Page 2 of My Brother's Forbidden Friend

The next few years weren’t great for me. I was a little obsessed with always wanting to be with my dad and ended up seeing a therapist. Everyone walked on eggshells around me, but Cam was always there to lighten the mood with a joke. I gravitated to him when he came over, even if it meant just sitting in the same room and playing Barbies while the guys played video games. He’d make me forget that I felt like the reason the heart of our family was missing.

Years later, when those butterflies came, I didn’t really know what to do. Because at the same time as I started to thrive off his attention for a different reason, Cam started to discover girls, and one never seemed to be enough.

Now, as I walk down the dock toward my boat—which I only have one more year of payments on before she’s all mine—I mentally prepare myself for another fishing excursion with a bachelor party. At first I enjoyed them. Bachelor parties were always entertaining, and I could charge top dollar for the experience. Plus, I grew up with four brothers, so I was used to being the only girl. But lately, I’ve grown annoyed with the immature behavior of these men who need to celebrate the groom’s freedom as if the old ball and chain is going to lock him in a closet for the rest of his life.

Someone whistles at me from a nearby boat. I look to find a fishing boat I’m familiar with.

“Careful there, Vic. I might have to tell Polly you aren’t behaving yourself,” I joke, knowing it wasn’t him. He’s old enough to be my grandpa.

Vic holds up his hands and points at the guy next to him. Must be a greenhorn because he doesn’t look familiar. The way they find these guys and fly them in to see if they can handle the wicked weather out on the seas surprises me.

“Get to work,” a voice yells from behind me.

A voice I recognize. That’s why I deliberately pretend I don’t hear him.

Cam follows me for a few steps. “So, you’re ignoring me?”

I purposely increase my speed which isn’t easy since I’m carrying a case of beer in my hands. “We’ve been over this. I can fight my own battles out here.”

“I just told them to get to work. I’m technically their boss.”

I shake my head. “You aren’t their captain.”

“Jesus, Chevelle.” He grabs my wrist and spins me around.

“Careful there, Baker. She’s got a tough right hook,” someone shouts from the boat. I can’t be sure who it was.

Cam doesn’t grant them an ounce of his attention, keeping his gaze on me.

I raise my eyebrows, and he huffs, as if I should know why he’s tracking me down on the dock.

“Yeesss?” I draw out.

“I was just checking the log. Another boat full of guys?”

I roll my eyes. “No one ever told me we couldn’t have orgies on the boat. Then again, is it an orgy if it’s just me? I guess that’s probably a gang bang, right?”

I watch his muscled chest expand with a deep inhale. You’d think I was being serious with the way he’s reacting. “We’ve been over this. It’s not safe.”

I glance at my boat and back at him. “Did we become business partners, and I forgot? I’m not sure why you think you have a say in how I run my business.”

“It’s my job to protect you. I’m your brother’s best friend.”

I groan. “Have you not noticed that I’m a grown woman now, Cam?”

His gaze falls to my chest for a moment, and I bite my lip to keep from smiling.

This is the game Cam and I are currently playing. In truth, I have no idea if Cam is interested in me for anything other than my body. He’s not been one to settle down, even though all of the guys he used to party with—most of whom are my brothers—are all coupled up now. But we enjoy pissing each other off. I do it because, well, I’m pissed that he’s always telling me what to do and what to wear and who I should date. Then again, maybe I’m pissed because I want him to fall on bended knee and tell me he’s always been in love with me. That the reason he pays me so much attention isn’t because he considers it his duty because of my brother, but because he cares about me.

“Yes, Chevelle, I’m not the only one who notices that your tits are out half the time.”

I narrow my eyes. “Bye, Cam.” I turn my back on him and walk down the dock to my boat.

The guys today asked for a sunset fishing excursion, which means they aren’t really the fishermen they’re pretending to be. We’ll arrive back in town just as the bars are getting packed, and they’ll migrate there and drink until closing time.

My boat isn’t painted pink or purple or what some would consider a girly color. Although if it wouldn’t have affected my business, I might’ve painted it that. It’s yellow, blue, and burgundy, but mostly white.

I climb on board and head into the galley, setting the case of beer on the ground. I have the first beer in my hand to put on ice when Cam climbs on right after me.

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