He smacks his hands together, ridding himself of the flour that’s covering every surface in the kitchen, including me.
“The first batch of cupcakes is for you and your kids as a thank you.”
“Don’t go to all that trouble.”
“I insist, Angelo.”
It’s the right thing to do. I was brought up to be kind and thankful for even the smallest of favors. It never hurts to make friends with a strong guy because I know my limits, and that mixer would’ve sat on the floor for fucking ever.
“I better go,” he says, but he’s not moving. He’s just staring at me, and hell, I’m staring at him too.
It’s all I’ve done since he walked through the door. A man like him is meant to be savored. God took a little extra time when he created this one, and he should be enjoyed, even if my thoughts aren’t exactly holy.
“Tilly,” Roger, Mitchell’s older brother, calls out as he walks into the kitchen. “What in the hell happened?” His eyes roam around the kitchen and land on Angelo. “Who are you?”
“Hey, Roger. This is Angelo. The owner of the bar.” My smile’s tight, and I’m praying to God that Roger doesn’t make a scene. He’s known to be a bit overdramatic at times.
“Did you do this?” he asks Angelo like I’m not even in the room.
“Don’t be silly.” I wave Roger’s statement away. “I dropped the mixer, and this very nice man rescued me.”
Roger doesn’t stop staring at Angelo. “I guess I should thank you.” He doesn’t finish the statement because, well, Roger’s a dick.
Roger, although sweet, is a tad overbearing. He’s my husband’s very protective and extremely gay brother. He lords over me like I’m his girl, when he very much prefers someone like Angelo with all the proper equipment.
“Where are my manners?” I take a step between them and place my palm against Roger’s chest, but I keep my eyes locked on my new neighbor. “Angelo, this is my brother-in-law, Roger.”
Angelo’s eye ticks. “It’s nice to meet you. Sorry to cut this short, but I have to get back to the bar.” Angelo turns his gaze to me, but he’s not looking at me like I’m the frosting on his favorite treat. “Let me know if you need anything, Tilly. One of us is always around, but it looks like Roger can handle whatever you need.”
What I need is to get laid, and Roger most certainly cannot handle that. He told me he once had sex with a woman. It ended with him in tears, heaving because he had a hair lodged in the back of his throat. It’s funny because that isn’t exclusive to pussy, but the man was clearly traumatized over the event.
“Thanks!” I yell as Angelo practically runs out of the kitchen like he has fire ants biting his ass.
“Damn it,” I groan, slapping Roger in the chest with the back of my hand. “You have the worst timing.”
“Him?” Roger pitches his thumb over his shoulder where the swinging door is still swishing back and forth from Angelo’s quick departure. “That’s the type of guy you want?”
Oh, you mean sexy as fuck and strong to boot?
“No,” I sigh. “He’s married and has kids.”
“Well then, what’s the problem? Jesus, doll, you’re a mess.”
“Tell me something I don’t already know.” I start to laugh at the stupidity of the entire situation. Here I was finally stepping outside my comfort zone, coming on way too strong just like Roger had coached me, and the fucking guy is married.
To top it all off, I’m covered in flour and a complete hot mess. I wasn’t even on my A game if he were single, and any chance I had at landing a hunk like that went right out the window.
“Wait, how did you drop that mixer?”
Somehow, I do the craziest shit when I’m pissed off, including tipping over an entire table because I’m a dumbass who thought it didn’t need to be secured to the floor.
“Don’t ask.” I clear my throat. “You don’t want to know.”
Roger laughs and just shakes his head. “Til, if I were straight…”
“We still wouldn’t happen,” I remind him.
If Roger were straight, I’d crush on him hard. He’s so much like Mitchell. Tough, protective, intense, and there’s sweetness at his core. Even if he liked pussy, I could never look at him as anything more than a big brother. Sleeping with my husband’s brother would just be…well, gross and wrong on so many levels.
