Page 64 of Mine

“Then why did you give me such a hard time about dating Quentin?”

Jordan gave a curt shake of his head with a sly grin on his face. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

At Phoebe’s puzzled look, Jordan elaborated. “You’re my kid sister, no matter how grown you get. You, Eden, and Jasmine, you’re the embodiment of Mom. We’re protective of you because we don’t know how else to be, and as I said, Quentin’s reputation with women...” He let that linger. “Still, he knows how much you mean to us, and I know how much you mean to him.” Jordan sighed and switched lanes. “Put on your seatbelt.”

Without an objection, Phoebe buckled up. It had been easy to dismiss what her brothers said about Quentin. She had grown up right along with them. Phoebe hadn’t been blind to all of the women who threw themselves at Quentin. Some would grab his attention and others not so much. Her brothers didn’t know just how close Phoebe had watched Quentin. Pretty much every chance she got, but Phoebe had considered her brothers’ worries. However, she’d hope that the bond they’d all grown throughout the years would take precedence over Quentin indulging in a simple fling. So for now, Phoebe would continue to trust him.

Phoebe removed her iPhone from her coat pocket and swiped the screen. A notification sat in the middle. Quentin.

A smile filled her lips, and she double-tapped the screen to read the message. Inside, there was a picture and the words:

We’re front page news.

Phoebe smiled harder, and her mouth fell slightly apart. She hadn’t doubted they would make the news, but it was the way in which they did. Maximizing the picture, Phoebe stared at a collage of images of she and Quentin at last night’s game. In some of the shots they were smiling, while in others they were drawn fiercely together in a deep, delicious kiss. Damn, Phoebe thought. The picture had managed to cast her exact feelings at that moment. Completely swept away in his embrace. Phoebe’s heart warmed, and she peeled her shoes off with the heels of her feet and pulled her feet into her seat, folding them underneath her bottom.

“I saw that this morning,” Jordan said.

The car quieted as Jordan cruised down the highway.

“Be careful, sis,” he said, and somehow, Phoebe knew it was his final warning.

She reached and grabbed his shoulder for a curt squeeze. Jordan glanced her way, and Phoebe gave a soft smile. Jordan smiled back, and the car remained quiet all the way to Phoebe’s condo.

“Are you coming to the New Year’s Eve party?” Jordan asked as Phoebe stuffed her feet back into her heels.

“Probably not, but you already know where I’ll be,” she said, “or where I want to be.” Phoebe tightened the belt around her coat to brace for the winter weather and she unbuckled her seat belt.

Jordan nodded. “Most likely I won’t see you tomorrow, so, Happy New Year, Phoebe.”

Phoebe opened the door to exit the Porsche then turned back to look at him. “Happy New Year, Jordan,” she said.

They smiled at each other again, then Phoebe stepped out and shut the door. The wind had picked up, and it felt like one of the coldest days they’d had thus far. Jordan waited for her to enter, and Phoebe snuggled into her wool coat as her long legs took her to the entrance. After entering her code, the door buzzed, and she stepped into the lobby.

Jordan pulled off, and his thoughts traveled to someone he’d found a new friendship in. Selena Strauss. Over the last few weeks, he and Selena’s correspondence hadn’t gone past telephone conversations, but Selena intrigued him with her bright and comical attitude. Selena had kept Jordan laughing most of their repartee, and it made him want to whisk Selena away on a nice vacation somewhere fun. He wondered if she had any plans to bring in the New Year, and with his thoughts in that direction, Jordan dialed Selena’s number as he sailed across town to his condo.

Phoebe was in a daze as she stepped onto the elevator of the upscale downtown condominium she shared with her sisters. The end of the year had come so fast she almost felt transported. To close a case she expected would last for the next six months two days before a new year was unexpected but right on time. The elevator reached her floor and dinged just as Phoebe’s cell phone rang. She stepped off and strolled to her door while searching with a hand down her purse. When she’d found the device, Phoebe pulled it to her ear and answered while simultaneously fumbling with her keys.

“Hello,” she said with her mind still in a fog.

“Good morning, my lady love,” Quentin’s deep voice oozed.

A smile flourished across her face. “Good morning, my chocolate drop,” Phoebe responded.

Quentin chuckled. “Chocolate drop, huh?”

“Yeah, and sweet, too,” Phoebe said, entering her abode.

“But not sweeter than you,” he said. Switching gears, Quentin cleared his throat then asked, “Do you plan to spend New Year’s Eve with your family?”

“I don’t know,” she teased. “Eden did bring up a New Year’s Eve party that we were invited to.”

“I’m sure you’ve got a thousand invitations.”

“Not quite, but this invite came from Hunter Valentine.”

“Uh huh,” Quentin said.

“I have my options open. The day is still young. What are your plans for tomorrow night?” she asked casually.

---