I came down the stairs after dropping Callie’s stuff in her room and paused. My brother was finally getting a chance to talk with her, and I didn’t want to ruin it. I silently padded into the hallway and leaned against the wall, giving them the space they needed before I began cooking dinner.

But what I heard boiled my blood.

The more I listened to Callie talk, the angrier I became. He accused her of what? Of be absent because of her degree? That didn’t give him a reason to stick his dick in another woman’s body! Just because he felt like he wasn’t getting enough attention from her didn’t give him the right to go and find it somewhere else. Listening to Callie go on about what they experienced and their issues together made me glad that little twerp wasn’t there. Otherwise I’d wrap my hands around his neck and shake him until he begged for mercy.

I stood there silently, trying my best to give them their moment. Then, Callie sniffled. And the sound broke my heart. I knew she wanted to cry. I also knew she was trying to be strong for Clayton. She’d always been that way with him. Ever since her mother died. Cathy’s death broke something in my broke. And in some ways, there were moments when he expected Callie to step up and fill that hole she left. He never blatantly expected that of her. In fact, he probably didn’t even notice he was doing it most of the time.

But Callie was the spitting image of her mother. And I couldn't imagine the pain it must have held for my brother to look into the eyes of the daughter of the woman he loved and be reminded of the tragedy he suffered.

The tragedy we all suffered.

I watched Callie crawl into his lap like she used to do when she was a little girl. All legs and arms and sloping curves as her cheek fell to his chest. I had no idea if this was a moment I was supposed to be witnessing. But, with every passing second I felt as if I was intruding on something I didn’t need to be. I also couldn’t pull my eyes away. I couldn't pull my ears away. If there was anything else to be said, I wanted to know what it was so I could help her. I wanted to know everything that man did so I knew how to comfort her when the time was right.

But watching her crawl into Clayton’s lap and seek out his warmth ignited a spark of jealousy I didn’t deserve to feel.

I crossed my arms over my chest and tucked my hands underneath my armpits. I needed to keep my fucking hands to myself. Hell, I needed to keep my mind to myself. And yet, I couldn't stop it from swirling. From being insanely jealous at a relationship I had no sense being jealous at. Clayton was Callie’s father. He had been ever since he fell in love with her mother. Ever since he adopted her, for fuck’s sake. Of course, Callie would seek out her father in a time like this. If Cathy was still alive, she probably wouldn’t go to either of us with something like this. The point was, I wasn’t even on the radar when it came to comforting a broken heart.

But I wanted to be.

I wanted to be the one wrapping my arms around her. I wanted to be the one whispering into her ear and letting her know things would be all right. I pressed my back into the wall and leaned my head against it. Like I was trying to press myself through it and mold into it. I drew in a deep, silent breath and let it out through my lips, hoping it would settle the raging storm in my gut.

Then, I heard my name.

“Colt.”

I looked over and saw Callie’s eyes hooked with him. I watched her grin as me before she quickly wiped away at her eyes, then her languid form slid from her father’s lap. I pushed myself off the wall and watched as Clayton shot up from the chair and wrapped his arms around her one last time.

But her eyes were on me now.

Not him.

“Are you going to come into the kitchen? Or are you going to keep standing there like a weirdo?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Sometimes weirdos have more fun,” I said.

“Get in here.”

The little smile she afforded me seized my heart. I stepped into the kitchen and walked towards the two of them, then reached my arm out for her. I pulled her into one of our hugs. One of the one-armed hugs that had become a trademark of ours over the years. Her arms slinked around my waist as her cheek fell to my chest, and my lips fell to the top of her head to kiss it. I rubbed her arm, feeling her pull me closer to her and trying to ignore the warmth that spread through my veins when she did.

“It’s going to be okay, Callie. I promise,” I said.

“I know it will, Colt. But it’ll take some time,” she said.

“And in the meantime, if that asshole comes to this out or continues to call you, then I’ll deal with it.”

“Trust me, I know you will,” she said, giggling.

It was the most innocent sound on the face of this planet and my body turned it into something twisted. Her giggle sent shivers down my spine that shot straight to my groin. I couldn't even hug her anymore without wanting more of her. I couldn't even comfort her without my body betraying what I truly wanted.

I tried to ignore it as best as I could while Clayton watched the two of us interact.

“I’m serious, Callie. If Matthew continues to call you and harass you or if he appears at this house for any reason, I’m not too sure I won’t put his ass on the ground myself,” I said.

“Uncle Colt--.”

“I’m serious. It’s one thing for him to do what he did and it’s another thing to try and back you into a corner and make you do something you clearly don’t want to do. Did you make it clear to him that things were over?”

I felt Callie nod against my chest.

“Then that’s all that needs to happen.”

“I agree with my brother on this one,” Clayton said.

“Which part?” Callie asked.

“All of it,” he said.

She let out another giggle and it slammed my heart against my chest.

“In other news, I’ve got your things in your room. Toiletries in your bathroom,” I said.

“Thank you so much, Colt.”

“You’re welcome, Callie.”

She pulled away from me and slipped her arms around my neck, sliding her body to the forefront of mine. And when I wrapped my arms around her, I lost myself. Her breasts pressed into my chest. Her taut body in my arms. It was too much. It was all I could do to keep my cock at bay while I held her like that. My eyes whipped up to my brother and he smiled. A grateful smile that told me he was glad I was there to help him with all this.

If only he knew what my body really wanted.

What my heart really wanted.

“So, what’s for dinner? Dad said you’re cooking,” Callie said.

I wasn’t relieved to release her body, but I knew I had to.

“Well, all I need is a menu to cook. What would the two of you like? Any suggestions, Clay?”

“You know I enjoy everything you cook,” he said.

“Like a tried and true terrible chef,” I said, grinning.

“Oh, come on. That was mean. Dad’s not that bad at cooking,” Callie said.

I looked over at Clay and grinned as his finger came up to point at me.

“Shut up,” he said.

“What?” I asked.

“What’s all this about?” Callie asked.

“If you say anything, I will haunt you for the rest of my days,” Clay said.

“But you already do that. I see you every time I look in the mirror. It’s the curse of being twins,” I said.

“What’s going on? What happened?” Callie asked.

“Can it, Colt,” he said.

“But it’s such a good story. And she hasn’t been home since Christmas,” I said.

“What did you do, Dad? What happened?” Callie asked.

“Well, your father here attempted to make you a birthday cake when you turned twenty-six back in March,” I said.

“Shut up, Colt,” he said.

“You made me a cake?” Callie asked.

“He tried. What he ended up doing was almost burning the house down,” I said.

“Wait, what? Dad, are you okay?” Callie asked.

“I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Colton can shut up now with this story,” he said.

“Oh, I’m only getting started,” I said.

“Well, now I have to know since Dad obviously doesn’t want me to know,” Callie said.

“I came in at just the right time. I mean, smoke was barreling down the hallway. By the time I got to the kitchen, I couldn't hardly breathe,” I said.

“You could’ve killed yourself, Dad!” Callie exclaimed.

“It wasn’t as bad as Colt’s making it out to be,” he said.

“Want to know why he burned everything so badly?” I asked, grinning.

Callie’s eyes panned over to me as Clayton raked his hand down his face and groaned.

“I hate you,” he said.

“Love you too, brother.”

“What did he do?” Callie asked.

“He put alcohol in the cake before putting it in the oven,” I said.

I watched Callie’s face drop before she slowly turned around to face her father.

“Okay. Take your best shot,” Clayton said.

“You did what!?” Callie exclaimed.

I threw my head back and laughed as I leaned my hand against the kitchen island.

“Why did you put alcohol in the cake?” Callie asked.

“Because your favorite liquor is that marshmallow Smirnoff! I figured I could make an alcoholic s’mores cake and bring it to campus for your birthday. I didn’t know the alcohol would fireball my oven when I put it in there,” Clayton said.

“Dad. We’ve been to bars before. They literally set the tops of drinks on fire,” Callie said.

I leaned against the kitchen island and laughed until tears filled my eyes.

“I hate you,” Clayton said.

“Oh, I love you, too,” I said.

“Dad?” Callie asked.

“Yes, lightning bug?”

“Don’t cook ever again,” she said.

“Oh, at least someone said it,” I said.

We all toned down our laughter as Clayton slipped his arm around Callie. He pulled her in with a smile on his face and pressed one last kiss against her forehead. I watched the two of them share a moment and I wondered what that was like. Just being able to freely gaze into Callie’s eyes like he could. It didn’t matter, though. It wasn’t as if something like what I was feeling could be reciprocated. Callie was heartbroken, and rightfully so.

And I knew exactly what meal to cook her to make her feel better.

“What about my steak and potatoes?” I asked.

Callie’s eyes lit up as she whipped her head over to me.

“Looks like we’re having steak and potatoes,” Clayton said, chuckling.

“I love your steak and potatoes,” she said.

I wish you loved something else.

“Then steak and potatoes, it is. Now, I need this bad luck charm out of the kitchen,” I said.

I shooed the two of them out of my sanctuary and down the hallway.

“I’m not a bad luck charm. I just don’t follow recipes well,” Clayton said.

“I don’t need these filet mignons you’ve got in here spontaneously combusting because of close association with you,” I said.

“You’re bad, Colt,” Callie said, grinning.

You have no idea.

I bit down onto the inside of my cheek to keep my mind from spinning out of control.

“Give it an hour, then come in and set the table,” I said.

Then, I retreated back to the kitchen and closed all of the doors. Anything to put distance between myself and the woman my mind and body could no longer resist.