Closer Than A Brother (9 page)

“Talk to me,” he heard her gently ask.

“They are waiting for us.” He moved his hand from hers.

“They can wait,” she snapped.

“That wouldn’t be fair to Jason and Brandi.” He opened the car door and stepped out, leaving her sit in the town car. It took everything in him to leave her there. It ripped his heart apart to be in love with someone that didn’t love him in return. He hated himself for giving her that power over him. He had loved Danielle for so long, and being with her intimately had only intensified his feelings. He ran a hand over his face before slamming the door shut. He watched Jason helping Brandi out of the limo.

He walked over to join his friend. “It’s cold as shit out here, man.” He cleared his throat.

“It’s like forty degrees. I’m sure you’ll live.” Jason laughed.

“Are you okay, Shane?” Brandi emerged from the car looking very pretty in her white dress. Brandi looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Is Danielle giving you a hard time?”

“She wants to talk. There is nothing to say. She made her decision. Shit,” he said again looking away from his friends. “Is she coming over here?”

“Yes,” they both answered.

“Where are we taking the pictures?”

“The photographer wants us to line up over there by the trees.” Brandi pointed to the row of trees.

“I’ll meet you all over there.” He walked away before Danielle’s tantalizing rose scent could reach his senses.

* * * *

What the hell. Now he is avoiding me,
she thought to herself standing in the midst of the reception. The picture taking was painful. He ignored her the entire time they were at the park.

She scanned the room for him. He had been ducking and diving the whole time they were there and she wanted just a minute to tell him how she felt.

Really, how do I feel? Ugh.
She didn’t like this, not one bit. She never thought her emotions would be in an uproar over Shane Matthews. The minute she saw him standing at that alter in the tux, her nerves had been on edge. He was so handsome—sexier than she thought he could ever be. The thought of his hands all over her body crept in the back of her mind—causing her nerve endings to stand on edge. She wanted him again. She needed him. Hell, she craved him. She cleared her throat and reached for a glass of champagne being passed around on trays. She scanned the room again and her gaze landed on Shane, across the room, leaning against a wall.
Damn,
is the first thought that came to mind. Her gaze roamed over his chiseled features. She knew that clear gray-blue eyes were hidden behind the long lashes.
Bedroom eyes…Wait, who are those eyes for?
That is the way he looked at her in the bedroom. Her gaze flew to the blonde standing before him.
No that curvaceous skank isn’t talking to him.
She gritted her teeth. She stormed across the room toward him, but was stopped half way.

“Whoa, where’s the fire,” Brandi asked stepping into her view.

“Who the hell is he with?”

Brandi looked over her shoulder and back at her friend. “Jessica Nadal.”

“Jess…one of the bitches he dated back in high school?”

“Yep.”

“What is she doing here?”

“Did you forget she is Jason’s cousin? You don’t wear green well sweetie.” Brandi laughed.

“What are you talking about, I’m wearing red,” she answered not even looking at her friend.

“I’m talking about envy.” She giggled.

“I’m not jealous. Damn it. I just wanted to know who he is talking to—wait, where are they going? Did he ask her to dance? Oh, hell no.”

Brandi caught her arm before she stormed off. “Don’t cause a scene.”

“He has been avoiding me like the plague. I have to talk to him.”

“He is trying to get over you. You turned his proposal down.”

“He never asked!”

“He didn’t have to. He heard what you said to me. You don’t want to marry him. You don’t love him. He’s like your little brother. Yes, we all hear you loud and clear. But you don’t get the right to keep him from finding happiness elsewhere.”

“He is not going to find it with her!” she hissed. “She treated him like shit.”

“More so than you did?”

Danielle stepped back in surprised at her friend’s words. “That was harsh, Brandi.”

“I’m telling you the truth, because you know I love you. He has loved you since he was old enough to know what love is. You are who he wants to be with. That over there,” she said pointing at Jessica, “is a distraction.”

“Now, if how you are acting and glaring over at that distraction is any indication of how you are feeling for him, then you need to go over there and let him know what you are feeling. Who knows, we may be standing right back here in a few months with our dresses switched.”

Danielle looked over her friends beautiful wedding dress and smiled. “I’m going to get my man,” she finally said.

“Good luck.”

Chapter Thirteen

He saw her talking to Brandi from across the room. She looked pissed, but he couldn’t tell why. Jessica moved her body closer into him, pressing every curve she possessed into his body. “You feel so good, Shane, just like I remember.” She ran a hand up over his chest. She tipped her head back to look up at him. “Have I told you that I miss you?” She had, more than once, but he wasn’t interested.

“You are really sweet, Jess.” He cleared his throat.

“Well, did you miss me?” She pouted.

“Jess, it’s been a long time since we’ve been together.”

“You were my first, Shane. A girl never forgets her first.”

Damn,
he thought. He did not need this guilt trip right now. He may have been her first, but she had many since. “We were both young and naive back then. Hell, we were only juniors in high school,” he offered in excuse. He couldn’t stop looking back up at Danielle.

“What in the world do you keep looking at, sweetie,” she asked, turning to investigate Shane’s distraction.

“Oh, the alluring Danielle Morris. I have to admit she looks stunning in that red dress. You still have it bad for her don’t you?”

“What are you talking about?” He tried to act shocked.

“Really, Shane? I’m not stupid. That woman was the bane of our relationship the entire time we were together. I’m sure any woman you have been with, or will be with, will not compare to your feelings for her.”

Damn, am I that transparent?
“Yeah, well she didn’t get that memo, so I guess that leaves me shit out of luck, right?” He laughed bitterly, spinning Jessica around so his back was to Danielle. “I can’t even see her now. I’m not thinking about how incredible she looks in that red dress.” Having let that last bit slip out, Jess gave a knowing grin.

“You know she is on her way over here.”

“What?”

“I don’t think she is too happy we are dancing together.”

“I don’t know why she would care. I’m not her man.” He felt someone tap his shoulder, and Jessica grinned at him.

“Hey, Danielle. It’s been so long. How are you?” she asked taking her arms from around Shane’s neck.

“Obviously, not long enough,” Shane heard her mutter. He could be wrong, but he thought he heard jealousy in her growl. “Jessica, do you mind if I steal Shane away for a minute? We have to discuss…you know best-man, maid-of-honor business.” He knew she was lying. Everything they had to do was over. They were just enjoying the party now.

“This is rather rude, Dani,” he said turning around to glare at her. “Jessica and I were just catching up on old times. It wouldn’t be kind to just leave her.”

Danielle scowled at him.

“I really don’t mind—” Jessica began.

“See, she doesn’t mind.” Danielle cut her off before she could say anything else. “Now, Shane, if you would come with me?”

Jessica stepped back from him. “Shane, it really was great to see you. If you are free for drinks sometime, get my number off Jason and give me a call.” Shane didn’t miss the look of death Danielle shot at Jessica.

Jessica kissed him on the cheek, leaning in closely. “Good luck with her, sweetie. You deserve it.” She kissed him again before walking away.

He smiled after her, turning to find Danielle with arms folded under her ample chest. His gaze quickly dropped over the full length of her before glancing back up to her heated gaze. “So what’s up? What do we have to do?”

“Are you seeing her again?”

“We dated off and on during and after high school.”

“So which is it?”

“Which is what, Danielle?”

“Are you two off or on now?”

“We are off, for now.”

Her gaze narrowed at him. “We need to talk.”

“What about? What do Jason and Brandi need? I think everything is going really well.”

“I need
to talk to you,” Dani stressed.

“Can this wait until tomorrow? I don’t want to get into this tonight.”

She took his hand and pulled him out of the reception hall.

“No, this cannot wait,” she said once they reached a quiet hallway away from the main reception.

“So it seems,” he quipped, leaning against the opposite wall from her.

His pulse was racing.
What is she going to say and do?
He couldn’t keep his cool, aloof manner around her for long. She stepped toward him and he tried to side step her again, but she grabbed at his arm before he could. Blocking him between the wall and her body, the warmth from her radiated through the red dress and burned him even through his pants. “What is this Danielle? What do you want from me? I’m trying to respect your wishes here.”

“What wishes, Shane? I never told you what I want.”

“I heard you, damn it. I heard you tell Brandi you weren’t interested in me. We were only fuck buddies for two weeks. Probably a pity screw for getting shot right?” The words flowed from his mouth before he could stop them. He saw the hurt in her eyes. “I-I don’t know what else to do, Dani. You know how I feel—how I have felt for you forever—but I’m not going to beg. Damn it. I can’t make you love me.” He choked on the words that he’d been holding for the last three weeks since he heard her talking to Brandi.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry for being so stupid and saying those things to Brandi about you. I was in denial about a lot of things.” She bit at her lower lip not able to meet his gaze.

“Dani, what are you saying?”

“I’m saying—”

She was cut off when another of the bridesmaids came rushing into the hallway. “Dani and Shane, there you are! Brandi is ready to throw the bouquet, and Jason is about to throw the garter. You guys need to come back in here.”

“We will be right there,” Danielle called out.

“Will you be here the next couple of days for Christmas?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“We will have plenty of time to finish this conversation.”

“Yes, plenty of time.”

Chapter Fourteen

They stood at the airport with their best friends.

“Enjoy Punta Cana. Send me a postcard, okay?” she requested of her best friend.

Brandi leaned in and hugged Danielle, whispering in her ear. “You and he will be here by yourselves once we get on that plane. Ask him to dinner. Make this right. When we come back I want to see you happy.”

“Okay,” she promised. “Merry Christmas, sweetie.”

They watched them walk away before she turned to look at him. They hadn’t spoken since the wedding yesterday. “So that is the last of our duties,” he said.

“We need to finish our conversation.”

“Yeah, we do.” He looked down at her.

“Are you free for dinner tonight?”

“Are you staying at your mom and dad’s?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to come to my place? We could stay in and cook,” he offered. That sounded like an even better plan. He looked at her watch. It was already afternoon. “Come over around six. It will give me some time to go pick up some things to make for dinner.”

“So…we’re going to make dinner together?”

“If you’d like.”

“Should we shop together?”

“If you’d like.”

She smiled. “I’d like.”

* * * *

He couldn’t help but think being with her shopping like this felt oddly right—like it would if they were husband and wife. The feelings behind that thought nagged at him. He still wanted her. No matter how hard he tried to get his mind off her. She looked beautiful in her dark purple V-neck sweater showing off all assets. Her hair was brushed in a sleek ponytail as large hoop earrings dangled at her ears.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice bringing him out of his stare.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re staring at me.” She laughed.

“Sorry. I was just thinking and you were in my line of sight,” he lied.

“Okay, well what do you have a taste for, for dinner?”

“You have no idea,” he muttered.

“What was that?” she asked.

“We can get whatever you want. I’m not picky.” He looked around the grocery store trying to get his mind off the fact he was here with the love of his life, having a normal conversation like he would have with someone he was in a relationship with. It bothered him that he wasn’t in a relationship with her, and not for lack of trying. He followed her around the store, unaware of anything she picked up. He watched the sway of her hips and the grace in which she walked around the store. He shot evil glances at any man that dared to look in her direction. He felt territorial.

By the time they made it through the check out and were seated in his SUV, she was frowning. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I should be asking you the same question, Shane. You have been on edge since we left the airport. Are you okay?”

If you only knew
. “I’m fine. Let’s get back to my place and cook up whatever it is you got for us.”

“You don’t even know what I bought?”

Shit
“Uhh…”

“Shane!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll admit I have a lot on my mind. I’ve been distracted more than usual. I’m sorry.” He stopped at a red light and glanced at her. She looked at him with concern in her golden-brown eyes. “We still need to talk, Shane.”