Page 9 of My Ex's Brothers

On Richard…I can’t deny that smile could get me to do some dangerous things, because holy hell is it…hot.

I force myself to look away from him. I don’t need this right now, I don’t need…

“Congratulations,” I say, my voice tinged with irritation.

“Why such a rush?” he asks, his voice carrying an edge of command. I stop at the end of the steps.

“Really, Richard?” I say. “I know you were dealing with your own things, but in case you didn’t know…I have a baby. Waiting for me at home, I?—”

“Yeah, and Dane’s got it covered, right?”

I stop, frozen at his words. He…knows?

He must mistake my silence for the need to continue, because he says, “You think you can waltz back into this town and I wouldn’t know about it?”

His gaze holds mine and for a moment there is only my panic, my steady breath as I stare back at him, feeling more on the spot than I did during my interview.

“You said a couple hours, right?” he says, letting out a sigh. Before I can respond, he adds, “You’ve still got an hour left.”

That’s the moment my traitorous stomach decides to voice its opinion on the matter.

Richard smirks. “Hungry, sweetheart?”

“No,” I lie, but it’s weak. I haven’t eaten much more than the remnants of Lyla’s breakfast, and I’m starting to feel the effects of no caffeine. I really need to go to the store…grab some groceries before I head back to the apartment…

“Bullshit,” he says as he whips his phone out, shooting off a text with that steady gaze that makes my blood heat for some reason.

“What are you—” I reach for his phone, but he shifts it out of my grasp easily. Richard is a big guy. Bigger than Dex or Dane, anyway.

Compared to him, I must look like a fly swatting a cow.

“Told Dane we’re grabbing something to eat,” he says with a grin.

“But—” I protest, not liking the way he justassumesI’ll listen to his command.

I can’t deny that my insides warm from the behavior. Dex was never the type to take charge, at least when we were together. I had to ask him to do everything, and it was always a fight. My traitorous heart jumps at the very notion of a man just…making the plans. Doing it for me. Tellingmewhat to do.

I know it’s foolish, but I’m tired, and hungry, and for the first time since Lyla was born, I have a moment tomyself.I’d be stupid not to take that, right?

4

RICHARD

Until I got marriedto Ellyn, I was always close with my brothers. Though I know it’s not my fault for what happened between Dex and Mia, I can’t help but feel like I should have seen…I don’t know…something. But over the last two years, divorcing Ellyn pretty much gave me tunnel vision.

When you’re young, sometimes you really do have blinders on. I know I did. I thought Ellyn and I were endgame. We were together for nearly fifteen years. Everything was fine until…

Until Ellyn told me she wanted to have kids. Which would have been fine, except for the fact that I didn’t. I’d made that vehemently clear when we got married, that I wasn’t going to reverse my vasectomy.

So I get being blindsided, and no doubt, what Dex has done…fuck, I can’t imagine the pain and betrayal Mia has to be feeling.

And I feel like somehow, some way, I should have seen the signs, should have figured out my brother was hiding a wholefamily.What kind of asshole does that? Keeps a wife and kids asecretand fucks around with other women?

A piece of shit, that’s who. As far as I’m concerned, Dexter Sylvester Rose isdeadto me. But Amelia Corbett is a victim of my brother’s treachery, and she’sfamily.She and her daughter don’t deserve to suffer because of my brother’s decisions.

Amelia is quiet in the passenger seat of my BMW, but then again, I’m not sure what I expect from her.

I know I can be a bit…abrasive at times, but I can’t help it. Being the oldest brother of two other hockey players isn’t exactly a gentle sort of role.

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