Page 68 of Café Diablo

“Why?” I asked, not convinced. “So I can order him Thai Food, make sure he’s brushed his teeth, and tuck him into bed when he’s done tearing the world a new asshole?”

“Because you calm him,” Connor responded, ignoring my quip.

I pointed at Edwin, who was stomping from one room to the next, opening legal books and citing who-knows-what like it was the match that would burn down their father’s empire (and the whole apartment complex too, while they’re at it). “I’m not sure if your definition of calm is the same as mine,” I said dryly, to which Connor shook his head.

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything,” Connor countered. “This is pre-game. Strategy. Normally, there’d be six interns in here combing through old court cases, looking for precedents they can use to prove my father’s company never even belonged to him, or some such wizardry. Point being, I think you actually mellow him out and keep him from turning into a vindictive, unforgiving, uber-asshole.”

“I can’t even imagine Edwin trying to be vindictive,” I replied, which just made Connor nod like I was proving his point.

“Exactly,” he said. “With you around, something in him turns down ten notches and he isn’t always trying to be the king of the world. You’re good for him, and I thank you for it.”

I lifted a skeptical eyebrow at Connor. “First, I make him happy and now I calm him down?” I asked, to which Connor gave me a wink.

“I know,” he agreed. “Kind of terrifying, isn’t it?”

My eyes flicked over to Edwin in the kitchen and watched him write something down like his life depended on it. My stomach fluttered at Connor’s implication. I don’t have any power over Edwin, do I?

“Yup,” Connor said. “There’s only one good reason for that.”

I cut Connor a look, knowing exactly what he meant by that.

“I’d hate to see himnotcalm,” I said sharply, and Connor nodded—that’s a beast neither of us want to encounter in a dark alley.

“You won’t,” Connor assured me, grabbing his phone and keys from the coffee table. “Unless of course you break his heart.” It was Connor’s turn to cut me a look of warning with that one. “In which case, I advise you don’t.” He nodded to Edwin. “Calm version, remember.”

With that, Connor excused himself and told Edwin he’d catch up with him the next day, leaving me on the couch with my stomach in knots. Knots that haven’t let up and are matched by a flaming heat on my neck that’s altogether inhuman.

Is Connor right? I mean, Edwin told me he was into me this afternoon at the clubhouse, but that was a harmless let’s-see-where-this-is-going kind of interest. It wasn’t the you-magically-hypnotize-my-brother voodoo Connor had been implying.

I care about Edwin, but this is just so … new.

At half past eleven, Edwin flops down on the couch next to me and rubs his face like he wishes he could remove his head completely. I put my drawings down and move over to massage the shoulder I have access to. He moans and looks at me like he can’t believe I’m still here. A scary echo of Connor’s words shake through me as Edwin’s blue eyes gaze at me adoringly.

“Where would I go?” I ask softly, brushing a finger over his lip.

“I’m sorry about all of this,” he apologizes. “I seriously just wanted to go golfing.”

“Mmmmmm,” I nod. “Golfing turned into life upheaval. I may have to veto golfing from now on.”

He grabs my waist and pulls me into his lap, kissing me and tangling his hands in my hair. “How the hell did I get lucky enough to find you?”

“I’m pretty sure I forced you into my life by handcuffing you,” I joke, kissing him back and melting into his arms. My hands naturally start to massage his shoulders and before I know it, we’re breathing heavily.

I slide backward and crawl off of him so I can stand up. He narrows his eyes at me and gives me that frown that makes me want to drive him insane.

“Don’t give me that look,” I sass. “I’ve spent the last three hours walking around this condo in circles. I’ve seen that fancy bedroom with the picture window. In fact, I think your bedroom is three times the size of my entire house. So, it stands to reason we ought to use it.”

I lift up my eyebrow suggestively, then I turn on my heels and walk straight for the bedroom, not waiting to hear what he says or what kind of look he decides to put on.

I leave the light off as I enter the large space because there’s enough ambient light stealing in from the city. The room is sparse, like the rest of his house, the focal point the king-sized bed and the large corner window. A thousand thread-count sheets wait for me in the ocean of his bed and I know they will feel like satin against my naked skin.

Behind the headboard is a giant photo of a horse barreling forward, life-size and oriented so it’s ready to charge out the window. The horse’s mane whips in a fury against the wind, showing the full force of the animal’s exertion, its muscles taught and gleaming with pure adrenaline. There’s a virility to it that strikes me as powerful and masculine, reminding me of the command and vigor Edwin has been pouring into his phone all evening, not to mention the way he took me in the truck. He’s a man on a mission, speeding toward the future as if the world is lit on fire.

His arms wrap around me from behind and I savor the way his hands sear over my bare shoulders. I changed out of the golf outfit the second we got here, returning to my original halter top maxi-dress that’s black and flowing and covered in lily-white blossoms. His mouth drags across the ball of my shoulder and up to my neck.

“Have I told you how sexy the freckles on your skin are?” he whispers in my ear, his hands blazing down the front of my dress—over my chest and stomach.

“No, you haven’t,” I say, flipping around to face him. His eyes are dark and his hair is a ruffled mess from wringing his fingers through it all evening. Eager, my hands push his polo shirt up and start roving over his bare skin.

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