Page 49 of Power Play with My Brother's Irish Friends

27

MIRANDA

“You have to see the space needle.” Samantha tucked her arm around Austin’s waist and grinned at me with wide, expressive eyes shining so full of love for my brother that a lump formed in my throat. “Austin took me there for our first date.”

“Oh really?” I elbowed Austin. “Sounds like you’re learning how to treat a woman.”

“Shut up.” He elbowed me back. “I told you we shouldn’t bring her. She’s worse than ever, especially because she knows how much I like you.”

“I think it’s sweet.” Samantha rose onto her tiptoes and kissed Austin’s cheek.

“I think she’s a menace.” He softened in Samantha’s hold, the glare he shot my way not even close to being real. We’d become so used to fake arguing with each other to show affection that sometimes we forgot to warn people that we didn’t hate each other, even though it sounded that way sometimes.

I rolled my eyes and walked a little ahead of them so they’d have privacy for kissing. We’d been all across the downtown area, with Austin and Samantha acting as my tour guide. They talked like they were trying to convince me to move to Washington, and I had to admit–even if just to myself–that I was a little bit tempted.

Samantha skipped up to walk beside me. Her pink hair was knotted in a high bun that poked straight up on top of her head. She wore a matching pink jumpsuit and pink sandals, with oversized sunglasses and dangly earrings. Of all the women I’d seen Austin with through the years, which really wasn’t that many, Samantha made him the happiest.

“Look who it is.” Austin power walked past us, cutting into a courtyard with iron tables and cute umbrellas offering shade. He grabbed a man by the shoulder and pulled him to his feet. “I didn’t know you’d be out this way, Charlie.”

My heart sputtered, then raced. I’d tried to stop thinking about Charlie, especially after my glorious night with Duncan. He’d driven me back to Austin’s, kissed me in front of the door, and said goodnight in the kind of sultry voice that begged me to invite him in for the rest of the night. Running into Charlie brought up all the emotions I’d tried to ignore.

Charlie scuffed his sneakered toe in the concrete and glanced my way. “Decided to go out for dinner.”

“You should join us. We’re about to walk down to the pier.” Austin motioned toward Pier 57 in the distance. “Miranda is getting cranky. Maybe you can cheer her up.”

“I’m not cranky.” I groused and whined for added effect. “Stop treating me like an annoying little sister.”

“But you are an annoying little sister.” Austin rolled his eyes. “Please, Charlie. Do me a solid here.”

“Sure.” Charlie agreed a little quicker than I thought he would and moved around Austin to stand beside me. “Guess you’re getting the grand tour. Has he taken you to the art museum?”

My mind flashed back to Duncan’s house and the art lining his walls. My cheeks heated, and I prayed Charlie blamed it on the warm air blowing up from the ocean. “Yep. And the flight museum.”

“Amateur.” Charlie scoffed good-naturedly.

“Right?” I fell into step with him, keeping a few feet between us and Austin and Samantha where they strode ahead.

Austin took Samantha’s hand and laced their fingers together. Warmth infused my chest at the sight of my brother finding happiness. He’d looked long enough, and I genuinely liked Samantha. Her bubbly personality and quirky style were perfect for my straight-laced brother. She’d keep him on his toes and keep him interested, and the way she looked at him made my sister heart happy.

Charlie’s hand brushed mine, our pinkies touching for nothing more than a second, but it was enough to spike my pulse again and force a quick inhale. Sparks raced up my arm. A glance at Charlie revealed the same casual expression he always wore. The strangeness of the pairing had initially felt like a double date, but with Charlie almost ignoring me, I struggled to reconcile the fact that Charlie had also had sex with me months ago. I’d love for this to have been a double date, but only if my feelings were reciprocated. I couldn’t be the one more invested in the relationship, not after Luther. It hurt too much to have that feeling of helplessness in knowing I was disposable.

“You know what we should do?” Samantha’s question burst into my contemplation. She rounded toward me and Charlie. “We should go to the club. There’s this great spot, not too far from here. They make glow in the dark drinks and body paint. It’s spectacular.”

Austin wore a look I knew all too well. He’d love to go, but I was the last person he wanted there as he sexed things up with his girlfriend.

I had a whole other reason for staying away that had nothing to do with my brother and everything to do with the babies inside me. Alcohol was completely off the table, and I’d been to enough clubs to know I’d be jostled and bumped all night long. “I’d love to, but I’m really tired.” A yawn came out of nowhere, and I covered my mouth to hide the threat of a grin when Austin’s shoulders bowed in relief.

“Are you sure?” He played the part, but a thank you lingered unspoken between us. “We can take you home and watch movies or something.”

“No.” I held up both hands, palms out, and waved them back and forth. “I’m not watching movies with you. Go have fun. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll take her home.” Charlie, ever the champion, stepped up close enough that his mint shampoo shocked the yawn into disappearing.

Austin’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.” Charlie’s emphatic nod convinced Austin, and he backed away with his arm around Samantha’s waist.

Tourists and locals alike wandered past us, the pier a beacon to everyone. Even from half a mile away, I smelled the hotdogs and popcorn. My stomach gave a hopeful pinch at the thought of food.

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