Hidden Pleasures (13 page)

B
rittany opened her eyes and stared up at the gray clouds in the sky. It was supposed to rain today, wasn’t it? She closed her eyes, not sure what day it was. Sunday, she believed.

Parts of yesterday floated through her memory. She remembered going to her house and washing the bed linens and then finding her mother’s journal.

She opened her eyes. The journal. She recalled reading the journal and the parts that had made her cry. And she remembered Galen showing up and holding her while she cried and bringing her back here.

Brittany threw back the covers and glanced down at herself. She was wearing one of his T-shirts. The details of last night were sketchy, but she did recall him undressing her and tucking her into bed. He’d even told
her some story, although she couldn’t exactly remember it. Hopefully, it would all come back later.

She eased out of bed and stretched. She needed to shower, put on some clothes and go apologize to Galen for her actions yesterday. It was not good manners for a woman to get all emotional on a man.

As she headed toward the bathroom, she promised herself that she would make it up to him.

“So, Galen, where’s your houseguest?”

Galen stared across the table at Jonas. This brother had asked the very question the other four were wondering but hadn’t the nerve to inquire about. Galen was no fool. He’d known the moment he had opened the door to them that they had visited for a reason. He couldn’t recall the last time they’d dropped by bringing him breakfast.

“Brittany’s upstairs,” he said as he continued eating.

“Nice name,” Gannon interjected.

Galen nodded. “She’s a nice girl.”

“Classify nice.”

That had come from Tyson. Eli, he noticed, wasn’t saying anything. He was just looking, listening and eating. “She’s not anyone I’d typically mess around with.”

“Then why are you?” Mercury asked.

Galen smiled. “Because I like her.” He thought about what he’d just said and decided these five men deserved
his honesty, even though what he was about to say would stun them. “In fact, I’m in love with her.”

Their reaction was comical at best. Only Eli had managed to keep a straight face—one of those “I told you so” expressions. The others looked shocked.

“What do you mean you love her? The way Drew loves Eden or the way Colfax loves Velvet?” Mercury asked.

Everyone was familiar with Mercury’s friend Jaye Colfax. He claimed he was in love with Velvet Spencer; however, he wasn’t in love with the woman, just the sex because it was off the chain.

“It’s like Drew and Eden.”

That confession was like a missile going off in his kitchen, and with it came a blast. Colorful expletives were discharged in different languages because he and all of his brothers spoke several foreign languages. In fact, maybe that was a good thing considering Brittany was upstairs. He hadn’t heard her moving around, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t awakened. The last thing she needed to hear was the Steele brothers discussing her.

“Let’s speak German,” Galen suggested.

English or German, what his brothers were saying was scorching his ears. He was being called everything but a child of God. Now he knew how Donovan felt, because Galen had been one of the first to read his cousin the riot act, as if falling in love was something he could have avoided.

When he felt they’d pretty much gotten everything
off their chests, and probably every filthy word they could think of out of their mouths, he stood and said in German, “Okay, you’ve all had your say, now get over it.”

It wasn’t just what he said, but the tone he used that made his kitchen suddenly get quiet. Five pairs of green eyes stared at him. And then he said, “What happens to me has no bearing on the five of you.”

He knew it was a lie even as he said it. Eden Tyson Steele wouldn’t see it that way. She would think one down and five more to go.

“And you truly love her? This woman you met…less than a week ago?” Jonas asked, looking at him like he ought to have his head examined.

“We didn’t just meet. I met her in New York six months ago.”

“Hey, wait a minute,” Gannon said, as if something had just clicked inside his head. “Is she the one who got away?”

Galen couldn’t help but smile. Gannon had a tendency to remember everything. “Yes, she’s the one, which is why I don’t plan on letting her get away again.”

“So when is the wedding?” Jonas asked. “If I’m going to be in a wedding, I need to know when. My schedule is pretty crazy for the next few months.”

Galen shrugged. “Don’t know because she hasn’t a clue how I feel. And chances are she might not return the feelings.”

His brothers looked aghast at such a possibility. After all, Galen was a Steele and all women loved the Steeles.
“So you’re going to have to work on her? Convince her you’re worthy of her affections?” Tyson asked, as if the thought of Galen doing such a thing was downright shameful.

“Yes, and I intend to win her over.”

“And if you don’t?”

An assured and confident smile touched his lips. “I will.”

Brittany was halfway down the stairs when she heard the sound of male voices…and they were speaking in a different language. German, she believed, but wasn’t sure. The only other language she spoke was Spanish. Why would they be doing such a thing? She stopped walking, wondering if she should interrupt.

She shrugged. A few days ago when she’d asked about meeting his brothers, Galen had said they’d come around sooner or later, when word got out about her. They were here, so evidently word was out and she might as well get it over with and make an appearance.

She walked into the kitchen. “Good morning.”

The room went silent and six pairs of eyes turned to her. Her gaze immediately latched onto Galen’s as the other men just stared at her. The one thing she did notice was that they appeared to be sextuplets. All six had the same height and build and those Smokey Robinson eyes. And all were handsome as sin.

Galen walked over to her and she felt a semblance of relief because his brothers just continued to eye her
up and down. She was glad she looked pretty decent in her knit top and skirt.

“Okay, guys, I want you to meet Brittany Thrasher,” Galen said, wrapping one arm around her waist. “Brittany, from left to right, that’s Tyson, Eli, Jonas, Mercury and Gannon.”

She smiled warmly, then said, “Nice meeting all of you.”

But the men didn’t reply. They just continued to gawk. “It’s not polite to stare.”

Simultaneously, their faces broke into smiles and Brittany knew Nikki’s warnings about these brothers were true. They were Phoenix’s most eligible bachelors, heartbreakers to the core. Even the one standing close by her side.

“Sorry. Please forgive our manners,” the one introduced as Tyson said. “Your beauty has left us speechless.”

Yeah, right, she thought to herself. This one, Dr. Tyson Steele, was the epitome of suave and sophisticated, exuding an aura of self-assurance and confidence. Instead of saying what she really thought about his compliment, though, she decided to accept it graciously. “Thank you.”

“My brothers brought breakfast. Please join us,” Galen invited.

She shook her head. “That’s okay. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“And you didn’t,” Eli said. “Please join us. We insist.”

Her gaze lit on the man who looked like he could easily grace the cover of
GQ.
In fact they all did, including Galen. She allowed herself a moment to size up the brothers the same way they were doing with her. They were probably trying to figure things out between her and their brother. Evidently, Galen hadn’t told them much and now they probably wanted to pump information out of her.

She’d never had siblings, so she didn’t know how they operated collectively. But she had a feeling those Steeles were rather unique when it came to looking out for each other. She wondered if they saw her as a threat to Galen for some reason.

Deciding to go along with the invitation, she said, “Thanks. I’d love to join you for breakfast.”

She glanced up at Galen. His arms were still around her waist, but he had an odd look on his face. Had he expected her to turn down his invitation? Sometimes she could read him and sometimes she could not.

This was one of those times.

Galen leaned back in his chair watching Brittany. She conversed and joked easily with his brothers and they had definitely warmed up to her. Over breakfast she had told them about her business and in kind, they told her about theirs. That unfortunately extended their stay. He was about to suggest they think about leaving when Jonas remembered their golf game at noon, and the five reluctantly left.

“I like your brothers,” Brittany said when Galen
returned after walking them to the door with strict orders not to come back anytime soon.

“They’re okay.” He had sat there and watched her interactions with his siblings, thinking of just how well she would fit in with his family. His parents would adore her; especially his mother. Brittany said she’d never had a family before; well, she had one now. His brothers didn’t take to people easily. They were usually guarded and reserved. But they had taken to her.

“Did you sleep well last night?” he asked, walking over to her.

He saw the blush that stained her cheeks when she said, “Yes. I didn’t mean to be so much trouble. I see you got me ready for bed and tucked me in.”

And I told you a story you probably don’t remember, he thought. “You weren’t any trouble. I didn’t mind taking care of you.”

“But you shouldn’t have had to. That wasn’t part of our agreement, Galen.”

Damn the agreement, he wanted to say. Instead he said, “So what are your plans today? We left your car at the house. Do you want to go back and get it now or do you want to wait until later?”

“I’ll wait until later, if you don’t mind. Do you usually work on your video games on Sunday, as well?”

“It depends on what I have to do to it. Sniper is relatively finished except for a few components. Would you like to see it?”

He could tell by her expression she was surprised he’d asked. “Can I?”

“Sure. Come on.”

She followed him to the door that led to his garage. He opened it and then held it for her to precede him through it and down the steps. “Is this a garage or a dungeon?” she threw over her shoulder to ask.

He laughed as he closed the door and followed her downstairs. “In a way it’s both. My house is built on a high peak, but the driveway is on a slope, which means you have to drive down to the garage. It’s a six-car garage.”

“You have that many cars?”

He chuckled. “Not yet, but I’m working on it. I collect vintage cars, specifically muscle cars,” he said when they reached the bottom.

She glanced over at him. “What’s a muscle car?”

“It’s a high-performance automobile that was manufactured in the late sixties and early seventies. I own three now and I’m always looking to add more to my collection.”

She glanced around. “This is a huge area and I’ve never seen a garage floor that’s tiled, and with such nice stone pavers.”

He smiled. “Thanks. Come on. I’ll show you my cars and then I’ll let you watch me work with Sniper.”

Brittany followed Galen and admired the vintage cars he had in his collection. They were beautiful, all three of them—a 1967 Camaro, a 1969 GTO and a 1968 Road Runner. They went along with his everyday cars, the late-model SUV, Corvette and Mercedes sedan.

“Where did you get your interest in muscle cars?”
she asked, admiring the sleek design and craftsmanship of each vehicle. She didn’t know a lot about cars, but she could tell these were in great shape. A collector’s dream.

“My father. He has his own collection,” he explained as he led her over to his work area.

She couldn’t believe how spacious his work space was, and how neat and organized. She could see why he preferred working in his garage instead of an off-site office or warehouse. Everything was at his fingertips here.

He offered her the seat next to his and then proceeded to explain how the video game would work and what he needed to do to get it ready for the Video Game Expo in the spring. She could hear the excitement in his voice when he told her about it. She was touched that he was sharing his work with her. He hadn’t invited her in here before and she wondered why he was doing so now. Still, it felt good knowing he had allowed her into his private space.

Brittany scooted her chair closer as he talked her through the assembly of one of the components of the game. Everything was being designed on a huge computer screen in front of him. She was amazed at how much graphic art expertise went into the creation of a game, as well as the game engine. The more she watched, the more she admired his skill, proficiency and imagination.

She glanced over at him. His face was set with determination and concentration. But he was her focal
point as she studied him, scanned his features with the intensity of a woman who wanted a man.

She liked watching his hands move and remembered those same hands moving over her as his fingertips caressed the curve of her breasts, cupped her backside or slid between her thighs. A rush of heat hit her in the chest as her body responded to the memories. She let out a slow breath.

“Getting bored?” he asked, glancing over at her.

“No, not at all. I enjoy looking at you work.” And I enjoy looking at you.

She watched him save whatever program he’d been working on and then turn to her. Galen had a way of looking at her that left her breathless, made her hot. Made the area between her legs tingle.

“You ever make out in the backseat of a car?”

She clamped her mouth shut to keep it from dropping open. Was she really supposed to answer that? Evidently, because he seemed to be waiting on her response.

“No.”

“You want to try it?” There was that arrogant smile on his face. The one she both loved and detested.

“Before you answer, let me tell you how it will work,” he said, leaning closer so that his heated breath came into contact with her skin. “The backseat of the car will be the ending point. We will actually start here in my work space. I want to take you all over it.”