Page 23 of You Don’t Kiss Your Brother's Best Friends

An explosion of red and pink wildflowers spilled forth from a crystal glass vase. I set it down, found her a tip, then thanked her before closing the door.

Though the card wasn’t signed, I knew who it was from immediately.

Tonight. Bella’s. 7:00

My stomach erupted with butterflies, as it began tightening all over again. Other places in my body began constricting too, as I flipped the card over:

You didn’t think you were getting awaythateasy, did you?

~ 15 ~

JOCELYN

“So they sent you on a ski trip, stole everything you had, then disappeared before you got back. Am I getting that right?”

Ice clinked as Andre swirled whiskey around the inside of his glass. By the time he brought it to his full, gorgeous lips, I was too fixated on watching it go down his throat to remember anything else.

“Jocelyn?”

“Ummm… yeah,” I blinked. “That’s about the size of it.”

His exhale was more of a hiss as the glass clacked swiftly back to the table. He looked angry. Sexy angry.

“And these business partners of yours,” he sneered. “They’re still alive?”

“For now,” I nodded.

He grunted reluctantly. “For now,” he agreed.

It was pretty hot, watching him getthisangry over something he had nothing to do with. Still, it made me feel warm inside, and very cared for. His protectiveness was as instinctive as it was adorable.

“They’re somewhere in Australia right now,” Kayden added, poking his fork through a stray piece of gnocchi. “Spending her money.”

“That’s what Jason told us, anyway,” added Bishop.

Andre’s handsome mouth dropped open even further. He looked absolutely incredulous.

“Is he right?”

I sighed into my wine glass, then slumped my shoulders.

“As far as I know, yes.”

“So why don’t we—”

“Because we can’t, that’s why,” I cut him off. “As much as I’d like to, we just… can’t.”

The hand Andre had used to finish his third glass of whiskey curled into a fist. And a deadly-looking one at that.

God, he’s so fucking hot.

They all were. Kayden, with those smoldering, liquid blue eyes. Bishop, sporting a pair of sexy dimples that appeared whenever he smiledororgasmed. Until yesterday, I didn’t know that last part. Now I did.

And then there was Andre, flexing his black-and-gray, tattooed arms. Those arms were like two steel cables, strong and unyielding. I’d studied them while they were pinned on either side of me, as well as the black-and-gray artwork that sleeved them out. Andre had the Marines logo up near his shoulder, and of course, Semper Fi. But there were other markings too. I saw names. Dates. It seemed all random at first, but then I realized those things had been woven into a faded background tapestry: a geographical map, of some far-away land.

Not twenty-four hours ago I was clutching those arms for dear life as he pinned me to the bed, and put my body through the paces. Yet as lengthy as last night had been, it had been an equally long day. I’d had a big breakfast, taken a glorious nap,then shopped the main street markets. I’d picked up quite a few things, including the dress I was wearing now as well as the lingerie I was sporting beneath it. After all, when three beautiful men offer to take you to dinner, you need to look and feel your best.

All day long, I couldn’t get the note that came with the flowers out of my mind. Nor could I stop thinking about my own words, whispered last night in the heat of passion:we are so doing this again.

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