The cake was cut, photos taken, toasts made, and the newlyweds wed. It was a beautiful day, and the guests seemed to enjoy themselves. Mr. and Mrs. Michaels were off to their honeymoon.

Too bad it was the wrong couple. It should’ve been me instead of my brother. I didn’t begrudge him an ounce of his happiness, but not at the expense of mine.

I didn’t want his wife. Maggie was a great woman who was the perfect match for Brody. They met a year ago after Brody had been on the run from his past. It was that past and him running from it that ruined my life.

I was grateful Brody found Maggie when he did. He helped her to renovate the gym she was opening, but she patched up more in him in six months than I could do his entire adult life. He was an addict and an alcoholic. It didn’t seem to scare her off. She embraced him and all the challenges he brought along.

Most people were scared of Brody’s big build and cold stare, but Maggie wasn’t afraid of him. She took him head-on even though his head was over a foot above hers. She was a beautiful woman inside and out, but I had a different blonde on my mind.

April D’Angelo was a softer woman. She was just as feisty as Maggie and had even more sass, but I preferred her curves to Maggie’s guns. I could still feel how April fit against my body as I held her every night. Her head was tucked under my chin as our feet were tangled together. Her backside fit on my lap when I snuggled up behind her.

Her heels helped her stand up to me during the day, but at night, I loved how small she became when my big arms wrapped around her. She used to love the protection I gave her. I hadn’t given her that in so long. I scowled at the limo as it disappeared around the corner with Just Married mocking me on the back.

I couldn’t blame April for giving up on me. I gave up on us just as I gave up on everything else. I wasn’t surprised Brody invited her to the wedding. I just wished she came with me instead of the asshole she brought with her. She deserved to be happy, though. It should’ve been me making her happy, but I was toxic to her. I’d put her through enough.

I remembered the first time I saw her when she walked into the rehab center Brody and I owned. It was a lifetime ago but felt like yesterday. If I could go back and do everything different, I wouldn’t hesitate. Life wasn’t a fairy tale. You didn’t get two chances. I fucked up and I’d regret it the rest of my life.

* * *

“I don’t see why we can’t just go through the temp service again.” Brody was bored with the application process. The only reason I needed him there was to see the reaction of the applicants. If they were going to have a problem with him, I wanted to know before I hired them.

“Just sit there and look pretty.”

He scoffed. “Maybe if you could find a few pretty ones to sit out there it would make work a little more bearable.”

“They aren’t here for your entertainment. Try to remember that. They have real job duties to do, and I’m sick of doing them.”

“Then call the temp service!”

“They refuse to send anyone else here.”

“What? That’s fucked up. Just call someone else.”

“I’ve gone through all of them already.” I looked at Brody. “You need to learn to control yourself and your attitude.”

“Fuck off.”

“Yes, that’s the one.” I looked out the doorway when I heard the bell. “Please try to not scare this one off.”

I stood and walked to the front. I shook my head and wondered what the point was. I could’ve possibly pulled someone in from the rehab side of it to help out and pay overtime, but they weren’t there for office work. They were there for the clients.

I was lost in my thoughts of trying to figure out a plan B that I hadn’t remembered what I was doing when I went out front. I didn’t expect to see the blonde bombshell when I opened the door. I stopped the moment our eyes met.

She may have looked innocent with those big blue eyes looking at me, but the way she filled out her sweater and stood confident on heels higher than I’d ever seen before told me she was anything but. I wished I could look at her butt. I tilted my head a little and wondered if I could have her walk ahead of me or if that would be too obvious. Wait until I walk her out. That was when I could get a good look.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Am I not in the right place?”

I narrowed my eyes when she spoke. I expected a high-pitched bimbo to be housed in a body like hers. I didn’t expect the sultry vixen to speak instead. If her ass matched the rest of her, there was no way I could hire her. I wanted to fuck her too badly.

I cleared my throat and shook my head. “April D’Angelo?”

She smiled and held out her hand. “Yes, and are you Tim or Brody Michaels?”

I took it and held on a little too long. “I’m Tim. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Likewise, I’m sure.” She looked around when we stood in the lobby for a few minutes. “Is the interview out here?”

“What?” I caught up to speed quickly. “Oh, the interview. I’m sorry. I was giving my brother a few minutes to get ready.”

Just then Brody popped his head out the door. “I’ve been waiting on you, but seeing as how you’re talking to this beauty, I can see why you’re still out here.” He turned to April. “He’s still learning how to walk with an erection. I’m very familiar with how to walk and use the erections I get.”

He held his hand out, and April looked at it before putting on a smile that was meant as more of a warning. “I’m sure you are well versed in everything in regards to your penis, so you’ll excuse me if I don’t shake your hand.” She looked up at him. Even with her heels, she didn’t go past his chest. “After all, practice makes perfect, and I’m sure you’re still practicing.”

I thought Brody was going to come unhinged, but he just put his head back and laughed. “Oh, I’ll be practicing tonight with a new lady on my mind.”

She stepped up to him and tilted her head to the side. “If you want to keep your balls, you’ll go back to your old favorite, because I wouldn’t sleep with you even in your wildest dreams.”

He stepped even closer to her. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

I hurried between the two of them. “I’m sorry. If he feels challenged or threatened, he acts as if he’s two. He’ll never hurt you.”

She stepped back and looked me over. “I have brothers, so I know how to handle his type.”

“Fuck this. I’ve got shit to do.” Brody stormed back into the office leaving us in the lobby alone.

April looked behind me and watched the door shut before she made eye contact again. “You going to give it a go, or can I leave now?”

“How many brothers do you have?”

She took a step back and relaxed. Her gaze went up and down my body a few times, but it wasn’t to check me out. She hadn’t expected a question. She thought I was going to come onto her like Brody tried and failed to do. “I have five.”

“Any sisters?” I led her to the chairs across the room. We rarely had walk-ins and didn’t have any appointments scheduled due to the interviews. She was the last interview for the day.

She walked as I directed and chose a chair to sit in. “No, they kept trying for a girl and stopped with me.”

I pulled another chair up across from her, but not too close. “If you’re willing, I’d like to still hold the interview. It might take me a minute to think of questions since I left them in the other room.”

She pointed over to the door. “That didn’t get me kicked out?”

“No, that may have just gotten you hired.”

* * *

If I had to put up with my asshole brother every day, I needed someone who could help me stand up to him. She may have only gone to his chest and gone to my shoulders, but she never backed down from either of us no matter what kind of shit we threw her way.

The fact she was a knockout didn’t hurt. I found myself staring at her when she was near. I’d never seen someone so beautiful or someone with hair as blonde as hers. It was a sharp contrast to my dark hair, but it looked good on her. I loved it on the days she wore it down and more casual, but she drove me crazy when she wore it up and showed off her slender neck. It was all I could do to not bite her.

Hearing her laugh a few feet behind me brought me out of my thoughts. During my dance with Maggie a few minutes before they left, she told me to fight for April. She was worth fighting for. I couldn’t argue with that, but was I up to the challenge? Winning her back wouldn’t be easy. I had a lot to make up for.

Watching that limo drive away with the ending I thought April and I would’ve had bothered me. We hadn’t been together for six months, and the good times were even longer than that.

I heard her laugh again, but more distant than before. I turned and saw her on the arm of Dr. Hank Cannes, the psychiatrist at the center, as they walked back into the reception. She could’ve found a better date to bring. He had to be old enough to be her father.

I narrowed my eyes and took a deep breath. I didn’t know she was dating anyone, but if I had anything to say about it, she wouldn’t be dating him anymore. We had unfinished business. I walked in after them.

I scoffed as he excused himself to the restroom. Small, weak bladder. Just like all the other old men I knew. She looked beautiful in the dress she wore. I was angry at first when I saw her strapless blue dress. It showed too much skin.

No one but me should know what she looked like when she snuggled under the covers, but that was exactly what I pictured as soon as I saw her. Her arms over the covers that hid her naked body right after we had sex. What I wouldn’t have given to see that again. To feel her naked body next to mine.

I tilted my head down but kept my eyes forward as I walked to her. She would be mine again. I didn’t care what she said before. She still loved me. She still needed me. She was still mine.

I grabbed her arm and kept her close to me as I pulled her to the dance floor. She protested, but I ignored it. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I kept pulling her, and when I got to the dance floor, I stopped, but continued to pull her until she was against my chest. I wrapped both arms around her waist and held her as I swayed to the music.

Her arms were at her sides the second she caught her balance, and she didn’t sway with me. She just looked at me. “Your caveman ways are not appreciated.”

“We haven’t danced yet, so I took the opportunity when Grandpa went to the toilet again.”

“Grandpa?” She tried to shove me, but I held her tighter.

“If you keep fighting, I’ll hold you through two songs.”

“One song. One dance.” She held up her finger. “One.”

She took a deep breath similar to mine outside and placed her hands on my biceps. I was hoping she’d place them around my neck, but I was grateful she was touching me at all.

“He’s only forty. That’s hardly a grandpa.”

“Still older than you.”

“You’re older than me and had no trouble taking me to bed.”

“I’m less than a year older. I’m not decades older.”

“He isn’t . . .” She blew out a breath. “I’m not even sure why it’s any of your business. Let’s just enjoy the dance and go on our separate ways.”

“Are you?” I held her closer. “Enjoying the dance?”

“I like the song.” She looked at my chest before she looked around the room. “I can’t believe he did it. I’m so happy for him, but I’m still shocked. I thought we would’ve—” She stopped talking and looked at me.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought as they drove off, too. It’s interesting what a difference a few months makes.”

She mumbled as she looked away. “Or six.”

“Yeah.” I leaned in and whispered, “Just imagine what the next six could hold.”

I leaned down to kiss her neck and she shoved me. “Don’t.”

I knew it wouldn’t be that easy, but I had to try. “Don’t you want to see what the future could hold for us?”

“If it’s more of the same, I’ll pass.”

The song ended and she raised her eyebrows when I wouldn’t let her go. I didn’t want to let her go. “April.”

Dr. Cannes walked up. “There you are. I thought you were waiting for me by the punch.”

“I’m sorry.” She slid her hand down my arm and pinched my wrist behind her when I wouldn’t let go. “The boss wanted a dance before the night was over, but the song has ended now.” She turned her eyes back to me and pinched my wrist harder.

All I could do was look into her eyes and hope she could read mine. I wanted another chance. I wanted to be with her again. I wanted her to tell him to fuck off. If she did read my eyes, she didn’t care. She put her hands on my chest and pushed. To avoid a confrontation, I let her go.

“It’s understandable. He wanted to dance with the prettiest girl in the room.” He held his hand out. “It’s getting late, and we have an early flight. Shall we go?”

I watched as she took his hand and slipped away from me. She was taking my soul with her. She was why I’d been so empty. Without her, I was nothing.

* * *

I raised my hand even though I couldn’t lift my head off the bar. I wanted one more for the road. I was sure it would be enough to stop thinking about her or to stop feeling anything. “Just one more.”

“No, buddy. You’re cut off.” The bartender put the rag he was using to wipe down the bar over his shoulder and came over to me. “Do you have a way home, or do I need to pour you into a cab?”

“I’ll handle it.” April’s sneakers were on the floor next to where my barstool sat. “How much does he owe?”

I was drunker than I thought. She wouldn’t have come after having Mr. Dr. in her room. I saw him go there. I saw her smile when she stepped back and let him in.

“He’s paid up.” I heard my card slide against the bar as he handed it to April.

“Hey, you don’t know who she is.” I lifted my head, but not much off the bar. “You can’t give her my card.”

“How am I going to get you sober for the plane?”

“I got time.” I sat up and almost fell off the back of the barstool. April stood behind me, and the bartender grabbed my jacket. Between the two of them, I stayed seated instead of on the floor. I was a big guy. Not as big as Brody, but no one was as big as Brody.

“You most definitely do not have time for this level of drunkenness. Come on. We have three blocks to walk to get you back to your room.”

“I’d rather go to your room.”

“No, you’re going to your room.”

“Are you going to be okay?” The bartender came around the bar and helped to steady me when I stood.

“I’m fine. Swell. Damn skippy.” I swayed.

April sighed and wrapped her arm around my waist as she put my arm over her shoulders. “I’ve done it before. Maybe not three blocks, but it isn’t the first time he’s been drunk.”

“You’ve been drunk, too.” I looked around. “Hey, where’s my card?” I leaned down to April. “He tried to give my card to a hussy.”

“Okay, that’s enough talking until you get some sleep.”

She walked me to the door. It seemed so much farther than I remembered it. The cold air hit me when we walked outside and helped to open my eyes a little. I still couldn’t see shit, but I could blink wider. “How wide can you blink your eyes open?”

“I’ll look when we get you settled.”

I drank so I wouldn’t feel her anymore, but she was pressed up against me. I felt all of her. “Your boob is touching me.”

“Trust me when I tell you it’s the last thing I want, too.”

“I’m not complaining. I like it when your boob touches me. It can touch me anytime it wants to. Your puss—”

“Nothing is going to touch you again. We just need to get you back to the hotel first.”

“I know. I’m too drunk to remember the last time your boob is going to touch me and that makes me sad. Will you remind me in the morning?”

“Not likely.”

“That isn’t no.” I remembered Mr. Dr. entered her room before I went looking for the bar. “I bet you didn’t tell him no.”

“What?” April huffed as she tried to steer me back to the sidewalk. “Just stop talking. You need to concentrate on walking.”

“Mr. Dr. He went into your room. I saw him.”

“Let’s just be quiet and walk.”

“No, I don’t want to be quiet.” I tried to break away from her, but she had a tight grip on my wrist of the arm flung over her shoulder and dug her nails into my side she was hanging onto. “I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, we can talk when you’re sober and we’re back home.”

“But you’re not home. You left. You have a new home.”

“Tim, I’m not talking to you about any of this again, and especially not when you’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk.”