Page 41 of His Off-Limits Christmas Gift

But he wasn’t alone.

My brother was with him, all smiles and excited to see me.

“I’ve got you now,” Brandon teased as we hugged each other. “And I’m not letting you go until we catch up.”

I laughed as he released me.

“It’s crazy. My sister is in the city, renting in the same building that I live in, and I’m only now having a chance to catch up?” He shook his head, grinning at me.

“Oh, now?” I peeked at Nate, who smiled as well, pleased about this ambush. “But…”

“Nope.” Brandon shook his head. “He agreed that you couldn’t use work as an excuse tonight.”

“Whatever still needs to be done can wait until tomorrow, right?” Nate said.

Including finding you and having a talk?I supposed that would be waiting as well. I wasn’t going to ask my boss how he really felt about me in front of my brother. The question ate at me all day on a subliminal level, but it’d have to be postponed.

“Okay. You got me there,” I said.

They took me out to a sports bar, claiming that it wouldn’t matter that I was still in my office outfit. Nate was still in his suit. Many others were in office wear, mixed with ugly sweaters and other hints of the holiday red, green, and gold. Brandon looked like he’d be going in to work as soon as we were done, so I guessed this really was the best compromise they could figure out.

Brandon was my only sibling, and I loved him. He supported me against Mom and Mrs. Jones, and everyone else who wanted to know why Kyle had dumped me. Brandon would always have my back. Yet, I had no clue how he’d react if I told him that I’d kissed his old friend. I didn’t know how he’d feel about my trying to be with his friend.

I tried to enjoy spending time with my brother. We had bar food, which hit the spot. We talked about some sports and watched a little bit of what was on the screens. Then we played pool. Throughout it all, it was a challenge to behave like I thought he would expect me to—pretending that Nate was just… Nate. His friend. My boss. And nothing more.

But he was. Nate had come to matter a lot, even if it seemed confusing between us now.

Because thatwhateverthat pulled me and Nate together was undeniable, even tonight. Each time I caught him looking at me, I was confident he was thinking about something naughty with me. When his gaze seemed stuck on my lips, I knew he had our kisses in mind, and it prompted me to wish we were alone.

Somehow, Brandon remained oblivious to it all. He joked and smiled, acting like his usual self, carefree, easygoing, and without a worry in the world. This made it worse. The temptation to look at Nate or give him a visual clue that I wanted him to myself was gnawing at me. My patience was shot. I was high-strung and clumsier than usual with how poorly I juggledthe need to look “normal” around my brother at the same time that I did my best to conceal my desire for his friend.

Nate brushed past me as I lined up to take a shot, and just that touch, a simple rub of his elbow against mine, had me jolting in shock.

The stick bumped up too high on my hit on the ball. It skipped so hard it bounced right off the billiards table.

“Whoops.”

“Damn, Rach,” Brandon teased as he retrieved the ball. “What’s gotten into you tonight? You’re playing lousy.”

“Jeez, thanks.”

He chuckled.

“I’m just preoccupied, I guess,” I admitted. I shot Nate a look when Brandon turned around.

Me too,he mouthed. He paired his admission with a hungry stare.

I sighed, masking my desire before my brother could see. This was agony, trying to hide but remain myself, wondering who I was to this man I lusted after. What a night.

“Preoccupied about what?” Brandon asked. “You’re not worried about the Kyle stuff, are you?”

I blinked, surprised that he’d think I was still a grump about that. “I haven’t thought about Kyle since I’ve come here to the city.”

“Really?” Brandon smiled. “Then maybe you should stay.”

“Yeah,” Nate said.

What?I tried my best not to look at him closely. He knew I was here for a temp position. If he was suggesting I stay longer, what kind of a message was that? I didn’t want to let my hopes upthathigh. It’d be nothing but pure stupidity to go from one steady relationship into another—with the first man to maybe pursue me.

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