Falling for the Other Brother (6 page)

“I got the wine,” Trevor protested. “And I warmed up the… Oh crap, the bread!” He thrust the wine bottle into Erica’s hands then opened the small, separate warming oven. After grabbing the edges of the foil with his bare hands and flinging it onto the nearest counter, he looked up at them and winked. “Perfect.”

The toasted garlic bread did look good. Erica smiled back at him then at Colin, who was shaking his head. “You lead a charmed life.” He banged the spoon on the side of the pan then set it down on a dish. “The pasta’s drained, so we can dish out. I didn’t see a big pasta serving platter…” He trailed off inquiringly.

“I have no idea what one of those would even look like.” Erica wasn’t exactly Susie Homemaker. In fact, she hadn’t even realised she had a vegetable steamer, but Colin had opened the lid on one to reveal perfect looking broccoli. “How about we each just serve ourselves and carry our plates over?” she suggested.

Colin looked a bit disappointed but Trevor immediately grabbed the stack of three plates from the counter and distributed them to the others. Wanting to soothe Colin, she moved to his side and lightly bumped his arm. “This smells amazing. What did you make?”

“Just some linguine with clam sauce. It’s one of my favorites and not exactly something I ate while I was in China. Plus Trevor told me you love pasta…” He took her plate from her hand. “Let me dish you out at least. Do you want to go change into some comfy clothes? I know we caught you just as you came in and…well…”

Erica looked down at her taupe suit and yellow silk blouse then at the sauce and grimaced. “Great idea. I’ll be right back,” she called over her shoulder as she hurried from the kitchen.

She walked into her bedroom and had the weirdest thought about whether she should close the door. It was odd having two other people in the place while she undressed, but then again, after all that had passed between them, it would be sort of prissy to get modest at this point.

“Arrgh,” she growled, frustrated with the lack of control over her own life.

She left the door open and crossed to her walk-in closet. She loved its size, mostly because it was big enough to have room for her dressers so all of her clothes were in one place. More like a dressing room than just a closet. She even had a padded bench style seat to perch on to put on socks and stockings.

Erica shed her suit and top and added them to her dry cleaning bag then hurriedly chose a pair of jeans and a soft, dark blue T-shirt, which she placed on the bench before sitting down. She began to roll down one of her thigh highs then heard a sound and glanced up.

“Wow.” Admiration shone in Trevor’s eyes. He gestured for her to continue. “It’s like walking into a movie boudoir.” He winked. “I won’t say what kind of movie.”

She arched her eyebrow at him, fighting a smile. He was really just too charming for his own good and didn’t need any encouragement. “Was there some reason you barged in here or were you just hoping to get a free show?”

“Hmm? Oh—wanted to see if you would like red or white wine with dinner. Colin said it’s one of those meals that goes well with either so thought we’d give you the choice.”

She finished the first stocking and started on the other. Erica could almost feel his gaze following her progress down her leg. A small, secret part of her wished that it had been Colin who had come to check on her and caught her undressing…but then, he wouldn’t just walk into her bedroom unannounced like his brash sibling.

“What kind does Colin want? It’s kind of his special meal.” Erica stood and hesitated a moment then thought
what the hell
and unhooked her bra. As soon as the ambient air hit her warm skin, her nipples puckered.

She reached for her jeans and her breasts swayed heavily as she bent and straightened. A glance at Trevor revealed a sexy smile curving his mouth. After stepping into the legs, she wiggled herself into the fitted and well-worn jeans as Trevor leaned against the door jamb and unabashedly enjoyed the show.

“He chose red at first, then second-guessed himself. I think he really wants to impress you. He likes you.”

Trevor stepped closer and trailed a finger down one taut bud, but his words were like a splash of cold water on her libido. Not only was there another person in the house, it was someone they had once included in their sex play and…and now what? Would they again? When she’d decided to roll with it, it had been with the knowledge that she and Trevor would be going their separate ways soon, but that hadn’t happened. Now Erica felt a bit as though they were…cheating on Colin, though that was foolish. Wasn’t it?

She grabbed her T-shirt and dragged it over her head and down, wordlessly cutting off any possibility of sex. With a rueful smile, Trevor shrugged good-naturedly and turned around to lead the way back to the kitchen. When they got there, Colin was nowhere to be seen.

She frowned as wild imaginings ran through her head. Had he come to see what the holdup was and seen them? Was he hurt or did he leave to give them privacy?

Just then he walked back into the room from the dining room and she exhaled in relief. What the hell had she been thinking? She’d been right the first time—Colin would never just walk into her room, and even if he saw something between Trevor and her, why would it bother him? They were the couple.

Guilt at her small fantasy pricked her and she found it hard to meet either of the men’s eyes. Maybe she wasn’t built to handle something like a ménage. No—actually it was more that she was already so unsettled about her and Trevor and their relationship that there was no foundation on which to base her emotional decisions at the moment. She and Trevor really needed to have a chat and soon.

She walked blindly into the dining room and stopped in surprise. A beautiful bouquet of colourful flowers sat in the middle of the table, framed by lit tapers. Three places were set and dished with food at one end of the rectangular table.

Colin smiled when she turned to him. He poured a glass of wine and held it out to her. She accepted it gratefully. “Thank you. This all looks beautiful.”

“You’re welcome. Have a seat.” He set down his glass on the table and pulled out the chair at its head for her. After helping her, he took his own seat to her right and Trevor sat to her left, so they were an intimate tête-à-tête rather than spread out. It made sense, really.

“Eat while it’s warm,” Colin invited them. “Trev, can you pass the garlic bread?”

The food was delicious and Erica ate way too much, but just couldn’t resist. How often did she get a home-cooked meal this wonderful? Hardly ever. She never really cooked for herself—it was just easier to pick something up or let Rhonnie feed her with her crazy hours. And Trevor had never shown much inclination to cook like this. His kitchen skills ran more along the lines of how he thought of food—as fuel, not a pleasure to be savoured. Colin, though, seemed to appreciate the entire sensory experience as well as the process.

When she questioned him about it, he smiled a bit self-deprecatingly at first, but soon warmed to his subject. “I’m a bit of a home-body—when I’m not off on a contract, that is—so last thing I want to have to do is go out for meals I could make myself.”

“It’s amazing. You’re very talented,” she praised him.

“Thanks. It’s a pleasure.” His pride showed when he continued, “I actually learned a lot while I was in China about Asian cuisine. I’d love to cook for you again sometime, show you what I’ve managed to pick up.” He cleared his throat and glanced at his brother. “Both of you, of course.”

“I’d love that,” she answered honestly.

“Yeah, definitely. Maybe I should have stayed at the condo with you. I’d forgotten the benefits to living with you, man.” Trevor leant back in his chair. “You’ll just have to come here to cook for us like tonight. I mean,” he added quickly, probably realising that Colin might not want to be arbitrarily volunteered for K-P, “we’ll supply the wine and groceries then you can give it your magic touch.” He paused then added in true Trevor fashion, “And you’d get to enjoy our company.”

They all laughed. Erica was enjoying having both the brothers there in her home…and that was a huge quandary.

There was a very good chance that Colin could have been someone more her type than Trevor, but she’d met Trevor first. She was currently
with
him. No way could she even consider anything happening with Colin now. And even if she and Trevor called it quits, it would be the height of tacky to then start dating his brother. Talk about a daytime gossip show set-up.

On the other hand, if she broke it off with Trevor now as she’d planned, she wouldn’t have any excuse to see Colin anymore, and the thought of him disappearing from her life made her a bit queasy. Either way, she was screwed, and not in the good way.

Lust after her boyfriend’s brother? Or after her ex-boyfriend’s brother?

Awful choice. Neither one was where she wanted to go with her life.

Fuck
.

Why did she have to like Colin so damn much? And why couldn’t she have met him first?

Damn it.

Chapter Seven

Beep
.

“Fuck,” Colin cursed as he stopped moving and let the machine carry him down. He had debated making the phone call for exactly an hour and still hadn’t arrived at a firm decision. He knew it was an hour because it had been the entire time that he’d been on the elliptical in his brother’s workout room.

He climbed off the machine and debated grabbing a towel to dry off with then decided to just take a shower instead. When he walked into the bedroom, he looked straight to the bed, thinking, as always, about the incredible night he’d shared with Erica there.

It was beyond frustrating that he’d found such an amazing and sexy woman…who was completely off-limits to him.

“Don’t be so dramatic. Trev being with her isn’t keeping you from being friends with her,” he muttered. And that was the unkindest cut of all. Not only was he incredibly attracted to her, but he also
liked
her. Loved spending time with her. Speaking of which…

Might as well.

He stripped off his workout shorts and tossed them into the hamper then crossed to the dresser to pick up his phone. Before he could talk himself out of it, he quickly tapped to dial for Erica and waited.

“Hi, Colin.” Erica sounded like she was smiling.

“Having fun?” he asked.

“Oh, kinda sorta not really. Been one of those days. But it’s always good to hear from you. What’s up?”

“I was just wondering if you wanted to have dinner tonight.” Crap, that really sounded like he was asking her on a date. Oh well. So much for rehearsing the casual approach.

“Umm…”

Colin winced as she hesitated. “I totally get it if you’re busy or if you feel weird without…”

“No, not at all. I’d love to. I’m just trying to figure out what time I might be done. I don’t want you waiting on me.”

Reassured by her sincere tone of voice, he relaxed a bit. “I don’t have a timetable I need to stick to. Whenever works best for you. Would you rather go somewhere casual, or I could cook and we could eat in?”

A light sigh came over the line. “Eating in sounds great actually. I’m just really tired of people right now and being at home and quiet would be heavenly. But we could do take-out if it’s too much hassle. I hate to make you do all that work for me.”

Colin grinned at how fed-up she allowed herself to come across when she’d admitted she was sick of people. “Tell you what,” he offered, thinking fast, “I’ll fix something for dinner at my place instead and then bring it over to yours. That way you get a home-cooked meal and the peace of your own place, and you don’t have a mess in the kitchen.” He cut her next words out before she could get them out, “And yes, I’m sure. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”

She chuckled and the warm sound had an instantly arousing effect. It wasn’t until his shaft began to slowly fill that he realised he’d been standing there talking to her while naked. He dropped his hand to cup his growing erection. Man, she was like the sex goddess of healing. He’d been stuck on ‘off’ for so long that he’d forgotten how good it felt to have a normal reaction to a sexy woman, much less the day to day ebb and flow of hormones.

“Okay, well if you’re sure…” She paused to join him in laughing. “How about I give you a call or text when I’m leaving the office? Then I’ll see you when you get there. I have a stock of wine…or beer, whatever you think might go best.”

He pulled lightly on his erection, feeling a bit pervy doing so while she was unaware on the other end of the line, but just appreciating the contact. “I have a good idea of what you have there from my scouting the other day, when I cooked the thank you meal for you. You have a nice kitchen. I loved working in it. A bit more complete than Trev’s.” He huffed out a laugh, hoping he didn’t sound as breathless to her as he did to his own ears. By all rights, he should let her get back to work then get himself off in the shower, but he hated to have the conversation end.

“It’s true, neither one of us is nearly as handy in the kitchen as you are, so it’s mostly a place to keep snacks and breakfast stuff. And coffee, of course, for us non-heathens who still drink it.”

“Amen,” he joked back. “I was shocked that he’d given it up.” He licked his palm to give him a bit of glide. Really not wanting to talk about his brother while he was doing this, he steered them in another direction. “Well, for a woman who thinks of it as place to keep snacks, you definitely have about everything you’d need if you ever did want to do some cooking.”

“I have my friend Rhon to thank for that. Restaurateurs always have it in their head that everyone loves the process as much as they do. And with the amount of time Rhonnie spends in my kitchen… Well, things just started showing up.”

A surprising burst of jealousy hit him and he stopped the movement of his hand.
Who’s Ron
? “Well, be sure to thank him for me,” he tried to keep his tone casual and not accusatory, but he feared he sounded like a possessive ass.