knew if they started pushing Brett about her, he’d back off.
“Face it, sis,” Shannon argued. “You’ve been in love with Brett since you were sixteen years old. And you still are. The question is what are you going to do about it?”
“I’m not going to do anything about anything. And I’m not in love with him.”
Ignoring her statement, Shannon asked, “Well, then what’s Brett going to do about it?”
“Do about what?”
Kaitlyn’s head shot up at the sound of Brett’s voice. He stood at the entrance to the kitchen, a big grin on his face. The room went silent and his smile died as several sets of eyes zoomed in on him.
Merde! Just kill me now! She mentally pleaded for mercy and a quick death. Anything would be preferable to what was about to come.
Brett knew the moment every head turned in his direction that they’d been talking about him. He’d heard the mumble of conversation when he walked through the door and followed the sound, knowing he was always welcome in the Storm kitchen. Then he heard his name.
Now Kaitlyn sat there blushing crimson, and several arched brows and questioning looks were aimed solely at him.
Christ, she hadn’t told them about last night, had she?
“Brett,” Angelina said, stepping forward to wrap her arms around him and give him a tight squeeze. “It’s been too long, cher.”
He hugged her back and then pulled away to look at her. “And you keep getting younger.”
“And you’re still full of blarney,” she said with a wink. “Come, sit down and relax.”
He slid into a chair next to Kaitlyn. “Kait,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant even though he felt anything but. God, just looking at her brought back memories of last night. Her pink sweater molded to her breasts. Color rose high on her cheekbones, her eyes sparkling with intense interest. And embarrassment.
They knew. Shit, somehow they knew. Surely she hadn’t come over here and told them what happened last night? He knew Kaitlyn would want to avoid her family’s involvement at all costs. Though from the color in her face and the warm gold flickering in her eyes, she looked like she’d spent the entire night making love. And he’d like to take her right here and right now, her family be damned.
“Brett.” She gave him an artificial smile that spoke volumes about her current discomfort level.
“Shannon told us you’re painting Kait nude,” Aidan said.
Shit. So much for subtly working that into the topic of conversation. “Yeah. She was rather insistent about that. So I had no choice but to agree. Better me than someone else, right?” He hoped Aidan would see the logic in that.
“I guess so,” was Aidan’s only reply.
“I didn’t exactly twist your arm,” Kait mumbled.
“And how’s that going?” Logan asked, standing near the stove with his arms crossed.
Logan Storm could intimidate the strongest of men with his icy blue eyes and fierce, chilly demeanor. But Brett had known him forever and wasn’t the least bit bothered by it. “We’re just getting started, but it’s going well. Your sister is a beautiful subject to paint.”
“I’ll just bet she is,” Logan replied, sarcasm dripping off every word.
“Logan, quit being an ass,” Sophie piped up. “I think it’s sexy as hell that you’re painting her nude. And Kait, I admire your bravery. I don’t think I could do it. Well, not unless Logan learns to paint.”
Brett laughed. “There’s really nothing sexual about painting a nude. It’s one of the first things they teach in art class. The human body is nothing more than another art form t
o an artist.”
“Brett, can I talk to you for a minute alone?”
Brett looked at Aidan and nodded. “Sure.” He knew what this was about. Aidan was going to do the brotherly thing and look out for his little sister. If he’d had siblings, he’d have done the same thing.
Kaitlyn looked pale. Did she think he was going to talk to Aidan about what they did last night? Hell, he wasn’t dumb. Painting was one thing. Sex was another. He winked at Kait and followed Aidan out the back door and down the steps.
They walked all the way to the boat dock at the end of the property and sat in chairs overlooking the lake. For a few minutes Aidan was quiet, so Brett just let him ponder his thoughts.
“Have you told her yet?” Aidan finally asked.
“About what?”
“About you, your problem, and what really happened the night Amanda died.”
One thing Brett always admired about Aidan was his blunt forthrightness. Granted, his words stung, but he knew the reasons behind the questions. “No, I haven’t.”
“Don’t you think you should?”
“I don’t think she needs to know all that just because I’m painting her.”
Aidan looked him in the eye. “You know damn well you’re doing a hell of a lot more than painting her. The energy between the two of you is seismic. It’s clear you’re sleeping together, so don’t bullshit me, friend.”
Though his tone was light, Brett caught the irritation sizzling just beneath the surface. “And you don’t approve of that.”
Aidan shrugged. “Kait’s a big girl. She can make her own decisions about who she sleeps with. I just want her to have all the facts. You owe her that much.”
“It’s just sex, Aidan. And I’m sorry if that hurts you, but you know I’d never do anything to hurt Kaitlyn.”
“And you think fucking her isn’t going to hurt her? She loves you, man. She always has.”
Brett didn’t believe that. She might have thought she loved him when she was seventeen, but she was much older and smarter now. She knew the difference between love and sex. “No, she doesn’t. We have a physical attraction and we’re having sex. And that’s all there is to it.”
“I know you as well as anyone ever has, Brett. And I also know you’ve always had feelings for Kaitlyn. I appreciated you backing off when she fell all over you when she was just a kid, but now she’s a grown woman. And I know you still care about her, so don’t feed me a bullshit line about how it’s just sex between the two of you.”
He should have known better than to lie to Aidan.
“Look,” Aidan continued. “I’m not going to interfere in your relationship. Just be careful. You know I love you like a brother, but I love my sister, too. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
Which confirmed to Brett what he already suspected. He had no business getting involved with Kaitlyn. Even his best friend had no faith in him. That hurt, more than he’d ever let Aidan know.
But Aidan was right. He had no business playing around with Kaitlyn, despite her assurances that she was only interested in sex. He knew her. That wasn’t her style at all.
The sooner he removed Kaitlyn from his life, the better it would be for both of them.
Chapter Seven
Kait stared out the back door, wishing she could hear what Brett and Aidan were talking about.
The rest of the family had meandered into the family room to watch television with Dad, leaving her alone with her mother. She knew it was only a matter of time before the questioning started.
Putting a lid on a simmering pot of crab legs, her mother wiped her hands on a towel and sat in the chair next to her. “Okay, while things are cooking we can talk.”
Here it comes. “There’s nothing going on between Brett and me.”
“Yes, there is, ma petite. I can feel it.”
Kaitlyn rolled her eyes, knowing better than to try and refute her mother’s “feelings”. The best thing to do was come clean, at least about a few things. Not everything. “We’re having sex, Mom. That’s all. Just physical, fun sex. We’re not even dating.” We’re just fucking.But she wouldn’t be so crass as to say that to her mother.
“I think you both feel a lot more than you’re letting on. Brett’s heart is aching, cher. And it’s aching for you. But something’s holding him back.”
“Amanda,” she replied.
Her mother nodded. “Partially, but not because of what you think. There’s more to it than his memories of her, or his guilt over the fact he was driving the night she died. A lot more.”
She frowned. “You know something.”
“More a feeling than anything. Besides, it’s not for me to say. You’ll have to figure that out with Brett.”
As if she’d ever be able to figure him out. “He confuses me, Mom.”
“I can tell you this,” her mother said, taking her hands and squeezing them tight. Kaitlyn felt the strength of her mother’s magic, a powerful, positive force entering her. Her mother had always given her strength when she needed it most. “I see a future for the two of you. You are the bright sun in Brett’s life. He needs you. But there are dark clouds on the horizon. You’re going to have to be strong because he’ll fight you.”
Oh great. As if she could knock him down and force him to love her. “I don’t know if I can fight him. He has very sturdy walls built up.” Huge, impenetrable walls. Some days she felt like she was trying to kick through steel plate with her bare feet. Useless.
Her mother grinned. “Knock them down, ma petite. Knock them down.”
Any further discussion was put on hold as Aidan and Brett stepped back into the house. Kaitlyn looked at him, trying to gauge his mood, but he just smiled and went past her into the other room without a word.
The quick look he gave her caused her to worry. Something happened between Brett and Aidan. She felt the tension when they came back in, and neither Aidan nor Brett made eye contact with her throughout dinner. Fortunately, there were so many people at the table no one noticed, and both Aidan and Brett seemed calm, relaxed and both smiled and joked.
She wasn’t buying it. Something went on outside. As always, a Storm family dinner was noisy with multiple conversations going on. Now was not a good time to try and figure out Brett’s mind anyway. The last thing she wanted to do was try to have a discussion with him while her nosy family was eavesdropping.
Later, after the dishes were cleared, she caught him alone and tugged on his shirt.
“I need to talk to you.”
He shook his head. “Now’s not a good time, Kait.”
“I know that. How about later? I can come to your place.”
“That won’t work. I have…plans tonight.”
A quick jolt of jealousy pounded in her stomach. She brushed it aside. Plans could mean grocery shopping for all she knew. “Okay. Some other time, then.”
“Maybe. I gotta run.”
Before she could say anything else, he left the room, saying quick goodbyes to everyone. She stood there fuming silently, watching him make a hasty exit out the front door. She tapped her foot and breathed out an irritated sigh, trying not to feel hurt over his dismissal.
So they had hot sex last night. Clearly not a big deal. He’d never made any promises to her, never even wanted to touch her. She’d pushed for it, she’d forced the issue between them.
Now she’d have to live with the consequences. Her heart might be deeply involved, but it was obvious Brett’s wasn’t.
Brett sat in the darkened bar and nursed a hot coffee, tuning out the sounds of French Quarter revelry and the slurred conversations of drunken patrons.
After he left the Storms…no, correction, after he’d run like hell away from Kaitlyn earlier, he’d driven around and ended up stopping at his favorite bar haunt, not wanting to face the isolation and quiet of his house.
Besides, he liked to come here regularly, to test his strength. The lure of taking a drink was always strong. He knew it would never go aw
ay. But the harder he pushed himself and surrounded himself with alcohol, the stronger he felt when he resisted.
Now if only he could draw on that strength to resist Kaitlyn. Making love with her had opened up a Pandora’s Box that created havoc around him.
He sighed and signaled the bartender for another cup of coffee.
He’d hurt her tonight by leaving without an explanation. Then again, he needed to avoid her. More importantly, he needed to avoid his feelings for her.
And if there was one thing he was damned good at, it was avoidance.
“Hello, darling. Whatcha drinkin’?”
He turned to the attractive woman sliding onto the barstool next to his. Well, almost falling onto the barstool was more like it. Obviously drunk, she arched a brow and rested her hand on his arm.
“Evening,” he said, not wanting to be impolite. The last thing he needed or wanted right now was company. Especially female company.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
Wasn’t that supposed to be his line? God knows he’d used it plenty in the past. “No thanks. Just coffee for me tonight.” And alone time. He didn’t want to rude, but the last thing he needed was a female hovering around.
Then again, maybe that’s exactly what he needed. A little distraction to get his mind off Kaitlyn. She wasn’t the only woman in the world for him. There were plenty of other available women. He’d just never taken the time or the interest in finding any.
“I’ve seen you here before. You always come in alone, sit at the bar, and nurse a couple cups of coffee, then leave.”
He turned to the blonde. She was about his age. Very attractive with dark green eyes and a gorgeous body that she displayed quite well in a body-hugging, short red dress. “And why are you here alone?”
She grinned and took a sip of her drink. “Nursing a divorce with a couple cocktails.”
He laughed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. He’s a prick. Cheated on me, then lied about it. I finally had to hire an investigator and, man, did he take some interesting pictures.”
Behind the wall of alcohol he heard pain. He knew all about pain, and knew better than most about using alcohol to obliterate it. “I’m really sorry. You’re way too beautiful to have a man treat you that way.”
