Page 25 of Secret Baby for My Brother's Best Friends

"Jake."

When I manage to drag my eyes away, I meet James' annoyed gaze.

“We need to talk,” he says. "In private.”

"Sure thing,” I answer, and tell the other two, “I’ll be back.”

“Uh-huh,” Adam says. “I’ll be in the bathroom.”

Sam doesn’t respond, but I assume he’s going to stay in the conference room as I follow James out and toward his office, which is at the other end of the hall. He streams in, and I barely get the door closed before he turns on me. “Cut it out.”

“Cut what out?”

“Whatever the fuck you think is going to happen, it’s not. She’s my sister for crying out, and she’s already going through a hard time. If you mess with her and break her heart, I’m going to kick your ass myself.”

“Going through a hard time, how?”

He glares at me, and I grin.

“Oh, come on. What makes you think I’m the one who’s going to break her heart rather than the other way round?”

He gives me a sardonic look, then shakes his head. “Okay, you know what? I’m just going to take her off the project and be done with it.”

“No,” I say instantly. “You don’t have to do that.”

“It turns out I do, since you can’t seem to keep it in your pants.”

“You’re making me seem like I’m some kind of asshole who forces myself on women, when we both know that's not the case,” I eye him. “Is this about what happened in college?”

“No.” His jaw clenches. “This is about the pattern with you and women. I don’t want my sister to be one of your…”

I raise my eyebrow, my amusement instantly dying. “One of my what?”

“Nothing.”

“No, obviously you were about to say something derogatory about the women that I sleep with. You think they’re all bimbos or something?"

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s what you implied. And that’s really shitty for you to think, to degrade them like that. They’re all just people. Some are intelligent, accomplished, and what, because they sleep with me, suddenly they’ve moved down a tier in your eyes.”

“Look, I didn’t say anything about that, and if I implied it, I’m sorry. I’m just protective of my sister.”

I let go of my indignation. "I get that. I’m not going to hurt her.”

He gives me a disbelieving look, and I put my hand on my chest. “Honest to God, I promise I will not hurt her.” But that doesn’t mean I’ll stay away from her either.

James clearly has an inaccurate view of his sister, as most brothers do. He likely sees her as some innocent, unspoiled dove who has to be kept away from big, bad men like me. But I know who she is, and saw it that very night. She’s a woman who cravesthe same thrill I do, a smart, sensual woman who is fucking amazing in bed.

She’s someone I haven’t been able to forget as easily as I have the rest.

And despite what I said to James, she’s someone I don’t think I can let go.

But I do intend to keep my promise not to hurt her. I plan on being honest with her every step of the way and taking care.

Against popular opinion, I actually haven’t broken all that many hearts. Every single woman I’ve been with knew the score, and they’ve all left me with big smiles on their faces.

I intend for her to be the same.