Page 49 of Three Pucking Ex's Brothers

My life, the love I thought we had…

Freddie holds his hand out. “Give me your phone.”

“What? Why?” I ask, panic lacing me.

He opens and closes his palm, nodding to it. “What did I say about arguing, princess?” His voice kicks up a notch, and that bold command travels through my brain to my heart and to my damn pussy.

I carefully set down my coffee and grab my phone, slowly reaching to hand it to him. His fingers brush mine once more, and the moment, the slight movement, feels like it lasts longer than it should. My fingers slip over his rough knuckles, and I note how warm his touch feels.

Or maybe that’s just me…

He starts typing away on my phone. “If you need anything, Nora…” His voice drops, low and deep. “If you needanything, you call me.”

He hands back my phone, and I gingerly take it from his hands.

“Do you understand?” His voice is solid, unwavering. That air of command is deeper, stronger. It’s not a question, though it’s framed as one.

It’s anorder.

And my stupid heart skips a beat, because of the way he says it.

Like it’s a fact.

Like he’d doanythingfor me, even though it doesn’t make a lick of sense, all things considered.

My mind wanders, those intrusive thoughts trying to force their way in. Thoughts about just what Freddie Sterlingwoulddo for me if I asked.

No, Nora. Bad idea. Don’t go there. Not only is he your ex’s brother, but he’s a lone wolf, and you know that.

I do know.

I know Freddie Sterling was engaged once years ago. I remember when it happened. I didn’t know him then, or any of the Sterlings, but I heard the town gossip when Freddie and his fiancée called off their engagement. Heard the rumors whispered in the salon about Vicki George and her affinity for hockey players. Though no one seemed to know what really happened, there was plenty of speculation.

I never had the heart to ask what really happened, but Brett mentioned once that Freddie’s ex—Vicki—tried to take advantage of him, to babytrap him or something.

My mind wanders to that conversation, seeing it in a new light now.

“This is why we use condoms, Nora. Because I know I can trust you won’t try to do that sort of thing.”

I bite my lip, my stomach tying in knots, because I believed him then. I believed it really was about trust.

But now I know it was a lie. Just like everything else.

I don’t have to know the details of what happened to know that whateverdidhappen is the reason Freddie mostly keeps to himself.

And maybe on some level, I understand that. I don’t think anyone wants to be alone, but no one wants to be heartbroken either, and some people break more than just hearts. Some people destroy everything in their path, including you.

Freddie holds my gaze and in his dark eyes, I see something I’ve never noticed before. Something I recognize all too easily, these days.

Pain.

It’s almost like hewantsme to need him. And I’m not quite sure how to feel about that.

“Yes, sir,” I say, my voice soft, barely a whisper.

Freddie licks his lips, that twinkle in his eye returning, replacing the sadness and pain.

“Good girl,” he says as he rises from his seat. “I have to go, unfortunately. I’ve got practice in an hour and I need to drop these off, so…”