Page 14

He walks inside, closing the glass doors behind him. Whatever it is, it seems he’d prefer not to be overheard.
I rise from my seat. “If this is about me kissing your sister?—”
“I’m way past that,” he growls. “I’m here to ask you about a certain piece of information I heard earlier today. Is it true you’re living with my sister?”
Shit, this complicates things a bit.
I play it cool. “Nathan, you know how office gossip can be. Look, it was a poor joke I thought was funny at the time. That’s all.”
His face turns the same expression of anger as his brothers. He crosses his arms over his chest. “You know I’d believe you…if I didn’t know you’d moved in yesterday.”
“No, I didn’t.” I do my best to lie.
“Cut the crap, Hall. I overheard Mia and Kami talking about it at lunch. At first, I didn’t want to believe it, but I decided to do some digging. You recently changed your primary address on your payroll. It’s the same as Mia’s.”
Someone had to find out eventually. I just didn’t expect it to be so fast. “It’s not what you think.”
“Not what I think?” He laughs. “You moved in with her and didn’t tell my brother, or me, about it. On top of that, you have her convinced Jonathan put you up to it. You’ve been fucking lying to my sister.”
“But Jonathandidgive me a job to do.” I give him the same story I gave Mia.
He laughs. “Please. My brother may be overprotective of our little sister, but he’s not that crazy.”
“I’m just telling you what he?—”
“You may have Mia fooled but not me. I know you’ve had a thing for her for years.”
He knew? No. He doesn’t. He could be trying to manipulate me into telling the truth. “God no. She’s always been like?—”
“A sister to you? You know as well as I do that’s bullshit. You’re not the only one with eyes. I’ve seen the way you look at her. Hell, you still look at her like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like she’s a snack you want to devour. Another potential notch on your bedpost.”
I pause. “If you’ve known as long as you say you’ve had, why haven’t you said anything to Jonathan? What’s stopping you now?”
“I was hoping you’d be smart enough to come to your senses and stay away. Be the true friend I know you are. But clearly I was wrong.”
A moment of silence falls between us. If he’s caught me red handed, I’d expect him to blackmail me. To threaten me at least. “What do you want?”
“I don’t want anything. I just can’t, in good conscience, let you pursue my sister.”
“Why? Because it breaks some bro code?”
“Because I know you. Once you’ve had her, you’ll break her heart. And my brother and I refuse to let that happen.”
That’s what they think of me? I shouldn’t be surprised. I let that be my reputation for years. But still, that truth fucking hurts. “So that’s what you think of me. Heartbreaker and player all around. The commitmentphobe, huh?”
“I’m familiar of your track record with women.”
“That was then. I want something better for my life now. Something long-term. With her.”
“I’m glad you’ve decided you want something that lasts, but I won’t let you have my sister if you’re using her as an excuse to play house.”
“I’m not playing games with her. I care very deeply about her.”
He pauses for a brief moment. “If you truly mean that, you’d stop trying to fuck her and get out of her life. Before it’s too late.”