Page 56 of The Brothers Next Door

Chapter 22

Layla

I was in a hurry. A big, big hurry. My lunch hour was normally an hour, but the boss scheduled me for a meeting with a prime client. Why this client was given to me was a mystery, but I certainly wasn’t going to turn it down, even if it meant scarfing down my meal or going hungry until I got off work. I’d been given a promotion, so maybe with the promotion came new, higher profile clients.

Pulling open the doors to the Avenue Deli, I walked in, saw the long line, and groaned loudly, causing the couple before me to turn and give me a peculiar stare. Looking at my watch, I discovered I’d already wasted five minutes.

I just had to suck it up and hope the people at the counter worked quickly. I could always eat while walking back to the office—not ideal, but it was looking like my only option.

“Layla!” The sound of my name being called out just as I made it to the register caused my entire body to freeze. It sounded like one of the brothers, but they hadn’t met me for lunch in days. It was more likely my imagination.

“What would you like, ma’am?” the young man behind the counter asked, pulling me from my trance. I quickly ordered and as I was about to pay, the smell of a cologne I was all too familiar with drifted to my nostrils.

“Layla. We need to talk to you.”

Clutching my credit card, I turned to see both brothers, holding roses and standing off to the side of the line.

“What are you two doing here?” I asked, forgetting that someone was waiting for payment and others were behind me waiting to order.

“He’s waiting for payment, lady,” a deep voice said from behind me.

Shit! I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks as I redirected my attention to the counter attendant and passed him my card, muttering a quick, “I’m sorry.”

Completing my purchase, I slipped out of line and headed to the other end of the counter where my food was to be served, the brothers in tow. “What’s going on?” I asked as I stood waiting for my number to be called.

“There was some Craig guy who answered your door this morning, said you were his fiancé.”

Oh hell, there had been a knock on the door. Of course, Craig had lied about it. He’d told them he was my fiancé? What were the brothers thinking right now? They must be thinking that I’d slept with him as well.

Oh God!

My number was called, but I didn’t hear it. Nate took my number from my fingertips and passed it to the attendant, retrieving my lunch in a to-go bag.

“We need to talk.” After Darrin passed me the roses, which I automatically lifted to my nose and smelled, he grabbed my upper arm and directed me away from the crowded counter and to a vacant corner of the deli, Nate in tow.

Sitting down at the table, with the brothers across from me, I accepted the roses and sandwich, putting them on the vacant stool next to me. “Look, I can explain.”

“Isn’t Craig the name of your former guy back in Maine?” Nate asked.

“Yeah. It is.” I bowed my head, cringing. “And that was him in the flesh.”

“Was he telling the truth?” Darrin asked, frowning.

“Just a few days ago you were in love with us? Now you’re back with your ex?” Nate cut in with a clipped tone, before I could respond.

I sat up straight in my chair, tilting my chin up. “First, I haven’t heard a thing from either of you since…” They nodded in unison. “Second, how could you think I’d just hop into bed with someone just days after?”

“You were in the shower, it was evident the guy slept over and he’s your old fiancé, it isn’t that much of a stretch, is it?” Nate replied.

I was getting angry. I’d hoped when I saw the brothers again that it would be with them saying they loved me and couldn’t live without me. Instead, I was being accused of cheating on them?

“We hadn’t even broken up,” Darrin piped in.

“I would guess no communication for days after a fall out would be a clue.” God, why did I have to be so combative? They came bearing flowers. They came to reconcile. I needed to let it go so I could be happy. This was what I’d been wanting.

“So, you want him, this is over?” Nate leaned over the table, his expression unreadable.

Of course, that wasn’t what I wanted. I groaned inwardly. Looking down, I gasped as I noticed the time. I had five minutes to get back to work. I hadn’t even touched my lunch and I was beginning to feel hunger pangs in my stomach.

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