Page 99 of Trick or Tease

Afterward, we lay tangled together under the blankets, our breathing slowly returning to normal. The air mattress was definitely more comfortable than the floor.

“This is nice,” I murmured, tracing lazy circles on his chest.

“It is,” he agreed, his arm tightening around me. “I could get used to this.”

Something in his tone made me look up at him. “Could you? Really?”

“Yeah,” he murmured.

I didn’t push. I didn’t need to. I didn’t want to. I wanted to fall asleep with the hope in my heart.

36

GARRETT

Waking up with Sabrina in my arms was not something I ever imagined happening. Ever. But damn it had been good. We had gotten up, got dressed, and put away the mattress and blankets. I was hoping we would get to use them again.

She’d gone home and I had snuck into the house to shower and get ready for the day.

Billy was already at the kitchen table when I came downstairs, nursing a cup of coffee and scrolling through something on his phone. He looked up when I walked in, and I could tell immediately from his shit-eating grin that I was in for it.

“Morning, sunshine,” he said, not even trying to hide his amusement. “Sleep well?”

“Fine,” I said curtly, heading straight for the coffee pot. I needed caffeine before I could deal with whatever interrogation he had planned.

“Uh-huh.” He leaned back in his chair, studying me with the kind of knowing look that reminded me exactly why little brothers were a pain in the ass. “You know, it’s funny. I could have sworn I heard you come in around dawn.”

I kept my back to him as I poured my coffee, hoping my expression wouldn’t give me away. “Maybe I got up early.”

Billy snorted. “Right. And maybe I’m the Pope. Come on, Garrett. Just tell me what’s going on with you and Sabrina.”

I turned around and leaned against the counter, trying to look casual. “Nothing’s going on. We’re friends. We’re working together on the farm stuff.”

“Friends,” Billy repeated slowly, like he was testing the word. “Friends who disappear together every night. Friends who look at each other like they want to tear each other’s clothes off.”

Heat crept up my neck. “You’re imagining things.”

“Actually, I’m trying hard to not imagine things.” He shook his head. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like my big brother is sleeping with my best friend, and neither of them wants to talk about it.”

I took a long sip of coffee, buying myself time. There was no point in denying it. Billy wasn’t stupid, and apparently we weren’t as subtle as I’d thought.

“It’s complicated,” I said finally.

“How complicated can it be? You like her, she likes you. Why all the sneaking around?”

I almost laughed at how simple he made it sound. If only it were that easy. “The problem is that I live in New York. I have a job, a life, responsibilities. This is just temporary.”

Billy’s expression shifted, becoming more protective. “Does Sabrina know that?”

“Of course she knows that. She’s not naive.”

“No, but she’s got a good heart,” Billy said, his voice taking on a warning edge. “And she cares about people. Maybe more than she should.”

I didn’t like where this was heading. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Billy looked at me like he was trying to decide just what he was going to say. For a moment, he looked exactly like our father when he was about to deliver a lecture.

“It means Sabrina’s not the kind of girl who does casual, Garrett. She never has been. She’s the kind who falls hard and fast. She’s Lucy’s best friend and I love her like a sister. Don’t fuck with her head.”