Page 29 of Delayed
This display of sibling love was more thanAnna could take. She burst into laughter and so did everyoneelse.
“Sexy Rexy,” Brady mocked. “Haven’t heardthat one in a long time.”
“Hey! You don’t want me to release Jane’snickname for you, do you?”
Brady stopped laughing and glared at Rex.“You wouldn’t.” He drew his brow down, but his voice was light.
“Rex might be scared of you,” Jane flippedher ponytail over her shoulder and unapologetically scanned Bradyhead to toe, “but I’m not, Hotcountant!”
“Hotcountant?”Anna threw her headback. “Oh, my God! I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time.” Sherested her hand over her belly.
“I don’t know why you guys think thatnickname is embarrassing.” Brady put his hands on his hips. “She’scalling me ‘hot.’” His lips quirked to the side. This time his gazetrailed over Jane’s lean body with a smolder that could only comefrom having some idea or wish as to what lie underneath.
Anna straightened. She glanced at Rex. Hadhe noticed the looks between his sister and Brady? He was staringat her and seemed completely oblivious to whatever connectionbetween Jane and his partner.
“Did you want a beer?” Rex nodded toward thebar.
Jane swooped in and slipped her arm throughAnna’s. “I don’t think so, Rexy. This is my first meeting of yourgirlfriend. I need to analyze whether you are good enough forher.”
Everyone, including Rex, laughed.
“Go grab some space at a table. I’ll bringover some beers.”
Taylor stepped behind the bar. Rex and Bradyleaned on the counter. And Jane hauled Anna off toward a portion ofa long table that had some available seats.
“So tell me how you got my brother to settledown?” Jane swung a leg over the bench and pulled Anna down next toher.
Well, she certainly didn’t waste any timewith fluff conversation.
“I’m not sure he’s settled down.” Annasquirmed in her seat. Though admittedly in a relationship, settleddown meant the person wasn’t seeing anyone else. They hadn’t reallydiscussed that, but it had been implied. Right?
“My brother hasn’t dated since that wench,Layla. Not sure if he told you about her. I never liked her. Butanywho … you might not be married, but he’s definitely seriousabout you. He hasn’t introduced me to any girl in a long time.”
“It’s still new. We’re getting to know eachother.” Anna wrung her hands under the table. She didn’t want tosound like she didn’t care about Rex because she did, but shedidn’t know where they stood or where she wanted them to stand.They were enjoying each other’s company, but what that meant in afew months when the infatuation slowed and the traffic on I-4continued to make the distance an issue, she didn’t know.
“He likes you, Anna. You’re all he talksabout. And that’s saying a lot because before, his only focus waswork. This beer. That beer. This restaurant. That bar. His trip toOregon. Or Maine. Blah. Blah. To be honest, I was worried.” Shesmiled—the same smile as her brother. “I’m super proud of him andthe boys, but there is more to life than work.”
“I’m flattered he’s talked about me somuch.” Her cheeks heated under Jane’s scrutiny. “I can relate tothe center of his world being work. I’m cut from the same cloth.”She shrugged a shoulder.
“Do you like him?” Jane scrutinized herclosely.
“Yes. Of course.” She swallowed. “He wasunexpected. I certainly hadn’t planned to meet someone on abusiness trip to Michigan, but life happens.”
“I like that. Unexpected. Life should havesome unexpected things.” Jane smiled, her gaze wandered. Annafollowed her gaze to see her watching Brady at the bar with herbrother. What was going on there? “So tell me a little about youbefore Rex gets here and hogs all your attention.”
They discussed a myriad of topics. Janewasn’t interested in the details of her work. Her questionscentered around the films Anna adored or the music she listened to.What she did in her spare time. It was refreshing. Anna inhaleddeeply as if struck by a revelation—there was more to life thanwork. Much more.
Chapter Sixteen
Rex cracked the egg onto the skillet. Baconsizzled in the adjacent pan. Coffee percolated on the counter. Annawould head back to Tampa today, but it had been an exceptionalweekend.
They’d hung out with his friends and sisteron Friday night. Jane and Anna hit it off, chatting and gigglingall night. He and Anna had gone for a run the next morning aroundLake Eola Park and had breakfast at a quaint little eatery aroundthe corner from his condo.
He’d cooked her dinner last night—wagyusteak, sweet potatoes, and roasted Brussels sprouts. A bottle ofSyrah to wash it all down. And for dessert, they’d had eachother—multiple times. Blood rushed to his groin just rememberingall the ways they used the surfaces of his condo.
“Something smells wonderful.” She waded intothe kitchen in nothing but his Orlando City t-shirt that fell tomid-thigh. Her chestnut hair was disheveled and hung over hershoulders. It was a good look on her. Very good.
“Eggs and bacon with a side of wheattoast.”
