Page 58 of A Brother's Secret

“Beer?” he asked.

“Fuck, yeah. Even better.”

“Meet you out there,” he said jerking his head that I should go. I grinned and leaneddown.

“You’re the best, baby,” I murmured, giving him akiss.

“You and Shelly cool, you know, with…” I smiled.

“Good choice, she gives me a lady boner.”

He laughed and gave me a swat on my ass saying, “God, I missedyou!”

“I missed you, too,” and something about my tone, that it was oh-so-serious, that it was hushed, I don’t know… but it brought his head up with a sharp look. He drew me down into his lap and I went willingly.

“You sure we’re cool?” he asked.

“If you’re asking if it’s a little weird I’m hanging with a chick you used to bone on the regular, yeah… it’s a little weird, but she’s cool people and I don’t fault you for it. Shit, not like I spent the last seventeen years pining for you nonstop, locked into a life of celibacy.”

“Celibacy? No, the pining for me part, though? The thought wasnice.”

I smiled and I knew it was sad, “Okay, so maybe I was lying about that part. I used to dream about you just about every night. Youknow?”

He shook his head gently, the same sort of sadness descending on his features, “No, I don’t know, but it’s a conversation for another time, baby…”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I agreed, nodding.

“Kiss me before you go,” he said and it wasn’t an order, but it wasn’t a request either. I smiled and brought my mouth tohis.

“You’re the only guy I let boss me around like that, youknow?”

“Makes us even, baby,” he whispered against my lips and the kiss was pretty much just as fantastic and exquisite as our first.

He broke it first and reluctantly at that, “Go on out, I’ll grab us a couple coldones.”

“You got it,” I said and just before I went out the door to his little command center he called out, “Try and stay out of trouble? I know that swagger.”

“You call it trouble, I call it fun!” I called back over my shoulder and he laughed, shaking his head. I shot him a grin and followed the sounds of voices through the dark hallways, ignoring the sounds of sex and the angry wail of a kid that either wanted to be fed, or was having none of the experience of their first teeth coming through, as I passed by doors.

Outside, the air had cooled off, signifying that it was pretty much so late it was early. I was starting to feel the fatigue of our long drive, too. The nap I’d had in the car long since worn off. Fuck my second wind, I was hoping for a third or a fourth at this point.

I went up the grassy berm to the fire pit and impressive array of pergolas with swinging seating attached. There was a fucking television on out here, replaying the UFC fights on it. I blinked and shook my head in amazement. Reaver wandered over and said, “Put ‘em up!” and brought up his fists playfully.

I grinned savagely and said, “All right, let’s go,” taking the stance that Hope had taughtme.

Booming laughter came from around the fire and I could see that we had everyone’s attention. Reaver grinned and threw a mock punch. I whipped out a hand, caught the back of his wrist, stepped in and turned, lighting quick. He scrambled, twisting last second and I didn’t quite get the throw off, but that was okay. We were circling.

“Oh, shit! Data’s girl has some crazy!” I heard someone call out and I felt my lips curve into a smile. Reaver may have been drunk, but he sobered in an instant, those cold blue eyes filling with a winter that would have rivaled the shit on Everest.

“Oh, it’s on now!” someone called.

“Better check yourself before you wreck yourself, Queenie!”

He lunged, but I was ready for it, I twisted, blocked, stepped, turned and I got him! He went up, over my hip just as I heard the snick of one of his switchblades open. I had him on his back, gave the arm with the blade the proper twist, added a little torsion and straddled hiships.

We were nose to nose and I smiled, murmuring, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me…” Then I threw his words back in his face from our first encounter, “Make better choices, Reaver.” I pecked him on the nose as he had done me and plucked his knife from his fingers.

He knew he’d been beat, that a little more pressure and I could, and would, snap his arm. Still, I knew that I would probably never get one over on him again, so I didn’t push it. I got off of him and reached a hand down. He looked me over warily, but the predator didn’t see prey anymore… he saw another predator. He reached up a hand slowly and I clasped it, hauling him to hisfeet.

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