Huh. Maybe it’s not the dancers El is looking at, but the podium girls. Podium girls dress in mirrored bikinis, athletically swinging around poles.
I feel the weight of El’s gaze and glance his way and realize I didn’t answer. “Yeah, it’s amazing.” It’s giving me a banging headache, anyway.
The music reaches a crescendo as a cloud of glittery, golden confetti flutters down from the ceiling. I’d hate to be part of the cleaning crew tomorrow. Of course, that thought slides like keys on a chain to how I’d ended up in the supply closet with Whit last night.
It was… everything.
And it was nothing.
And it’s the reason I’m here with El right now. Not for revenge or amake-the-man-jealousattempt. I guess I’m just craving company over my thoughts right now.
“Who tucks you in at night?”
“Sorry?” El’s voice pulls me from my musing.
“It’s the music.” He lifts a finger. “The lyrics, at least. You were miles away.”
“Yeah.” I smile my apology. “My mind drifted off for a minute.”
“So who tucks you in at night?”
“At the minute, my elderly Aunt Doreen.”
“What?” The word is more chuckle than anything else.
“I just mean that’s who I’m living with.” The words fall quickly as discomfort stings my cheeks. She doesn’t tuck me in, of course, but that’s not to say I don’t know that she pops her head into my room at least once during the night. I also know who put her up to it. My parents would have me wired up to a monitor 24/7 if they thought I would go for it. Like it would even stop—
Stop.
Those are notnow thoughts. Those arelater thoughts.
“Working for Leif must be a tough gig,” El says in a not-so-gentle segue.
“No, not really.” I tip my head to the side and give it a tiny shake. “Why do you say that?”
“He’s my brother. I love him, but he’s not exactly what you’d call relaxed.”
“I guess in his position you can’t afford to be.” But I think it’s more than the job. I can’t help but notice how often his family calls him. Not just Lavender last night. Working within hearing distance of him, I’m privy to most of his phone calls. He gets a lot of work calls, but he also gets a lot from his family. Questions to ask. Favors to grant. Help to dish out. It’s mainly from the youngest of the three, but that’s not to say El and Brin don’t cause him concern either, though it mostly relates to work.
He’s always there for them. Like last night, when his phone rang during the hottest moment of my life. Am I feeling salty about it? Yep. In a purely selfish way. The hottest moment of my life, remember? But then later, it reminded me how much I miss Connor, too.
So I got over myself. I respect that Whit has taken on that role, that he takes his responsibilities seriously. He’s the head of his family. The person they all lean on when they need a crutch.
As his phone had begun to buzz, we’d disentangled, and he’d slipped it from his back pocket. The illuminated screen just seemed to etch resignation into his face. He’d answered the call, stepping from the supply closet and leaving me inside to compose myself. Maybe he realized I needed the shelves behind me a little longer because they were the only thing holding me up, the residual energy of my almost-orgasm had sapped the strength right out of my legs. My chest heaved like I’d been running, and my thoughts were nothing but tattered remains. Initially, when I heard the echo of a woman’s voice from his phone, I’d wanted to cry. I felt about three inches tall. Another woman minutes after kissing me, after saying he couldn’t wait to taste me. The woman sounded hysterical, and for the briefest of moments, I wondered if it had something to do with me.And the closet.But then Whit had said Lavender’s name, and I realized I’d gotten it all wrong.
“What are you still doing in here?” He’d appeared in the doorway, phone still in hand.
“I didn’t want to pry.”
“Come on out.”He’d held out his hand, his tone resigned. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, pulling me against him. “Lavender is drunk and…” He sighed and dropped his forehead to my crown. “I have to go and sort it out.”
And that had been that.
No talk of what just happened. No promises of later. But at least he didn’t apologize. And he’d made sure I wouldn’t be molested on my way home.
“Yeah, I suppose.” El lifts his champagne flute to his lips. “It’s a tough gig but someone’s got to do it.”
“Being the eldest brother?”
