My Hot Stepbrother

A Second Chance Romance

CHAPTER ONE

Ryan

Darkness enveloped us. Bradley and I moved side by side, silently trekking a path through the wilderness. Our footsteps were quiet, but leaves crunched beneath our boots, making us hold our breath. My nerves were calm and my heartbeat steady. Nothing about this mission was simple, but I knew my team had my back.

Bradley and I slowly entered the compound from the north, while Jacob and Drew came from the east. The southern and western sides were covered by a deep, murky swamp.

As Bradley and I approached the building, I felt my breathing slow even more. My mind went blank as I let my training take over. Bradley and I moved slowly, checking our surroundings with every step. There wasn’t room for fear, only action.

When we reached the designated room, Jacob and Drew came around a corner. We nodded to one another and silently planned the extraction using hand signals. We’d made it this far; we weren’t turning back now.

Jacob ducked to inspect the lock on the door. He nodded to let us know it was an easy entry. Quickly, he slipped his tools out of his pocket and inserted them in the lock. Bradley and Drew stood with their backs to us, watching the hallway for any signs of life. When Jacob opened the door, my gun was raised, ready to fire on sight.

Luckily, the room showed no signs of enemy resistance. I entered first, sweeping my gun from side to side as I moved. Jacob grabbed Bradley and Drew, who walked backward into the room. Drew kicked the door closed behind them. It swung shut with a soft click. Finally, we were in.

The room was dark. It took our eyes a few seconds to adjust. Once they did, we saw her sitting against the back wall. Her arms and legs were tied together, a gag shoved in her mouth. When she saw us, her eyes went wide with fear, and she tried desperately to crawl away. Bradley moved forward, quickly bending down in front of her.

“Shh,” he whispered. “We’re here to help. You’re okay.”

The girl still looked scared, but Bradley’s words calmed her. He untied her and removed the gag from her mouth.

“Stay quiet,” he said firmly. “We’ll get you out of here.”

Bradley handed the girl off to Jacob, who swept her up in his arms. Now that we had her, we had to move fast. If we were caught, none of us would make it out alive.

We moved back through the door and down the deserted hallway. As we emerged from the building, everything was clear. We moved as a team, taking steps in unison and constantly swinging around to check our surroundings. It wasn’t until we made it to the tree line that things took a turn.

Bradley and I stood back, making sure Jacob made it to cover with the girl. Drew followed close behind, and just as I was about to step into the woods, I caught sight of an insurgent behind Bradley. Without thinking, I grabbed Bradley by the collar and threw him to the ground, swinging my gun around as I moved. My shot went off just in time, and the insurgent fell to the ground.

“Tango eliminated,” I said into my headset.

Bradley jumped to his feet. We ran into the woods, falling close behind Jacob and Drew. We didn’t stop running until we were a safe distance from the compound. Finally, we slowed to a walk, and Jacob put the girl down. She stretched her legs for a few seconds before she could walk on her own. After muttering a soft “thank-you,” to each of us, she fell silent. I could tell she was battling some serious hunger and pain, but she was strong. She didn’t slow down or stumble until we reached our camp.

Jacob took her to a place where she could sleep, while Bradley and I disappeared into our bunks. We would be extracted within a few hours, so sleep was out of the question, but we could have used some rest. I fell back on my bed with a thud, not bothering to remove my boots.

“How does it feel?” Bradley asked. I turned to face him with a frown. “Completing our last mission.”

“I feel exhausted,” I said without emotion. “And sore.”

“Seriously,” Bradley said. “We haven’t talked about this yet. It’s been years since either of us had normal lives. We’re about to reenter society. How do you feel about that? What are you going to do with your life now?”

“I have no idea,” I admitted. “Honestly, Brad, I’m just trying to get through this. When we’re back home, I’ll figure it out.”

“I hear ya,” Bradley said with a nod. “But you must have some plans. Something. Anything.”

“Nope,” I said, staring at the ceiling.

I thought about what he said, but nothing came to mind. For nine years, my life revolved around the military. I worked my way up to become a SEAL, and then I went on missions. It was a simple life, but not an easy one. I got orders. I followed them. Simple as that.

Now I didn’t know what to do next. In just a few hours, we would be on a plane bound for America. Once we landed, I would have to figure out my life, but right now I didn’t want to think about anything.

“Well,” Bradley said. “Listen, whatever you decide to do, you should at least go by and see Mom and Dad.”

“They aren’t my parents,” I said without hesitation. “They’re yours.”

“Still,” Bradley said. I could feel him roll his eyes beside me. “They’ll want to see you.”

“After they kicked me out?” I scoffed. “I doubt that.”

“I talked to them yesterday,” Bradley said. “They’re planning a huge homecoming party for us—both of us.”

“That’s great,” I said. “I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.”

“Dammit, Ryan,” Bradley snapped. “Just quit being a dick and listen to me for a second, okay?”

It wasn’t often that Bradley lost his temper. I sat up slowly and turned to face him. His eyes were fixed on my face with a determination I recognized all too well. His father had that same look in his eyes the day he threw me out.

I sighed. “I’m listening.”

“I know you have your issues with them,” Bradley said slowly. “God knows you have every right to be angry, okay? But they did take you in when no one else would. They adopted you, man. How many other people would have done that?”

“They adopted me for a few years,” I corrected. “Then they kicked me out. Or did you forget that?”

“I didn’t,” Bradley said. “But I also remember the reason they kicked you out. You weren’t exactly an innocent victim, Ry.”

I turned away from him and scowled at the corner of my bunk. Bradley always had a way of getting under my skin. He wasn’t wrong about his parents. They did adopt me years ago, but things had changed since then. I was only a member of their family for a short time. I barely had a chance to feel like one of them before they made me leave. Why would I waste my time visiting them now?

“I just don’t think I can,” I said, my voice soft. “I’m sorry.”

Bradley sighed, but didn’t argue. He knew my mind was made up.

“Thanks for the save back there,” he said, reaching over to slap my shoulder. “It would have sucked to go home with a bullet in my ass.”

I laughed. “It would’ve been in your head, dipshit.”

“Nah, those shits couldn’t shoot the broadside of a barn,” Bradley said.

“Whatever you say.”

“Seriously,” he said. “Thanks.”

“Look,” I said. “Whatever happened with your parents, you’re still my brother. That hasn’t changed after all these years, and it’s not going to now. I couldn’t just let you die back there, even if I wanted to.”

“Hilarious,” he said. “You’d be fucking lost without me.”

“Doubt that.” I smiled, lying back down against my thin pillow.

It wasn’t comfortable, but it felt good to be off my feet. I couldn’t wait to be back home. I didn’t know where I would go once I was released from duty, but I’d thought about it a lot. Bradley wouldn’t understand if I told him the truth. He only wanted me to go back to Lexington and make nice with his parents, which was something I just couldn’t do.

Still, there was something about Virginia that sounded appealing. The idea of living in Lexington again made my skin crawl, but I’d always liked the state. As I laid there silently, I wondered what the housing was like in Richmond.

CHAPTER TWO

Jacqueline

My brother’s homecoming party was more lavish than most weddings. With a mother like Veronica Keeton, no party of ours was ever lowkey. I hated her over-the-top nature, but she would never change. As I looked around the living room at the insane decorations, I rolled my eyes and wondered what my brother would have to say when he arrived.

“Jacqueline!” Mom called from the kitchen. “Sweetie, I could use some help in here if you don’t mind!”

“Coming!” I called back. I sighed and glanced around the room one last time. Between the fondue station and the patriotic everything , I knew Bradley would be miserable in seconds.

I walked into the kitchen without enthusiasm to find my mother standing by the stove, stirring a large pot of something that smelled amazing. Without asking, I knew it was gumbo, Bradley’s favorite. I smiled at the scent, remembering all the times I watched my brother shovel bowlfuls into his mouth.

“What can I do?” I asked.

“Would you mind getting the appetizers set out?” she asked. “There are some trays right there on the counter.”

I nodded. “Sure thing.”

Moving to the counter, I laid out all the trays and grabbed the appetizers from the refrigerator. I rolled my eyes again as I realized just how much my mother must have spent on this party. Deep down, I knew she meant well. It wasn’t easy for her to worry about Bradley’s safety. For years, she was the mother of a Navy SEAL. There were times when we didn’t know where he was or even if he was alive. The fear often got the best of me, and I knew it was much worse for Mom.

As I thought about this, my feelings softened. I glanced up at my mother and saw the excitement on her face. With a smile, I walked over and hugged her. She smiled, surprised, and hugged me back.

“I’m excited too,” I said. “I can’t wait to see him.”

“Oh, honey,” she said, sniffling. “We all are.”

I hurried over to finish the appetizers while my mother launched into a story about our neighbor, Mrs. Greenburg.

“Apparently she seduced one of her students,” Mom said, using her scandalous voice. “Honestly, I can’t say I was surprised. You know she’s always been sketchy. I told your father, I said, ‘George, that woman is trouble. I don’t want her anywhere near the kids.’ But he always insisted she was fine. Now look, I was right!”

“Uh-huh,” I said, barely paying attention.

As much as I loved my mom, she was often exhausting. Her penchant for gossip was not something we had in common. I found senseless drama to be boring and uninspired, but she lived for it. Every time I came home, she would give me the rundown on the latest neighborhood news. As her daughter, it was my job to listen politely, but I never remembered a thing she said.

Today I would have been happy to talk about my brother. Bradley was coming home—Bradley and Ryan. My stomach clenched tightly as I thought about Ryan. I hadn’t seen him in over nine years. Last time we were face-to-face, I was only fourteen. It felt like a different life.

“Get the cake out, would you?” Mom asked, taking the appetizer trays into the living room.

“Sure,” I said.

I opened the fridge and pulled out a giant box. As I set it on the counter, I smiled to myself. This was going to be a great day. I opened the box to examine the cake, and my mood changed immediately. Staring at the cake, I felt an uncontrollable rage deep in my stomach. My face flushed, and when my mother entered the kitchen, she looked at me in shock.

“Jacqueline,” she said. “Honey, what is the matter?”

“Why isn’t Ryan’s name on the cake?” I demanded.

“What?” Mom asked, a slight frown on her face.

“It just says ‘Bradley,’” I explained. “Why isn’t Ryan on here too? He’s coming home today.”

“He’s not coming,” Mom said quickly. She smoothed down her apron nervously and walked over to the sink. Her back was to me, but I could tell she was upset.

“Why not?” I asked.

She shrugged. “He didn’t want to.”

“His name should be on the damn cake, Mom,” I snapped. “This is bullshit.”

“Watch it,” she said, turning to face me with a stern expression. “You don’t know everything Ryan put us through.”

“I know enough,” I said, still fuming. “You adopted him, Mom. You and Dad brought him into this family and then you just abandoned him.”

“We did not,” Mom said, her own anger showing in her voice.

“Hey,” my dad said, suddenly stepping into the kitchen. “People are starting to arrive.”

My mother gave me a look of warning before she hurried into the living room. I could hear her greeting family and friends with her high-pitched hostess voice. The sound made me cringe. I was still angry as my dad ushered me into the living room, but I put on a happy face. I smiled and nodded politely, just waiting for Bradley to arrive.

When he did, my anger disappeared. He ran into the house with a huge grin on his face, coming straight to me. He grabbed me and lifted me off the ground, spinning me in a fast circle.

“There she is!” he said. “I missed you, little sister.”

“I missed you, too, big brother.”

Bradley set me down and turned to our parents. He hugged them both for a long time, making tears fall down Mom’s cheeks. I knew how happy she was to have him home, and the sight warmed my heart. My anger was still there, hidden beneath the surface, but I knew now wasn’t the time to release it. This was her moment, just as much as mine or Dad’s. We were all happy to have Bradley home safely. My frustrations weren’t important.

After Bradley greeted all the guests and ate a few bowls of gumbo, he grabbed two slices of cake and dragged me to the backyard. We sat on the back porch together, eating our cake in silence. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him, but I would wait. We had time. Right now there was only one question that needed to be voiced.

“So,” I said, licking the frosting off my fork. “Where is he?”

Bradley stiffened beside me and exhaled slowly. With a sigh, he set his plate down and turned to face me.

“Richmond,” he said. “He moved to Richmond.”

“Really?” I asked with surprise. “Why there?”

Bradley shrugged. “I don’t know. I tried to convince him to come back here, but you know how he gets.”

“Do I?” I laughed. “I haven’t seen him in nine years, Brad.”

“God, has it been that long?” Bradley asked in disbelief.

“I was fourteen,” I said.

“Damn.” He shook his head slowly and sighed. “This is fucking ridiculous.”

“I know,” I said. “I asked Mom why his name wasn’t on the cake, and she made some lame excuse.”

“What’d she say?” he asked.

“Just that he didn’t want to come,” I said.

“Well, he didn’t,” Bradley said. “She’s not wrong about that.”

“Still,” I said with anger. “He should be here.”

“I know,” Bradley said. “I feel the same way you do, Ash. Listen, there’s something I wanted to ask you—a favor.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “What is it?”

“I need you to keep an eye on him,” Bradley said. “Just check in on him every once in a while. His apartment isn’t far from your clinic. I looked it up.”

“I don’t know,” I said, shifting uncomfortably. “Are you sure I’m the best person to do that? We haven’t seen each other in so long.”

“I know,” Bradley said. “But, Ash, there’s no one else. He doesn’t have anyone else. It’s just us.”

I didn’t answer right away. My worry was too great. Of course I cared about Ryan. But what would I say to him? After not seeing him for almost a decade, I didn’t even know him anymore. I was just a child the last time we spoke.

“Listen,” Bradley said. “Without someone around, he’ll slip. I know him, okay? I know him better than anyone. He needs someone to be there, to support him. Without that, I’m afraid he’ll go back to his old ways.”

“You really think that would happen?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Bradley admitted. “I hope not, but I’d feel better if I knew you were looking out for him. Please?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Sure,” I said. “I can’t promise it’ll do any good, but I’ll stop by. It would be good to see him.”

“Thank you,” Bradly said, wrapping his arm around me for a quick hug.

We sat on the porch for a while longer, finishing our cake and catching up. My mind stayed focused on Ryan, though. I pictured his face, heard his voice, and wondered what he would be like after all these years.

CHAPTER THREE

Ryan

My new apartment wasn’t yet decorated. I barely managed to unpack my clothes and set up my bed. My couch was thrown in the middle of the living room, with nothing else around it. I knew I would need a TV and maybe a kitchen table, but I wasn’t in a hurry to buy them. Most of my life, I didn’t have a lot. Just having my own place—not paid for by the navy—felt liberating.

As I ate breakfast, I glanced around the apartment. It was small. A one-bedroom with one bathroom and a combined living and dining room. I had a patio, which was nice, and a tiny front porch. It wasn’t much, but I already loved it. Still, I felt confined as I finished my oatmeal. After being in the military for so long, I felt bored and restless. Without the constant shuffle of missions and physical training, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

I rinsed my bowl and threw on my shoes. A run would help clear my mind. I locked my front door and took off down the road. Richmond was a new city for me to explore. I’d spent a little time here as a kid, but not much.

As I ran, I looked around the neighborhood. My apartment building sat behind a subdivision filled with large houses. I turned, jogging through the streets and checking out the houses as I ran. Most of them were two-stories with fancy cars parked out front. I sighed and shook my head. Everything about this subdivision reminded me of the Keeton’s home.

Shaking my head, I ran faster, trying to push the memories away. Most of the houses sported American flags. I noticed them and wondered how many of these families actually knew members of the military.

Being in Virginia, it was safe to say that most people were patriotic, but that didn’t mean much. I’d found that patriotism didn’t always extend past a few flags and “I Support the Troops” bumper stickers. It used to frustrate me, but I was used to it now. I didn’t let it bother me as I continued down the street.

Running was second nature to me. After years of PT and physical exertion, my body needed the exercise to function. I wasn’t the kind of person who could survive off potato chips and sitcoms. If I didn’t run at least once a day, I would lose my mind.

Still, running through these suburban streets wasn’t what I craved. I already missed the rough terrains I used to traverse. My feet longed for rocky paths and bumpy trails. Deep down, I was happy to be a civilian again, but part of me felt lost, unsure.

When I first joined the navy, it was because I didn’t have anything else. The military was just a natural step. It didn’t mean much until I decided to become a SEAL. Then my life had purpose. I suddenly felt like the person I was always meant to be. Without that time, I knew my life would have fallen apart. I wasn’t the best kid or teenager. I was on the path that most foster kids take, a dangerous one. But the SEALs changed all that. They pushed me and inspired me, turning me into a man who was finally worthy of a good life.

As I jogged back to my apartment building, my mind drifted to my last mission. It was a success. Bradley and I both made it out alive, as did our team. Everything went smoothly, except for the insurgent I killed. Just thinking about it made my stomach clench. I forced the guilt away and turned a corner, stopping dead in my tracks.

My eyes fell on my front porch where a woman was standing. As I watched, she raised her knuckles and knocked on the door. She took a step back and waited for an answer that wouldn’t come.

With a frown, I walked slowly forward, taking in her appearance as I moved. She was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans, with tennis shoes tied tightly on her feet. Her blonde hair was curled up into a neat bun at the back of her head. Something about her seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place it. The closer I got, the more attractive she became.

She heard my footsteps and turned around. Her green eyes were hidden behind a pair of black rimmed glasses. They locked on my face, and she smiled nervously as she looked me up and down. I stepped in front of her, ready to introduce myself, when I suddenly realized why she looked familiar.

“Jacqueline?” I asked with wide eyes.

“Hey, Ryan,” she said, laughing lightly. “It’s good to see you.”

“Holy shit,” I breathed. “What are you doing here? How are you?”

“Bradley told me you moved here,” she said. “My clinic is just a few miles down the road, so I thought I’d stop by and see you. It’s been a long time.”

I nodded. “Nine years, right?”

“Something like that,” she said.

“Well, come here,” I said, walking over to her and giving her a hug. It was strange, and I pulled away quickly. She wasn’t the little girl I remembered.

I felt awkward just standing outside, but I didn’t know what to say. Seeing Jacqueline was a huge shock. The last time we were around each other, she was just a kid. At eighteen, I bolted without a second thought. I hadn’t seen Bradley’s little sister since.

“Do you want to come inside?” I asked.

She smiled. “Sure. That would be great.”

I stepped around her to unlock the door. We both walked inside, and I immediately felt self-conscious about my place.

“It’s kind of barren,” I said, scratching my head. “I haven’t had a chance to organize yet.”

Jacqueline shrugged. “No worries. It’s great.”

“Are you thirsty?” I asked. “I’m gonna grab some water.”

She nodded. “Water would be good.”

I hurried to the kitchen and grabbed two water bottles from the fridge. Walking back over to her, I tossed her a bottle, and she caught it easily. We both took a few sips and fell into an uneasy silence. There was so much to say, but neither of us knew where to start.

“So,” I finally said. “How have you been?”

She nodded. “Good. I’ve been good. Graduated vet school and moved out here. I’m working at a clinic now.”

“Yeah, Bradley mentioned something about that,” I said. It was true. Bradley often filled me in on his family, but I rarely listened. It was easier to pretend like they didn’t exist.

“We missed you at the party,” Jacqueline said softly. “It wasn’t the same without you.”

“I doubt that,” I scoffed. “I’m sure your parents had a great time.”

“They did,” Jacqueline admitted. “But it wasn’t the same for Bradley and me. We missed you.”

“Yeah,” I said, scratching my head again. Jacqueline meant well, but I didn’t want to talk about her family.

“It was good to see Bradley,” she said. “I’m glad he’s home for good now. I’m glad you both are.”

“It’s nice to be out,” I said with a shrug. “Still feels kind of weird, though.”

“It’ll take a while to adjust,” Jacqueline said. “Getting back into civilian life can’t be easy. For anyone.”

“It’s not,” I admitted. “But it’s nice.”

She smiled. “Yeah.”

We fell into another uneasy silence, glancing at each other every so often. I didn’t know what to say, but I knew I didn’t want her to leave yet.

“Listen,” I said suddenly. “Are you hungry?”

“Um,” she said. “Sure, I could eat.”

“Let me grab a quick shower, and we can go get lunch,” I said.

Jacqueline nodded. “Sounds great.”

“Make yourself at home,” I said, gesturing toward the couch. “I’ll only be a minute.”

“Take your time,” she said. “No rush.”

I smiled and hurried into my bedroom. Closing the door behind me, I sighed deeply and ran my hands over my face. Seeing Jacqueline again was a total surprise. I wasn’t ready to face anyone from Bradley’s family, and the last thing I expected was for one of them to appear on my doorstep. Quickly, I walked into the bathroom and jumped in the shower.

As I showered, I let the water wash away my nerves. There was no reason I should feel so weird about seeing Jacqueline again. It had been years, but she was still Bradley’s sister. She, unlike her parents, never did anything to hurt me. She was just a sweet, innocent kid who was nice enough to drop by. I forced myself to calm down as I turned off the shower and got dressed. Having lunch with Jacqueline would be fun, just like old times. All I had to do was relax.

CHAPTER FOUR

Jacqueline

After Ryan disappeared to take a shower, I stood awkwardly in his living room. I looked around, taking in the lack of furniture and unpacked boxes. Ryan didn’t have a lot of possessions, but it was strange to see the apartment so empty.

I knew I should sit down on the couch to wait for him, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. Our interaction felt so forced and uncomfortable. It was good to see him, but I didn’t realize how weird it would be after all these years.

Finally, I forced myself to sit down and wait for him. I nestled into the couch cushions and sipped my water, not sure what to think. Seeing Ryan again was nice, but he was nothing like the boy I remembered. With Bradley, I saw the changes in him each time he returned home on leave. With Ryan, it felt like I blinked and he became this man. This man who was incredibly attractive. When I saw him outside, I felt sure I had the wrong apartment. The tall, muscular man standing in front of me couldn’t possibly be Ryan Link.

But it was. My shock and discomfort were quickly replaced with joy. It felt great to see him. I just wished it hadn’t been nine years since we were last in the same place. As I sat on the couch, Ryan’s bedroom door opened, and he called out to me.

“What do you feel like for lunch?” he asked. “I was thinking burgers.”

He opened the door so I could hear him, but it allowed me to see inside his room. He was wearing nothing but a towel, and his bare chest glistened with water from the shower. I stared pointedly up at the ceiling before I answered.

“Sure,” I said. “That sounds good.”

“There’s also a really good Mexican place around the corner,” he suggested. “I can’t remember. Do you like Mexican food?”

“Not really,” I answered. “Burgers sound good.”

“Okay, burgers it is,” he said brightly. “We’ll hit the diner down the street.”

My attention was still focused on the ceiling. I wished he would hurry up and get dressed so I wouldn’t have to keep my neck craned upward. I wasn’t the kind of person who engaged in conversations with half-naked men. My face felt flushed.

“What are you looking at?” Ryan asked, his voice sounding much closer now.

I looked down to see him standing in the doorway, fully clothed. My cheeks burned, and I smiled to cover my discomfort.

“Nothing,” I said. “You just have a crack up there. That’s all.”

“Oh,” Ryan said, glancing up at the ceiling with a frown. “Good to know.”

“Yup,” I said, jumping off the couch. “You ready to go?”

Ryan nodded and led the way outside. He locked the door behind us, and we set off toward the diner.

“It’s just across the street,” Ryan said. “Close enough to walk.”

I nodded. “Great.”

As we walked, Ryan kept up most of the conversation. Any awkward tension he felt upon my arrival was clearly gone. His easy demeanor was back, and he seemed more like the person I remembered. Still, I felt weird walking beside him. When we made it to the diner, we sat down in a corner booth and waited for a waitress to bring us menus. She took our drink orders before she walked away.

I skimmed the menu slowly, still not sure what to say. Being around Ryan felt nice, like old times, but it also felt strange. When we were younger, we never hung out alone. Bradley was always around, and even when Ryan lived with us, we didn’t spend much time together. I was young and so was he. We didn’t grow up together, not really, so our bond wasn’t very strong.

“So,” Ryan said. “You’re a veterinarian now?”

“I am,” I said proudly. “I just graduated and got this job at the clinic, but it’s been great so far”

“That’s not at all what I pictured you doing,” Ryan said with a cocky tone.

“Really?” I asked. “Why not?”

Ryan shrugged. “I don’t know. I just imagined you doing something bigger.”

“Bigger?” I repeated curiously.

“More important,” he clarified. “Like an environmental lawyer or a social worker or something.”

I frowned. Ryan’s words weren’t meant as an insult, but they felt like one. He didn’t know me as an adult, and he barely knew me as a child. I didn’t know what path he expected me to take, but I didn’t appreciate his snap judgement. He suddenly reminded me a lot of the kid I used to know.

Back then Ryan was always in trouble. His arrogance often drove him to do stupid things without fear of getting caught. He truly believed himself to be invincible. He wasn’t. He always got caught.

“I’ve always loved animals,” I reminded him, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. “Don’t you remember me constantly begging Mom and Dad for a dog when we were younger?”

“I don’t remember much from that time,” Ryan said coldly.

“Why not?” I asked.

“I just didn’t feel like it was worth committing to memory,” he said.

His tone still held the same cocky coldness that made my blood boil. I kept myself calm, refusing to let my frustrations show. He was being rude, but he was still Ryan. I promised Bradley I would check in on him, so that’s what I was doing. If he wanted to be an arrogant dick, then fine.

“So,” I said after the waitress took our order. “What do you want to do with your life? I mean, now that you’re a civilian again.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I’m still adjusting to everything right now.”

“Sure,” I said. “That makes sense, but there must be something you want to do? Something that interests you.”

“I’ll figure it out,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Not worried about it yet.”

“Shouldn’t you be?” I asked. Like him, my words weren’t meant as an insult, but he seemed to take them as such. His eyes flashed as he leaned back in the booth.

“Well, not all of us can be vets, Jacqueline,” he said with a grimace.

“Did I say you should be?” I snapped. “I just asked a question.”

“And what prompted that question?” he demanded. “Your parents want to know what I’m doing now? Or did Bradley ask you to browbeat me into doing something productive?”

“Neither,” I said. “It’s a natural question to ask, Ryan. You just left the military. Anyone would wonder what your plans are.”

“Sure,” he scoffed. “Anyone.”

“Fine,” I said, sighing. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Like what?” he asked as the waitress brought over our plates.

I smiled at her gratefully and popped a fry in my mouth.

“Well,” I said. “I just got this new patient on Friday. She’s a German shepherd, and she’s gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful dog. But she has hip dysplasia so bad that she can barely walk sometimes. She’s only two, so it’s really weird.”

“Seriously?” Ryan asked, interrupting me.

“What? You wanted to talk about something else,” I said.

“And that’s what you chose?” he asked, laughing.

I narrowed my eyes angrily. After just a short time, I was already fed up with his attitude. He was cocky and rude, just like he’d been as a teenager. As time passed, I let myself believe he was a good person underneath everything. Even when he was at his worst, he was still nice to me. I guess that was because I was a kid, and now he didn’t care. There was no obligation to be polite or kind in my presence.

“This was a mistake,” I said softly. “Bradley wanted me to check in on you, but obviously that’s not what you want. I’m just going to go.”

“What?” Ryan asked, blinking with surprise. “Why?”

“Because you’re cocky, and you’re being an ass,” I said without hesitation. Being blunt was never my forte, but I couldn’t help it.

“I’m not,” he began, but I cut him off with a look.

“I’m not a kid anymore, Ryan,” I snapped. “I know we haven’t seen each other in years, but I really thought this would be nice. Catching up. Seeing you again. But it’s not.”

With that, I stood up and left the diner. Ryan called out my name, but I didn’t bother turning around. My hamburger sat untouched on the table; my appetite suddenly gone. I stormed across the street until I reached my car.

I glanced behind me to see if Ryan followed, but he was nowhere in sight. With a roll of my eyes, I unlocked my car and climbed behind the wheel. As I sat there, my anger slowly faded away and was replaced with a deep disappointment. My hopes for this afternoon had been high. I was nervous, but excited. I didn’t know what I expected from Ryan, but it wasn’t this.

CHAPTER FIVE

Ryan

My week dragged on torturously. After lunch with Jacqueline, I didn’t do anything for three full days. When she stormed out of the diner, I was surprised by how much of a drama queen she’d become. Just when I finally relaxed enough to talk to her normally, she flew off the handle. I couldn’t believe she would overreact like that. As I finished my burger, I thought about calling Bradley to tell him how crazy his sister was.

As the week progressed, though, I realized Jacqueline may not have overreacted. I was a little gruff with her. Being in the military for so long hardened me. I was always cocky, arrogance was my most prominent trait, but I’d worsened over the years. My friends didn’t care because they were the same way. All SEALs had a cocky undertone when they spoke, but most of them could hide it around other people, especially girls. Me? I never saw the point. I wasn’t around anyone long enough for it to matter, and I never spent more than one night with a woman.

Jacqueline was different. She was Bradley’s sister. I’d known her for years. I realized too late that I shouldn’t have popped off on her that way. She didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of my snarky comments. If anything, she deserved my best behavior.

It was nice of her to come by and see me. Even if Bradley asked her to, she didn’t have to listen. She could have easily moved on with her life without giving me a second thought, but she didn’t. She came over.

Thursday morning was slow. I went for a jog and took a long shower. When I got out, I realized how much of the day was left. I sighed and sat on the couch, just staring at my blank walls. This would have been the perfect day to call up a friend for lunch or drinks, but I didn’t have anyone in Richmond. The only person I knew was Jacqueline, and I’d successfully managed to piss her off already. As I thought that, I realized that I needed to fix things. Jacqueline was Bradley’s sister after all. I couldn’t let her hate me forever. Plus, it couldn’t hurt to have a friend in town.

I grabbed my phone and looked up where the nearest animal shelter was. Once I found it, I threw on my shoes and hurried out to my car. I drove a few miles until I reached the place. It was tucked in the corner of an old shopping center.

At first I worried it was closed. There didn’t appear to be any lights on inside, and only one car sat out front. With a frown, I parked and walked up to the front door. Peering inside, I saw movement behind the desk. I opened the door and was greeted by a loud bell.

“Welcome,” a chipper voice said. I looked behind the counter and saw an older woman standing there with a wide smile on her face. “How can I help you today?”

“Well,” I said, stepping forward. “I’m looking for a pet.”

“We have those here,” she said, smiling. “What kind? Dog? Cat? Bird?”

“You have birds?” I asked, surprised.

She nodded. “We do. Do you like birds?”

“Honestly, I’m not really an animal person,” I admitted.

She frowned and leaned across the counter, eyeing me closely. I immediately felt self-conscious and wished I’d dressed better. This woman was old enough to be my grandmother. I felt like she was seconds away from scolding me.

“Young man,” she said. “Why are you really here?”

“Okay,” I said, sighing. “Listen, there’s this girl who I really pissed off. She’s a veterinarian, and I thought that I could … I don’t know, I thought if I showed up with a … You know what? Never mind. This was a shitty idea.”

I turned to leave, shaking my head as I walked. I couldn’t believe my own stupidity. What was I thinking? I couldn’t take care of a pet. I could barely take care of myself most of the time.

“Wait,” the woman called. I turned around slowly, waiting for her continue. “You like this girl?”

“Not romantically,” I said quickly. “She’s my best friend’s little sister. He’d kill me if he knew I upset her. I’m just trying to make it right.”

The woman smiled knowingly and nodded. Without a word, she motioned for me to follow her. She led me into the backroom where cages were lined up against the walls. I was shocked to see how many animals she had. There were dogs and cats and, sure enough, birds. Everywhere I looked, my eyes fell on a furry or feathery face.

“This way,” she said. “I’m thinking a cat for you. If you don’t like animals that much, a cat would be perfect. They can pretty much care for themselves. As long as you feed them and provide a litter box, they’re good to go.”

“That sounds perfect,” I said with a nod.

“You don’t have to cuddle them,” she said. “But don’t you dare mistreat them. They’ll claw you to bits if you do.”

“I won’t,” I said, laughing. “I don’t hate animals, you know. I just didn’t grow up with pets. Never had the chance to get one.”

“That’s a shame,” she said, stopping in front of a cage. “Every child should have a pet.”

“I guess,” I said. I looked at the cage behind her and saw a small, grey cat lying in a ball.

“This is Bob,” the woman said. “He’s been here for years. He needs a home. What do you think?”

Bob was pressed against the back wall of his cage with his eyes squeezed tightly closed. I crept closer to the cage and peered inside, inspecting him silently. When I put my hand on the cage, his eye shot open and locked on my face. He looked at me with a bored expression, meowed once, and then went back to sleep. I laughed and turned back to the woman.

“I’ll take him,” I said.

She smiled. “Great. Head back up front and I’ll get him ready for you.”

I nodded and turned around. Walking back to the front of the shelter, I felt an odd sense of excitement wash over me. I’d never liked cats much, but Bob seemed okay. If anything, he would just lie around and leave me alone. To me, that was the perfect kind of pet.

It was a few minutes before the older woman made her way back up front. She held a small cage in one hand with a folder in the other. She set the cage on the counter, and I saw Bob sleeping inside.

“Here he is,” she said enthusiastically. “I just need you to sign some paperwork, and you’ll be good to go.”

“Okay,” I said as she laid a sheet of paper and a pen in front of me. I signed the paper quickly and pulled out my wallet. “How much?”

“He’s free,” she said with a wave of her hand. “We’ve had Bob for too long. If you’re willing to take him, I won’t charge you.”

“Really?” I asked, wondering what was wrong with him. “Why?”

“I’m just happy he’s getting a good home,” she said.

I nodded and picked up the cage. She smiled as I left, taking Bob and the paperwork with me. I’d already looked up Jacqueline’s vet clinic and knew exactly where it was. I drove for fifteen minutes before I found it. My hands were sweating when I pulled into the parking lot. As I walked inside, I felt ridiculous. My plan suddenly seemed insane.

“Hi there,” a young receptionist said as I stepped into the waiting room.

“Hi,” I said. “I’m here to get my cat checked out. I just adopted him this morning, so I want to make sure everything’s okay before I take him home.”

“Sure.” The receptionist grinned. “What’s his name?”

“Bob,” I said, slightly embarrassed.

“Well hello to Bob,” she said. “Just take a seat, and I’ll let the doctor know you’re here.”

“Thank you,” I said with a nod.

I took Bob over to a free chair and sat down. As I looked at him inside the cage, I thought about letting him out, but I was afraid he might bolt. The last thing I needed was to chase my new cat all over Jacqueline’s clinic. Instead, I just held the cage in my lap and watched the door, waiting for it to open.

When it did, Jacqueline stepped into the waiting room with a clipboard in her hands. She was looking down and didn’t see me at first.

“All righty,” she called out. “Bob. Bob the cat?”

“Right here,” I said, standing up and taking a few steps forward.

Jacqueline finally looked up, and her eyes fell on my face. She looked from me to Bob’s cage with a confused expression. I stood there awkwardly, just waiting for her to say something. She didn’t. Instead, she jerked her head to the side, gesturing for me to follow her back. Together, we walked to the back, letting the waiting room door slam shut behind us.

CHAPTER SIX

Jacqueline

Ryan followed me back to an exam room without a word. I could tell he was nervous when I saw him in the waiting room. I was shocked to see him, but I was more surprised to see him holding a cat. Ryan was never an animal person. In fact, I remembered him boldly stating that he hated cats when were kids. As we entered the exam room, I smiled to myself while Ryan set Bob’s cage on the table. I was fiddling with the papers on my clipboard to avoid looking at Ryan.

“If you could just take him out,” I said, without turning around. “That would be great.”

“Um,” he said shakily. “Sure. Yeah, I can do that.”

I heard the latch on Bob’s cage move and then the door swing open. Bob meowed and then hissed loudly, making Ryan jump backward. When I turned around, Ryan’s face was red, and his eyes were wide with anger. I laughed and walked over to the cage. Slowly, I reached inside and pulled Bob out.

He was big and grey with wide eyes. When he looked at me, I could tell he was scared, but I held him against my chest for a few seconds just to calm him. Once he was ready, I laid him on the table and gently stroked his fur while I turned my attention to Ryan.

“Why the hell do you have a cat?” I asked.

“I wanted one.” He shrugged, still slightly red from his interaction with Bob. “I thought having a pet would be nice. You know, everyone should have a pet.”

“Oh?” I asked with raised eyebrows. “They should? Because last time I checked, you hate cats.”

“I do not,” he said, feigning offense. “Why would you say such a thing? And in front of my cat too. Geez, Jacqueline. Really?”

I narrowed my eyes and tried not to laugh. After I left the diner, I never thought I’d see Ryan again. He wasn’t the kind of guy to make much effort when it came to apologies, so I didn’t expect him to try. I especially didn’t imagine he would show up at my clinic with some random cat.

“Is he even yours?” I asked with suspicion.

Ryan laughed. “Of course, he’s mine. I adopted him this morning.”

“Where?” I asked.

“The shelter over on Monroe,” he answered easily. “They said he’d been there for years, so I got him for free.”

“Ah,” I said, nodding. “Justina gave him to you.”

“You know that woman?” Ryan asked, a look of fear passing over his face.

“I do,” I said. “We work closely with all the local shelters.”

“Oh,” Ryan said. “Well, that’s nice.”

“Justina is great,” I said, clearing my throat and turning to face Bob. “If she gave you Bob, then she thinks he’ll be a good fit. She always takes the time to really match a pet with an owner. Not many shelters do that.”

“Yeah, she was definitely something,” Ryan mumbled.

“Since he came from Justina, I’m sure Bob is fine,” I continued. “But I’ll give him a quick check, and we can set up his next appointment. From what I see, he’s about five years old. That means he should be up to date on shots, but I’ll check his paperwork to be sure. Did you bring it?”

“Right here,” Ryan said, handing me a folder.

“Thank you,” I said, taking it and laying it on my clipboard.

“So, he looks okay?” Ryan asked. “Healthy?”

I nodded. “He’s fine.”

“Good,” Ryan said. “I would hate to have to take him back already.”

I looked up sharply. Ryan was grinning, clearly trying to get a rise out me. I just rolled my eyes and looked back down at Bob. I ran my hands over his back, feelings his bones and joints slowly. He wasn’t a young cat, but he also wasn’t old. He was in perfect health, and I just hoped Ryan would take good care of him.

“Listen,” I said seriously. “Having a pet isn’t a joke, okay? You can’t just leave him to his own devices. You have to take care of him.”

“I do?” Ryan asked with fake surprise. “And here I was, thinking I could just install a kitty door and let him loose.”

“Not funny,” I said.

“You mean, he won’t hunt for his own food?” Ryan asked with wide eyes. “Damn, I hoped he might bring me a bird or two. You know how much I love pigeon stew.”

“Shut up,” I snapped. The corners of my mouth twitched upward, but I kept the smile off my face. I was still angry with Ryan for how he treated me at lunch. His jokes were wasted on me.

“Jacqueline, he’ll be fine,” Ryan promised. “I swear, I won’t kill him. If he stops hissing at me, I may even buy him a toy.”

“Okay,” I said, ignoring Ryan’s jab. “He’s good to go. I think we should see him back in about six months.”

“That long?” Ryan asked.

“Yes,” I said, nodding. “Six months. In the meantime, we’ll get you set up with a food sample for him. He can pretty much eat any cat food at this point, but we always give out samples to new patients.”

“I’m going out tomorrow night,” Ryan said suddenly.

“What?” I asked, taken aback by his sudden subject change.

“Tomorrow night,” he repeated. “I’m going out. I don’t know anything about this city, so I need to explore it a bit. You should come with me.”

“Yeah,” I scoffed. “Like that’ll happen.”

“Come on,” he said. “I’m sorry I was a dick, okay?”

I laughed. “That’s your apology? Seriously, Ryan?”

“Jacqueline,” he said. “You are the only person I know in Richmond, so please stop hating me long enough to show me around. Just for one night. Please.”

“No,” I said firmly. “But thanks for the business. Bob’s a cute cat.”

With that, I turned to leave the exam room. Ryan sighed and moved to put Bob back in his cage. Bob didn’t hiss this time, but he wiggled away from Ryan, making it harder for him to put him inside. Just as Bob was safely locked away, I stepped out into the hallway and hurried toward the front desk.

“You’re impossible,” Ryan called, following quickly behind me.

“Just busy,” I said. “Good to see you, Ryan. Thanks for stopping by.”

“Jacqueline!” he said as I disappeared around the corner.

Safely tucked away behind the front desk, I grinned to myself. Ryan was still standing right on the other side of the wall, sighing repeatedly. I knew he could tell I was still there, but he couldn’t see me. I fought the urge to laugh as he finally gave up and walked back into the waiting room. From where I stood, I could see him step up to the front desk, but he couldn’t see me.

My receptionist, Heidi, signed him out and gave him his free samples. After he paid, he lingered by the desk for a few seconds.

“Is there something else I can help you with?” Heidi asked politely.

“No,” Ryan said, shaking his head. “Just looking for this.”

He grinned and plucked one of my business cards from the stack on the counter. I groaned and leaned my head back against the wall. Leave it to Ryan to find a way to contact me, even when I wished he wouldn’t. As he tucked the card in his back pocket, I remembered that my personal number was typed out on the back.

When I ordered the cards, I thought it would be sweet to include my cell number. Most pet owners got nervous easily. Having my personal number gave them a sense of peace, which I felt was important. I never regretted that decision until now. Ryan glanced around him one last time before turning to leave.

“See you tomorrow, Jacqueline!” he yelled loudly. I jumped, as did Heidi and a few people in the waiting room. Ryan laughed loudly and stepped outside.

Heidi turned around to face me with a confused look on her face. I just shook my head and rolled my eyes, not wanting to explain myself. Heidi shrugged and turned back to her work. Slowly, I pushed myself away from the wall and disappeared into my office. There were more patients to see, but I needed a minute to myself.

Ryan clearly hadn’t changed much since we were kids. After lunch at the diner, I knew he was still cocky as ever, but I thought that was the end of it. I left. I stormed out. I expected him to leave me alone. Instead, he adopted a cat and showed up at my clinic. I was frustrated and upset, but mostly amused. As annoying as Ryan could be, I couldn’t keep the smile from appearing on my face.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Ryan

I tried to call Jacqueline once on Friday afternoon. She didn’t answer, so I gave up. I wanted her to show me around Richmond, but I refused to be annoying about it. If she wanted to see me again, she would. I left my number on her voicemail and tried to put her out of my mind. It was harder than it should have been.

She was Jacqueline, after all. Bradley’s dorky little sister with glasses that magnified her green eyes. As kids, Bradley and I made fun of her for it, but now I couldn’t even think about her without picturing those same eyes locked on mine.

She was beautiful in a way she hadn’t been before. Not only did she grow up well, but she grew into herself gracefully. She moved with a confidence not possessed by many. Part of me was proud of the woman she’d become, but a bigger part wished she was still the same, awkward teenager I once knew. It would have made my life so much easier.

If I was honest with myself, I never truly thought of Jacqueline as my sister. Bradley was my brother, and for a time, I thought of his parents as mine. They took me in, they tried to turn me into a better person, but they gave up quickly. Sometimes, I wished they hadn’t bothered. Still, my time with the Keeton family brought me closer to Bradley.

He was my brother, my best friend, and my confidant. I didn’t know what I would do without him. Jacqueline was different. We never formed any kind of bond. She was always just … around. It was almost like she existed in the background of my life with Bradley, never quite important enough to pay much attention to.

We were polite to each other back then. When I wasn’t helping Bradley tease her, I tried to be nice. Now I didn’t know how to feel about her. I tried to think of her as a sister, but it didn’t work. Her sexy figure kept creeping into my mind, making it impossible to think of her as family. When she snapped at me at the diner, I was annoyed and slightly angry, but there was something about her that lit a fire inside my gut. She refused to take my shit, and that, more than anything, was a huge turn on.

As night fell, I tried to push my thoughts of Jacqueline to the back of my mind. I read about a club in downtown Richmond that I was eager to check out. Knowing myself, I knew driving wasn’t an option, so I ordered an Uber. When the driver arrived, I hurried outside and climbed in the backseat. We didn’t speak the entire way to the club, but I didn’t mind. I was never much for small talk. When we pulled up to the club, he nodded at me in the rearview mirror as I opened my door and jumped out.

The club looked normal. There were two bouncers standing at the doorway, checking IDs. As I approached, they both nodded me through without a word. I always looked older than I was and had almost never been carded. My scruffy face only made me look older, so I wasn’t surprised when I could walk right inside.

Glancing around me, I saw that this club wasn’t anything special. The music blasted so loud, I could barely hear myself think. Groups of people crowded together on the dance floor, moving along with the beat. I moved immediately to the bar.

“Shot of whiskey,” I ordered, yelling over the music. “Whatever kind you got.”

The bartender nodded and poured me a glass. I slapped my credit card down and picked up the glass, taking it down in one gulp.

“Another,” I said, placing the glass on the bar.

After five shots, I ordered a beer and moved to the dance floor. Dancing was always easy. Moving my body to the beat allowed my mind to wander. It wasn’t long before a few women came over, rubbing their bodies against mine. I danced with each of them, placing my hands on their hips and letting my eyes travel over their curves. They were all gorgeous, sexy women, but they couldn’t hold my attention. I quickly excused myself and hurried back to the bar.

“Another beer,” I called out. The bartender nodded and poured me a draft. I took the beer and walked a few feet away, scanning the club slowly.

“Not much for dancing?” someone asked from beside me. I glanced over to see a petite redhead smiling up at me. She was adorable, with freckles on her nose and a cute figure.

I shrugged. “Not really. Not tonight anyway.”

“I saw those girls surround you,” she said, laughing. “It looked like they wanted to eat you up.”

“Most do,” I said without emotion. She stepped closer to me.

“Can I buy you a drink?” she asked.

“Already have one, but thanks,” I said, holding up my beer for her to see.

“The next one then,” she offered. “We can just talk until then.”

I looked at her again, trailing my eyes down her body. Her breasts her tiny, but her ass was amazing. I could have stared at it all night, but I didn’t. I looked back at her face, preparing to reject her easily. She was a cute girl, but not at all my type.

“Listen,” I began, but I didn’t get a chance to finish. Someone shoved me from behind, sending me flying forward. I caught myself before I could knock the redhead down. Spinning around to see who pushed me, I felt my face flush with rage.

“What the fuck are you doing?” some guy screamed, inches from my face. “That’s my girlfriend, you piece of shit!”

“Dustin!” the girl yelled. “Get out of here. We aren’t together anymore!”

“Look, man,” I said, holding up my hands in a placating gesture. “I’m not interested in a fight.”

Without warning, his fist swung at me. My head jerked to the side instinctively, avoiding his ham-fisted jab. I threw my beer to the ground and tackled him. My training took over, and I immediately pummeled his face. It took the strength of both bouncers and the bartender to pull me off him. They didn’t let me go until we were outside.

“All right!” I yelled, yanking away from their grasp. “I’m out! Enough.”

“You’re drunk,” the bartender said. “Your night’s over.”

“Is there someone we can call?” one of the bouncer’s asked. “If we don’t call someone, we have to call the police. That’s the club’s policy.”

Without a word, I pulled Jacqueline’s business card out of my pocket. I handed it to the bartender and pointed to her cell phone number on the back.

“Okay,” the bouncer said with a nod. “I’ll be right back.”

He disappeared inside to call Jacqueline. The other bouncer stood close to me, making sure I didn’t leave. It wasn’t long before Jacqueline pulled up in front of the club. She rolled down her window so I would know it was her.

“Get in,” she ordered.

“Well, gentlemen,” I said to the bouncers. “It’s been fun.”

I stumbled to Jacqueline’s car and fell into the passenger seat. Jacqueline looked at me with disdain before she drove away. We made it to my apartment quickly, and she helped me inside without a word.

“Are you still mad at me?” I asked as we stepped into the living room.

“You’re drunk,” she said.

“That’s not an answer,” I argued.

She sighed. “Get some sleep, Ryan. I have to go.”

I don’t know what came over me, but before I knew it, I kissed her. Her lips felt amazing against mine. I pulled her close and sighed deeply, my lips still pressed firmly against hers.

She yanked away from me and stared at me in disbelief. Her face was flushed, but she didn’t seem angry. If anything, she just looked confused. I smiled shyly and tried to kiss her again, but she moved away before I could.

“Lay down with me,” I said softly.

“What?” she asked. “What the hell, Ryan?”

“We won’t do anything,” I promised. “Just come to bed with me. Please.”

At first I was sure she would say no. Her eyes flashed dangerously, and she glanced at the front door. I expected her to storm out, just like she did at the diner. Instead, she sighed and turned back to face me. There was something behind her eyes that I didn’t recognize. It might have been desire or just pity. Whatever it was, she nodded and followed me into my bedroom without a word.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jacqueline

As the sunlight blasted through Ryan’s uncovered windows, I opened my eyes to see him lying next to me with his face pressed into his pillow. He was on his stomach, and I could see every muscle of his back, moving up and down with each breath he took. The sight made me swallow hard and turn away. I shook myself, remembering that Ryan was family. My attraction to him could not continue.

Slowly, I pushed myself up and threw my legs over the side of the bed. I sat there for a second, adjusting to being awake, before I readied myself to leave. Just as I was about to stand, Ryan shifted beside me. When I turned around, his light-blue eyes were wide open.

“Where are you going?” he asked sleepily.

“Figured it was time for me to leave,” I said.

“Why?” he asked, sitting up quickly. He moved fast for someone who was drunk just hours before. He barely seemed to have a hangover.

“Why did you get so drunk last night?” I asked, not answering his question.

He sighed. “A lot of reasons. I don’t even know where to start.”

I frowned and turned completely around, curling my legs beneath me on the bed. “The beginning?” I suggested.

“Why do you want to know?” he asked suspiciously.

“Because I’m the one who picked your drunk ass up last night, remember?” I snapped.

He nodded. “I appreciate that.”

“Plus,” I said, my tone softening. “I care about you, Ryan. Despite my anger and despite how irritating you can be, I’ll always care about you.”

Ryan’s eyes were locked on mine, and I saw something stir behind them. I bit my lip and looked down at my hands, waiting for him to speak and break the awkward tension between us.

“It’s been hard,” he finally said, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “Adjusting to civilian life isn’t easy. I knew it wouldn’t be. They tell us that all the time, but I just never imagined it would take this long. Most of the time, I still feel like I’m a SEAL, like I’m on some mission that I don’t yet have my orders for.”

“In a way, you are,” I said kindly. “This is all just one big, long mission. The only difference is, you have to make up your own orders as you go.”

“Yeah,” he scoffed. “That’s not exactly easy.”

I sighed. “I know. I mean, I think I know. All I can say is that you’ll make it through this. You will adjust, and your life will be great. I’m sure of that.”

“Thank you, Jacqueline,” he said, smiling weakly.

“So, that’s why you got so drunk?” I asked.

He nodded. “Partly. Things have been hard, but I’ve also been really confused about you.”

Ryan’s eyes were on my face as he spoke. My heart stopped, and I swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably on the bed.

“Ryan,” I said warningly.

“Just listen, okay?” he asked, scooting closer to me. “I know it’s weird. Bradley is your brother, and in so many ways, he’s mine too. Your parents adopted me years ago. There are a million reasons why you and I should see each other as family, but I just … I don’t see you that way, Jacqueline. Not at all.”

I stared at him, not knowing what to say. The truth was, I didn’t see him as a brother either. When I looked at Ryan, I saw a frustrating, attractive, defensive man who intrigued me. No matter how much I tried to put him in the same box as Bradley, he just didn’t fit.

“If you don’t feel the same way,” he said softly. “If you aren’t attracted to me at all, then that’s okay. This will be the last time I ever mention it. I swear. I just had to tell you, at least once.”

“Ryan,” I said again, taking my glasses off and running my hands over my face. “This is crazy. We’re supposed to be brother and sister.”

“But we aren’t,” Ryan interrupted. “Not by blood. We didn’t even grow up together, not really. You aren’t my sister, Jacqueline. You’re Bradley’s sister.”

“And what about our parents?” she challenged. “Don’t you still think of them as …”

“I’m not talking about them right now,” he said. “I’m talking about you. What do you feel?”

My heart was pounding inside my chest. It beat so hard and fast that I felt sure he would hear it. His eyes were focused on my face, just waiting for me to speak. I didn’t. I couldn’t. There weren’t words to describe how I felt. The only thing that could were actions.

When I finally met his gaze, there was desire in his eyes. Without thinking, without pausing to remind myself why this was a bad idea, I moved forward. My lips found his easily, and I melted. I sighed and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself closer to him. As our lips worked together, Ryan came alive. His tongue found mine, and he tasted me with a desperation that sent chills down my spine. When he pulled me into his lap, I forgot how to breathe.

Our kiss deepened. I ran my fingers through his short, black hair, and he gripped my hips with desire. I could taste every drink he had the night before, but I didn’t care. My brain was no longer in control. My body wanted Ryan, and that’s what it would get.

He slid his hand under my shirt and pulled it over my head, leaving me sitting in his lap in just my bra and a pair of sweatpants. When he unhooked my bra and slid it over my shoulders, he groaned hungrily and threw me on the bed. I was panting before he even put his hands on me.

Ryan hovered above me while I ran my fingers over his abs. Everything about him was sexy. He was already shirtless, but I was desperate to remove his pants. Before I had the chance, he attacked my body with a groan. His lips found mine while his fingers pinched and teased my nipples. I gasped against his mouth, wrapping my legs around his waist.

Breaking our kiss, Ryan trailed his tongue slowly down my neck to my chest. I shivered and moaned desperately when his tongue found my nipple. He took it in his mouth, sucking and pulling on me until I could barely stand it. In one motion, I pulled his face back to mine and rolled us over. I pinned him to the bed, my hands feeling every inch of his skin.

“When did you get so damn sexy?” he breathed.

I grinned and kissed his chest, letting my lips linger just long enough to tease his skin. I kissed my way down his chest to his stomach, slipping my hands in the waistline of his pants. Looking up at him, I yanked his pants and boxers down. He kicked them to the floor as I stared at his perfectly shaped cock. I moaned and climbed back on top of him.

We kissed again, his dick pressed between us. I rocked my hips back and forth to tease him. By the way he moaned, I knew it worked. He rolled me onto my back and removed my pants. I laid in front of him in nothing but a pair of red panties. He eyed my body appreciatively and then tore the panties from my body.

He fell against me, kissing me fast and hard. His fingers slid between my legs and played in my folds, feeling my wetness.

“God,” he groaned, rubbing my clit and setting my body on fire. He stroked me for a few seconds before he couldn’t take it anymore.

Ryan reached over and grabbed a condom from his bedside table. Ripping it open with his teeth, he slid it over his ready cock and positioned himself above me. I put my legs on his shoulders, lifting my hips for him to enter me. When he did, we both moaned, and I could barely breathe.

He held onto my legs and took me so hard that my head bounced against his headboard. I didn’t care. In that moment, I didn’t care about anything. Ryan was the only thing on my mind. He wrapped one arm around my legs for support and moved the other hand to my clit. He rubbed me with this thumb while pounding against me with full force.

I screamed out with pleasure and threw my arms over my head. My entire body was on fire. With every grunt that escaped Ryan’s throat, he brought us both closer to ecstasy.

“Holy shit,” I cried. “Don’t stop. Oh god! Don’t stop.”

Ryan’s thrusts grew harder. His thumb rubbed furiously against my clit. My screams were reduced to whimpers as my body shook. My breasts were bouncing, and my head slammed against the headboard again and again. When I came, I felt my walls collapse around him, and I screamed louder than ever.

“Fuck,” he groaned, releasing his own pleasure seconds later.

He panted and held onto my legs tightly, his body convulsing. When he could breathe again, he collapsed onto the bed beside me, leaving me lying there sweaty and weak.

“Fuck,” he said again. “Shit, that was amazing.”

I nodded and rolled to the side. My body was still shaky from the incredible orgasm, but my brain was finally working again. As I laid there, I couldn’t believe what we just did. Ryan was right, it had been amazing, but how could I let myself go there with him?

“I should go,” I said weakly, jumping to my feet and frantically searching for my clothes. I got dressed so fast that Ryan barely had time to sit up.

“What?” he asked with a hurt look spreading across his face. “Why?”

I didn’t answer. I just grabbed my glasses and hurried out of the room, not stopping until I reached my car.

CHAPTER NINE

Ryan

I woke up Monday morning to the sound of knocking on my door. Hoping it was Jacqueline, I threw my covers off and ran into the living room. I’d been trying to call Jacqueline for two days, ever since she left after we had sex, but she never answered. When I threw open my front door, I expected to see her standing there.

“Bradley,” I said in shock. “What are you doing here, man?”

My heart raced. If Bradley was showing up unannounced like this, then something must have been wrong. I studied his face for a second, trying to discern whether he knew about me and his sister.

“Get dressed,” he ordered. “Meet me outside.”

With that, he turned and walked toward the parking lot. I let the front door swing shut before moving to my bedroom. I threw on whatever clothes I could find and then brushed my teeth quickly. I still didn’t know why Bradley was here, but I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. If he did know about me and Jacqueline, what would he say? Would this be the end of our friendship?

As I walked outside, I wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans. After all the missions Bradley and I went on together, this one felt the most dangerous.

“Hey,” I said, stopping in front of Bradley. He was leaning against his car and eying me with concern. “So, what’s up?”

“You hungry?” he asked. “I think I saw a diner just across the street,”

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty good.”

“Let’s go,” Bradley said, jerking his head to the side.

Together, we crossed the street and stepped into the diner. I led Bradley to my usual booth in the back corner, and we sat down. It wasn’t long before a waitress appeared to take our drink orders. We ordered and then she walked away, leaving us alone.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re here or what?” I demanded. Being blunt was always something Bradley and I did well. We never bullshitted each other.

“You need to come see Mom and Dad,” he said with a determined look on his face.

“Are you fucking serious?” I groaned, leaning back against the booth. “That’s why you’re here?”

“Yes,” he said. “And yes, I’m serious. Enough is enough, Ry. It’s time.”

“Look,” I began, but the waitress appeared by my side. She put our drinks down and then took our food orders. When she left, I turned back to Bradley. “I understand why you’re doing this, okay? I really do, but you’re wasting your time. I’m not going. I won’t see them.”

“Why?” Bradley demanded. “Give me one good reason and I’ll drop it. I swear.”

“You know why,” I snapped. “You were there the night they kicked me out, remember? You watched while your dad dismissed me like I was nothing. Brad, they took me in, adopted me, and then threw me to the wolves. What the fuck am I supposed to do? Run back to them on bended knee? You know me better than that.”

“That was years ago,” Bradley said. “They’re over it, and you should be too.”

“Well, I’m not,” I said. “Honestly, I don’t think I’m ever going to be over it.”

“Family is forever,” Bradley argued. “No matter what you do or how long you stay away, we’re still your family. We always will be.”

“You are my family,” I corrected. “You are the only person who has never turned your back on me. To me? That’s what family means. Your parents? The almighty Keetons? They aren’t my family. Can’t you just accept that and move on? Please. It would make both our lives so much easier.”

“No,” Bradley said with frustration. “Dammit Ryan, when are you going to grow up? When are you going to realize that not everything is their fault?”

“I know it isn’t,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “But this is. They were supposed to stand by me, Brad. They were supposed to be my parents, just like you claim they are. But they didn’t. They weren’t. They didn’t act like parents or even family. They acted like assholes, and now? I’m done. Okay? I’m done with them.”

“Is that true?” Bradley asked. “Or are you just too afraid to face them?”

I glared at Bradley with anger, but he didn’t back down. He stared right back at me, waiting for the answer I would never give. Finally, our food came and broke the tension between us.

“Let’s just eat,” I said with a sigh. “This conversation isn’t getting us anywhere.”

“Fine,” Bradley said, raising his hands in defeat. “For now.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

We dove into our food, demolishing it in seconds. The diner had an amazing breakfast menu, and we both finished our meals in record time. When we were done, I was ready to leave. Seeing Bradley was great, but bringing up the Keetons was not. It wasn’t easy to remember how I felt back then, how broken I was after they made me leave.

“Have you seen Jacqueline?” Bradley asked suddenly. “She said she’d stop by.”

“She did,” I said, clearing my throat. “Yeah, we had lunch.”

“Great,” Bradley said. “How was she?”

“You would know the answer to that better than me,” I said, grinning. “I barely recognized her when she showed up at my door.”

Bradley laughed. “Really? Yeah, I guess she’s grown up a lot, huh?”

“She has,” I agreed, trying not to sound too enthusiastic.

As we talked about Jacqueline, all I could see was her naked body in my mind’s eye. I watched her perky breasts bounce with the rhythm of my thrusts. It took everything in me to pull my focus back to reality.

I could always tell Bradley everything. We were brothers, best friends, confidants. But this? I couldn’t imagine what he would say if I fessed up to sleeping with his sister. He was already livid with me about his parents. How would he feel if he found out about Jacqueline?

“You two gonna hang out again?” Bradley asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know, man. She’s busy with the vet clinic. I don’t want to bother her.”

“You won’t,” Bradley promised. “She loves you just as much as I do, Ry. She missed you. You should have seen her at the homecoming party. God, she was pissed.”

“She was?” I asked. “About what?”

“Well,” Bradley said, smiling. “Mom didn’t put your name on the cake. She tried to tell Jacqueline that you weren’t even coming, but Ash didn’t care. She got so pissed about it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her that upset.”

“I doubt it was that bad,” I scoffed. “Come on, she barely knows me.”

“That’s not true,” Bradley said, shaking his head. “Look, you may have disowned all of us, but we haven’t disowned you. Jacqueline still cares about you, man. Why else would she fly off the handle about a damn cake?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t know what to say. The thought of Jacqueline coming to my defense sent a warm feeling shooting through my chest. It took all my strength to keep the smile off my face, in case it gave me away. Still, it brought even more confusion to our situation.

If Jacqueline still cared about me that much, why did she run out Saturday morning? After we had sex, she just bolted without any explanation. She’d been avoiding my calls ever since. I refused to believe it was because she thought of me as a brother. There was no way, after what we did, that her feelings for me were familial. She wanted me. I saw it in her eyes. I heard it in her moans.

As Bradley and I finished our coffee and paid the bill, my mind stayed focused on Jacqueline. More than anything, I wanted to talk to her, to see her, and to find out exactly what made her run.

CHAPTER TEN

Jacqueline

Thursday flew by quickly. I had a nonstop stream of patients, and by five o’clock, I was more than ready to go home and fall asleep. My body was sore, and my brain was exhausted. I loved my job, but it was hard when I didn’t get a single break throughout the day. Still, I was grateful for the distraction.

It had been almost a full week since I last saw Ryan. When I left that morning, I wasn’t thinking about anything but getting away. He didn’t deserve what I did, but I couldn’t help it. My entire body forced me out the door.

I thought about Ryan on and off all week. When I wasn’t busy, I relived that morning. I could still smell the sweat and old alcohol on his skin. Normally, that scent would have been enough to make me gag. With Ryan, though, it only served to ignite my desire.

His muscular body and strategically placed tattoos stayed burned in my mine, taunting me through the week. By the time Thursday arrived, I was more confused than ever.

In so many ways, Ryan was like family. My parents legally adopted him when we were just kids, but we didn’t grow up together. Not for long. When they kicked him out, he left without argument and never returned. I wanted to think of him as a brother, but it was impossible.

When I pictured his face, butterflies erupted in my stomach. Just the sight of his eyes locked on mine was enough to send chills cascading down my back. I couldn’t deny that I wanted him. Physically and emotionally, I wanted him. But what did that mean? How could I let myself feel such things for him?

As the clinic closed, I walked to the front desk to take my messages from Heidi. She was closing down her computer when I stepped around the corner.

“Hey, boss,” she said. “Messages are on your desk, but someone just called requesting a house call.”

“Really?” I groaned. “Okay, I’ll leave now. Can you lock up on your way out?”

Heidi nodded. “Of course.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Just text me the address.”

“Will do!” Heidi called as I walked out the front door.

House calls never bothered me. I felt that it was an important part of my job. Animals weren’t always well enough to travel, and it wasn’t right to move them simply for my convenience. Still, I’d been looking forward to a little sleep tonight.

I climbed behind my steering wheel just as Heidi texted me the address. I plugged it into my car’s navigation system without thinking and pulled out of the parking lot. As I drove through town, I realized how familiar these streets looked. When I turned into Ryan’s apartment complex, I let out a disbelieving groan. If only I had checked the address before, I would have realized it was Ryan’s apartment.

I parked and hurried to Ryan’s door, wondering what was wrong with Bob. Deep down, I worried Ryan only called to get me over here, but I refused to believe that. Despite the number of ignored phone calls over the last five days, I didn’t think Ryan would resort to something so drastic just to talk to me. There must have been something really wrong with Bob.

I knocked on his door and stood back, waiting for it to swing open. When it did, Ryan was grinning at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Seriously?” I snapped. “He’s not even sick?”

“Come inside,” Ryan said, turning to let me by.

“Where is he?” I demanded.

I looked around the room until my eyes fell on the grey blob that was Bob. He was curled up on Ryan’s couch with his eyes squeezed tightly closed. From where I stood by the front door, I could see that his breathing was normal and steady. I whirled around to face Ryan, anger bubbling inside me.

“You hungry?” Ryan asked, feigning innocence. “I made spaghetti.”

“Is this a joke to you?” I asked with exasperation. “This is my job, Ryan.”

“Which is how I knew you would come,” he said seriously. “You wouldn’t answer my phone calls, Jacqueline. I had to get you over here somehow.”

“No!” I said. “You didn’t. You could have respected the fact that I didn’t want to talk.”

“Come on,” Ryan said, rolling his eyes. “Just eat dinner with me. Please.”

My “no” was poised on the tip of my tongue, ready to fly out with venom. As I looked at Ryan’s pleading face, I couldn’t bring myself to say it. He seemed so sincere, standing in front of me with a vulnerable expression. It took a lot for him to trick me into coming over. He was showing just how much he cared, which wasn’t at all like him. I sighed and shrugged.

“Fine,” I said. “But only because I’m hungry and spaghetti sounds amazing.”

“Sit down,” Ryan said with a grin. “I’ll get you a plate.”

Looking across the room, I saw a small kitchen table was set up. I smiled to myself and walked over, sitting down slowly and eying the flowers in the center of the table.

“When did you buy this?” I asked, tapping the table with my nails.

“Monday,” Ryan said. “Bradley came by and insisted I do some shopping. He dragged me all over town. He even made me buy curtains.”

I laughed and looked at the windows. Sure enough, there were navy-blue curtains hanging from brand-new curtain rods.

“Bradley’s good like that,” I said as Ryan laid a plate of spaghetti in front of me.

He handed me a fork and then pulled up his own chair.

“He’s annoying,” Ryan said with a small laugh. “He can be such a girl sometimes.”

“Having good taste does not make him a girl,” I said sternly. “You’re just jealous that he has a better eye for home décor than you do.”

“Oh yeah,” Ryan said, laughing. “That’s right. My secret desire is to become a metrosexual just like your brother.”

I laughed. “Stop it.” I took a bite of the spaghetti. It wasn’t bad.

“He’s been bugging me about your parents,” Ryan admitted softly. When I looked at him, he didn’t meet my gaze. His eyes were focused on his plate, but he wasn’t eating.

“What about them?” I asked.

“He wants me to see them,” Ryan said. “He thinks I should go by the house. Just drop by like it’s nothing.”

His laugh was dark and brought an uneasy feeling to my stomach. As I watched him, he ate his spaghetti and fell silent. I knew how hard it was for him to talk about my parents. They hadn’t been fair to him, but I could tell he missed them. It was written all over his face.

“Maybe it’s not such a bad idea,” I said, keeping my voice soft, so as not to upset him. “Bradley’s right. It might be good for you.”

“How?” he said, finally looking at me. “Don’t you remember what happened that night? They’ll never forgive me for—”

“They will,” I interrupted quickly. I didn’t think I could handle reliving that horrible night all over again. “I’m pretty sure they already have. They’ll never admit that to me, but it’s true.”

“I don’t believe that,” Ryan said. His voice was firm, but there was hope in his eyes. “Besides, it’s too late. It’s been too long.”

“It’s never too late when it comes to family,” I said.

“Now you sound like Bradley,” Ryan said, laughing.

I shrugged. “Well, he is my brother.”

“And me?” Ryan asked, his eyes locked on mine. “What am I?”

“I don’t know,” I said, sighing. “Ryan, this is all just too complicated.”

He nodded. “I know. Is that why you left so fast?”

“I had to,” I said. “I’m sorry. I should’ve explained myself, but I just freaked out.”

“I understand,” he said. “But you don’t have to be. We can keep things strictly platonic. If that’s what you want.”

“I don’t know what I want,” I admitted, my eyes flickering down to my plate and then back up to his face.

We stared at each other for a few seconds, both remembering what it felt like to be together. Our bodies fit so perfectly together. I’d never had such a connection during a sexual experience before. If I was honest, I knew I wanted him. I wanted to feel that way again, but I couldn’t admit that. Not now. Not yet.

“Stay the night,” Ryan said, his voice low and rough. “We can just sleep.”

“I can’t,” I said. “Ryan, I just can’t.”

“Okay.” He nodded, accepting my answer. The fact that he didn’t argue made my resolve weaken. Ryan so often argued, pushing me further than anyone else could. To see him just blindly accept my rejection was heart-wrenching and told me just how much he truly cared for me.

“But,” I said, clearing my throat. “Maybe we can have dinner. Tomorrow night?”

“Sure,” Ryan said, smiling. “Sounds great.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ryan

Dates weren’t common in my life. When I spent time with a woman, it was usually a one-night stand, and then nothing. As I stared into my closet, I couldn’t remember the last time I took a woman out. Nothing in my wardrobe seemed appropriate for a nice restaurant. I felt certain that nothing I owned would impress Jacqueline, and the thought brought my mood to an all-time low.

More than anything, I wanted tonight to go well. Jacqueline and I were just moments away from moving forward with this new relationship. I didn’t want to do anything that might screw it up.

Reaching into my closet, I grabbed a blue button-down I hoped would bring out my eyes. I paired it with a clean pair of jeans and some nice shoes. We weren’t going to a fancy restaurant, but we also weren’t going to the diner. I needed something reasonably comfortable, but attractive.

“What do you think?” I asked, holding up the outfit for Bob to see.

He was lying on my bed with his legs sprawled on either side. His eyes were focused on my face, but he didn’t make a sound. As I stared at him, I expected a meow or even a hiss. Instead, he simply blinked.

“No?” I asked. “You don’t like it? What’s wrong with it? The shirt?”

Bob continued to blink, closing his eyes slowly. I sighed and threw the clothes onto the bed beside him. He glanced at them before turning his attention back to me.

“Well, you don’t have to like them,” I said. “I’m sure Jacqueline will.”

Bob rolled over onto his back, stretching his legs in the air. With his belly exposed, he looked younger and more like a kitten. I grinned and reached over to pet him. He hadn’t been playful with me since I adopted him, and I hoped maybe he was finally warming up to me.

The second my hand touched his fur, he jumped and darted away from me. He leapt off the bed and sprinted toward my closet. When I looked over, I couldn’t see him anywhere.

“Really?” I called. “You’re hiding from me now? Justina could have mentioned you were the weirdest cat in the world before I adopted you. Bob. What kind of a name is that anyway?”

Shaking my head, I got dressed and went in the bathroom to check my appearance. My dark hair was still cut short from the SEALs, so I didn’t have to worry about that. Still, I washed my face and thought about shaving. I checked my watch and saw that I didn’t have time. I had to leave in ten minutes. Besides, I liked the way I looked with some scruff. Hopefully, Jacqueline would too.

When it was time to leave, I looked for Bob one last time. He was still hiding in my closet, but I couldn’t find him anywhere. I turned off the light and left the door open, hoping he would run out and reveal himself. He didn’t. After a few seconds, I gave up and left the room. Checking Bob’s litter box and food bowl, I saw that everything was in order. I hurried out the front door, locking it behind me.

As I walked to my truck, I was surprised by my own anxiety. I felt nervous and shaky as I climbed behind the wheel and fired up the engine. It roared to life, and I drove over to Jacqueline’s.

She didn’t live far from my apartment, but it felt like a different world. Jacqueline’s complex was much nicer than mine. Decked out in the latest architectural designs and models, it took my breath away when I first pulled up. There was a gate blocking my entry, so I pushed the button for Jacqueline’s apartment and waited.

“Hey!” her voice rang out. “Ryan?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” I said.

“Buzzing you in,” she said.

There was a sharp beep, and then the gate swung forward. I pulled into the parking lot and found Jacqueline’s apartment. She lived on the second floor of the first building. Even from the outside, I knew her place was huge.

“Hi,” I said when she answered the door. “You ready?”

She smiled. “Yup. All set.”

Jacqueline stepped outside and turned to lock her door. In that moment, I scanned her body. She was wearing a gorgeous purple blouse and a tight pair of jeans. The heels on her feet made her butt look even perkier than normal. When she turned around, I cleared my throat and pretended I wasn’t checking her out.

“So,” she said. “Where are we going?”

“There’s this little Italian place downtown,” I said as we climbed in my truck. “La Nona, or something like that. Have you heard of it?”

“I have,” Jacqueline said with a nod. “But I haven’t been yet.”

“Perfect,” I said, grinning. “I like your hair down, by the way.”

“What?” she asked.

“I meant to say that when you first came outside,” I said. “I like it down. It’s pretty.”

“Thank you,” Jacqueline said, blushing slightly. She reached up to touch her blonde curls self-consciously.

When we arrived at La Nona, I parked and hurried around to open Jacqueline’s door. She seemed surprised, but she smiled as I helped her climb down. We were silent as we walked up to the restaurant and the hostess seated us.

It was a Friday night, so I expected the place to be busy, but it wasn’t. We were seated right away at a quaint table near the back. No one was around us. There were a few other people in the restaurant, but we could barely see them from where we sat. Candles flickered on every table, and I immediately knew La Nona was a great choice. This place was perfect.

“Can I admit something?” Jacqueline asked after we ordered our food.

I shrugged. “Sure.”

“I was nervous about tonight,” she said.

I laughed. “Me too.”

“Really?” she asked, sighing with relief. “Good, it wasn’t just me then.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I was practically shaking the entire way to your apartment.”

“It’s silly, isn’t it?” she asked. “We’ve known each other forever. Why would we be nervous?”

“Because this makes it real,” I said softly. “It’s a date.”

“Is it?” Jacqueline asked with raised eyebrows.

“Isn’t it?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she said, sighing. “God Ryan, this is all so complicated.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” I said.

“Doesn’t it?” she argued. “I mean, what would we tell Bradley? Or my parents?”

“Nothing yet,” I said honestly. “Listen, I like you. I don’t know how it happened or why, but the second I saw you standing on my doorstep, I was immediately attracted to you. You and me. There’s something here.”

“There is,” Jacqueline said, her eyes flickering up to meet mine. We looked at each other across the table, and I felt my stomach tighten with desire.

“Then let’s just see what happens,” I suggested. “We don’t have to worry about everyone else’s reactions just yet. I think we should enjoy whatever it is we’re doing. At least, for a little while.”

Jacqueline’s smile was timid, but it made her entire face light up. I grinned and reached over to take her hand. She played with my fingers while we waited for our food and fell into an easy conversation. We talked about her clinic and her friends, she told me stories from her time in college, and I told her some from my time in the SEALs.

Talking to Jacqueline was comfortable and simple. She made me laugh and made me think. Her wit was sharp, and it kept me interested throughout the entire conversation. With most women, I would have already been bored, but with Jacqueline, I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to sit there and talk to her all night.

We spent three hours at La Nona, just talking and eating dinner. By the time we were ready to leave, my attraction to Jacqueline had increased tenfold. She wasn’t just sexy. She was brilliant. Every word she said was intelligent and captivating.

I drove her back to her apartment, holding her hand the whole way. When we pulled up to her place, I turned off the truck and turned to face her. Her eyes were already locked on my face and there was a hunger behind them that I knew all too well.

“Do you want to come inside?” she whispered.

I laughed softly. “You have no idea how much.”

Jacqueline grinned and led me upstairs to her place. We walked inside and were immediately greeted by two dogs and a cat. Jacqueline calmed them quickly and put them outside on the patio so we could be alone. I watched her every move, unable to tear my eyes away from her alluring body.

When she turned to face me, my desire was reflected in her eyes. She moved quickly, closing the space between us in two steps. Her arms flew around my neck and her lips landed on mine with a fierce need. I caught her, lifting her slightly into the air before throwing her backward onto the couch.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Jacqueline

Ryan’s body pressed firmly against mine as our kiss deepened. His hands were never still. They roamed freely over my face, through my hair, and down my arms. He rolled to the side so he could massage my breasts through my shirt. My nipples hardened at his touch, and I groaned against his mouth. Our tongues danced together, making my entire body heat up with desire.

I gently pushed Ryan off me. He sat on the couch, and I swung my legs over so I was straddling his lap. While I continued our kiss, my hands slid down to unbutton his shirt. I moved fast, desperate to feel his naked chest again. Shoving his shirt off, I ran my hands all over his arms and his pecks, trailing my fingers lightly over his abs. Every inch of him felt amazing. When he shivered at my touch, I knew I was doing something right.

Ryan tangled his fingers in my curls and gently pulled my head back so he could kiss my neck. I held onto him tightly while he kissed and nibbled my neck, making me gasp and moan with desperation. When he finally reached down to pull my shirt off, I grinned with pleasure. I didn’t want anything separating us in that moment. I needed to feel him.

Ryan threw my shirt to the floor and quickly removed my bra, letting my breasts bounce free. He didn’t waste a single moment, pulling me forward so he could attack my nipples with his mouth. He moved between the two with hunger and passion, taking them each in his mouth and biting them roughly.

His movements were faster this time, more urgent. I wasn’t complaining. My panties were soaked with anticipation.

I was panting as he gave my breasts all the attention they deserved. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I pulled his face back to mine and kissed him fiercely. Our tongues collided instantly. I nibbled his bottom lip, making him growl with desire. Pressing my body against him, I rocked my hips back and forth, sliding myself over his already rock-hard cock.

“Do you have anything?” Ryan asked, breaking our kiss.

“In the bedroom,” I breathed.

Ryan lifted me up, and I wrapped my arms around his waist. He carried me into the bedroom, basically running until he reached my bed. He laid me down gently, his eyes traveling over my body. As I looked at him, I felt a desperate urge to get him completely naked.

Sitting up, I grabbed Ryan by the ass and pulled him to me. I unbuttoned his pants, leaning over to pull the zipper down with my teeth. Ryan groaned as I shoved his jeans and boxers around his ankles. I felt him slip off his shoes and kick his clothes to the side. Finally, he was standing before me wearing nothing at all.

“Come here,” I whispered, pulling him closer. His cock was inches from my mouth. I looked up at him while I slowly trailed my tongue down his length.

“Holy shit,” he moaned.

I grinned and took him in my mouth, shoving him all the way back until he hit my throat. With my hands gripping his ass, I moved him in and out of my mouth, swirling my tongue around him as I moved.

When I looked back at him, I saw that his blue eyes were staring intently at my face. He watched me while I took him, again and again. His eyes widened and then closed, his mouth hanging open with pleasure.

I didn’t want him to finish too soon, so I pulled him out of my mouth and gently pushed him away. Standing up, I took off my own jeans and slid them down my legs. Ryan watched me with hungry eyes as I kicked off my heels and slowly removed my panties.

“You’re killing me,” he groaned.

“Why?” I whispered, taking a step closer and lightly tracing his lips with my tongue.

“I want you,” he said.

“Take me,” I said.

He didn’t need anything else. With an animalistic growl, he grabbed me and fell back on the bed with me in his arms. Our kiss was intense and passionate, desperate and full of need. He rolled me on top of him, and I sat up, reaching over to pull a condom from the box beneath my bed. I opened it and slid it easily over his ready cock.

I lifted myself up so I could slide him inside me, but before I could lower myself, his fingers attacked my clit.

“Oh god,” I moaned, leaning forward and pressing my hands against his chest.

He rubbed me furiously, slowly moving his dick to my entrance. When he entered me, I felt nothing but pure ecstasy. It sent shots of electricity shooting through my body, and I immediately took control.

Pinning Ryan’s hands above him head, I rode him roughly. My breasts slapped against his face as I bounced up and down on his dick. His grunts were unbelievable. I wanted to make him moan even more, but I was the one about to scream. Every move I made increased my pleasure. My own orgasm was just seconds away, and I couldn’t stand it.

I released Ryan’s arms and sat up, riding him harder and faster than ever. Ryan’s eyes moved from my face to my bouncing breasts and then back again. He reached up and grabbed them, yanking and pulling them with abandon. When he rubbed my nipples between his practiced fingers, I moaned so loudly I felt sure my neighbors would hear.

My movements sped up. I threw myself down on top of him, harder than ever. His eyes were dark with lust, and I could tell he was close.

When his hand reached for my clit, I came undone. My scream was earth-shattering. The jolts of pleasure that shot through my body were unlike anything I’d ever felt before. I came so hard that it sent my body flying forward, desperate for something stable to hold onto. Ryan thrusted upward inside of me, seeking his own release.

I whimpered with continued pleasure while he took control. His thrusts were deep and hard, his grunts loud in my ear.

“God, Ash,” he moaned. “You feel incredible.”

I pushed myself up to kiss him, sliding my tongue inside his mouth. At that moment, he shot up one last time and came hard. He gasped against my lips, and I left his dick throbbing inside me. When I pulled away, he exhaled sharply and squeezed my hips between his fingertips, keeping himself inside me as long as possible.

“Fuck,” he breathed.

“I know,” I panted. “That was …”

“Fucking incredible,” he said.

I smiled and rolled off him. After he removed the condom, he pulled me against his chest and buried his face in my hair. I could feel his heart beating beneath me, and I closed my eyes to revel in the sound.

That night took me by surprise. My attraction to Ryan wasn’t a secret, but I’d never lost control like that before. There was something about him that just awakened my inner desires and forced me to set them free. Sex with Ryan felt different than with anyone else. His body melded with mine in a way no one else ever had. When he moved, I moved. When I moved, he moved. It was like we were in perfect sync.

As we laid together, our naked bodies pressed close, I worried what would happen if someone found out about us. Bradley or my parents. They wouldn’t understand our relationship. To them, to anyone, it would seem wrong. Ryan was adopted. My parents brought him into our family, and yet, he wasn’t my brother. There wasn’t anything about us that felt remotely like a sibling relationship.

Lying with Ryan felt more right than anything had in a long time. The comfort of his arms around me was something I never wanted to lose. I could have laid there for days, just losing myself in him.

Still, my mind raced with the possibilities. I couldn’t stand the idea that someone might judge our relationship. To me, there was nothing wrong about being with Ryan. I felt more like myself with him than with anyone. With just one kiss, he could set me free.

As I laid there, I didn’t want to think about what other people might think. I just wanted to enjoy the moment for a little longer. Wrapping my arms tightly around him, I buried my face in his chest and pressed my lips lightly against his skin. I kissed him slowly, letting my fears disappear.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ryan

Two weeks later, I stopped by Jacqueline’s clinic around lunchtime. I knew she would get a break, and I wanted to be there when she did. She saw me in the waiting room and grinned, motioning for me to join her in the back.

Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, but a few curls had already escaped. With her glasses and lab coat, she looked incredibly sexy. I had to keep my desires under control as she led me into an exam room.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, pushing the door closed behind us.

I shrugged. “Just missed you.”

I moved forward to kiss her, but she stepped back, glancing around nervously. There wasn’t anyone in the room except a sleeping Golden Retriever. He was lying on the exam table with his eyes closed, breathing slowly.

“Not here,” Jacqueline said, clearing her throat. “I’m working and …”

“And?” I asked, stepping closer to her with a mischievous grin on my face.

“I’m serious,” she snapped. “Here, come help me with him.”

“What’s he here for?” I asked, walking over to the exam table.

Jacqueline bent down and ran her hands over his fur, her eyes narrowed in concentration. I loved to see her like this, in her zone. Being a veterinarian seemed to fit her well. I had to admit, I was shocked when I first found out this was her career, but it made sense.

“He’s just here for a routine checkup,” she said. “But he gets a little nervous and freaks out every time I come near him. We have to put him out before we can examine him.”

I laughed. “Wow. Seems like a lot of work for a dog.”

“Nah,” she said, smiling. “He’s worth it. They all are.”

I smiled as I watched her check his mouth and paws. She listened to his heartbeat and bent each of his legs. He remained perfectly still throughout her examination, and I was able to watch her without interruption.

In the two weeks since we started seeing each other, my attraction for her had only grown. The more we got to know each other, the more I wanted to be around her. Her personality, her body. Everything about her drew me in. I often felt ridiculous for staring at her without shame, but I couldn’t help it. When she was near me, my eyes were glued to her face like magnets.

“You’re doing it again,” she muttered.

“Doing what?” I asked, clearing my throat.

“Staring,” she said.

“Can you blame me?” I asked softly.

She smiled, and I walked over to stand behind her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and leaned my head down to kiss the back of her neck. She sighed and leaned against me, lifting one arm up to touch the back of my head. My hand caressed her stomach while I kissed my way around to the front of her throat. She wiggled against me, moaning softly.

“We can’t do this here,” she whispered without moving.

“I know,” I groaned. “But I want you.”

Jacqueline exhaled sharply and stepped away from me. She turned around to face me with a conflicted expression. When I frowned, she just shook her head and turned to pick up the dog.

“I need to take him to the back,” she explained. “His owners won’t pick him up until later this afternoon.”

I nodded. “Okay, I’ll come with you.”

“No,” she said firmly. “Wait here.”

I opened the door for her, and she winked on her way out. There was something mischievous about her grin that made my dick harden. I wondered if, maybe, I was becoming a bad influence on her. After all, this was her clinic, the place where she worked. I understood completely why we couldn’t do anything here, but that didn’t stop me from wanting it.

“We don’t have much time,” she breathed when she stepped back into the room.

She closed the door behind her and locked it, turning to me with a hungry look in her eyes. I lunged forward, grabbing her around the waist and kissing her fiercely. I lifted her onto the exam table and frantically searched for the button of her pants. Jacqueline’s hands roamed over my back, digging her nails into me.

“You’re insane,” I groaned when I finally unbuttoned her pants.

She lifted her hips so I could slide them and her panties down to her ankles.

“Where do you think I learned it?” she teased.

“Come here.” I kissed her again, my fingers slipping easily between her legs. She moaned and kissed me harder.

Her hands flew to my jeans and quickly pulled my cock out, moving her hips forward. I didn’t need any further encouragement. I leaned her back, grabbing her hips and pulling them to me. She supported herself with her hands while I slid gently inside of her.

Our eyes were locked on each other, never once looking away. This was just one reason I loved being with Jacqueline. Our sexual chemistry was insanely amazing, but also extremely satisfying. I felt more connected to her than I ever had to anyone. When I was fully inside of her, she closed her eyes and opened her mouth with pleasure.

“Harder,” she begged.

We didn’t have much time, and she didn’t need to tell me twice. I slammed into her with powerful thrusts, throwing my hips forward and back as fast as possible.

Jacqueline bit her lip to keep from crying out. I knew how loud she could be during sex, and I longed to hear her enticing moans. Instead, I pulled her to me and kissed her with passion. Our tongues mingled together while I continued to take her hard and fast. She was panting against my mouth, but my kiss was enough to keep her quiet.

“Oh god,” she whispered, licking my lips softly. “Holy shit.”

I moved harder, wanting to feel her orgasm before my own. When she came, she clenched her teeth together and buried her face in my shoulder. Her nails dug deep into my back, and her breathing quickened. My own pleasure followed soon after, taking me by surprise. I shot forward, holding onto Jacqueline for support. She wrapped her arms tightly around me and held me there, still inside of her, until she was finally able to breathe normally.

We pulled apart and quickly pulled our pants back up. Jacqueline smoothed out her clothes, and I adjusted my belt, making sure no one would be able to tell what we just did.

“I can’t believe I just did that,” Jacqueline said with a soft laugh.

“That was hot,” I said with earnest.

“It was,” she admitted. “But now I need to get back to work.”

I checked my watch and frowned.

“Isn’t it almost time for your lunch break?” I asked.

She nodded. “Almost. But I need to finish up some paperwork first.”

“I’ll wait,” I said. “We can go to lunch when you’re done.”

“Okay.” She grinned and kissed me softly.

We walked back to her office together, and I sat silently while she worked. I looked around her office, taking in the bookshelves and pictures hanging on the walls. It was still strange to see how professional Jacqueline was now, but it fit her so well. The more I got to know her, the less I could imagine her doing anything else with her life.

“Okay,” she said, clapping her hands together. “Ready?”

“Yup.” I smiled, jumping up and following her out of the office.

We walked out the back door, stepping into the alley between her clinic and the building next to it. As we walked toward the street, I reached for her hand but never got the chance to grab it. Bradley stepped in front of us, making me jump and quickly drop my hand back to my side. My eyes went wide, and I coughed nervously while Jacqueline plastered a fake smile on her face and flew forward.

“Hey!” she squealed, throwing her arms around her brother’s neck. “What are you doing here?”

“Just came to see you,” he said, looking at me with a frown. “What’s up?”

“I just came by to take Jacqueline to lunch,” I said quickly, glancing at Jacqueline nervously.

She raised her eyebrows at me behind Bradley’s back, clearly terrified that he might realize something was going on between us.

“Great!” Bradley said, smiling. “We can all go. I’m starving.”

“Sure,” Jacqueline said with a grin. “There’s a place not too far from here. We can walk.”

I nodded. “Cool.”

Together, the three of us walked up the street toward a small deli. Jacqueline and I had eaten there a few times already, but this time was different. Just walking with Bradley beside us felt odd, uncomfortable. I hated that he didn’t know about us yet. It felt like I was constantly lying to him, but I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t even want to think about what he might do if he found out I’d been sleeping with his little sister.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Jacqueline

We ordered our sandwiches and took a seat at a table near the front. Ryan and Bradley both dug in right away, but I picked at my sandwich nervously. My life with Ryan felt completely separate from everything else, until now. Before, we existed in our little Richmond bubble where no one could bother us, but that all changed the second Bradley arrived outside my clinic.

When I saw him standing there, I felt certain he would sense something between Ryan and me. I worried our attraction would be obvious, that Bradley would see through us right away.

“So,” Bradley said once he finished his sandwich. “How’s work going, Ash?”

“Great,” I said with an enthusiastic nod. “I’ve gotten a few new patients, including Bob.”

Ryan and I laughed and exchanged a look that made Bradley frown. He looked between us for a few seconds until Ryan explained.

“I adopted a cat,” Ryan admitted. “His name is Bob, and he’s a huge pain in the ass.”

“He’s adorable,” I argued. “He just doesn’t like you.”

“He will,” Ryan said with confidence. “I’m wearing him down.”

“You adopted a cat?” Bradley asked in disbelief. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” Ryan said, shrugging. “I just got lonely in that apartment. I need another living creature around. If I’d known how much that stupid cat would hate me, I never would have gotten him, though.”

“Give him more time,” I said encouragingly. “He’ll come around.”

Ever since we started dating, Bob had been a running joke between us. He was constantly running away from Ryan, but cuddling up to me whenever I was there. Bob loved to sit in my lap and let me scratch his head. Whenever Ryan came anywhere near him though, he would sprint away and hide in the closet. It drove Ryan nuts.

“I still can’t believe you have a cat,” Bradley said, grinning. “You hate animals.”

“I don’t hate animals,” Ryan corrected. “I just never had the time for them before. Now I do.”

“Ryan’s changed a lot,” Bradley said, turning his attention to me. “He’s not the same guy he was when you knew him.”

“Oh?” I asked, feigning interest. I already knew how much Ryan had changed, probably better than anyone. Still, I could tell Bradley was eager to fill me in on their time together in the SEALs. His excitement shone on his face.

“Did I tell you he saved my life?” Bradley asked.

“No,” I said, glancing at Ryan. I wondered why he never mentioned this to me. “When was this?”

“Our very last mission,” Bradley said. He fell easily into storytelling mode. Bradley had always been a kind, charismatic person. He loved to tell stories that made people laugh. As a kid, he was the most empathetic person in our family. If I cried, he cried with me. It was why we were so close.

“What happened?” I asked.

“We don’t need to talk about this,” Ryan said shyly. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Are you kidding?” Bradley scoffed. “I would be dead if it weren’t for you.”

“So, what happened?” I asked impatiently. “I want to hear the story.”

“Well,” Bradley said, clearing his throat. “We were on this mission. Can’t really say what is was, but it was a success up until the end. As we were pulling out, heading to the trees for cover, this insurgent appears behind me. I had no idea he was there until Ryan grabbed my collar and yanked me to the ground. His gun was in the air before I could blink and then boom! The fucker was dead, lying on the ground in his own blood.”

“Wow,” I said, looking at Ryan carefully. While Bradley spoke, Ryan’s face grew more and more serious. There was something about Bradley’s story that upset him. “That’s really … that’s amazing.”

Ryan shrugged. “It was nothing. Just doing my job.”

“Yeah,” I said, still watching his face closely. Thankfully, Bradley didn’t notice how much I was staring at Ryan. He was too busy finishing off the part of my sandwich I didn’t eat.

“Yup,” Bradley said through a mouthful of bread and turkey. “Ryan’s a damn hero, Jacqueline. He’s definitely not that same troublemaking kid he was back in the day. Can you believe it?”

“I can,” I said softly, still focused on Ryan’s face. He finally looked at me. Our eyes met, and I knew he was upset, so I smiled. He smiled back weakly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “He’s a hero, all right.”

“I’m not,” Ryan said, shaking his head. “Just lucky, I guess.”

“Nah,” I said, shaking my head firmly. “You saved my brother’s life. You’re a hero.”

“Thanks,” he whispered.

“He’s modest,” Bradley said. “Another thing that’s changed. Remember how cocky he used to be?”

“I’m still a cocky ass,” Ryan joked, coming back to himself a little bit. “I just hide it better now.”

“I can attest to that,” I said. “I’ve only been hanging out with him for a couple weeks, but still, that arrogance is as strong as ever.”

“Hey!” Ryan exclaimed, feigning offense.

We all laughed and then launched into a discussion about Bradley’s life back home. He seemed to be adjusting to civilian life easily. His job was going well, and he’d already met a girl. From everything he said, he was happy.

It was nice to sit and talk with both Ryan and Bradley. It had been so long since the three of us were together. In a lot of ways, it felt like old times. Only now, they didn’t tease me torturously like they did before.

“So, listen,” Bradley said just as we were about to leave. “When I told Mom and Dad I was coming here today, they had an idea.”

“An idea?” I asked suspiciously. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“It is,” Bradley assured me. “They want us all to go over there for dinner Saturday night.”

At his words, Ryan and I both froze. I stared at Bradley like he was insane before turning my attention to Ryan. His expression was similar to mine, somewhere between shock and disgust.

“Well,” Ryan said. “You two have fun.”

“Ry, they want you there too,” Bradley said kindly. “Come on, it’s time.”

“It’s not,” Ryan argued.

“You’re ready for this,” Bradley insisted. “I know you don’t think so, but you are. You’re stronger now. Stronger than you’ve ever been. I know you can handle this.”

“But I don’t want to,” Ryan said.

I looked between Ryan and my brother while they argued. Ryan’s face was set, determined. Bradley only wanted to smooth things out between the family, and I didn’t blame him. Still, he was asking a lot from Ryan.

After they kicked him out, Ryan disowned our parents without a second thought. I wanted to be mad at him for it, but I couldn’t. Our parents broke his heart. They took him in, let him be a part of our family, then they just dismissed him. Ryan’s pain was too great for him to forgive them.

“Maybe it’ll be good for you,” I said gently.

“What do you mean?” Ryan asked, turning to me with a flash of anger in his eyes. He expected me to be on his side.

“You’ve been carrying around all this pain for so long,” I explained. “And don’t say you haven’t, because we all know you have. They hurt you. They kicked you out, and it broke your heart.”

Ryan didn’t say anything. He just watched me with narrowed eyes while I continued to speak.

“I understand,” I continued. “I get it. I really do, but you have to find a way to move forward. If you don’t, you’ll just spend the rest of your life living with this pain. That’s not good for you. It’s been eating away at you for nine years. Do you really want to keep it buried inside any longer?”

Ryan’s face softened while I spoke. I knew he was still hesitant, but something in my words made sense. I was able to reach him in a way that Bradley never could.

“Okay,” Ryan said softly. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Really?” Bradley asked, looking between Ryan and me with confusion. “You listen to her and not me?”

Ryan shrugged. “What she said makes sense.”

“Don’t question it,” I told Bradley, just as he was about to speak again. “He’s coming, isn’t he? That’s all that matters.”

Bradley nodded. “You’re right. This is a good thing.”

“I hope so,” Ryan said softly.

Even I was surprised by how quickly Ryan agreed with me. I knew Bradley had been trying to convince him to see our parents for years, but it never worked. With just one conversation, I had him agreeing to spend an entire evening at their house.

When Ryan’s eyes fell on mine again, he smiled nervously. He was terrified to face them again, but I would be right there the entire time. I would help him get through it.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ryan

I went to bed early Friday night. It was barely dusk, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to stay up any longer. My body felt weak, but I wasn’t tired. My exhaustion was purely emotional. After I agreed to dinner at the Keeton’s, I immediately regretted it. No matter how much Jacqueline tried to reassure me, it didn’t help. I was terrified to face them again after all these years. What would they say? How would they act? Would they finally apologize for how they treated me? Or would they expect me to apologize to them?

These questions and more whirled through my mind as I stared at my ceiling. My eyes roamed over the cracks in the paint, but I barely saw them. I couldn’t think of anything but dinner the following night. Over the past two days, I went through a million possibilities. I pictured them greeting me with joy, then with anger. I imagined them hugging me, then slamming the door in my face. I didn’t know what to expect, but that didn’t stop my brain from working on overdrive.

No matter what happened at dinner, I was sure it would be a mistake to go. When Bradley first mentioned it, I was prepared to argue all day if I had to. I refused to go. He could bug me about it for hours, but I wouldn’t give in. Then Jacqueline spoke.

The second she took Bradley’s side, it was over. I couldn’t say no to her. Arguing with Bradley was easy, but Jacqueline? She knew me in ways Bradley never could. She could convey her opinions while still remaining supportive of my plight. It’s what made her so amazing, but also what made it impossible for me to say no.

Part of me hated her for it. How dare she use our relationship like this? How dare she take her brother’s side over mine? After everything we’d been through lately, I expected her to understand why I couldn’t face her parents. Plus, she was there that night. She knew exactly why they kicked me out, and she knew it wasn’t my fault. How could she expect me to put everything in the past and just move on? Why would she even ask me for something so ridiculous?

My anger never lasted long. Deep down, I knew Jacqueline only wanted the best for me. She truly believed this dinner would help me heal. All she wanted was to see me let go of my pain. Her heart was giant and full of love. She cared for me so much, but part of me wished she wouldn’t. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t push me to go to dinner, and I wouldn’t be in this situation. I wouldn’t be lying in my bed, staring at the cracks in my ceiling, seriously thinking about running away.

As I laid there, I heard my front door swing open. I knew it was Jacqueline by the sound of her footsteps. The door swung closed, and seconds later, she appeared in my doorway. Her smile was gorgeous as she walked over to me. Whatever anger I still felt toward her disappeared in an instant.

“Hey, you,” she said softy, crawling on the bed beside me. “What are you doing in here?”

“Well, Bob was hanging out with me earlier,” I said. “He actually let me pet him for about a minute. Then he ran, and I just stayed here. I’ve been here ever since.”

“Really?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Who said anything is wrong?” I asked.

“I can tell,” she said, resting her head on my chest.

I brushed her hair back to kiss her forehead, wrapping my arm around her. It felt nice to just lie here with her. Jacqueline’s presence could make any situation a little bit better.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just wanted to lay here for a while.”

“Are you thinking about tomorrow night?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” I admitted. “But we don’t need to talk about it.”

“Why not?” she asked, sitting up to look me in the eye.

“It’s not important,” I said. “I’m going. That’s what you wanted, right?”

Jacqueline sighed and shook her head. She reached for my arms and pulled me up so I was sitting across from her. We faced each other, and she stroked my cheek with her fingertips. Her eyes were soft, kind, and full of love. Just looking at them made my heart melt.

“I want you to be happy,” she said firmly. “Ryan, we never talk about them, but I know how much they hurt you.”

“Exactly,” I said. “So, why face them? Why put myself through that?”

“So you can heal,” she said. “It’s not healthy to hold onto things like this.”

“Like they haven’t been doing the exactly same thing,” I snapped. “It’s not like they’ve reached out to me either.”

“Didn’t they invite you to the homecoming party?” Jacqueline asked.

“Yeah,” I scoffed. “Through Bradley. They didn’t even call me themselves.”

“They’re stubborn,” Jacqueline defended.

“So, am I,” I argued.

“Listen,” Jacqueline said, taking my hands in hers. “I’m going to be there, okay? I’ll be right beside you the entire night. You aren’t doing this alone, Ryan. I’ll be there.”

I sighed. “I know, but still, I just don’t know if I can.”

“It’ll be okay,” Jacqueline promised. She squeezed my hands.

“I’ve been through so much,” I whispered, staring down at our interlocked fingers. “Things that you don’t know about. Jacqueline, I’ve killed people. More people than I can count, and I’m just not the same person I was back then. Bradley was right. I’ve changed, but they don’t know that. When they look at me, they’re only going to see the kid I was. They won’t see me for the man I am now.”

“Then we’ll make them see you,” Jacqueline said.

“How?” I asked weakly.

“I don’t know,” Jacqueline admitted. “All I know is that I’ll be there. That’s the only thing I can promise. I just hope it’s enough.”

“It is,” I said. “I wouldn’t have agreed to this if it wasn’t for you.”

She smiled. “I know. I feel a little guilty about that.”

“Don’t,” I said, shaking my head. “I could have said no. You just … you have a way of talking me into things.”

“I do?” she asked, raising her eyebrows playfully.

“You do.”

“Hmm,” she cooed, leaning forward to kiss me. Her lips were soft against mine. She kissed me deeply, sighing against my lips.

“Should we tell them?” I asked when we pulled apart. “About us?”

Jacqueline’s face changed in an instant. One second, she was playful and flirtatious. The next, she looked scared.

“No,” she said. “Not now. Not the first time you’re seeing each other after all these years.”

“Are you sure that’s smart?” I asked. “I mean, what if they—”

“They won’t,” she interrupted quickly. “There’s no way they’ll find out anything.”

Jacqueline’s words were meant to reassure me, but they only served to upset me. She seemed almost too determined not to tell them about our relationship. I worried she was ashamed of me, of us.

I lowered my face, staring at our hands again. Jacqueline sighed and moved forward. She crawled partially in my lap and turned my face up to meet her gaze. When I did, she smiled and kissed me softly.

“We should wait,” she said, pulling back. “It’s not because I don’t want them to know, okay? It’s not. I just think, tomorrow night is going to be tense already. We don’t need to add any more to the mix.”

“Okay,” I said. Her words didn’t make me feel better, but when she kissed me again, I melted.

I knew she was only kissing me to distract me from my fears and concerns. When she laid me down and climbed on top of me, I tried to stop things. She was only doing this to make me feel better. That was all. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to pull away from her. The deeper she kissed me, the harder I fell. Soon I couldn’t remember what I’d been upset about in the first place.

Jacqueline’s body pressed against mine, and her lips worked furiously. She kissed me again and again, sliding her tongue in my mouth with ease. I groaned and held her tightly, running my hands over her hips. As I grew hard in my pants, I couldn’t resist her for another second. I rolled her over onto her back and pinned her down, attacking her neck with my tongue.

I kissed, licked, and nibbled the sensitive skin on her neck. She writhed beneath me, wrapping her legs around my waist and thrusting her hips upward. When I moved to slide my hand under her shirt, I lost myself in the feel of her naked skin. All thoughts of dinner flew freely from my mind.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jacqueline

Ryan’s hands explored the skin on my stomach. He trailed his fingertips up, stopping just beneath my bra. Our kiss was deep and slow, passionate, without our usual sense of urgency. As Ryan sat up, pulling me with him, he slowly lifted my shirt over my head and discarded it on the floor. His eyes roamed from my face to my chest, then back again. He removed my glasses and kissed each of my eyelids before he slid his hand around my back to unhook my bra.

When my breasts fell free, Ryan didn’t touch them right away. His eyes devoured the sight of me, moving from one breast to the other, then down my stomach and back up to my face. When he kissed me again, it was delicate and gentle. He’d never kissed me that way before. There was passion and desire, like always, but also something else. I felt like he wasn’t kissing me just for the moment, but that he was kissing me to remember it.

My heart swelled as he kissed me deeper. His mouth moved down my chin to my throat. I tilted my head back, giving him more access while he worked his way down to my breasts. He didn’t suck or bite me like he usually did. Instead, he kissed me tenderly, rubbing my mounds between his hands delicately. Just his soft, gentle motions were enough to form a tidal wave between my legs. By the time he removed my jeans, I was sopping wet.

Ryan kissed my stomach softly, sliding his tongue over my skin. His able hands massaged my thighs before sliding up to remove my panties. I could feel my wetness break free instantly. When Ryan’s fingers found my folds, I sighed and arched my back. He was taking his time with me, and it was more than I could handle.

As he kissed lower, he slid a finger inside me, teasing me slowly. His tongue slid over my clit, and I gasped, reaching for his head and rubbing my hands over his short hair. Just like everything else, his tongue moved slowly while his finger worked inside me. With this pace, I wouldn’t reach my climax for a long time, but I didn’t care. The way he was exploring my body felt incredible. I never wanted him to stop.

He continued to taste me, bringing me closer to pleasure with each stroke of his tongue. I moaned and panted, writhing beneath him. My desperation grew with each passing second. I needed to feel him inside of me. I couldn’t stand the suspense any longer.

“Take me,” I begged. “Ryan, please.”

“Not yet,” he whispered against me. “Not yet, baby.”

I groaned and he picked up the pace just a bit. The slight change was enough to make my body tremble. My legs were shaking around his head, and he used his free hand to stroke the skin on my thighs to relax me. It didn’t work. If anything, it only drove my desires further. I raised my hips, pushing myself harder against his tongue. He licked me softly, still content with torturing me.

Finally, when I was just about to finish, he pulled away and stood up. I laid there, watching him with wide eyes as he removed his clothes.

Even then he moved slowly. He took his shirt off like it was a striptease for me. His muscles revealed themselves one by one, and I was desperate to feel them. I wanted nothing more than to bite down on his biceps while he took me however he pleased.

He slid his pants off, stepped out of them, and crawled onto the bed. My eyes locked on his cock. It was hard and pointing straight at me. I reached down to stroke him, wrapping both hands around him and watching while he eyes flickered closed with pleasure. I was barely touching him, torturing him the same way he’d tortured me, but it was enough to awaken him.

He finally found my nipples with his teeth, pulling them eagerly. I moaned and stroked him faster, feeling drops of precum on his tip. The feeling made me groan and wiggle.

“Now,” I begged.

Ryan kissed my lips desperately, his tongue finding mine with urgency. His determination to move slowly seemed to weaken the longer we kissed. He positioned his erection at my entrance, rolling his hips back and forth, but never sliding inside. It was torture and almost drove me insane. I couldn’t stand it.

“Stop teasing me,” I said.

With that, Ryan threw himself forward, burying his cock deep inside me. I gasped and arched upward, grabbing on to him tightly. At first he didn’t move. He just stayed deep inside me, letting me adjust to his size and intensity. Finally, I moved my hips to let him know I was ready. He stayed still for a second longer before he thrusted slowly. He stayed inside me most of the time, barely moving back and forth. I could tell from his face that he wanted to be close to me, to feel every inch of me.

His movements were deep and hard, making me rock with waves of slowly releasing pleasure. In no time, he was panting and sweat was dripping from my forehead. Even moving slowly, he could set my entire body on fire.

Ryan wrapped his arms around my back and lifted us both up. He slowly sat down on the bed, still inside of me. I sat on top of him, my legs wrapped around his waist and my arms hanging on to his shoulders.

With our eyes locked on each other and our lips just inches away from touching, Ryan thrusted upward. This new position was enough to bring me immediately to the brink. As he moved up, I moved down. My moans and gasps were soft, but full of pleasure. Ryan’s grunts were music to my ears. Every time a sound escaped his lips, I wanted to hear it again.

We moved faster, still holding each other tightly. As Ryan threw his hips up, slamming into me again and again, I arched my back and let my body take over. I moved faster and harder than I ever had in life, riding him with abandon. He met my movements with enthusiasm. It wasn’t long before I was crying out his name.

“Don’t stop,” I begged. “Oh god, Ryan, I’m so close.”

When I came, it was violent and incredible. The pleasure lingered in my body for minutes after, while Ryan continued to seek his own. He took me at his own pace, panting and grunting freely. When he finally released, I felt his cock throb inside me, sending waves of continued ecstasy shooting through me.

We held each other after, neither wanting to let go of the other. I didn’t feel like I had the strength to move, and when I did, I collapsed backward onto the bed, still feeling the after effects of my orgasm.

When we both came down, the waves of pleasure finally leaving our bodies, I rolled to my side. I was exhausted and ready to fall asleep. Ryan laid behind me, wrapping his arm around my naked body and placing soft kisses along the back of my neck. I giggled and grabbed onto his arm. His kisses didn’t stop until we were both too tired to move anymore.

I laid still, Ryan’s arms wrapped protectively around me. His face was tucked in my curls, and I could feel his breathing finally become steady. As I stroked his arm, we both moved closer to sleep. My eyes drooped, closing slowly. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, I heard Ryan stir behind me.

His arms tightened around my waist, pulling me backward. I grinned to myself as he nuzzled into me. The way he held me told me just how much he needed me, how much he cared about me. I felt safe, and I never wanted this moment to end.

“I love you,” Ryan whispered, half-asleep.

My entire body froze at his words, but he didn’t seem to notice. In seconds, he was snoring. I wondered if he even realized what he said, or if it was just the mumblings of someone fast asleep.

My heart was racing, but I didn’t know what to do. Part of me thought I should answer, say something back. A bigger part told me to stay silent, that he may not even remember this moment in the morning.

As I finally drifted off to sleep, it was with a nervous joy spreading through my stomach. Hearing Ryan say those words meant everything to me, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about him yet. In the two weeks we’d spent together, my feelings for him deepened. I didn’t doubt how much I wanted him or how much I cared about him, but I worried that wasn’t enough. I’d never been in love before, not really. How was I supposed to know if this was love?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Ryan

We pulled up to the Keetons’ house, and I cut the engine. Suddenly Jacqueline and I were thrown into a deafening silence that overwhelmed me. I managed to distract myself the entire drive down.

Jacqueline and I talked about everything: the sex last night, her clinic, my career aspirations, everything. She never let silence fall, knowing I needed the comfort of her voice to keep me driving. As we sat in the driveway, all that comfort disappeared, and I was left trembling with fear.

“You can do this,” Jacqueline said softly, leaning over to kiss my cheek.

I looked at her. She was smiling an encouraging smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. There was something else hidden there, something she didn’t want me to see. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought she was just as afraid as me.

That didn’t make sense, though. This was her parents’ house. If anything, this was the place where she could truly relax and be herself. Me? This place was a living reminder of the worst time in my life.

“I don’t know if I can,” I admitted.

“Hey,” she said, taking my face between her hands. “I’m right here. Everything will be fine.”

She kissed me swiftly, pulling away a split second after our lips touched. With a glance at the house, she coughed nervously. I knew she was afraid someone might see us, but there was no one in sight. We sat in the truck for a few more minutes while I worked up the nerve to get out. To her credit, Jacqueline never once rushed me. She simply sat beside me, waiting until I was ready.

When Bradley’s car pulled up behind us, we both jumped in our seats. Twisting around, we saw him climb out of the car and walk over to us. He stopped beside my window and tapped on it impatiently.

“What are you doing?” he asked when I rolled down the window.

“Just,” I began, but I didn’t know what to say.

“He needs a minute,” Jacqueline explained.

“Come on,” Bradley said. He opened my door without hesitation. “Rip off the Band-Aid, man.”

I sighed and finally unbuckled my seatbelt. Bradley was right. Sitting here wasn’t doing anything but making my nerves worse. The longer I dwelled on what could happen, the worse things would be. I just needed to get inside and get this entire night over with.

“We’re here for you,” Jacqueline reminded me softly as the three of us walked to the front door. “Both of us. We have your back, right Bradley?”

“Of course,” Bradley said, his hand on the doorknob. “You ready?”

“No,” I said.

Bradley smiled and twisted the knob, stepping inside without knocking.

“Hello!” he called. “We’re here!”

“Oh!” a voice cried out from the kitchen. I recognized it immediately. When she came running around the corner, my heart stopped. “You’re here!”

Mrs. Keeton hugged both Bradley and Jacqueline, her eyes traveling briefly over my face. When she looked at me, I could tell she was nervous too. I tried to speak, but my throat felt tight. Instead, I just stood awkwardly between Bradley and Jacqueline.

“Hi, Mom,” Jacqueline said, glancing at me pointedly.

“I’m so glad you could make it!” Mrs. Keeton gushed. She looked at me and added, “All of you.”

“Thank you for inviting me,” I mumbled.

She smiled and led the way into the kitchen. Mr. Keeton was standing over the stove. He stopped cooking long enough to shake Bradley’s hand and hug Jacqueline. He turned to me and stared for a few second, not bothering to be discreet.

“Ryan,” he finally said. “You came.”

“I did.”

“Well,” he said. “Dinner’s about ready. Why don’t you kids go ahead and sit down?”

“Sure,” Bradley said. He slapped me on the back, and we walked over to the table.

“Not so bad,” Jacqueline whispered.

“I think it’s going well,” Bradley added.

“Are you going to keep up a running commentary all night?” I asked.

“Just here for you, man,” Bradley said.

I managed and smile and sunk into a chair.

Being back in this house felt more than strange. Bradley, Jacqueline, and I all moved automatically to the seats that used to be ours. These were the same seats we sat in every night while I lived here. I looked around, taking in the pictures on the walls and the décor around us. Mrs. Keeton hadn’t changed much, but the pictures were new.

Bradley smiled out from behind the glass, wearing his navy uniform. In a couple, he wore his graduation cap and gown. I smiled as my eyes fell on the photos of Jacqueline’s graduation. She looked young, beautiful, and excited. I found myself wishing I’d been there.

The only thing missing were pictures of me. When I lived here, Mrs. Keeton made sure to keep photos of me spread throughout the house. It always made me feel special, like I was a true member of the family. Now I was nowhere to be found. Not a single picture of me hung on the wall. I wondered if they’d thrown them all away or hid them in a box somewhere, buried deep beneath a bed.

Dinner began and the conversation moved along easily. Mr. Keeton raved about Bradley and how well he was doing here. Mrs. Keeton asked Jacqueline pointed questions about the clinic and her love life. It was a typical family dinner, and, at times, they even included me in the conversation.

“So,” Mr. Keeton said. “Ryan, what are you doing in Richmond? For work, I mean.”

“Nothing right now,” I admitted. “I’ve just been adjusting to civilian life.”

“And you can afford that?” he asked.

I swallowed hard. “Yes, I have quite a bit saved up from my time in the navy.”

“Ryan was insane about saving,” Bradley said, laughing. “The rest of us were out blowing everything on booze while he pinched every penny.”

“That’s smart,” Mrs. Keeton said.

“I’ll be okay for a while longer,” I said. “I’m thinking about working as a mechanic. I’ve always loved cars.”

“With your military experience?” Mr. Keeton asked. “Don’t you think you could get something better?”

“Probably,” I admitted. “But it would make me happy and—”

“I see,” Mr. Keeton interrupted.

He exchanged a meaningful look with his wife. My stomach clenched painfully, and I looked to Jacqueline for support. She nodded encouragingly to tell me I was doing fine.

“Listen,” I said softly. “I know it’s been a long time since we were all in the same place. Years. But I just wanted to say I’m really glad you invited me over tonight. I know things aren’t the same, but it’s nice to see you again. No matter what happened in the past, I really am happy to be here.”

When I finished talking, my hands were shaking in my lap. I looked from Jacqueline to Bradley to see that they were both smiling. It seemed they thought my speech was good. Their parents, on the other hand, looked more uncomfortable than ever. I wanted patiently for them to speak.

“If you would just apologize for what you did,” Mrs. Keeton said with an edge in her voice. “Then we could forgive you. That’s all we’ve ever wanted, for you to finally admit what you did and apologize.”

The room froze. Both Jacqueline and Bradley stared at their mother in shock. Neither of them could believe what she just said. I wasn’t surprised. This is exactly what I’d been expecting and exactly why I didn’t want to come.

“Apologize?” I asked weakly. “You want me to apologize?”

“You don’t think you should?” Mr. Keeton scoffed. “Clearly, you haven’t changed.”

“You abandoned me!” I snapped. “You took me in, told me I was family, and then you just threw me to the wolves!”

“You deserved it!” Mr. Keeton yelled. “Don’t sit here and blame us for your screw-ups, Ryan. We did everything for you! We gave you a chance, and you threw it back in our faces. How dare you insinuate that this is our fault!”

“You kicked me out,” I reminded him. “Remember? Tell me, if Bradley screwed up, would you have kicked him out? If he did exactly what I did, what would you have done?”

“That’s not the point,” Mr. Keeton argued evasively.

“It is the point,” I snapped. “You said I was your son, but you didn’t treat me like one. I made a mistake, and you just gave up one me. That’s not what parents are supposed to do.”

“Enough,” Mrs. Keeton said, glaring at me from across the table. “You’re still just as ungrateful as ever. We loved you! We cared for you! And you did nothing to repay us.”

“You threw me out!” I screamed.

I couldn’t believe they were acting like this was my fault. They sat there on their high horses, looking down on me like something nasty they stepped in. In that moment, I never hated them more.

“Stop,” Jacqueline said loudly. “Just stop it. This is not why we came here tonight.”

“He shouldn’t have come,” Mr. Keeton said. “He was only invited because your brother insisted we try.”

With that, I was done. I leapt up from the table and stormed out of the room.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Jacqueline

I watched Ryan storm out of the room with rage boiling in my veins. Part of me wanted to go after him, but I knew I was needed here more. My parents didn’t know anything. They didn’t know the truth about what happened on that night nine years ago.

As I looked between them, I saw the anger in their faces, and it fueled my desire to finally tell them everything. I glanced at my brother who was staring at the doorway, having watched Ryan disappear. He looked conflicted and hurt, like he didn’t quite know what to do. In that moment, I knew I was the only person who could fix this.

“It wasn’t Ryan,” I said simply. My parents looked at me, confused. “That night, it wasn’t him, okay? It was me.”

“What was you?” Mom asked. “What are you talking about?”

“The night Dad’s truck caught fire,” I continued. “I was playing around, trying to figure out how the engine worked. Dad kept telling me he would teach me about it, but he never did. So, I was angry and decided to teach myself. But I must have messed something up, because when I turned the key, the hood went up in flames.”

“You’re lying,” Dad said firmly, shaking his head and getting to his feet. He paced around the room, still shaking his head. “You’re just trying to cover for him.”

“If I was, would it have taken me this long to do it?” I snapped. “I was scared to death of what you might do when you found out what I did. I ran to the backyard, sobbing, and just waiting for you to find me. But you didn’t. Ryan did. He saw the truck and put the fire out. Then he found me hiding in the backyard.”

“I can’t believe this,” Bradley said softly.

“I didn’t know what to do,” I continued. “I was so young and so scared. Ryan was just trying to help me. He told me he’d already been in a lot of trouble, so this would be nothing. He said I didn’t need to worry about anything, that it would be okay. The next thing I knew, you were both screaming at him in the living room, and he was packing a bag. He left, and I didn’t see him again. Until now.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me this?” Bradley demanded. “I spent all this time thinking Ryan …”

“Would it have changed anything?” I asked. “Would you have felt differently about him? Or me?”

“No, but still,” he said.

“I was scared, okay?” I said. “God, I was only fourteen. I didn’t know what to do. I never expected either of you to kick him out! After you did, I was scared to tell the truth because I didn’t want you to make me leave too.”

“We would never do that,” Mom said softly.

“But you did it with Ryan?” I snapped. “He was supposed to be your son, just like I’m your daughter.”

“It was different!” Dad said. “Ryan was always in trouble. You don’t know half of what he put us through. He lied and he stole. He was arrested three times while he lived here! What were we supposed to do?”

“Love him,” I said simply. “You were supposed to love him, just like you love us. He expected you to stand by him because you were his parents. Instead, you just turned your back on him. God, he didn’t deserve that!”

“It wouldn’t have happened if you’d just told the truth!” Dad yelled.

“So, you abandoning Ryan was my fault?” I asked with raised eyebrows. “Come on, Dad. If you hadn’t thrown him out because of the truck, it would have been something else. You don’t know how to forgive anything.”

“That’s not true, we just—” Mom began, but I cut her off with a look.

“I know I messed up,” I said. “I shouldn’t have let Ryan take the fall for me, okay? I know that. But at the time, I was just a kid. I could barely move after it happened, let alone talk. You have no idea how much I wish I would have told you everything years ago.”

“But you didn’t,” Dad said. “You didn’t.”

I shook my head. “No, I didn’t, and Ryan took the brunt of that choice. It kills me every day that I put him through that. You don’t know how much I hate myself for hurting him.”

“It’s not your fault,” Bradley said softly. “No matter what, they shouldn’t have kicked him out.”

“No,” I agreed. “They shouldn’t have.”

“You both judge us so harshly, but you don’t know,” Mom said. “You don’t know the kind of person he was!”

“I know him better than anyone,” I snapped. “I know exactly who he was back then, and I know him now. I know Ryan better than any of you. He and I … we—”

I stopped, suddenly aware of what I was about to say. Looking at Bradley’s face, I knew it was time to tell the truth about everything. They might not understand. They may never be okay with our relationship, but they needed to know.

“Ryan and I are together,” I said boldly. “He’s never been a brother to me, not really. Just like he was never a son to you. When we reconnected, something just clicked. We fell into a relationship so easily. We fit.”

“What?” Bradley asked. “Is this a joke?”

“No,” I said. “I love him. I’m in love with him.”

“You can’t be,” Mom began.

“I can, and I am,” I snapped. “Neither you nor Dad get to have an opinion about this. You kicked him out long before we could become brother and sister. We don’t have that bond, that connection. The connection we do have is so much more. It’s deep and it matters. He matters. If you can’t see that … if you can’t realize how wrong you’ve been, then there’s nothing left for me to say.”

I turned to leave and stopped in my tracks. Ryan was standing in the doorway, staring at me with wide eyes. I looked at him for a second before walking forward. He took my hand and led me outside. We didn’t stop walking until we reached his truck. Climbing inside, we took off down the road, neither of us speaking.

When Ryan finally turned to me, his eyes were dark with concern. He searched my face quickly before looking back at the road.

“I can’t believe you told them,” he said softly.

“Do you wish I hadn’t?” I asked.

“No.” He shook his head. “I wanted to tell them the second we walked into that house.”

“I didn’t,” I admitted. “I was so scared of what they might do.”

“What changed?” he asked.

“The way they spoke to you,” I said with anger. “I couldn’t sit there and listen to it anymore. They don’t know you, Ryan. They obviously never did. You’re amazing and kind and smart and gentle. I don’t care what mistakes you made in the past. That’s not who you are.”

“I know,” he said, smiling. “I’m just glad you see it.”

“I do,” I said with earnest. “It’s my fault they kicked you out. I never should have let you take the fall.”

“You didn’t have a choice,” he said firmly. “Jacqueline, you were a kid. God, you were only fourteen. I wasn’t going to let you go down for that. There was no way.”

“It wasn’t fair,” I argued. “I shouldn’t have.”

“Stop,” he said. “Just stop.”

We fell silent again, and Ryan reached for my hand. We locked our fingers together and both stared out the windshield, just working through all the emotions we felt.

“Did you mean what you said?” Ryan asked so softly that I barely heard him.

“What?” I asked.

“What you said in there,” he said. “To your parents and Brad. Did you mean it?”

I smiled and squeezed his hand.

“I love you,” I said. “Of course, I meant it.”

“I love you too,” he said, glancing at me with a grin.

I laughed. “I know. You told me last night.”

“What?” he asked with a frown.

“You were like half asleep,” I explained. “Or maybe completely asleep. I don’t know. You just whispered that you loved me and then started to snore.”

He laughed. “Well, that’s romantic.”

“It actually was,” I said. “I didn’t know what to say at the time. I wasn’t sure how I felt, but then tonight I just knew. When my parents were going off on you like that, I felt this sudden urge to protect you. That’s when I realized just how much I care for you, just how much I love you.”

Ryan sighed and brought our hands to his lips. He kissed my hand and smiled, looking happier than he’d been all night.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Ryan

Jacqueline and I spent the rest of the night talking. We finally admitted our love for each other and talked about our future. Soon the memories of our dinner with her parents faded to the back of our minds. I was just happy to be there with Jacqueline, holding her and listening to the sound of her breathing.

When I heard her say she loved me, my entire world changed. In that moment, I didn’t feel confused or unsure. My anger and pain caused by her parents disappeared. She was the only thing that mattered. Jacqueline.

When we woke up on Sunday morning, Jacqueline stayed in bed for a while. I felt better about things, but her mind was racing. After she confessed our relationship to her parents, they didn’t say anything. We left so fast that no one else had a chance to speak. We both expected them to call her, but they didn’t. Jacqueline was sure they would never speak to her again.

As I stood in the kitchen, making coffee and replaying my night with Jacqueline, there was a light tap on the front door. Before I could take a step, the door opened and Bradley poked his head inside. His eyes found me, and he opened the door wider, stepping inside and closing it behind him.

I couldn’t read his expression. In all the years we’d been friends, I was always able to read his mind. This time, I didn’t have a clue what he was thinking. He moved toward me with a determined expression, and I readied myself for a fight. I felt sure he would hit me, maybe worse.

My jaw tightened when he stopped right in front of me, and my fists were clenched at my side. The last thing I wanted to do was fight with Bradley, but I knew our friendship would never be the same. Now that he knew about me and his sister, I expected him to hate me.

“Can we talk?” he asked, turning and sinking into a chair at my kitchen table.

I nodded and walked over to join him. Sitting across from him, I watched his face closely. He rubbed his hand over it, shaking his head slowly back and forth. I could tell he was confused, more conflicted than he’d ever been before. At least, he didn’t seem angry. I counted myself lucky that all he wanted to do was talk.

“Listen,” I began softly. “I know I should have told you about Jacqueline. It was a mistake to keep it from you, but I didn’t intend for this to happen. Any of it. We just … we just sort of fell into this relationship.”

“I’m not mad,” Bradley said with a soft laugh. “You can relax, man, I’m not here to bust your balls.”

“You’re not?” I asked.

Just then Jacqueline walked out of the bedroom wearing a pair of pajama pants and my navy sweatshirt. She blushed when her eyes fell on Bradley’s face. Slowly, she walked over and sat beside us, her eyes still glued on her brother. I knew she was just as afraid of his reaction as I had been.

“Hey,” he said to her, smiling weakly.

“Hi,” she said back. “I, um, didn’t know you were here.”

“I just stopped by,” he said. “After last night, I wanted to talk to Ryan.”

“About me?” she asked nervously.

“About everything,” Bradley said.

Jacqueline nodded and waited for him to continue. His eyes moved from his face to mine and then back again. She looked nervous, so I took her hand in mine and squeezed it gently.

“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you,” Jacqueline whispered, looking up at her brother. “I wanted to. We both did.”

“Hey,” Bradley said. “I understand, okay? This isn’t exactly an easy conversation to have.”

“We’re still sorry,” I said. I meant it. I never wanted Bradley to find out that way. With his parents in the room, in the middle of a fight. It wasn’t the way we were supposed to tell him.

“Are you okay with this?” Jacqueline asked nervously.

“I’m not going to say it isn’t weird,” Bradley said slowly. “Ryan’s my brother, and you’re my sister, but I get that the two of you don’t have that relationship. I mean, I know you only lived together for three years before Ryan left. Ryan and I were best friends, but you? You barely knew him.”

“That’s true,” I said with a nod.

“Part of me wishes you could see each other as siblings,” Bradley said, sighing. “I just … I always had this image in my mind of us being a family, you know? Now I guess that can’t happen.”

“Why not?” Jacqueline asked.

“What do you mean?” Bradley said.

“Well, we can still be a family,” Jacqueline said, laughing. “Bradley, you’re my brother. We’re blood. Forever. And you and Ryan have this unbreakable bond. You’re brothers. That won’t change. Just because he and I are dating, that doesn’t mean we aren’t still a family.”

“It’s weird,” Bradley said, grinning and shaking his head. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this.”

“Can you try?” I asked. “I love her. I really do.”

“I’m trying,” Bradley promised. “And I think in time it won’t feel as strange.”

Jacqueline smiled. “I think so too.”

“I’m glad you came by,” I said, patting Bradley’s shoulder. “I was afraid you were never going to speak to me again.”

“Nah,” Bradley said. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You fell in love. I can’t hate you for that.”

“Your parents probably do,” I said softly.

Jacqueline tensed beside me. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and avoided my gaze. I knew she didn’t want to talk about her parents. She was terrified that they would never forgive her for lying about the truck and about our relationship. I tried to reassure her that everything would work out, but she didn’t believe me.

“What did they say?” she finally asked, turning her attention to Bradley. “After we left?”

“They’re mad,” Bradley said bluntly. “They probably will be for a long time, but I think they’ll be okay. You know, your little speech last night really made them think.”

“How?” Jacqueline asked.

“Well, they never really understood what they did to Ryan,” Bradley said, shooting me a sympathetic look. “They just reacted without thinking. After what you said last night, I think they realize their mistake. They aren’t over everything, and they probably won’t be for a long time, but I think they get it now. They get that it wasn’t all Ryan’s fault.”

Jacqueline nodded, and we all fell silent. There wasn’t much else to say. In his own way, Bradley had given us his permission. Things still felt tense between us, but I knew it would get better. Being around us would get easier for him. Eventually, everything would feel comfortable again.

I just wished I could say the same thing about their parents. The idea that I was causing a rift between Jacqueline and her family was hard to bear. No matter what they put me through, they were still her parents. I couldn’t be the reason she didn’t see or talk to them. I just couldn’t.

“Maybe …” I began, looking at Jacqueline. “Maybe we should take some space until everyone gets used to the idea of us being together.”

“No,” Jacqueline said firmly. “That’s crazy.”

“I just don’t want to keep you from your parents,” I said softly.

“You’re not,” Jacqueline insisted. “Ryan, I love you. That’s what matters.”

“I love you too,” I said.

“Listen, I’m gonna get out of here,” Bradley said.

“Sorry,” I said quickly, turning back to face him. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or anything.”

“No,” he said, “You didn’t. Not at all. I can tell you guys need some time to talk, though. I’m happy for you. I really am. I’m just glad you both found someone who loves you. Jacqueline’s right. That’s what matters.”

“Thank you,” Jacqueline and I said together.

We stood up to say good-bye to Bradley. He hugged his sister first, wrapping her tightly in his embrace. He held onto her for a few seconds before he let go and turned to me. We looked at each other awkwardly for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. Finally, he stepped forward and pulled me to him. He slapped my back roughly, and we both laughed.

“Take care of her,” he said softly so that only I could hear him. “She’s really something special. Just make her happy, okay?”

We pulled away, and I nodded my silent promise.

EPILOGUE

Two years had passed since that fateful night at the Keeton’s home. Things between Jacqueline and I moved forward quickly and easily. We fell in love in just a matter of weeks, so after two years, I felt more connected to her than ever.

She was my best friend and my biggest supporter. No matter what happened in our lives, we stayed together, happy and in love. I couldn’t bear the thought of ever losing her. In time, I realized I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.

When I started my career as a mechanic, Jacqueline supported me endlessly. She knew it wasn’t a glamorous job, but she didn’t care. The only thing that mattered to her was my happiness. As long as I enjoyed my job, she insisted I keep it. Even though her father wholeheartedly disagreed with my choice, he kept his opinions silent. Much to my surprise, he even put me in contact with a local auto shop that was looking for a few mechanics. I started work the day of the interview, and I hadn’t left since.

The Keetons and I were doing better. Our relationship would never be the way it was before everything happened, but we were moving forward. They forgave me for all the mistakes I made, and I forgave them for kicking me out.

It wasn’t easy. It took a long time and a lot of support from both Jacqueline and Bradley, but we did it. Eventually, we were able to be together without any tension or discomfort. Family dinners no longer ended in arguments, and most of the time, I truly felt like part of the family again. Mrs. Keeton even put a photo of me and Jacqueline on display in the dining room.

It was harder for Bradley to get used to me being with his sister than he thought. At first he didn’t like to be around us. It made him nervous and uncomfortable. Slowly, things began to return to normal. He saw just how happy Jacqueline and I were to be with each other, and that, more than anything, brought him around. Our friendship remained strong throughout everything.

Despite the tension, we never gave up on each other. Bradley would always be my brother. That much I knew. And now I hoped to make that official by marrying his sister.

The day finally arrived. I climbed in my truck and drove to Jacqueline’s clinic. The office was already closed, but I knew Jacqueline would still be there for at least another hour. She never left work right away, always wanting to finish up one last thing before the day ended. As I drove through town, I pictured her face to keep myself calm. I was nervous, but when I pulled into the parking lot, I knew this was right. Today was the first day of the rest of my life. After this, nothing would ever be the same.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I made my way through Jacqueline’s waiting room. I hurried to the back, knowing I would lose my nerve if I slowed down even a little bit. My feet carried me through the back hallway toward where her office sat. Heidi, the receptionist, was gone for the day, so it was just Jacqueline in the clinic. When I reached her office, I put my hand on the doorknob and froze. I took a few deep, steadying breaths before turning the knob and stepping inside.

“Hey, you,” Jacqueline said with surprise. She jumped out of her chair and moved around her desk to place a soft kiss on my lips. I kissed her back and smiled. “What are you doing here?”

“I missed you,” I said. “I wanted to see you, and I couldn’t wait for tonight.”

She smiled. “That’s sweet.”

After two years, seeing her smile still took my breath away.

My hands were sweating, but I knew now was the perfect time. I couldn’t wait another second. The ring was burning a hole in my pocket.

“Listen,” I said softly, reaching down to hold her hands. “I’m not just here because I missed you. I did, but there’s something else.”

“Okay,” Jacqueline said slowly. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is amazing,” I said. “More than amazing actually.”

“Then what is it?” she asked nervously.

“Jacqueline,” I said softly. “I know this whole relationship started in kind of a weird way. Your family and I are so intertwined, and it was complicated in the beginning. But then you made everything simple in the best way. I didn’t know who I was until you came back into my life. The day I saw you standing on my front porch changed everything. You woke something buried deep inside me, something I thought I lost.”

I took a deep breath and slowly pulled the ring box from my pocket. Still holding Jacqueline’s hand in mine, I got down on one knee and smiled up at her. I opened the box and let the ring sparkle in the light of her office. Her eyes widened and filled quickly with tears.

“I’m only myself when I’m with you,” I said simply. “Jacqueline, you make me a better man. Without you, I don’t know what my life would be, and I never want to find out. I love you more than I ever knew possible. You’re everything to me: my love, my soulmate, my best friend. Now the only thing left is … my wife.”

Jacqueline’s eyes were brimming, and at my last word, the tears spilled over. She cried earnestly, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

“Jacqueline, will you marry me?”

I waited while Jacqueline wrapped her mind around everything. This was a huge surprise, just like I wanted. When she could finally speak, she nodded and pulled me to my feet.

“Yes,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around me. “A thousand times, yes.”

We kissed, and everything else melted away. I didn’t think about anything or anyone else. The only thing that was real to me was Jacqueline. Her lips, her body, and her amazing spirit. She’d just agreed to be my wife, and I couldn’t think of a happier moment in my life.

When we broke apart, I slid the diamond ring on her finger, and she stared at in awe. Her eyes were still red from crying, but the smile on her face was brighter than I’d ever seen it.

“Are you happy?” I whispered.

“Happier than I ever thought I could be,” she said with a nod.

We kissed again, and then she broke away, just to stare at her new ring. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from it. I laughed and lifted her chin, so she would meet my gaze.

“I love you,” I said.

“I love you too,” she said. “Do you think my parents will be okay with this? I know things are better between you and them now, but still.”

“Come with me,” I said, grinning with excitement.

Jacqueline frowned, but let me lead her out of her office and down the hall. We stepped into the waiting room and were met with a thunderous round of applause. Jacqueline’s parents, Bradley, and her best friend, Nicole, were standing in the middle of the room. They were all grinning broadly and clapping their hands together again and again.

I looked at Jacqueline to see her face light up even more. She ran forward into her mother’s arms, hugging her tightly and then pulling away to show her the ring. Everyone was so happy for us.

“Glad she said ‘yes,’” Bradley joked. “I was worried there for a second.”

“Shut up,” I said with a laugh.

“I’m happy for you,” Mr. Keeton said, extending his hand to me. We shook, and then he pulled me in for a hug. When Jacqueline moved over to show Nicole the ring, Mrs. Keeton turned to me. She smiled and kissed my cheek, silently expressing her joy.

Things between me and the Keetons were better than ever. I still couldn’t bring myself to call them Mom and Dad, not after everything we went through, but we were close. They approved of me for their daughter, and they were even gracious enough to help me pick out her engagement ring. I knew we still had some progress to make, but I was happy to have them there to celebrate with us.

Jacqueline came over to me, wrapping her arms around my waist and standing on her tiptoes to kiss me. The smile never left her face. I stared at her, immediately getting lost in the green of her eyes. It was so easy to forget that anyone else was in the room. When Bradley cleared his throat loudly, both Jacqueline and I jumped.

“Let’s go celebrate,” Bradley suggested. “Everyone in?”

“Hell yes!” Nicole exclaimed.

“Of course,” Mrs. Keeton said.

We all left the clinic, finally together, the way we were always meant to be.