“Bryce! Come out here right now, you coward!”

He heard Sophie stomp toward his bedroom door, the noise ending as she stopped on the other side. By the fast pace of the tapping, he knew her foot was beating to the rhythm of her escalating anger.

Yup. Bryce was hiding. He needed to stall long enough for her to lose a little of her temper, or he’d be dodging her excellently thrown, overhand missiles.

Bryce had heard every word of her argument with Gage, and thought that the two combatants were actually making real progress. Everything was shaping up nicely— if he could just live long enough to enjoy their thanks for his meddling. “I’m on the phone. I’ll be with you in a minute!” he yelled, and dashed to pluck his cell phone off the bed.

“No, Bryce. Now.”

He loudly pretended to end his conversation. No more stalling. He opened the door and poked his head out. “Did Gage leave?” he asked innocently, shielding his body with the door between them.

“Yes, he left. Now come out here and take your medicine like a man.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Sophie’s hands were fisted on her hips, her face red and angry. “Oh, yes, you do. How could you do this to me? I thought family was supposed to watch out for you, not make your life a living hell.”

“But Sis, it was too perfect. When presented with such a wonderful opportunity, what’s a brother to do?”

Sophie smacked her palm to her forehead and continued. “That’s right. Oh, stupid me. You’re my brother. That explains it all.” Sophie’s voice rose. “You were just playing a joke on me. I should have known it all along.”

Bryce’s eyebrows rose as Sophie burst into hysterical laughter. Not sure whether to smile or pat her back, he stood waiting for her to finish, which she did on a sob. No tears, yet. That was a good sign.

“What is it with men that they feel they have to interfere with my life?”

Bryce opened the door wider and stepped out of his room toward her, his hands held out in front of him, pleadingly. “Come on, Sis. You’re getting too uptight about all this.”

“Bryce, you may think this is funny, but I’m not laughing. This whole situation is impossible. How can I live next door to him?” Her shoulders slumped, and she wrapped her arms around her midsection.

Bryce sure hoped she wasn’t about to start crying. It really bothered him when she cried, because it took a lot to make Sophie cry. Maybe he had taken the prank a little too far. “Sis, he’s actually a very likeable guy…when you get to know him.”

She swung back toward him, pinning him with her gaze. “You don’t seem to understand, Bryce. I don’t want to get to know him any more than I already do.”

He was confused. He didn’t understand why she was fighting her obvious attraction to the big guy. He had watched the two of them together. They rubbed sparks off each other, like flint striking flint. Everything he had learned about Gage had convinced him that he was the right man for Sophie. “Why not, Sis? It’s not like he has horns, or any terribly disgusting habits.”

“He’s just like Dad. He has a superior attitude about women, and I resent that. I can’t even begin to consider a relationship with someone who thinks that way. I’d just disappear when his ego moved in with us. Not to mention the little bitty thing called fraternization with your superior officer.”

Latching on to her first comment, Bryce tried to divert her attention to something he knew a little more about. “Dad’s not so bad. He just doesn’t know when to let go. You need to learn how to handle him, and he’ll quit bothering you about your commitment to the National Guard.”

“Bryce, get real. He only quit bothering you after you told him you wanted to be a doctor. Otherwise, he would have been pressuring you to enlist before your twenty-first birthday.”

“Dad just feels that every man should serve his country in one way or another.”

“That’s right, you hit the nail on the head. The key is every man. Why is it that he was disappointed when you didn’t go into the military, and yet, he is even more disappointed when I did?”

Bryce shrugged, “I don’t know what Dad’s thinking.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what guys like that think. They think that because I’m a woman, I shouldn’t be in the Army. They also think that I can’t cut it physically, and that I can’t earn the respect of other soldiers—or should I say men?”

Sophie stomped back and forth across the living room, warming to her subject. “I’ve worked hard to establish what little respect I have with my unit. I don’t need some macho man standing in my way or setting me up to look the fool. I don’t want anything to do with Captain Gage Jenkins. He epitomizes everything I can’t stand in a man.”

“Everything?” Bryce gave her a pointed look. “Seems you were awfully quick to jump in bed with him for some reason. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.”

“Don’t remind me. Look, if I’m to prove myself to him in my Guard unit, I have to do it as Lieutenant Keaton, not as jump-in-the-sack-with-a-stranger Sophie.”

“Why do you have to prove anything at all to him? And just how long do you think he’s going to stay in the dark about your alter ego?”

“I don’t know. For now, he thinks you and I are lovers, and that I’m a tramp. I don’t intend to outright lie to him, but I’m certainly not going to set him straight—and neither are you. If he wants to jump to conclusions, let him.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Bryce snapped to attention, executing a smart salute.

“Now, as far as I am concerned the subject of Gage Jenkins is not to be discussed in this house, and you are not to invite him to dinner, ever again.”

“But, Sophie, he’s my pal, my bud, my friend…”

“He’s your friend, not mine. I want nothing to do with him.”

“Suit yourself but, for what it’s worth, I think you’re making a big mistake.”

“I’m beginning to think my biggest mistake was letting you move in with me,” Sophie snarled. “Don’t push me.”

---

Gage spent Sunday agonizing over the girl next door. If his body had the choice, he’d be all over her in a second. He was still utterly dismayed at discovering she was Bryce’s lover.

They just weren’t right for each other, and he didn’t understand the attraction there. Bryce was a nice guy, but far too young. Something didn’t smell quite right. If she was happy with Bryce, why had she come on to him in the first place? She didn’t strike him as the easy type. He felt like he had been used, and worse, when he’d confronted her, she’d shown no remorse.

What was it with the women he fell for? Did he have sucker written all over his forehead or something? The entire situation was impossible, especially with her living only a few short feet away. That wasn’t going to change any time soon, so he’d better just learn to maintain a cool distance and avoid her completely. It would be tough, given her excellent physical attractions, but he could do it. He’d just have to stay too busy to notice.

With that in mind, he threw himself into rigorous exercise. He spent most of the morning in his garage with the doors wide open to catch a cool breeze as he worked out on his weight equipment. Cast iron plates rose and fell as he pumped and strained his body. Exhaustion sounded like a good cure for what ailed him. He focused on every ache he created in his muscles to distance his mind from another sort of pain.

After the many grueling sets were complete, he decided to relax with a slow jog around the neighborhood. He stood, stretched and walked out to the curb where he enjoyed the way the afternoon breeze licked at the salty rivulets running down his face and neck. After a few deep breaths, Gage struck out in the opposite direction from Sophie’s house—there was no sense in tempting fate.

As he ran, his strides widened, and he found a rhythm that soothed. He thought of the houses he passed and let himself imagine the families within. He was intrigued by the clues of family life that were left in front yards—children’s toys and bicycles were evidence of the sex and size. The smells of roasting meat and burning coals conjured images of backyard picnics. But the sounds of children caused a rare, poignant envy in him.

He turned a corner and saw that he had company. A jogger ahead of him moved at a slightly slower pace. As he closed the distance, he realized it was a woman, and there was something too familiar about the sway of her hips and the mass of wavy golden hair bouncing between her shoulder blades from a ponytail.

He slowed his pace, not wanting to overtake her.

Sophie moved fluidly, but purposefully, her strong strides eating up the distance. The purple cotton shorts and black sports bra she wore did little to disguise the lush figure Gage remembered all too well. Following at a distance, he allowed himself to admire the tight definition of her thighs, the trim indentation of her waist, and the energetic spring in her step. He remembered the feel of those strong thighs closing around his waist, and his heart pumped faster, sending a surge of blood through his veins. When he became aware of his inconsistent breathing, he decided he’d teased himself enough, and swung around in a tight half-circle to head back to his house for a reality check and a cold shower. Later, I’ll jog later.

When he came within sight of his home, he saw Bryce step out of his beat-up economy car and walk to the passenger side to open the door. A pair of long beautiful, bare legs emerged, followed by the rest of an equally shapely body of a young woman.

She appeared to be in her early twenties with long auburn hair and a voluptuous figure. Her shorts were so short, Gage could detect a teasing hint of pale buttocks below the back hem. The couple held hands as they walked to the door.

Bryce paused in front of the door, leaned close to the beauty and said something to her. She responded with a low, sultry laugh. Leaning close, she whispered something in Bryce’s ear, kissing him on the cheek as he opened the side door to Sophie’s house.

Gage frowned. What Bryce did was none of his business. He shouldn’t let it bother him. He entered his house, grabbed a beer and opened the door to his garage. From inside of the garage, he had a perfect view of the door to Sophie’s house through which the pair had entered. Hot and tired, he unfolded a lawn chair and sat, draining the beer from the can as he watched and waited. Feeling a more than a little foolish, Gage knew he shouldn’t spy on his neighbor. He should get up, go inside and take a shower. Instead, he remained there in the shadows, knowing he smelled something fishy.

Gage slowly drank his beer as he counted the passing minutes. He couldn’t stand it. After only five minutes, he had to know what Bryce was up to. Striding to Sophie’s front door, he rang the doorbell, and leaned over to peer through the window as he waited. What was taking Bryce so long to answer the flipping door? Gage was reaching for the knob when the door swung open.

“Hey, Gage, what’s up, pal?”

“Uh...I told Sophie I’d check that faucet in her kitchen sink for her. I’ll only be minute.”

Without waiting for a response, he pushed past Bryce and walked straight through the living room to reach the kitchen. Bryce trailed closely behind him.

They passed the redhead where she sat on the couch with her beautiful hair in delightful disarray and her lipstick smudged. She was in the process of tucking her shirt into her shorts and blushed, then giggled, when she realized the buttons were mismatched.

Gage kept his anger to himself and continued on his way to the kitchen. He opened the cabinet below the sink and fiddled with the shutoff valve, all the while making a loud pretense of looking for leaks. When he straightened from his crouched position, he clapped his hands together in feigned satisfaction. “Guess I did a better job than I thought. No leaks.”

While the redhead’s back was to him, ostensibly buttoning her blouse, Gage motioned to Bryce.

“Bryce, old buddy, gotta minute?” He grinned with teeth gritted and opened the kitchen door, all but shoving Bryce through the opening before him.

After he’d closed the door firmly, he rounded on Bryce, his smile replaced by an angry scowl. “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing? Sophie’ll be back here at any minute,” he hissed.

“So?” Bryce asked, his tone neutral. He watched Gage with a curious expression.

Gage felt a righteous rage surge through him. “Look, it’s none of my business what’s going on here, but I wouldn’t like Sophie walking in on the two of you. Shouldn’t you be leaving with Red?” he said, motioning toward the redhead, who watched them through the window. She smiled when she noticed their regard and waggled her fingertips in a flirtatious little wave.

“Leaving? Oh, yeah. You’re right. I forgot we were supposed to be at Ron’s house for the game. But how did you know that?” Bryce grinned, opened the door again, and said to the redhead, “Hey, Tisha, get your clothes on, we’re late.”

He hurried through, leaving Gage on the back porch with his mouth agape.

Shocked at Bryce’s nonchalance about what had just happened in Sophie’s living room, Gage felt himself grow hotter with anger. It was none of his business what Bryce, or Sophie, did. They were obviously some kind of wacky couple with an entirely different set of values than his. From now on, he was just going to have to stay out of it.

Still, as he walked back to his house, he felt relieved Bryce had left with the redhead before Sophie returned from her jog. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know how she would respond upon discovering Bryce’s indiscretion. It was better that she retain a few illusions, unlike Gage, who had none.

With his thoughts churning over the girl next door, Gage didn’t notice the truck pulling into his driveway, until it came to a stop inches from him.

“Are you trying to get killed?” Tanner slipped out of the driver’s seat and dropped to the ground. Rip and Jesse piled out and rounded the front fender.

“Oh, hey,” Gage gave them a brief smile. “Sorry. I had a lot on my mind.” He frowned. “Is there a reason you all are here?”

Jesse chuckled. “You invited us over a week ago, as some kind of housewarming thing.”

“We brought the beer.” Rip held up a 36-pack. “And you promised pizza. What more could we ask for?”

“Besides a good football game,” Tanner added.

Gage stood silent for a moment, trying to get his head around his problems with Sophia and the fact he had a houseful of guests to entertain.

“Look,” Jesse said. “If you’re too busy, we can take this party to Tanner’s place.”

“Yeah. Janine’s out of town,” Tanner offered. “We’d have the place to ourselves.”

Gage shook his head. “No, no. Come in. I could use the mental break.” He led the way into his house.

Rip, Tanner and Jesse crowded in.

“Wow, this is a lot smaller than I expected,” Rip said. “I would have thought with all the money you’re making, your new place would be finished by now, and you could move right in.”

Gage picked up his cell phone and hit the number he had saved for pizza delivery. “My old landlord decided he didn’t want dogs in his unit. I had to move into another rental until my new place is finished.

“Sucks to move when you’ll be moving again in less than a year,” Jesse said.

Gage shrugged. “It was this or a hotel. And keeping Rambo in a hotel had its own set of issues. I do work outside the home office on occasion.”

“You could have bunked with one of us until the new place is done,” Jesse said.

“You three are all wrapped up in your women. I couldn’t do it to you.”

Rip popped the top on a can of beer. “You’re just jealous you haven’t found your woman yet.”

Gage didn’t respond. He’d thought he’d found her that night in the hotel. Little did he know she was already taken and two-timing her boyfriend. All the more reason to remain a bachelor. Who could trust a woman?

“Hey, Gage.” Tanner waved a beer in his face. “You zoned out on us again. It’s as if you’re mind is in another place.”

Jesse’s eyes narrowed. “If you ask me, he has that look.”

Gage tilted his head. “What look?”

“The look of someone who’s been sucker-punched or who has a female on his mind. Same difference,” Rip said. “Which is it?”

“Neither.” Gage answered a little too quickly. And damned if heat didn’t fill his cheeks.

Rip whooped. “I knew it! The last bachelor standing has been bitten.”

“And by the looks of it, bitten hard.” Tanner grinned.

“Who is she?” Jesse snagged a beer, popped the top and settled onto the couch. “Tell all.”

Gage shook his head. “I haven’t been bitten, and I don’t have a woman.” Because someone else has her.

“But you have one in mind,” Rip concluded.

With a sigh, Gage popped the top on a beer and dropped into the lounge chair. “It’s complicated.”

“Women are complicated,” Jesse agreed. “But we love them anyway.”

“Yeah, they’re worth it,” Rip said. “Most of the time.”

Tanner elbowed Rip in the gut. “You know you love Casey and couldn’t get along without her.”

Rip grinned. “She keeps me on my toes.”

“Someone needed to,” Jesse said. “But we want to hear about Gage’s girl. Who is she? How did you meet her? What’s complicated about the situation? Maybe we can help you out.”

Gage took a deep breath, cringed and launched into what had gone on thus far in his relationship with Sophie. When he finished, he held out his hands, palms up. “So, you see, I don’t have a woman in mind. She’s already taken.”

The other three men sat in silence for a long moment.

“Do you know if they’re married?” Jesse asked.

Gage shook his head. “No, I don’t. I can’t imagine they are, since Bryce is cheating on Sophie and Sophie cheated on Bryce with me.”

“If they aren’t married,” Rip said, “she’s fair game.”

Tanner shook his head. “I don’t know… It doesn’t seem right taking another man’s woman.”

“The man is cheating on her,” Rip pointed out.

“Still, two wrongs don’t make it right,” Jesse agreed.

“And do you want a woman who is in a relationship with another man and is willing to cheat on him?” Jesse shook his head.

All the arguments his friends were listing were ones Gage had gone through himself. “Based on everything, I can’t trust her.”

Tanner clapped a hand on Gage’s shoulder. “In that case, you’ve already made up your mind. You have to move on.”

That was the hard part.

“It’ll be hard with her living next door,” Rip pointed out the obvious.

“Yeah, but you’re tough. You’ve got this. And if you need reinforcement,” Jesse waved a hand around the room. “You’ve got us.”

Gage nodded. They meant well, but a fat lot of good they’d be. He sure as hell wouldn’t be calling for them to warm his bed like Sophie had that first night she’d stolen into his life.

But his friends were right. He needed to move on and steer clear of the Sophie and Bryce mess next door.