You can do this.My hold on the door handle tightened.Walk away now…so you don’t have to watchhimwalk away later.
I swallowed down the ache in my throat and turned away, stepping into the hallway and out of Brakkor’s life.
I had the memories of tonight, and that would be enough.
They had to be.
One night only. I wasn’t going to be hurt again.
Chapter Four
Brakkor
“Married? Have you gonejarnel?”Incredulously, I blurted the word our mother used to use as I stared at my twin brother. “You’remarryingthe female?”
Korrad didn’t look up from where he was wiping down the kitchen counters in his brand-new house. “Yep. We signed the contract last night, the two of us. Jay and Milo have already started planning. Kid says he’s always wanted to see a sunset beach wedding, so?—”
My palms slammed down on the counter. “So you’remarryingthe female, so your son can experience a beach wedding? Listen to yourself, brother!”
One of my twin’s most irritating habits was his ability to getcalmerin the face of my frustration. It never failed to piss me off more.
Huh. Maybe that’s why he did it?
Now, he merely tossed the sponge in the sink and lifted calm eyes my way. “I am listening. I listened to all the pros and cons and decided this was the best course forward.”
I shook my head. “Is it because you’re horny for her? You can just fuck her?—”
“I’ve never met her in person, Brak.” Damn his even tone. “And we can’t all go through life fucking females and walking away from them.”
My heart hammered against my ribcage, my breathing coming too fast, as I glared at him over the kitchen island. This was an old argument; my brother didn’t approve of my lifestyle, one our younger brother shared. Well, fuck Korrad:wedidn’t approve of marrying a female he’d never met before!
“You’re going to marry her and what? She’ll move in here?” I tried to keep my tone even, tried to convince him he was making a mistake.
“Her and Milo, yep.” Korrad turned away from me, flicking the faucet on and sticking his hands under the hot water, then rinsing off the sponge. “Jay wanted to share a room with him, but agreed to help me set up the guest room for?—”
“This place was built to orc dimensions,” I growled.
For the first time, my brother seemed surprised. I watched him blink, then glance around the kitchen and sigh. “You’re right.” The counters had been built taller than human builders usually planned, and the cabinets wider. One of the benefits of going with our constructionfirm: a house built for and by orcs. “Well, we’ll figure out something. Maybe I can redo the kitchen.”
Clicking my tongue in disgust, I shook my head and crossed my arms in front of my chest. “Brand new house, you’re already talking demo? Over a female you’re going to marry on a whim.”
“Not a whim, Brak,” he said quietly, blowing out a breath as he crossed to the fridge. “Jay and Milo are best friends. I’ve gotten to know the kid too, and I really like him. When I found out the trouble he and his mom are in, this seemed like the best solution.”
He straightened, holding a beer out to me. I scowled, but opened my palm, inviting him to toss it to me. When he did, I caught it, propping my hip against the counter and allowing the cool liquid to ease the tension in my chest.
Why the fuck did this matter to me so much? Yeah, Korrad was making a stupid move, I knew that.Marryinga female just to take care of her kid?
Well, actually, I suppose that didn’t surprise me too much. My brother always was too noble for his own good.
“What does she get out of this?” I grumbled around the beer.
Korrad shrugged, his gaze going out the window. Now that the days were getting longer, our habit of me joining him and Jay for dinner seemed to last longer. Summers in Eastshore Isle were fuckinghotand humid, but so far, I liked them better than winters in the Colorado mountains.
Our younger brother Kardok had been born for ice and snow, and his career as a professional hockey player proved it. Me? I hated that winter meant I couldn’t use my heavy machinery.
“Milo needs the kind of individualized attention Eastshore Elementary is known for—he’s already been held back once. And when he’s on my health insurance, we can work on getting him the medications he needs.”
Fucking noble, see what I mean? I drained the last of my beer with a grunt. “And what aboutyou? What areyougetting out of this?”
