International Player(46)

“You know what she’s like,” said Rob. “Married to the job.”

“Like her sister,” Lev said and despite my irritation, I couldn’t help but chuckle at him baiting Rob.

“Abigail isn’t married to work. She’s not been in the office for weeks.”

“Whatever. We all know what her priorities are. I’m not sure you’re even top five.”

Rob went to protest but Lev held up his beer bottle. “But, to be fair, you’re still punching above your weight with her, so good on you.” Lev was the better looking of the two brothers and clearly had no difficulty with women. Truly’s smile flashed in my head, and my pulse began to throb in my neck. Was Lev going to make a play for Truly? He wasn’t clever enough for her, wouldn’t appreciate how beautiful she was. I bet he was the type of guy just to concentrate on what was on the outside. But as beautiful as Truly was, her personality and character were what made her special. He’d never get it.

“You’re a dick,” Rob said. “I don’t see you married to someone more beautiful.”

“You’re right,” Lev said. “I’m not. You did well there.” He grinned.

He could have dug the knife in deeper. I’d expected him to say something about not buying the cow while he was getting milk for free, but maybe he wasn’t as much of a dickhead as I remembered. “I should go upstairs and say hello. I bought her this, actually.” He pulled out a paperback from his jacket pocket and held up a copy of Less than Zero by Brett Easton Ellis.

“She’ll love it,” Rob said.

“I know Truly’s the reader, but I thought this would suit Abigail. She could have been one of these kids.” He slid it onto the coffee table.

Christ, that was nice. Thoughtful. Perhaps he wasn’t the cocky little shit that I remembered. And he’d clearly made a bit of money since I’d last seen him. And he knew Truly was a reader. How well did he know her exactly?

There was another knock at the door, but this time I knew it was Truly. Somehow, I could just tell. I could feel her nearby.

Rob scowled, but got up to get the door.

I smelled coconut as soon as the door opened. Maybe the sound of her voice triggered some kind of Pavlovian response in me.

“Noah and Lev are here.” Rob’s faint voice tripped down the corridor followed by the unmistakable sound of silence.

“Truly?” Lev jumped to his feet. “Is that you?”

She appeared at the doorway, taking a breath as if preparing for something. “Hey,” she said with a grin I hoped she was having to work at.

Lev scooped her up in a hug, lifting her off her feet, and I wanted to peel him off her and shove him back onto the sofa while I took my time, lifted her hair, and pressed my lips to that curve between her neck and shoulder that felt so much like home.

But of course, I didn’t. I sat, gripping my beer bottle, wondering how much pressure it would take before it shattered.

“God, you look more perfect every time I see you,” Lev said, setting her down but keeping a hold of her hand. “Are you seeing anyone? Let me take you to dinner.”

Jesus Christ, who was this guy? He didn’t get to date Truly.

She answered with a grin. “You just get more charming every time I see you.”

Truly’s gaze slid to mine, tentative and unsure as though she didn’t want to look directly at me. “Hi,” she said, her voice breathy and her gaze hitting me in my solar plexus. Whatever had got under her skin on Sunday was still clearly there. She took a tentative half step toward me and I closed the gap, sliding my hand around to her lower back and placing a peck on her cheek.

As she tilted her head to accept my kiss, her fingers scraped against my abs as if touching me was her right. It inflated my heart so much it knocked against my ribs.

Yeah, Lev. She’s mine. Claimed.

I wanted to stay there with her, holding her close and out of the reach of anyone else, but she extracted herself and headed to the fridge.

“Anyone want a beer?” She pulled out a bottle of wine and a glass from the cabinet.

The three of us sat, Lev and I watching Truly as if she might disappear if we took our eyes off her. As she knocked the fridge door shut with her hip, Lev sprung to his feet. “Sit here,” he said.

“Actually, I’m going to see Abigail and leave you boys to whatever it was you were talking about before I arrived.”

“Noah was asking for advice about women,” Rob said, clearly proud that anyone would ask his advice about anything.

Truly almost choked as she took a sip of her wine.

Yeah, I wanted to say. I was asking about you.

“And you went to Rob?” Lev said. “Maybe choose your guru better next time.”

Truly smiled and slipped out of the room as I imagined she’d done plenty of times before without my noticing. Except this time, Lev and I watched her leave.

Should I follow her? Catch her before she got to Abigail? I wanted to talk, tell her how much I liked being with her. I’d wanted her to come back to my place. To see that side of me, to see how she looked in my bed. I’d hoped she’d stay and we’d cook and hang out, and I’d get the chance to give her a foot rub that might turn into something else.

I groaned. What was wrong with me?

“You okay?” Rob asked. “You’re acting really weird.”