Chapter 40

I woke to the sounds of angry voices. Slowly, I opened my eyes. In my peripheral vision, I saw the palest hint of morning light filtering in through large double windows. Blinking, I sat up in bed. Oh my God. The bed. It was Jake's. I looked around. I was in Jake's bedroom.

And I was naked.

Instantly, memories of the previous night came flooding back to me. Our encounter on the sofa had been just the beginning. We'd gone from the sofa to the floor and finally to his king-size bed, where the night had ended with me falling asleep, utterly sated, in his arms.

But now, he was gone, not too far it seemed. From somewhere outside the bedroom, I heard his voice, along with another voice that I instantly recognized. The second voice belonged to his brother – technically my future brother-in-law, since he'd soon be marrying my sister.

His name was Jim, but like everyone else, my sister always called him by his last name, Bishop. Funny too, because that was Jake's last name too. I couldn't help but wonder why one brother went by his last name, while the other went by his first. Weird.

Before I could dwell on it further, their voices rose to a new level.

"Where the hell is she?" Bishop said.

Jake's response was chilly, but calm. "None of your fucking business."

"You think it's not?"

"I know it's not," Jake said.

I heard receding footsteps, followed by the sound of someone opening and slamming an interior door, and then another. Oh crap. Was Bishop searching the place? For me? God, how humiliating.

I looked wildly around, wondering if I should try to hide or just brazen it out. I glanced toward the closed bedroom door and breathed a sigh of relief. The door had a lock.

I crept out of bed, dragging the nearest blanket around me as I tiptoed across the smooth tile floor. As quietly as I could, I twisted the lock in place and then, turned to lean my back against the thick oak door.

Why on Earth was I creeping around? Honestly, I had no idea. I wasn't a kid anymore. I was twenty-three, for crying out loud. And Jake? He was even older than I was. This whole thing was beyond ridiculous.

And besides, Jake was a full year older than his brother. If anything, shouldn't Jake be searching Bishop's place for wayward naked girls?

No, I realized. He shouldn't. The only thing Jake would find would be my sister, and I definitely didn’t want him to see her naked. Come to think of it, I didn't like the idea of Jake seeing any girl naked, me included, especially not with an audience.

I heard another door slam, and again, those footsteps grew louder. Soon, they were dangerously close to the master bedroom. A moment later, I heard Jake's voice, just outside where I stood. "You touch that doorknob, and you're gonna get your ass kicked."

I tensed, afraid to move, and half-afraid to breathe. Stupid or not, I didn't want to be caught in Jake's bedroom. I didn't want an ugly scene. I didn't want to explain myself to anyone. And I sure as hell didn't want to jump in the middle of whatever was going on between them, especially since I was wearing no clothes.

Bishop gave a muttered curse. "Don't tell me…" he said.

"I'm not telling you shit," Jake said, "because, as I already told you, it's none of your fucking business."

"Your ass," Bishop said. "It is my business. I'm here to bring her home."

"She is home," Jake said. "So stay the fuck out of it."

I caught my breath. This wasn't my home. I didn't live here. At best, I was just a temporary guest. How temporary, I still wasn't sure.

"Cut the crap," Bishop said. "I'm taking her to Selena's."

"That's what you think," Jake said.

To that, Bishop made no response, or at least none that I could hear. When the silence stretched out, I turned my head and pressed my ear to the door. Holding my breath, I listened. I waited. I heard nothing.

Why not?

And then, I heard footsteps again. But this time, they were receding.

Crap.

Had they known I was listening? I wanted to scream in frustration. If they were still discussing me, I refused to remain a silent bystander while they decided when or where I'd be going, and with whom.

I should march out there and confront both of them. There was just one teeny problem. I was standing buck-naked under a rumpled blanket that probably reeked of sin and sex. At the thought of the previous night, I felt my toes grow warm and my insides flutter.

Damn it, Luna. Focus.

I looked around the room. Desperately, I wished for some of my own clothes. Or hell, I'd even settle for some of Jake's, as long as they could pass for mine.

Yeah, right.

Compared to me, Jake was massive. And a guy. Any idiot would know the difference. And whatever else Bishop was, the guy wasn't stupid. Still, my gaze scanned the room, looking for Jake's closet. I didn't see one. But I did see the wide door to the master bath.

I recalled using it the night before. From what I remembered, it was huge and magnificent, just like Jake's… I bit my lip. Damn it. Not helpful.

From somewhere in the penthouse, I heard muffled male voices. Eager to catch them before things got worse, I hurried toward the bathroom, flung open the door, and peered inside. On the far wall, I spotted another door – a closet, it had to be. I hustled toward it and threw it open.

Jackpot.

The closet was larger than my last two bedrooms combined. In it, I saw an expanse of men's clothing, hung in rows around the perimeter. On shelves near the center, I spotted stacks of casual clothes folded in nice, neat piles. In the middle of the space was a low wooden bench with random clothes draped across it.

I dove for the nearest stack of T-shirts and rifled through it. I picked the smallest one available and yanked it on over my head. I reached to a lower shelf and found a pair of black workout shorts with a string-tie waist. Ignoring my lack of panties, I jumped into the shorts, tugged them up, and tied the waist as tight as it would go.

I was turning to leave the closet when something made me stop short. It was the sound of voices, quieter than before, but surprisingly clear. Where on Earth were they coming from?

And then it hit me. Jake's study was the next room over. Were they talking in there? More to the point, were they still talking about me? I couldn't help it. I was dying to know.

I wish I could say I tried to resist. But that would be a lie. Besides, I told myself, before I marched off to make a fool of myself, I should have some idea of what I was jumping into.

Right?