I awoke to the smell of bacon and took a long sniff because bacon!

I did my thing in the bathroom, brushing my teeth then twisting my hair into a loose bun on top of my head, took a quick shower, using his body wash that had a nice, clean scent. After drying off, I let my ponytail down then contemplated putting my dress back on, only to decide I’d stick with a more comfy t-shirt instead and, throwing the shirt I’d worn to bed in the hamper, I pulled a UDub Huskies Baseball one out of his drawer. After changing into the panties from my purse, I then made my way through Zane’s humongo house.

Following my nose led me to the living room, and I was just about to enter the kitchen when I heard an unfamiliar deep voice and I stopped, not sure it was appropriate for someone to see me only wearing Zane’s purple Huskies t-shirt and not sure if I wanted someone to see me in it. Ack!

“So, you think it’s him?”

“Pretty sure. Fucker has a rap sheet a mile long starting when he was fifteen. Minor shit, but we all know that only leads to bigger shit.” They were quiet for a moment then Zane continued. “I’m gonna start showing up at odd times. See if I can get a close-up. From what I’ve heard, he’s antsy. I think he knows.”

“Probably. How could he not. Asshole set you up.”

I turned to go back to the bedroom and the floor made a squeak. Stupid wood floors. It was a tiny, barely audible little squeak, but Mr. I Hear Everything detective suddenly came out of the kitchen to catch me sneaking away.

“Where you off to?” Zane called.

I turned around and my face instantly caught on fire when I saw another guy ginning at me from behind him. A guy who looked and was dressed just like Zane, both of them in jeans with thermals underneath untucked plaid flannel shirts, sleeves up to their elbows, but the other guy looked a little older, I thought.

My hands worried the hem of the t-shirt tugging it down as I answered, “I’m just gonna go, uh, put on my, uh, dress.”

“C’mere,” Zane said, his eyes soft as he smiled, which made his dimple appear as he looked adoringly at me. Adoringly!

Now who can say no to that?

I bit my lip as I walked to him, embarrassed as hell that I was so underdressed in front of his, whoever he was.

Winding his arms around me, Zane leaned down and touched his lips to mine and whispered, “You sleep okay?” God, he smelled so good, his hair still wet from showering, and, crap! What time was it?

I nodded then whispered back, “What time is it and why didn’t you wake me?”

“Just after nine. You looked so cute sleeping, and you were snoring, so I left you to it.” He snorted when I smacked his chest then twisted me in his arms to face the guy with him, wrapping an arm around me just above my breasts and stated, “Jillian, this is my big brother Drake. Drake, this is Jillian.”

I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you, Drake.”

He came forward and shook my hand replying, “Nice to meet you too, Jillian,” scrutinizing me for a moment, silver-blue hair and all. Then he glanced at his little brother and nodded in what looked like approval.

Zane moved to my side, sliding his arm across my back then cupped my shoulder with his hand pulling me close as we walked into the kitchen. “Jill drives a Prius.”

I looked up to see him looking back at Drake, biting his lips to keep from laughing as his eyes twinkled. I turned around to see Drake giving Zane the finger.

“What’s wrong with a Prius?” I asked.

Drake let out an annoyed breath. “Just had to get some training with the hybrids.”

“Our dad and uncle own Powers Automotive and Drake just opened his own shop in the franchise,” Zane filled me in. Then laughing, he stated, “And it wasn’t just some training.”

Nodding and showing a tiny bit of disgust on his face, Drake said, “Had to buy all new equipment to work on hybrids to keep up with the competition. But it’s done, so we’re good.”

Ah. Now it made sense. Usually, hybrid owners had to go to the dealership for maintenance but I guessed more independent mechanic shops were changing that.

I shrugged sheepishly. “I’m doing my part to keep the environment clean.”

I watched Drake laugh and look at Zane. “This the tree hugger?”

Zane squeezed my shoulder again. “She’s the one.”

He’d told his brother about me. Talk about your warm and fuzzies.

“You’re the one who likes Zombeavers, right?” I asked.

Zane let out a raspy cough as he snorted and I watched Drake shoot him a look. “Nice one. Wait until she hears about your dumbass obsession with Leonardo DiCaprio.”

“I had a goldfish named that!” I pitched in.

“I’m not obsessed. I just like The Departed, dickhead.”

“All I heard for a year from this prick was,” he raised his voice to a higher pitch as he said, “‘Look at me. Okay? I’m not the fuckin’ rat. I’m not the fuckin’ rat!’ and ‘I’ve been to prison. My hand doesn’t shake ever.’” Drake shook his head in mock disgust.

 “Totally screwed up the lines. Jesus. You make a terrible Billy Costigan,” Zane said, giving him a distasteful look before turning back to put the bacon on a paper-towel-covered plate.

I couldn’t help laughing watching them arguing, my head going back and forth between them as they continued shooting insults at each other.

Drake grinned at me. “All right. I gotta take off. It was nice meeting you, Jillian.” He looked at Zane and shoved his shoulder. “Honor’s brother and I are playing today. You need to join us sometime.”

“Baseball’s my thing, bro. Besides, I’d just embarrass you with my moves.”

“Right. But seriously, come out to the field some Sunday. It’ll put hair on your chest.” Drake laughed.

Zane went to the stove and took the pan with the bacon in it off the burner. “If you’re saying it’ll make me manly, dude, I’ve got that covered.”

Drake snorted then eyes on me but nodding at Zane, he added, “Keep this one in line. I know he’s an ass, but all he needs is a good woman to keep him in check.”

“I’ll, um, try. Nice meeting you, Drake.”

He winked at me then let himself out.

I asked Zane, “So he’s the oldest?”

“Yep. Two years older than I am.” He put bread in the toaster then got a knife from the drawer. “You like jelly on your toast?”

“Grape if you’ve got it,” I answered, watching him move around the kitchen.

“Grape it is,” he said opening the fridge to get it out.

He looked so good and I so wanted to jump his damn bones right then, but I was kind of afraid since he’d always seemed the more dominant type and might not like it if I took the lead. So curbing my libido, I asked, “Need any help?”

“You can get some plates and silverware out of the cabinet if you want.” He nodded at the cabinet to his right.

Having grown comfortable in the t-shirt I was wearing, I forgot I even had it on. So when I reached up to get the plates, I guess it raised up a bit to put my ass on display because the next thing I heard was Zane rasping out a hoarse, “Fuck!”

I turned to see him staring hotly at me, the tics in his jaw muscles popping and my eyes went big.

“Have I proven you’re not a fuckin’ booty call yet?”

I nodded.

“Thank fuck,” he said huskily, taking a step and pinning me against the counter.