getting off but refused every advance.
And now he was paying the price. Tense and completely unsatisfied, he tossed and turned while the girl he’d dreamed about for over a decade lay in the next room wearing nothing but her T-shirt and a pair of pretty panties. He felt her soft skin in his mind every time he closed his eyes.
The memory alone made him hard.
He could only hope she’d want him as badly in the morning, but he knew her better judgment would take over by then. As much as she thought she wanted a wild affair, something to fill the sudden loneliness, it was all too typical of being on the rebound. She wasn’t the type to take sex lightly, which was why he’d always been careful to keep a safe distance. He wouldn’t be good for someone like her. He was too devoted to his freedom.
Frustrated with his inability to shut down, he rolled over to search for his phone on the nightstand. For the past hour, he’d been debating whether to send Kyle a text. He figured he might as well be gallant all the way around.
She’s in the guest room asleep. Safe and sound. Get some rest. Big weekend ahead.
He hoped that would bring Kyle some peace.
A return text quickly confirmed that Kyle was still awake, which wasn’t a surprise. If Kyle felt half as torn about his upcoming marriage as Brandon suspected, he might walk the floor all night.
You better not have touched her.
“So much for trying to do you a favor,” he grumbled and scrolled through his pictures, looking for one his mother had sent him, months ago, from Thanksgiving. It was a group shot with Kyle and Olivia and the whole family.
As he stared at her image, at her and Kyle smiling for the camera, he remembered how difficult it had been to see them together. He didn’t want to sacrifice the life he had, but she’d always been a temptation. He’d hated the idea that his stepbrother, of all people, would end up with her, knew it would make every family event a challenge.
The ding signaling another text drew Brandon from his thoughts.
Have you been calling her since we took our break? Did you wait even that long before making your move?
What does it matter to you? he replied. Aren’t you getting married this weekend?
Have you been chasing her?
Brandon didn’t bother to deny the attraction. Was waiting to see if you were going to wake up and realize you’re screwing up your life.
This time when there was no response, Brandon figured it was just as well. They weren’t close enough to be so up-front with each other. He leaned over to return his phone to the nightstand—but another message appeared.
I have no choice.
Propping his pillows behind his back, he typed, Yes, you do. Don’t let your sense of duty drag you into making a bad situation worse.
What about the baby?
What about it? Did you ever think she might’ve gotten pregnant on purpose? That she’s manipulating you? Brandon wouldn’t put it past her.
She’s still pregnant. You’re telling me you wouldn’t even try to create a family?
You can still support the baby, still be a good father regardless. Maybe it’s not optimal to do it single, but you can make it work. That sort of thing happens all the time.
There was a long wait before the next text came in. Brandon had just decided Kyle must’ve gone to sleep when he heard the reply arrive.
Not to me it doesn’t. I want my kid to have my name, my presence. I don’t want to be a part-time dad with a stepparent joining the action.
Brandon could sense the resolve in those words. He could easily understand the sentiment behind them, too. But he was afraid that Kyle’s background and misguided nobility were pulling him into a nightmare of catastrophic proportions.
So how should he answer? What Kyle did or didn’t do wasn’t any of his business. He’d spent the past decade telling himself he didn’t really care about his stepbrother. But…he couldn’t help admiring Kyle’s determination to fall on his sword. He was a much
And now he was paying the price. Tense and completely unsatisfied, he tossed and turned while the girl he’d dreamed about for over a decade lay in the next room wearing nothing but her T-shirt and a pair of pretty panties. He felt her soft skin in his mind every time he closed his eyes.
The memory alone made him hard.
He could only hope she’d want him as badly in the morning, but he knew her better judgment would take over by then. As much as she thought she wanted a wild affair, something to fill the sudden loneliness, it was all too typical of being on the rebound. She wasn’t the type to take sex lightly, which was why he’d always been careful to keep a safe distance. He wouldn’t be good for someone like her. He was too devoted to his freedom.
Frustrated with his inability to shut down, he rolled over to search for his phone on the nightstand. For the past hour, he’d been debating whether to send Kyle a text. He figured he might as well be gallant all the way around.
She’s in the guest room asleep. Safe and sound. Get some rest. Big weekend ahead.
He hoped that would bring Kyle some peace.
A return text quickly confirmed that Kyle was still awake, which wasn’t a surprise. If Kyle felt half as torn about his upcoming marriage as Brandon suspected, he might walk the floor all night.
You better not have touched her.
“So much for trying to do you a favor,” he grumbled and scrolled through his pictures, looking for one his mother had sent him, months ago, from Thanksgiving. It was a group shot with Kyle and Olivia and the whole family.
As he stared at her image, at her and Kyle smiling for the camera, he remembered how difficult it had been to see them together. He didn’t want to sacrifice the life he had, but she’d always been a temptation. He’d hated the idea that his stepbrother, of all people, would end up with her, knew it would make every family event a challenge.
The ding signaling another text drew Brandon from his thoughts.
Have you been calling her since we took our break? Did you wait even that long before making your move?
What does it matter to you? he replied. Aren’t you getting married this weekend?
Have you been chasing her?
Brandon didn’t bother to deny the attraction. Was waiting to see if you were going to wake up and realize you’re screwing up your life.
This time when there was no response, Brandon figured it was just as well. They weren’t close enough to be so up-front with each other. He leaned over to return his phone to the nightstand—but another message appeared.
I have no choice.
Propping his pillows behind his back, he typed, Yes, you do. Don’t let your sense of duty drag you into making a bad situation worse.
What about the baby?
What about it? Did you ever think she might’ve gotten pregnant on purpose? That she’s manipulating you? Brandon wouldn’t put it past her.
She’s still pregnant. You’re telling me you wouldn’t even try to create a family?
You can still support the baby, still be a good father regardless. Maybe it’s not optimal to do it single, but you can make it work. That sort of thing happens all the time.
There was a long wait before the next text came in. Brandon had just decided Kyle must’ve gone to sleep when he heard the reply arrive.
Not to me it doesn’t. I want my kid to have my name, my presence. I don’t want to be a part-time dad with a stepparent joining the action.
Brandon could sense the resolve in those words. He could easily understand the sentiment behind them, too. But he was afraid that Kyle’s background and misguided nobility were pulling him into a nightmare of catastrophic proportions.
So how should he answer? What Kyle did or didn’t do wasn’t any of his business. He’d spent the past decade telling himself he didn’t really care about his stepbrother. But…he couldn’t help admiring Kyle’s determination to fall on his sword. He was a much
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