Page 59 of Someone to Tempt
“Why don’t you invite me inside so you can tell me what’s going on with you?”
“Of course. Come in.” I notice the duffel bag at his feet. “Are you staying?”
“Maybe a few days if it’s okay?”
“You can stay as long as you like.” I squeeze his hand and then move to unlock the front door. “But I thought you hated Skylark.”No matter the mess he’s bringing with him, Nick is still home to me on so many levels.
“I hated what happened to me here. To both of us.”
My hand jerks as the door swings open, and the keys fall to the hardwood floor. I bend to retrieve them, willing myself to stay calm. Does he know that Jake is also back?
I know Jake told me about helping Nick with rehab, but so much of my brother’s negative feelings about Skylark are tied up in the trouble he and Jake got into. The trouble I always believed wasn’t my brother’s fault.
Is that simply what I wanted to believe all this time? To blame that night on Jake so I didn’t have to hold my twin responsible.
“It isn’t the town’s fault.”
“Of coursethe mayorwould say that.” I turn to face him, and he winks as he kicks the door shut and drops his bag on the floor.
Although we text and talk a decent amount, it’s been nearly a year since I’ve seen my brother. I visited after his last stint in rehab, when he asked me to pay off the loan shark he owed. But it’s always been easy to focus on Nick and his problems, and keep him in the dark about mine. I told him I was moving back to Skylark, and he knows about me being appointed as mayor, but nothing that led up to it.
“You don’t like me being here?” I ask cautiously.
“I’m happy for you. You’ve worked hard your whole life. You deserve all the success that comes your way.”
I think about Sloane’s comment that I deserve more. Based on how I’ve gotten to where I am now, is that really true?
My friends don’t know about the affair or losing my job. Returning to Skylark with my tail between my legs and only getting the position I’m in now because of a tragedy.
Yes, I’ve worked hard. But where has that gotten me?
“Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
He frowns slightly, like he realizes I’m lying, but thankfully, he doesn’t call me out on it. I’m not sure I could resist revealing everything if he pressed me on my secrets.
Not that my brother has any room to judge my mistakes. He’s got me beat in the screw-up-your-life department by a mile, but I don’t want him worrying.
I’m the strong one, the one who takes care of things.
If I’m being honest, I don’t know who I’d be without that as my identity. Without giving and doing to prove I’m worth my dreams and goals. I’m worth being loved.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, moving down the hall to the kitchen.
“You know the answer to that.”
“You’re always hungry,” I answer over my shoulder, then flip on the overhead light in the L-shaped kitchen.
“Your house is cute, but not exactly your style.”
“What do you know about my style?”
He points to the rooster-patterned valance that covers the bottom half of the window overlooking the backyard. “I know it doesn’t include barnyard animals.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, well, it’s a rental, so no point updating things.”
I grab the loaf of bread from the basket on the counter and open the fridge. I stand before it longer than I need to, letting the blast of chilled air cool my cheeks. I’m not sure if Nick knows how much that last loan I gave him cost me, and I don’t plan on mentioning it.
“Speaking of updates, maybe you want to give me the 411 on you and Jake Byrne.” He makes the request casually, like we’re talking about the weather, as he takes a pan out of the drawer below the stove and turns on the gas range’s front burner. I hand him the bread and butter and try to appear just as casual.
