Page 19 of InfraRed

“Who says I have? I do have a job, remember? One that requires I travel quite frequently. Besides, we both know you only call me to check in on a particular little blond we both know and love. Ifigured since you’re back in town, you don’t need my spy skills anymore.”

My jaw works back and for as I stare at his smirking expression. “We both love, huh? What kind ofloveare we talking about, Jag?”

My teeth grind, waiting for his response. His green eyes, so much like our mother’s, a unique shade resembling sea glass, dance with amusement. “You know I never kiss and tell, bro.”

The five feet separating us vanish, and I lean over him. “What did you say?”

“I think you heard me.”

Without thinking, my fingers tangle in his Jimi Hendrix T-shirt, bringing us nose to nose. “You fucking kissed her?”

“What’s the matter, big brother? Jealous?” He grins wide, and I realize I just took the bait. “You’re not very subtle when you check in, you know? Especially with the growly tones when I’d tell you she was out on dates. My favorites were hearing you sound like a raging bull when I sent you videos of her out with her friends.”

“You’ve been fucking with me.” It’s a statement, not a question because now it all makes sense.

He shrugs, completely unbothered that my hands are still wrapped around his shirt. “You made it easy. Maybe if Golden Boy Graham had asked how his actual brother was doing when he called, I wouldn’t have been so suspicious.”

I shove him back in the chair and take a step back. My fingers run through my hair before gripping my neck.Fuck.“Did you tell her?”

His grin falls as his head twists back and forth. “No. I love Casey. Maybe we weren’t always as close as we are now, but I’m nottelling her I started spending time with her because you asked me to. It would hurt her.”

My eyes narrow, my mind zoning in on one phrase. “And how close are you?”

He waggles his brows. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” When I start for him again, he raises his hands. “I’m kidding. I’m kidding. Chill. We’re as close as abrother and sistercan be. Remember whenyouthought of her as a sister?” No, I don’t, actually. I’m not sure I ever saw Casey as a sister. Just as a kid that needed someone in her corner. A kid that needed a friend. “It’s fucked up, bro. You know that, right?”

I do know. I’ve tried to push the attraction away. It took me a while, but I realized time and distance were nothing but a Band-Aid. A generic one at that.

“I’m very aware.”

“And you remember she is justbarelylegal?”

“I know exactly how old she is.” I’ve never missed a birthday, even if she didn’t know it. Not only is Casey legal, but she’s also no longer a teenager. I know I’m eight years older, but compared to the relationships between the people in her life, we’re practically the same age.

“Why do I feel like you don’t give a fuck about any of that?”

Because I don’t.I press my lips together without answering him.

“You know she used to have a crush on you, right?” I won’t admit it, but he must take my lack of surprise as a sign. “I guess that means you’re not going to tell me what really happened between you two? Why you started having me watch out for her and avoided coming home anytime you thought she might be around?”

“I’ll tell you as soon as you explain why you won’t come home?”

His jaw clamps shut, and the humor in his eyes vanishes, turning to thinly veiled rage. “If you’re asking, you already know.”

“I do, and I know Dad needs you. You have a respons—”

“I don’t have a responsibility to shit. I didn’t ask for any of it. Didn’t sign up for it. And I’m not getting guilted, conned, or suckered into anything, so don’t try.”

I roll my head around my neck, wanting to argue but knowing it will get me nowhere. “Does Casey know?”

He gives me a hard look. “No. Do you know what that would do to her?”

I nod, but the truth will come out eventually. Secrets always had a nasty habit of getting uncovered, no matter how deeply you tried to bury them. “I don’t like it, Jag. Any of it.”

“How the fuck do you thinkIfeel? And for the record, I’m not sure I like that you want to bone our little stepsister, but here we are.”

“It’s not like that,” I growl, then let my head fall back, staring at the ceiling.

“Then how is it? Because from this side of the fence, it looks like the grown-ass man that doted on his little stepsister was creeping the entire time.”

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