Page 99 of Flirty Fall Fling

“Depends.”

“Why did he come here?”

Patterson takes the next curve slower than he needs to. “To get lost. But …” He pauses. “Seems like he might’ve been found instead.”

The gate at the top of the drive scans his face and swings open. The glass house is lit up gold at the end of the driveway. Through the window walls, I can see Jamie moving around the kitchen with a towel thrown over his shoulder.

Patterson shuts off the engine and stares at his brother.

“I kinda feel guilty, fucking this up for you,” he says.

“Don’t,” I tell him. “It’s just dinner.”

“No.” Patterson shakes his head. “I don’t think it was. Apologies in advance.”

He grabs his bag from the back seat, and we get out of the SUV. The two of us walk up to the front door together.

I open it, stepping inside, and smell garlic and warm bread. Music plays in the background, and there’s a wineglass half full on the counter. Jamie turns around with a wooden spoon in his hand and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. It’s pure happiness, and I take it in for a few seconds.

“Hi,” he says. “Hope you’re hungry. I made pasta for my favorite witch.”

“Pasta?” I gulp, but I can’t help but smile.

His brother steps in behind me, and he shakes his head. “Did you say pasta?”

“Pattycakes,” Jamie says with a long exhale. “You fucker.”

“Surprise!” Patterson drops his bag, and it slaps against the floor.

He takes several long strides across the room to the kitchen, looking over everything.

“Homemade pasta,” Patterson says, glancing at me with a brow lifted. “Sounds good, doesn’t it?”

Jamie looks at me. “Did he capture you and force you to come with him?”

“Oh, no, no, no.” Patterson shakes his head. “You see, dear brother, Blaire found me wandering the streets, then brought me to a back alley, where⁠—”

“I thought he was you,” I say quickly, my face burning red. “I grabbed his junk.”

Jamie freezes. “You did what?”

“Take your time comprehending it,” Patterson says, leaning his back against the counter with his arms crossed.

Seeing them standing beside each other is a mindfuck.

“I thought he was you! I was confused about why you were in town! You failed to tell me you had an identical twin brother!”

“She also squeezed it,” Patterson adds.

“I did not squeeze!” I scream.

“Are you sure about that?”

“You’re lying! I will hex you,” I warn him.

“Can she do that?” Patterson asks Jamie, suddenly serious.

“Probably,” Jamie says, narrowing his eyes. “But then again, you know I’m a skeptic at heart. Why don’t you keep pissing her off and find out?”