“Thank you for giving me an opportunity to show these babies off.”
I humph. “I cannot believe you spent good money on those things.”
“Oh, I didn’t. Mom is to thank for these masterpieces. Tonight is the first time they’ve ever been on my feet. I haven’t much been in the mood.”
“Too much work?”
His mouth parts, hanging in the slightly open position for a heartbeat. “Yeah. Super busy.” Knox tapsplayon his phone screen.
The snowman is fat and happy as he sings, but, call me crazy, my mood meter detects a shift in my handsome, icebound buddy.
Chapter 21
Knox
There is nothing sexier than a woman in a guy’s clothes.
Hisclothes.
The little black dress was bad enough, but one blink of Everly in my sweats and kick-around-the-house flannel shirt had mind-altering effects.
I palm the greasy popcorn bag propped between us. Our hands collided during a dive for exploded kernels a few minutes ago,and ever since, I’ve been doing my darnedest to not let it happen again.
I’ll do whatever it takes to remain as good a man as Everly thinks I am.
Man, it’s going to be a long night.
My mouth waters at the thought of the goodnight kiss I plotted, a plan now by the wayside. A crummy motel room is not first-kiss worthy. Everly deserves special. More to the point, unless I’m the only one feeling the heat, the air in here is electric. The spark of our lips meeting could ignite an uncontrolled burn.
I sweep a glance around the room. Sure enough, there’s no fire extinguisher on standby, just a whole lot of privacy.
“You want more water?” I hit the floor fast and stalk to the minifridge. I feel her gaze.
“Haven’t even touched my first yet. I’m good.”
Yeah, too good. Unhelpfullygood.
I torque off the cap and down half a bottle, letting the icy water have a cooling—hopefully, chilling—effect. Meanwhile, Everly scrapes together the handful of popped kernels my sudden escape spilled. She deposits them on the nightstand on her side of the bed. I scoop them up and throw them away, then linger near the trash can.Her side of the bed?
Shoot.
At least there’s no kissing in the cartoon humming away.
“Aren’t you going to watch?” Everly, merciless, pats the spot I vacated for very good reason.
What if Iamthe only one feeling the heightened energy?
Now that sucks the wind from my sails. I draw from my collection of fast food napkins on the table, handing them to her and reclaiming my spot. But I park one foot on the floor like an actor in an old timey movie.
My phone on the built-in night table lights. Rand.
Thanks, but I don’t need any reminders of what this day was supposed to be, nor am I ready to hash out what feels like the worst betrayal of my life.
Truthfully, this isn’t the first fissure in Rand’s and my brotherly bond. As far back as memory goes, I towered above my peers. It was fun and games for me, but man, Rand, two years my senior, hated how I did the same with him by the time I was five. Sibling rivalry kicked in early and ran hardcore. He resented living in my literal shadow, robbing him of a traditional perk of being the elder brother. Mostly, I worshipped the guy, but yeah, I wasn’t always above throwing my size in his face as warranted, which sometimes it was.
Of all the men in the world, why didshehave to choose him?
Of all the women in the world, why did my only brother go forher?
