Wait… Is that…
I stop and do a double take. Yep, it is. I’m staring at a photograph of Ryan, Jeremiah, and myself taken seven years ago when I was fifteen. I was so young looking, and I’ve definitely changed a lot over the years. I wonder what he looks like now, after all this time.
I shake it off quickly. I can't let myself go there. One, he's married, and second, even if he wasn't, he's my brother's best friend. He's like the apple in the Garden of Eden—forbidden. Ryan stops and waits for me, no doubt noticing the picture I’m looking at.
“You were so young there. My sweet little sister.”
“Umm, unless you can't see what's in front of you, I am still sweet and your little sister. Just older. But still younger than you.”
“Har, har, har,” he replies as he opens the door in front of him.
“Are you a pirate now?”
“Nope, but pretending to be one is what put us in the predicament we're in now, having twins.”
“TMI, Ryan, TMI. There are things even a sister should never hear. And her brother’s sex life is one of them. Do you want to hear about mine?” His face immediately scrunches up, and he acts as if he's about to gag.
“Point taken. Here's your room. You have an ensuite bathroom and I'd suggest locking the bedroom door or I can't guarantee RJwon't barge in on you. Sweet dreams. Tomorrow we’ll get your stuff in the garage apartment.” He ushers me inside, sets my bag on the floor, and blows me a kiss before shutting the door behind him.
I slowly look around. The room is colorful, full of pastel prints. The curtains are a sheer sage color with venetian blinds underneath them. They are open right now, bathing everything in bright sunlight, and I know I'll never fall asleep unless I shut them. Once that’s done, I continue to look around. There's a dresser with a picture of Ryan, Maddy and RJ on it, along with one of our parents with Ryan and me. The bed has a matching sage comforter on it with a flower design etched into it. I have a feeling Maddy is to thank for the coziness of the place. I love it.
I drop my purse to the floor and head straight for the bathroom, but quickly pivot and lock the door first, heeding Ryan's warning of RJ busting in. As much as I want a bath, I opt for a shower, quickly washing the grime of being on the road off of me, before getting out. I look longingly back at the huge garden tub and make a mental promise to it that after I rest, I will be back to lounge inside of it.
Looking through my bag, I pull out a pair of panties, sleep shorts and a tank and get dressed. Time for bed. Pulling back the comforter, I slip underneath it, my eyes closing before my head ever hits the pillow. Dreaming of a man that I can never have.
I don't know what time it is when I finally wake up. The house is quiet. Sitting up in bed, I rub the sleep from my eyes with the heel of my hands. My mouth is dry and scratchy, and I remember Ryan never gave me that medicine. I need water.
Normally I wouldn't walk around someone else's house in what I'm wearing, but this is family and it doesn't sound as if anyone else is awake. Tiptoeing, I make my way to the kitchen, not wanting to wake anyone up. The house is dark, so I know I must've slept through the day into the night.
Thankfully, there's a light on over the stove and I'm able to see without falling on my face or bumping into something. Opening the cabinet, I pull out a glass and turn on the faucet. The coolness of the water feels good against my throat.
“I was wondering when you were going to wake up,” a deep masculine voice says from behind me, and I almost drop the glass.
Turning slowly, I come face to face with the man that holds my heart.
“Jeremiah? What are you doing here?”
“Picking up my daughter, Angel. We were over earlier, and she was having so much fun, Ryan told me to let her stay and play awhile. I was going to pick her up earlier, but I had to run to work to take care of something. Man, you've really grown up.”
I quickly remember what I'm wearing and cross my arms over my chest, attempting to cover myself. Puberty hit me hard at sixteen and my boobs grew overnight so now I'm a very bountiful C cup. Not to mention, I don't have a bra on, so they are very exposed.
“Here's your girl, Jeremiah.” Ryan steps into the room with the most precious girl in his arms. She has the curliest, dirty blonde hair and from what I can see, she is the spitting image of her father.
God, he’s changed. He’s grown up, more confident. Can someone look like that? He still has a playful smile, but he’s a dad now. His body’s developed more muscle and fuck me, has he got taller? One thing Jeremiah hasn’t lost is his good looks and the hold he has over me.
“Well, I'm going back to bed. It was good to see you again,” I spit out so fast you'd think I was saying one humongous word. As I rush by them, my arm grazes against his, and electricity dances along my skin, causing my hair to stand on end. Shit, his touch still sets me on fire.
The only blessing to the night as I'm safely locked behind the doors of the guestroom is I didn't have to see his bitch of a wife. She was gorgeous then, so I can only imagine what she looks like now. She's probably a freaking supermodel or something.
First thing tomorrow, I'm getting my stuff moved into the garage apartment. There's no way in hell I'm going to be surprised like that again.
Chapter 4
Jeremiah
Fuck, she looks evenmore gorgeous than I remember. It took everything in me not to flirt with her the first time I met her, but she was still just a kid, and I was twenty-one. She was too young, and I knew it. If I touched her, I'd be in jail, not to mention losing my military career. Amberlee was also my best friend's little sister, which firmly placed her in the touch her and die category.
I just wished I'd contained my hormones better and not fucked Sylvia that day. She was a poor substitution for her. The only good thing that came from it was my princess, my beautiful little girl, Angelica. She’s truly my angel in every sense of the word.
