Page 47 of Recipe for Temptation

“On second thought,” Michael groused, “maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for you to hire Q. The two of you have way too much time on your hands at the office.”

Marcus smiled. “Actually, I think we’re pretty productive. And you haven’t answered my question. How did you and Reese go from being lovey-dovey to not even speaking to each other?”

Scowling, Michael shoved to his feet and stalked over to the railing. Striving for calm, he stared out across the sprawling yard, mentally cataloguing the idyllic scene before him. His mother and Grant lounged in the gazebo, while Sterling and Asha strolled along the walkway swinging their grandsons between them. Reese and Samara now sat talking by the small pool, their bare legs dangling in the shimmering water.

As Michael watched Reese, a deep ache of longing washed through him. He recognized it as the same feeling he’d experienced at Marcus’s wedding, a feeling that had resurfaced in recent days.

The day after he met Reese, to be exact.

Marcus joined him at the railing. Following the direction of his brother’s gaze, he smiled. “Those two look like they’ve been friends for years.”

Michael grunted in agreement.

Marcus sighed. “I’ve always hoped that our future wives would be as close as we are.”

Michael slanted his brother a look that would’ve sent a lesser man scurrying for cover. But Marcus merely grinned.

“Don’t go planning any weddings just yet,” Michael grumbled. “Reese has a boyfriend.”

“Ahh.” Marcus nodded wisely. “That explains the tortured expression on your face every time you look at her.”

“I don’t have a ‘tortured’ expression.” But even as the swift denial left Michael’s mouth, it rang hollow in his ears.

Marcus gave him an almost pitying look. “I can definitely see how you got blindsided. Reese is a beautiful woman. Smart as hell, too.” He chuckled. “Mom can’t stop mentioning that she’s a doctor.”

“Yeah,” Michael said, his mouth twisting cynically, “and we all know how Mom feels about doctors.”

It was an ugly thing to say, a barbed reference to the way their mother had deserted them to be with Grant Rutherford, the rich, handsome surgeon at the hospital where she’d worked. For years Michael had despised doctors so much he couldn’t even watch them on TV. And now here he was making a fool of himself over—of all things—a doctor. Oh, the irony.

“So what’re you gonna do about it?” Marcus asked, resting his forearms on top of the railing.

“Do about what?”

“Your obvious feelings for Reese. What’re you gonna do about it?”

Michael frowned at his brother. “Didn’t you hear what I just said? She has a boyfriend.”

“Is it serious?”

“How the hell should I know?” Michael snapped. He didn’t want to know. The thought of Reese with another man made him feel downright homicidal.

“So that’s it, then. Because she’s already in a relationship, you’re backing off. Just like that.”

“Damn straight.”

Marcus nodded thoughtfully. “Interestingly enough, I didn’t see a ring on any of her fingers.”

“Doesn’t matter. You know my rule.”

“Right. The rule.” Marcus’s tone was faintly mocking. “You know what they say about rules, don’t you?”

“What?”

“There’s always an exception.”

That shut Michael up. He faltered for a moment, then blew out a harsh, exasperated breath. He could feel a vein throbbing in his neck and he flexed his fingers, fighting a vicious urge to punch Marcus in the mouth. He loved his brother to death and would do anything for him, but ever since he got married, Marcus had become way too invested in Michael’s love life. It was as if he’d made it his personal mission to get Michael hitched so he’d be as deliriously happy as he was.

Marcus released a dramatic sigh. “If you’re not interested in going after what you want, Q says he’d be more than happy?—”

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