Page 28 of My Brother's Forbidden Friend

Twenty minutes later she comes down, her hair in two braids, a tank top with the name of her company across her breasts and shorts that make me want to bite my knuckles. Especially when she bends over in the fridge to pack her cooler.

“Good morning. Hungry?”

She glances back at me. “You left the floor in the bathroom all wet and I almost fell on my ass.”

“Well, I made you breakfast to make up for it.” I shrug.

She grabs the Tupperware containers she prepared last night and leans her back against the fridge. “You’re being sweet. What’s up, Cam? We don’t do that.”

“You let me move in.”

“And you beat a guy up for me. We’re even.”

I frown at the mention of Derek. “Speaking of, how are you feeling—”

She holds up her hand to stop me. “I’m fine.”

I stare at her for a beat.

“I mean it, I am. I just had that one encounter and thankfully I’m out of that situation. I can’t imagine what women in abusive relationships go through.” She shakes her head, her forehead wrinkled.

“Are you sure?”

“I said I’m fine, Cam.”

“But if you needed to talk to someone—”

“I would. But honestly, I’m just glad it’s behind me.”

I nod then look at the eggs and bacon I’ve prepared, hoping she’s being truthful. “I already made too much, so this is your one chance to have my specialty breakfast.”

She accepts my change of subject and chuckles while zipping up her cooler and setting it on the table. “Is this what you make for all your morning-after girls?”

I plate our food on two plates, and she fills a to-go coffee mug.

“You assume I let them stay for breakfast.”

She shakes her head. “You’re such a pig.”

I place the plate in front of her and sit in the chair across from her. My knees almost brush hers under the small round table.

“Gunner sure is comfortable here.”

I follow her line of vision to the back porch where he’s soaking up the sun on his side. “Yeah, I worried he’d have accidents or something in the house since it’s new to him, but he loves it here. Probably ’cause he loves you.”

She smiles, and Jesus, what a smile. “He’s a great dog.”

“The one good thing I’ve done in my life.”

Her toes push at mine under the table. “Stop that. You’re going to make a success of your new venture while not putting my business under, right? You’ll prove to your dad you deserve to own the marina.”

I nod because I haven’t told anyone that I’m not even sure that’s something I want to do. Most fishermen at the marina don’t like or respect my dad. He controls so much and takes away so much of their profits when he buys their catches wholesale and distributes them. I’ve never wanted to be a cutthroat businessman, but now in my thirties, it feels like it’s too late to go back to school. I’ve pissed away so many years, only caring about the money and the expectation of living up to what my dad wanted for me. And partying. There was a lot of partying.

“I smell something burning. You thinking hard over there?” Chevelle’s voice takes me out of my thoughts.

I fork my eggs. “Nothing, just how I’m starting this business from scratch.”

She rests her foot on the edge of her chair and wraps her arm around her leg. Her leg looks smooth and sun kissed, and I want to run my hand down it like some sick fuck with a fetish.

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