Page 81 of Touch Me Not

Nikoli’s head snapped up, and he saw his brother, Kade, grinning down at him. The mess of curly black hair and sleepy black eyes made Nikoli laugh. Kade looked like he hadn’t slept in a week and had a serious case of bedhead. He stood, wrapping his brother in a bear hug.

“Good to see you, Nik,” Kade said when they let go. “One would think you were hiding from your brother the way you hardly call.”

“Just busy, bro,” Nikoli said. “Lily, this is my brother, Kade.”

“Hello,” Lily said, smiling. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Kade’s eyebrows hit his hairline. Not that Nikoli blamed him. He and his brothers were all alike. They didn’t take girls to breakfast. They had sex, and they moved on.

“You’re the oldest brother, right?” Lily asked.

“Uh, yeah,” Kade murmured and gave Nikoli a look that said, “What the fuck, dude?”

“Kade, have a seat, man. We just ordered breakfast, and the food here is stellar.” Nikoli scooted over so his brother could sit. Kade slid in, but his eyes stayed on Lily. “How did you find me?”

“FBI, remember? It’s easy to track you down.”

“Pretty sure that’s a violation of my right to privacy.” Nikoli snorted at his brother’s pious look.

“Brothers don’t have an expectation of privacy.” Kade laughed. “So, Lily, how long have you known my brother?”

“I’ve known the manwhore for a couple months,” she said, her voice completely innocent, causing Nikoli to spew the mouthful of coffee he’d just taken.

Kade’s laugh boomed through the diner. “Manwhore?”

“Well, he does have a bit of a reputation,” Lily said, “but he has been behaving the last few months.”

“Has he?” Kade asked, glancing at Nikoli, who shot him a fuck-off look. “That doesn’t sound like him. My brother doesn’t know how to behave.”

Lily just smiled. “Then you don’t know him as well as you think you do. Nikoli is a decent guy…for a manwhore.”

“I thought we agreed you would stop calling me that,” Nikoli seethed. He hated that nickname. Truly hated it, especially when Lily used it.

“Did we?” she asked, her voice all sweet, and his eyes widened. She was still pissed at him. But why? He hadn’t understood it to begin with. Why was she mad at him because her dreams were coming true? The woman made no sense.

“Yes,dushka, we did.” He leaned closer, eyes narrowed.

“Don’t call medushka!” Lily’s own eyes narrowed.

“Oh, I’ll do more than call youdushka,” Nikoli said, his eyes a clear threat.

“You can try, Kincaid.”

Nikoli’s grin grew at the sly tone in Lily’s voice.

Kade interrupted before Nikoli could respond. “Um, big brother here…do I need to leave so you two can get a room?”

“No.” Nikoli sat back when the waitress came to set down their food. He waited for her to take Kade’s massive order that had Lily scrunching her nose in disgust before asking, “What are you doing here, Kade?”

“Your serial killer.” Kade’s usual carefree face was serious for once. “The Boston PD called, and we were sent to do what we can to help catch the guy.”

“Called?” Lily asked.

“I’m Special Agent Kade Kincaid,” he said. “I’m a member of the BAU?—”

“The Behavioral Analysis Unit,” Lily finished for him, and Nikoli sighed. Lily was a true fan of the showCriminalMinds. She could watch that show for hours when the reruns came on. Truthfully, it had grown on Nikoli too. He found himself watching it even when Lily wasn’t around.

Kade gave Lily his best “come here and let me hit that” grin. Nikoli turned so he could look his brother dead in the eyes. “No.”

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