Page 17 of Treasured

I stare at the two of them as they are elbowing each other on the porch and then when I step back from the door to let them in they wedge themselves together because they're each trying to get inside ahead of the other. If it wasn't so strange it would be funny.

Aunt Max takes it all in stride and gathers up both arrangements of flowers and carries them to the kitchen saying that she's going to put them in water. My two dates untangle themselves and manage to step through the door but they glare at each other.

These are not the fun loving men I remember and my heart sinks.

I guess I am not the same as I was back then, either.

I take a moment to look at them. They have certainly gotten better looking in the last six years. Not that they weren't attractive before, but what was youthful good looks has now matured into manly sexiness. Creed, his hair in a braid with the leather thong wrapped around the bottom of it. My fingers tingle remembering how I used to run them through his silky tresses. I hope I'll get a chance to do that again tonight. A little curl of desire warms my belly.

Jake is also breathtakingly handsome. Both of them have filled out. Their shoulders are broader, jaws are firmer. I can see that the work they do for their home improvement business has made them both muscular. Jake's blond hair is cut short and his blue eyes twinkle with mischief and something else that heats my core as he looks at me.

We all stand around and then they both come forward to kiss me on the cheek but just like trying to get through the door they don't coordinate with each other and the two of them end up bonking heads instead of kissing me.

Though I was looking forward to them each kissing me, it was rather funny and I giggled. Then I looked at the two of them and saw that they did not find it funny at all.

Jake glared at Creed and Creed glared at Jake.

“You selfish motherfucker,” Creed says to his brother. “You always have to go first. You never think of me. You never think of other people. You have the manners of a rutting pig.”

In the past the two of them had joked around a lot with each other and I enjoyed their banter. But considering the tone and Creed's flashing eyes, this is no jovial teasing.

Anger flares in Jake's eyes. Usually he's the jokester, but there's no joking in the way he's staring at his brother. Tension in the room is really thick and I take a step back and stare at them as though I've never seen them before.

“What has happened to the two of you?” I ask. “You used to be fun and you used to have a great bond together. But I don't even recognize you now.”

Sadness wells up inside of me as I watch the two of them practically coming to blows with each other over what otherwise would be a funny little incident.

The two of them look at each other and some of the tension eases. “You're right,” Creed says. “I guess we have been a little hard on each other lately. But everything is better now that you're here.”

"Yes," Jake says, stepping toward me. "So much better." He cups my face in his hands and tips my head back before he lowers his mouth and kisses me. His lips are soft and vaguely familiar. Memories return of being held in his arms, but now his arms are broader, stronger and the safety they provide means more to me since I know what it can be like to be with a man you cannot trust. Should have never trusted.

When the kiss ends, his gaze lingers on my mouth, my face and then it bores into my eyes. "Welcome home, Tracy," he says and I nearly melt right there on the spot.

"My turn," Creed says as Jake steps out of the way and his brother takes his place. Creed slides his arms around my waist and draws me against his hard body. "I've missed you so much, Tracy," he whispers before his mouth takes possession of mine in a demanding kiss that leaves me in no doubt about how much he's missed me.

I'm breathless when he draws back and I stare from one of them to the other.

Just then, Aunt Max walks in with a huge vase holding all the flowers they've brought mixed together. It's like a symbol of what each of them brings to a relationship.

God, I hope this can work.

CHAPTER9

Creed

We get to the truck.Jake helps her in on the passenger side and I fight back the urge to push him out of the way so that I can be the one to guide her into her seat. His hand grazes over her hip as he boosts her up into the truck and jealousy spreads through me. I push that aside and take my place behind the steering wheel.

Tracy is wedged between us on the long bench seat and just being near to her like this calms something inside of me. I think back to what it felt like a few minutes ago to hold her in my arms and kiss her. Some of the tension that has built up inside starts to unwind.

“Tell us about your life in the city,” Jake says. I think that having her talk about the great life that she has away from Eagle Canyon is hardly the way to persuade her to stay. But I don't say that. I am trying very hard to treat my brother well so that we make a good impression on Tracy. Nothing is more important than persuading her to be our mate.

“Well,” she says, looking at him and then turning to look at me. “There are lots of interesting things to do in the city. And I had...um... a job doing something I always wanted. But it's not as perfect as I thought it would be. I suppose that's part of growing up though, isn't it?”

She puts her hand on my thigh and looks up at me and says, “That's enough about me. Tell me what's been happening with the two of you.” She glances around the large pickup truck and then turns back to me. “It sure looks like your home improvement business is doing well, if this is the company truck.”

Jake and I chuckle. I am proud of our business. And considering how much we have been bickering with each other, the fact that we've still been able to keep our business going and growing is nothing short of a miracle. Of course I don't say any of this to Tracy. In fact, I'm rather embarrassed to think about it now.

“Our business really has grown,” Jake says. “It’s mostly because of Creed. He's got a real mind for business, and numbers and keeping track of everything. I guess I don't give him enough credit.”

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