"Sure. I think we can come up with something that'll make you both happy. In fact, we can get together tomorrow night and talk about it, if Cole’s free. We only have two weeks until the wedding, so will have to plan it for next weekend," I suggested.
Jayce gave me a relieved smile and then my eyes slid over to Cole where I caught him staring at me. The look in his green eyes gave me a chill, and I wondered if I'd done something to offend him. The idea was ridiculous, of course. I hadn't even seen the guy in years.
"That's great. Cole just got back into town, so I'm sure he's not doing anything," Jayce said happily.
Cole's head snapped over to his brother, but whatever thoughts were going through his mind, he hid them well. "Yeah, tomorrow night is fine."
We ordered our food then continued talking, and soon Jayce had us laughing as he described the day he'd gone to Evelynn's father to ask permission for his daughter's hand in marriage. "I've known them for years, but I was never so scared to talk to him in my life. I'm pretty sure her mom saw me throwing up in the bushes in front of their house because she offered me a glass of water as soon as I walked in."
Jayce went on with his story as we began eating, but my eyes drifted over to his younger brother. Cole was three years younger than me and Jayce, and he was the only member of the family I didn't know very well. He'd never spoken much to me when I was at their house, usually disappearing into his room as soon as I got there. Jayce had described him as insanely smart and generous to a fault, but I always got the feeling that maybe he didn't like me very much.
Watching him, I noted the changes since the last time I'd seen him, which had been the summer before I started college. Cole was only fifteen at the time and still a bit awkward and shy, with sandy-blond hair that fell into his eyes in a way that looked adorable. Back then, my first impression of him was that he was cute, a startling realization that freaked me the hell out. Not only because he was Jayce’s younger brother, but because he was a guy.
Unsure of how to deal with my confusing thoughts, I’d done what any boy my age would’ve done in the same situation; I called him some lame nickname and then proceeded to ignore him. I shook my head at the memory. Clueless was just one of the words that came to mind when I thought about my younger self and my inability to admit I liked cute boys.
Still, as cute as Cole had been at that age, it was nothing compared to the gorgeous man he'd become. He had a lithe, toned body, and I wondered if he ran to keep in shape. His hair was styled neatly, no longer hiding his eyes, and I found myself mesmerized by their bright emerald color. He didn't strike me as the type who spent a lot of time on his appearance, yet he was one of the sexiest men I'd ever seen.
It felt weird thinking those things about my best friend's brother, so I forced myself to pay attention to the conversation. I managed to make it through the rest of dinner and another round of beers afterward before Jayce announced that he needed to get home. I swatted him away as he reached for the bill, insisting that dinner was my treat.
The air was cold as we walked outside, and I could see my breath as I exhaled. When we reached Jayce's SUV, he hugged us both and said goodbye, and I smiled at how happy my friend looked. We watched him drive away and then Cole turned to me. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and he looked nervous.
"So, about tomorrow night… We don't have to get together. If you want to give me your number, we can just text and figure things out."
My forehead wrinkled as I stared at him. Over dinner, he'd begun to relax, and I'd almost convinced myself that I'd imagined the tense look in his eyes when I'd first arrived, but I could see it again in the lights of the parking lot. Something about the expression on his face didn't sit well with me. Jayce and his family were important to me, and that meant Cole was important to me too. I didn't know what I could've done to make him so nervous or anxious, or whatever the hell he was, around me but I was determined to try and set things right between us. That would only happen if we got to know each other better.
"How about you come to my place instead? I should be home around six. Maybe we could order a pizza and eat while we try to come up with some ideas." Cole's eyes popped wide, and he opened his mouth, but before he had a chance to say anything, I thrust my phone at him.
"Here, put your number in my contacts. That way we can get a hold of each other if anything comes up.” He still looked unsure, but since I wasn't giving him much choice, he took my phone and added his number. Once he was done, I quickly shot off a text with my address.
He gave me a curious look as his phone dinged in his pocket and I grinned at him. "Now, you have my number too. It was good to see you again, Cole. I look forward to tomorrow night." Without waiting for him to respond, I turned and walked to my car.
Chapter Three
COLE
I look forwardto tomorrow night. That’s what Miles had said before he walked away the night before, but what the hell did that even mean? He’d never seemed happy to see me when we were younger. In fact, most of the time he’d acted like I annoyed him, which was why it had always been easier to just hide out in my room when he was around.
And what the hell gave him the right to look so damn good in a sweater and a pair of jeans? Given how he’d treated me in high school, it would’ve been sweet justice to find out that he’d lost all his hair and had developed a big beer gut, but instead, he looked even more gorgeous than I remembered. With his thick, jet-black hair, piercing blue eyes, and light scruff along his jaw, I was certain the phrase tall, dark, and handsome had been created with Miles Butler in mind.
When Jayce had mentioned that Miles would be joining us for dinner, I’d wracked my brain trying to come up with an excuse to get out of going, but one look at the excitement on my brother's face and I’d folded like a deck of cards. I’d convinced myself I could get through one evening of polite small talk with the overbearing jerk for my brother’s sake, but then Jayce had asked us to work together on planning his bachelor party, unknowingly throwing me to the wolves.
My mind had blanked at that point, and I’d prayed Miles would be able to get us out of it, because I was certain, he wanted to spend time with me about as much as I wanted to spend time with him. But surprisingly, that wasn’t the case. Instead, Miles had insisted on swapping phone numbers and getting together at his place to discuss plans for the party. A fact that had kept me up half the night and left me a nervous wreck throughout the day.
My stomach twisted into a knot as the computerized voice of my car’s navigation system alerted me that I was nearing my destination. My forehead felt cold and clammy as I swiped a hand across it, and I wondered if it was too late to call and tell him I was sick and couldn’t make it.No, because then he’ll end up saying something to Jayce who will then worry about my non-existent illness when he already has enough on his mind.
I sighed as I pulled up in front of Miles’ condo, reminding myself that I was there for Jayce. I could get through one more evening, for him. Besides, I wasn’t the same little kid I’d been when Miles had last known me. I was an adult now, and if he started acting like an ass, I could leave.
Located in a nice neighborhood, his building looked sleek and modern and it occurred to me that I had no idea what it was he did for a living. In fact, I didn’t know much about him at all. For all I knew, he could have a girlfriend or wife that he lived with although, I hadn’t noticed a ring on his finger the night before, so I was leaning more toward there being a girlfriend.Maybe she’ll be here and can serve as a buffer between us,I thought hopefully.
After checking the number of his condo on the text he’d sent, I rode the elevator up to the sixth floor and knocked on his door. My heart got lodged in my throat, threatening to choke me when I heard him moving closer to the door. It swung open and whatever thoughts I may have had inside my head, flew right out the window as I came face to face with a very sexy, very wet Miles Butler wearing nothing but a towel.
His skin was tanned as if he spent a lot of time outdoors and his muscles were toned and taut. My eyes traveled from his pecs all the way down to a tantalizing V that disappeared beneath the thin layer of white fabric then back up, where they zeroed in on his nipples… dusty-rose colored and hardened into tight little nubs that begged to be licked. Or bitten. I coughed as my cock started to stir with the direction my thoughts had taken, and I quickly averted my gaze to somewhere just over his left shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I was hoping to be ready by the time you arrived, but I got hung up at work, so I just got home and was getting a shower.” His cheeks dotted pink as if he realized he was rambling, and I wondered if he was as nervous as I was. It didn’t make much sense, but still, it was there, in his blush and the way he kept running his fingers through his slick hair. The thought went a long way toward putting me at ease and I was able to find my voice.
“It’s no problem. I can just wait out here while you—” I gestured toward his semi-naked body while forcing myself to keep my eyes above his neck. It wasn’t easy.
Miles hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Yeah, I’ll just go get some clothes on. Make yourself comfortable. There’re drinks in the fridge.”
