“... brother, Finn! Where are you, Finny?” Dom’s voice floated back again as I did what I was told. She took the glass and pulled me to my feet.
“Damnit, I can’t...” I swayed, suddenly grateful for her steadiness.
“Ignore him,” she pulled my arm around her shoulders with movements that brooked no argument. Her grip was surprisingly strong as she hooked her arm around my waist. “He’ll forgive you for not showing. Enzo will make sure of it.”
“... and, of course, Alex, to whom we owe everything!” Dom’s voice added as she moved us toward a side entrance. She punched in the code to the door and pushed me into the dark house. The cool, near pitch-black silence hit me like a blessing and I sighed deeply.
“Wait, I want to meet Alex,” I fought her slightly, my scrambled brain finally registering the last thing I’d heard Dom say. I hadn’t met the guy responsible for making my brother happy.
“I’m sure you can meet Alex another time,” her voice was carefully neutral as she guided us toward the guest room.
“I have a room upstairs,” I muttered, consciousness starting to slip away.
“Yeah, I’m not hauling you up two flights of stairs.” She tapped the small night light on the bedside table and setting me on the bed. “I have no interest in playing Sherpa.” She pressed a button on the wall panel and the shades rolled down, blocking out more light and noise from the party outside.
I watched through heavy eyelids as she moved confidently around the space—pulling a water bottle from a small fridge in the en suite and setting it on the bedside table before moving the wastebasket closer. She leaned over and pulled my shoes off next, her movements gentle but no-nonsense.
“Have you met Alex?” I sank into the soft pillows as she draped a heavy blanket over me.
“I have.”
“I heard he’s a tight ass,” I mumbled, the medication pulling me toward blessed unconsciousness. “Flew in from Salt Lake City just to boss everyone around because he doesn’t trust Dom and Enzo to handle anything.”
“Hmm,” she adjusted the blanket with a bit more force than necessary. “Alex probably has reasons.”
I felt her hesitate beside the bed, the warmth of her hovering close and the smell of something familiar filling my nostrils. Then, so gently I almost thought I imagined it, her lips brushed my forehead, her hand lingering on my temple as her thumb traced once across my brow.
“Get some rest, Finn. I’ll relay your regrets to the boys.”
“Tell Alex I heard he’s a real tight ass,” I whispered as she tapped the lamp again. Darkness enveloped us.
“Of course,” came the whisper back, then the door-click, and then nothing.
Chapter2
Secret Identities (are) for Dummies
Alex
I always did everything in my power to keep everything within my orbit perfectly controlled without anyone noticing. From organizing the best “close friends only” engagement party, to making sure my soon-to-be brother-in-law’s twin was tucked away so he wouldn’t cause a scene, I managed it all with a smile. But now my mind was spinning around the smallest crack in my system. I pressed my hands against my hot cheeks as I walked back to the bench where I’d left my glass and shoes, my pulse still hammering from the moment of unexpected intimacy.
The tight feeling behind my eyes meant I’d need to escape soon as well. I hadn’t expected to respond so strongly to Finn as he leaned against me, hadn’t expected to press a cool hand to the nape of his neck or brush a kiss against his forehead. The memory of how he smelled, bergamot and cloves, scents I only knew because I carefully cataloged ones that didn’t irritate me, sent another flutter through my stomach that I absolutely did not have time for.
This was absurd. He probably wouldn’t even remember I was there, and it was normal for my body to react to physically touching another person, especially an attractive stranger. It was useless to think he’d ever want someone like me with my ample curves and massive control issues. Plus, he clearly thought “Alex” was an uptight asshole, which was... not entirely wrong, if I was being honest.
Dom could have at least warned me how devastatingly attractive his brother was. Despite looking much older than Dom, they shared the same golden-brown eyes and thick, brown hair. But I hadn’t been prepared for Finn’s short beard over tanned andscarred skin, or the dark hair pulled back in a perfectly messy top knot. He’d towered over me when I pulled him up, the hard planes of his body still burned against my side. The soft Wyoming accent that came out when he said words like “trying.”
I groaned inwardly, automatically reaching up to fidget with my earrings; silver rectangular hoops Dom gave me for Christmas that caught the light just right. This was precisely the kind of stupidity I’d promised myself I’d avoid. At least his comments about “Alex” had derailed that particular train of thought. And maybe if Dom was gay, I’d luck out and Finn would be too. It was easier to be around men with whom I didn’t have to worry about giving the impression of interest merely because I was friendly.
“Sister!” Enzo called, walking toward me as I turned the corner of the mansion. Relief flooded through me. Enzo was my safe harbor when my thoughts started spiraling. I grinned and set the empty glass on a nearby table before opening my arms to my favorite person on the planet.
Enzo wrapped his arms around my shoulders and crushed me against him, the physical contact exactly what I needed. I slid my arms around his torso and squeezed, breathing in his familiar cologne mixed with champagne as he deposited a flurry of kisses on the top of my head.
He stepped back and slipped his hands down to hold mine, gazing into my eyes with his own chocolate-colored ones. Despite the fact we weren’t related by blood, both of our fathers had loved my mother and because of that, I’d been blessed with at least one sibling who didn’t drive me round the bend.
“You missed the toast,” his head cocked to the side as he watched me, his face falling slightly as he added, “Finn did too.” I knew how much he cared for Finn. I might have felt jealous if Enzo didn’t fiercely love nearly everyone he met.
“Dom asked me to check on Finn,” I cupped the side of Enzo’s face with my hand, brushing my thumb against his cheek. “Besides, there will be plenty of toasts in the half-dozen more parties you’re throwing.”
