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Army Ranger with Benefits (the Men of At-Ease Ranch) by Michaels, Donna (10)

Chapter Ten

A half hour after he walked Emma to her door, and Chelsea to her car, Vince sat in the hot tub with his brother and cracked open a beer.

He needed it.

Things hadn’t gone at all as he’d expected tonight. His innocent acquiescence to help his brother’s neighbor land her childhood crush took a right turn into the danger zone the instant their lips had met.

There hadn’t been anything innocent about it.

Sure, he expected to enjoy the kiss. What red-blooded man wouldn’t? Emma was a beautiful woman. And he liked her. But, damn, he hadn’t expected the intense connection or strong sparks.

What the hell was up with that?

“For someone who just exacted revenge, you don’t look too smug.” Dom regarded him from across the hot tub. “You obviously don’t have any idea what hell you put me through tonight.”

Too consumed with his own troubles to enjoy his brother’s discomfort, Vince shrugged.

“Something happen tonight?”

Vince snorted and drank his beer. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit.” His brother cocked his arrogant head. “Your thoughts are obviously elsewhere. I hope they aren’t on Emma.”

“And if they are? You’re the one who volunteered me—no, blackmailed me—into dating her.”

Fake dating, bro,” Dom corrected. “And I didn’t have to twist your arm too hard. I see the way you smile at her.”

He waved a hand. “I smile at everyone like that.”

“Not with your teeth.” Dom laughed. “Hell, you expose your gums like one of those slick dudes on those fancy magazine covers. It’s embarrassing.”

Vince laughed, too. “You’re full of shit.”

“True, but you’re delusional if you think you’re not attracted to her.” His brother shook his head, coming way too close to the truth. “So what happened?”

Damn man and his intuitive powers.

Sinking farther into the water, Vince rested his head against the concrete and closed his eyes. “What makes you think something happened?”

“Normally, you talk my damn ear off and constantly smile.”

Also true.

Dammit.

And the man wasn’t going to drop it. He was like a rabid dog with his teeth sunk into a pound of flesh.

With his eyes still closed, he lifted a shoulder. “We kissed in front of Stephan.”

Although, truth be told, Vince hadn’t even realized it at the time. All he knew was he needed to taste the smiling woman pressing her soft curves into him. Hell, he’d wanted to kiss her since she whacked him with the door that very first day.

“And?”

Vince opened his eyes and frowned over his beer. “What do you mean, ‘and?’”

“Well, of course you’re going to kiss in front of the guy.” Dom rolled his eyes. “No better way to make the guy jealous and take notice.”

He nodded.

“So what’s the problem?” His brother’s gaze narrowed. “He didn’t care?”

“No. I mean, yes. I guess.” He blew out a breath. “I was too busy getting knocked on my ass.”

Light entered the blue eyes scrutinizing him. “Ah. She made you feel it, did she?”

And a hell of a lot more than he’d expected, but couldn’t let her know. She wanted Stephan. Which was why he’d mentioned the man the instant he caught his breath. Although, why she’d responded with such an odd look puzzled him. It appeared almost…pained.

Which made no sense. Must’ve interpreted it wrong. Hell, with all the craziness going through his mind at the time, that had to be it.

“Nothing wrong with that, bro,” Dom said. “Don’t beat yourself up about it. Emma’s hot. And you’re breathing. Of course, you’re going to feel it.”

If only it were that simple.

“It was more than that,” he said with a shake of his head. “It was like…I don’t know…like I was back in high school.”

There. He said it. He voiced the discontent whispering in his head all damn night.

His brother sat up and muttered a curse. “What are we talking here? Connie potential?”

Maybe.

“I don’t know.” He sucked down the rest of his beer and set the empty bottle on the paver. “That’s why I’m freaked out. I can’t go through that again.” He refused to open himself up like that, especially to a woman who wanted another man.

Dom shoved a hand through his hair. “Sorry, Vince. I didn’t mean to put you in this position. Maybe I can get the doc to okay more therapy. This way I might be able to shave a few days off your stay.”

Vince stilled while alarm shot through his chest. “No. Don’t mess with it. Look how far you’ve progressed with just two therapy sessions. You never would’ve been able to get in this hot tub three days ago.”

“Exactly my point. Imagine my progress if we upped the sessions.”

“No. Too much strain could set you back. Just leave it as it is. I’ll be fine,” he insisted. No way would he forgive himself if his brother jeopardized progress because of him. No way. If that’s the case, he’d quell any and all feelings for the woman. Blood before lust. “Now that I know the danger, I can safeguard against it. I’ve resisted temptation before. Hell, I’ve done it for nearly a decade and a half.”

Granted, those women never sent shockwaves of awareness through him with just one touch, but his brother needn’t know.

Dom closed his eyes and leaned his head back. “Who knows? Maybe you’ve done enough tonight to get the doc to finally ask her out tomorrow.”

“True,” he said, refusing to label the sinking feeling in his gut, or the tightening in his chest as anything but relief.

It was also the reason he decided to make a fresh batch of cannoli in the morning and deliver it to Emma at work. That didn’t exactly scream casual, but in that moment, Vince didn’t care.

Hell, maybe he’d get lucky and Stephan would be around to witness the act. It might even add fuel to the fire. Because when Vince had spotted the guy watching them after that amazing kiss, there was no mistaking the clenched fists, or the envy darkening the man’s eyes.

Yeah, he definitely needed to visit her at work.

For Stephan’s sake.

It had absolutely nothing to do with the long dormant need knotting his gut.

“So, how long have you been seeing each other?” Stephan asked Emma the next morning.

Wow. Her butt had barely hit her chair when he’d approached her cubicle. Heck, she hadn’t even had the chance to fill Macy in on her date.

The unexpected action and question momentarily stole her voice. She glanced at her friend. The smiling woman sat back and regarded her with a lazy grin, clearly comfortable to watch the show.

“Vince?” She cleared her throat and shrugged, hoping to appear cool. “Oh, we aren’t actually seeing each other. He’s my neighbor’s brother. It’s more of a casual thing.”

The fact she’d had a great time, that it’d felt more like a real date than a fake one, was all Vince’s fault. He made her feel at ease. Like she could do no wrong, and he was happy to just hang out. The guy had learned more about her in two days than Stephan had learned in six months.

How was that possible?

Because he had to, her mind reasoned.

But he didn’t have to take the time to teach her to bowl. To actually walk her through it. Most men would’ve just told her to do what they did.

Not Vince. He was perhaps the most patient man she’d ever met. Which didn’t compute because the military men she’d dated had never been good with patience.

Or maybe she’d dated the wrong men.

“So you’ve known him a while,” Stephan said, more than interest filling his gaze.

She nodded. “A long time.” Dom had mentioned his brother early on. “But I didn’t meet him until four days ago.”

Stephan’s brows rose. “Boy, he didn’t waste much time asking you out.”

“Some men are like that,” Macy chimed in. “They see what they want and go for it. They don’t need to wait…say six months…or a decade to act.”

With heat rushing into Emma’s cheeks, she returned the foot-to-the-shin maneuver and ignored Macy’s yelp.

Stephan glanced from her to Macy, then back. “Well, he seems like a nice guy.”

“Yeah.” Her friend nodded, a devilish grin on her face. “A nice guy packing mouthwatering cannoli.”

Emma sucked in a breath. She did not just say that.

“Good morning, everyone,” Vince said from behind.

Squeaking, Emma jumped and turned to face him. “Hey…I didn’t see you.”

“I know.” His gaze softened. “Didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to drop this off.” He set a dish of mouthwatering cannoli on the counter between him and Stephan. Emma pressed a hand to her fluttering stomach to keep the relief inside—and to keep herself from smacking her not-so-funny friend in the arm. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you, so I made these this morning to give me a reason to see you while Dom’s at PT.”

Real or not, his words put a smile on her face. “Thank you.” She stood. “I had a great time last night.”

So much so, he’d dominated her dreams.

Not Stephan.

Emma tried not to read too much into that. Just like she wouldn’t read too much into the way her heart skipped a beat when his gaze dropped to her lips.

“Yes, thanks, Vince,” Stephan said, breaking the spell. “I’m assuming we can have some, too.” He held up a cannoli.

Vince nodded and grinned. “Yes, of course. Help yourself.”

“That’s all I needed to hear. Make room.” Macy jumped to her feet and reached for one.

Smiling, he grabbed one and handed it to Emma. “Let me know what you think.”

“Okay.” Holding his gaze, she took a bite and promptly echoed Macy’s moan as the confection melted in her mouth.

Stephan stilled and swallowed audibly, while Vince’s gaze darkened to a deep whiskey color that warmed her from within.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” she told him before taking another bite.

Satisfaction eased his mouth into a grin. “I’m kind of partial to your peach pie.”

“Emma baked you her pie?” Stephan raised both brows and blinked when Vince nodded. “You’re a lucky guy.”

A few of the nurses drew near, eyeing the goodies.

“May we have some?” one of them asked.

“Help yourself.” He stepped aside and grinned at her. “There’s another batch at Dom’s. He threatened to skip PT if I tried to leave the house with both trays.”

“I don’t blame him,” Macy said, reaching for her third treat. “These are the bomb.”

“Amen,” one of the nurses said between bites.

Chuckling, he turned to face her. “I better let you get back to work.”

She nodded, trying to stop the blush threatening to invade her cheeks. “Thanks for the cannoli.”

“My pleasure.” He sent her one of his sexy grins before leaving the office.

“Mmm…mmm.” Macy sighed. “That man looks just as good walking away.”

“Amen,” the same nurse said again.

Emma smiled, and was still smiling two hours later when break time rolled around. She saved her file and stretched back in her chair.

Her friend grinned. “I can’t believe Stephan came right up to you this morning and flat-out asked you about Vince. Finally, you have movement! You and Vince need to keep it up. It’s working.”

Yeah, but in both directions.

How was it possible to be attracted to two men at the same time? Stuff like that only happened in the movies or in a book. Not in real life. Especially not in hers.

Good thing Vince wasn’t attracted to her.

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