Page 26 of Players Like Us (Reunion Gap #7)

M eredith was ticked at him. More than ticked. She was furious. The look she gave Daniel reminded him of the early days when she’d learned who he really was and how he’d deceived her. He hadn’t thought he’d ever see that look again, but here it was—shards of ice narrowed at him.

“How could you do that, Daniel? Neal’s my brother.”

Unfortunately, he knew exactly who Neal Alexander was and wished he didn’t.

Playboy, loser, slacker… Too rich and too pampered.

But he couldn’t tell his wife that her twin brother was a bum in designer clothes, so he reworked his words, settled on a more agreeable approach.

“I realize that, but Rachel is my little sister and I won’t have him taking advantage of her.

” Using her. Seducing her. Tossing her aside.

Why did she always go after the damn bad boys?

Why couldn’t she ever pick a decent guy with a real job who cared about her, and not just the next good time?

The half eye roll said she wasn’t buying his explanation. “I’ve been watching them, and there’s a lot going on that you’re missing. Those two are attracted to each other. They might be trying to deny it, but I sense these things.”

“Sure they’re attracted to each other.” He dragged a hand over his face. “For now. Until he gets her into bed. Until he uses her and then decides he’s tired of her.”

“And what if she’s the one who’s using him? Did you ever think of that? It could happen. Or they could both be trying to deny the truth—they’re into each other and they care, just like we did, but they don’t want to admit it… Maybe not even to themselves.”

“Doubtful.” His wife still believed in fairytales.

“But possible. Admit it. Rachel and Neal could be attracted to one another on a whole other level that’s about more than the physical one.

I heard him talking about her and I listened.

He wasn’t going on and on about how beautiful she was or the shape of her legs.

He was talking about her spunk and her humor and her determination. ”

Meredith was too kind and too na?ve. “That doesn’t mean that he’s not also looking at all of her other assets, thinking about how he’s going to take advantage of her.”

She shook her head, her black hair floating about her shoulders. “Really, Daniel? When did you turn into such an old fuddy-duddy? This is pure attraction on every level, and you should be fine with it. In fact, you should be happy with it.”

“Meredith, there is nothing to be happy about with the knowledge that my sister might once again be attracted to a guy with no future and no ambition who isn’t going to appreciate or respect her.”

Those blue eyes filled with tears, and her voice quivered when she spoke. “My, such kind words about my brother. Everybody deserves a second chance, maybe even three or four. You got one.” The arched brow and the tone said she was referring to the lies he’d told her about who he was.

Daniel placed his hands on his wife’s shoulders, said in a gentle voice, “I don’t want us to argue about this, but I’m worried about Rachel.

She’s a horrible judge of character and your brother’s not right for her.

He’s not looking to settle down, or…” Or turn into a half-decent guy .

Daniel clamped his mouth shut, determined not to put sound to his thoughts.

“You’re wrong. Neal’s different and he’s been different for a while. He still makes the same silly thoughtless comments but he doesn’t mean them.” Pause and a soft “I can tell.”

“Because you’re a twin? Is this mental telepathy stuff shooting between the two of you?”

She stepped back, away from his touch, fisted her hands on her hips, and let out a full-on scowl. “Exactly.”

“And here I thought we were the only ones who could read each other’s minds.

” Damn, he was not going to do this, but even as he tried to keep his temper under control, slivers of anger festered deep in his gut.

The only decent guy in the Alexander family was Tate, and Meredith had to know it, just like she had to know Neal and his father were users who manipulated people and situations.

Daniel was not going to subject his wife to their disregard or hurt again—not as long as he could stop it.

But seconds later he learned that sometimes blood really was stronger than a partner’s desire to protect.

“Neal’s my brother, and you’re going to have to accept him and open your eyes to the fact that he’s not the same reckless person he used to be. Stop blaming him for whatever is happening or about to happen between him and Rachel. She’s not innocent either. Let it go and let them work this out.”

He dragged a hand through his hair, matched her scowl. “You know I can’t do that.”

The look she gave him scorched his soul. “And I can’t give up on my brother.”

It had been twelve hours since their conversation and she hadn’t checked in on him like she usually did with a snack or a smile and a kiss— just because .

.. Nope, none of that. He might as well have been miles away in his woodshop in Logan’s Creek for as much as he’d seen her since their “conversation”.

Hell, who was he kidding? The conversation was an argument , and while they hadn’t resorted to full-out yelling, they hadn’t ended with any form of agreement.

And there’d been no smiles, no hugs, definitely no kisses.

What would Ethan say about it? Ever since the guy opened up to the woman who owned his heart, he was all about talking, sharing, getting into the feelings behind the situation.

If Daniel hadn’t witnessed the transformation, he would have insisted someone hijacked his best friend.

But it had happened and now Ethan had a wife and a new baby, and the man who couldn’t tolerate emotion or disruption in his routine was talking about getting a dog!

Daniel hadn’t spent a day apart from Meredith since they exchanged their vows, but he might as well have been sleeping on the roof last night.

She’d scooted to the edge of the king-size bed, turned away, curled into a ball pulling further and further away.

He hated this, hated the emptiness in his soul.

This was not how it was supposed to be, not when they loved each other so much, not when they were trying to have a baby.

Damn her brother for showing up and turning Daniel’s world upside down.

Tonight was the surprise birthday party for Meredith and the jerk.

Guests were coming, it was all planned..

. Daniel muttered a curse, wished this particular brother-in-law were playing on the opposite side of the globe instead of here, interfering with Daniel and Meredith’s happiness.

It had to stop because he missed his wife’s smile, her touch. .. Damn, he missed her .

Neal had spent most of his life buried in self-pity, self-absorption and finding the next “feel good” whatever.

Anything to run from real issues. All of that changed when he and Dominic partnered in the restaurant business, and yet he hadn’t believed he could share this with his family.

But now Tate, the brother he’d admired and envied, had shown approval, encouragement, and real admiration.

Who would have ever thought that would happen?

Look what you’ve done? he’d said. How you’ve done it and how you’re helping people?

Not as a handout, but with solid business sense.

That’s incredible. You’ve got a real eye for business, and it’s not easy to pick out winners from the pack of wannabes.

Sure, everybody tells you they’re capable and will show you how successful they can be.

Plans are great, but it’s the follow-through that matters.

Tate really did believe in him, and not only that, they shared the same business principles. Neal had never seen that one coming. Thanks. Your words mean a lot.

Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. Tate had paused, corrected, Not on the business front because you’ve got that handled. I’m talking about the personal end of it—the difficult end.

Yeah, the difficult end. Of course, he meant Rachel Reese.

The woman was confusing, compelling, and he really had no idea what to do with the unwanted emotions that squeezed his chest when he saw her…

when she spoke…when he thought of her… Hell no, this was not good.

And when he’d been fool enough to kiss her?

Well, technically she’d kissed him, but it didn’t matter because he’d been a very active participant—until her brother stepped in.

Good thing the guy had because what might have happened if Daniel Reese hadn’t jumped in?

Neal muttered a curse, shut down visions of soft skin and curves.

He would have landed in bed with her. And then what?

She had no idea he was the mystery man at Claudia’s or that he owned part of Matilda’s as well as three other restaurants.

If he admitted to those, she’d call him a liar, accuse him of manipulating the truth to take advantage of her. He hadn’t done that.

Had he? No, no . Deep down the truth seeped through him, torched the walls that had tried to protect him for too many years, mark him as incapable of a decent action.

He’d wanted to help her, and yet he’d wanted her to see him as a good guy with more to offer than charm and a smooth line.

Tate said he had to stop hiding and needed to come clean with her.

How did a guy do that? There was no pretending the kiss hadn’t been explosive…

And while he’d thought he could control the situation, he should have known that where this woman was concerned, there was no controlling anything, especially emotion.

If he’d listened to Dominic, he would have realized this woman was different.

And if he wanted half a chance with her, he had to be honest. But who said he wanted a chance with her?

Who said he wanted anything with her? Who said—