Closer Than A Brother Read online

  Am I falling in love with Shane Matthews? No, that is crazy. They were just enjoying each other’s company. Making each other feel good. A warm body to keep each other company during the holiday.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he said, catching her eye in the mirror.

  “Hey yourself,” she replied softly, giving him the once over. “You look great.”

  He flashed a mouthwatering grin. “Thanks, baby. Is there anything else that needs done in the kitchen? I can go out there and stir if you need me to.”

  “No, I think everything is done. I’m just going to change my clothes,” she said, looking down at her jeans and tee covered with various cooking ingredients. “And do something with this hair.” She gestured toward her out-of-control curls.

  “Sorry if I took too much time earlier—” He gave her a devilish grin.

  “Don’t you start,” she warned. “Our parents will be here soon. We can’t have another round of sex now.”

  He came up behind her as she opened the door to her closet. He ran his hand over her stomach. “I don’t have sex with the woman I’m in love with, Danielle,” he said softly in her ear. “I’ve been making love to you every night since I got here, baby. If I have to prove myself time and time again, I will.” He turned her to him. Her body melted into the hard contours of his body. Both hands on her face, he lowered his mouth to hers.

  She could have sworn her heart stopped as his tongued gained access to hers. “I’m in love with you, Danielle. I’ll do whatever I have to do to prove that to you. I’ll wait however long it takes to hear you say the words back to me.” He dropped his hands from her face. I’ll leave you alone so you can get dressed. He left the room before she could say anything.

  She groaned, turning back around to her closet. Would she be able to tell Shane she was falling in love with him too? She pulled the bright orange tee over her head and threw it in a nearby hamper. She needed to take a shower and get her mind off Shane.

  * * * *

  Shane stuck his head in the room an hour later. “Baby?”

  She stood in front of the mirror putting on earrings, looked up and met his gaze.

  He stepped in and shut the door. “Damn, you look great,” he said, his gaze moving over her jean skirt and black blouse.

  Her breath caught at the storm of emotion in his eyes—love, lust, desire—a heady combination of things, as he took in the sight of her.

  “Thank you.” Her voice came out husky. He looked back up at her, hearing it too. He closed the distance between them and ran his hand around her sides, pulling her closer.

  “We can’t, Shane.” She knew what he was thinking. She wanted it too, but knew they didn’t have the time. “Are they here?”

  “Brandi and Jason are here. Our parents are on their way. They all took separate cabs.” He dipped his head for a quick kiss. She met his hungry mouth on a sigh. He pulled away reluctantly. “I hope I didn’t scare you away with what I said earlier.”

  “No, not at all.” She shook her head.

  “Yet you are acting more distant.”

  “No, I’m not.” She smiled at him. “I have feelings for you too, Shane. I just need time to tell you about them,” she whispered.

  “I told you I will wait.”

  She put a hand to his face. “You are too good and deserve so much more than to be waiting for me and my hang ups, Shane.”

  “Don’t talk like that. You make it sound like you don’t want me to wait.”

  She gently pushed away from him. “Let’s enjoy our Thanksgiving dinner with our friends and family. We can talk about all of this after the holiday.” She turned to leave the room.

  “Danielle.” She turned to face him. “Are we okay?”

  The look in his eyes was pleading. It broke her heart. “Yes, we’re fine.” She turned and left the room.

  Chapter Ten

  “Hey, Ma.” He smiled opening the door to his parents, hugging his mother and shaking his father’s hand.

  “So are you the man of the house or what?” his dad joked with him.

  He took their coats. “Yeah right, I wish,” he mumbled.

  “Is everything okay, honey,” his mother asked, touching his face.

  “I think I care more about her than she cares about me,” he answered, sneaking a peak over at Danielle talking to Brandi across the room.

  “You’ve been here for two weeks. That should count for something.”

  “She’s having a ball showing me the sights of the Big Apple, but I think that is as far as it’s going. I put my heart out there to her before everyone showed up, and she immediately went cold on me.” He ran a hand down his face. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t lose her. I do know that.”

  His mother pulled him into another embrace. “After we leave, you must speak to her. Tell her how you feel.”

  “She knows how I feel. She told me it will take her some time…”

  His mother shook her head. “Let’s enjoy our dinner, honey. We will keep our fingers crossed that we will be celebrating an engagement before the weekend is over.”

  He smiled at his mother. “Always the optimist, Ma.”

  He looked up at the woman he considered his second mother coming down the hall. “Mom two,” he said, letting go of his mother, moving past her.

  “There’s my boy,” Izzy said taking him and embracing him. You look good, Shane—well rested.” She smirked. “Have you been treating my daughter well?”

  “I’m trying.” He smiled at her. “You know how stubborn she is.”

  Miss Izabelle laughed. “I know all too well.”

  “Let me take your coats,” he offered, taking the coats of the folks he hoped would one day be his in laws. He shook her father’s hand.

  Danielle joined them at the door. “Oh, you all snuck in on me while I was showing Brandi something in the kitchen,” she exclaimed, hugging one friendly face after another. “I’m so happy you all could come here.”

  He watched his mother kiss Danielle’s cheek and embrace her tightly winking at her son over her shoulder. He wanted to take Danielle’s hand and bring her to his side, but he didn’t know where he stood with her.

  Are we a couple? Have we just been keeping each other company the last two weeks?

  He told her what he wanted, but he was still in the dark about her feelings.

  “Please, everyone, come in. Oh my God, where are your coats? I’m sure it is freezing out there.”

  “Shane already took them, dear. Now tell me where to put this food,” Izzy said, pushing past her daughter.

  Danielle turned to meet his gaze. “Thank you,” she mouthed to him.

  He shrugged. “No big deal.”

  He wanted to be the man in her life—the man of the house as his father had put it—the one who answered their door and invited their guests in. He let out a huge sigh.

  “Hang in there, man,” Jason said, coming up to him with a long-neck bottle. They watched the women from across the room. The fathers took their seats in the recliners to watch the game on the high definition.

  “She got you bad, I see,” Jason said smacking him on the shoulder.

  “It is bad, man,” Shane admitted. “What sucks is she doesn’t feel the same way.”

  “You’ve made no progress?”

  “Besides bumping and grinding every night since I’ve arrived?” Shane said quietly so only Jason could hear. “No progress beyond that. I’m not saying that is bad, trust me. I just don’t know where we stand.”

  “You haven’t popped the question?”

  “How could I pop the question if I don’t know what she wants from this?” He took a drink of his beer and watched the love of his life working on the meal in the kitchen.

  “You should pull her aside and talk to her. If you are sure she is the one, you need to make that known.”

  “Maybe you are right.”

  “Damn straight I’m right. Go get your girl.”

  Shane drained his bottle ha
nding the empty to his friend.

  * * * *

  “So…” Brandi whispered helping with the sides.

  “So what?”

  “He’s been here for two weeks, D, there has to be a so. How is he?”

  “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “You are lying through your teeth. I know you have totally jumped his bones. If you haven’t, you are out of your damn mind.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay what!”

  “We’ve been…together.”

  “Who are you, you’re mother?”

  “Shut up, Brandi! We’ve been intimate.”

  “Okay, your grandmother?”

  “Damn it. We’ve fucked okay. He’s great in bed. He makes my toes curl.”

  “Ha-ha, see now that is what I was getting at. So should we plan a double wedding for Christmas?”

  “Oh my God, hell no. I’m not marrying Shane. This has been a wild and crazy affair. But I don’t see marriage in the cards.”

  “Wonder if he asks you?”

  “Brandi! Honestly, honey, are you crazy? Shane and I are not at that point. Now help me get this stuff on the table so we can feed these people.”

  * * * *

  He stared at the black box in his hand, his back to the bedroom door. She doesn’t want to marry me. This was just a fling and a phase for her. He was someone to keep her warm for a couple of weeks until Mr. Right came along. He closed his eyes trying to block the pain and anger that welled up in him each time he looked at the box. “Damn it,” he muttered to himself pushing the box into his pants. He had to get out of here. He wasn’t going to love a woman that didn’t love him back. Even if it is Danielle.

  “Whew, I thought that went great. The food was really good. We have leftovers for days.” He heard her breeze into the bedroom—kicking her shoes off. “They all went back to the hotel. They will meet us tomorrow for Black Friday sales…”

  He cleared his throat and turned to look at her. His gaze met hers, and she stopped talking. “Shane?” She took the steps necessary to close the distance between them. She ran a hand down his face. “What’s wrong? Your face is all red…you look upset.” She looked around him, at the bed. “Why are you packing your bag?” He saw the confusion in her eyes.

  “I got a room at the hotel our parents are staying at.”

  “Why?”

  “I thought it would be better.”

  “For whom?”

  “Me.”

  “What changed from this morning, when we were together, until now, Shane? I don’t understand. You’ve been acting strange since our families got here. What is your deal?”

  He turned from her and zipped the bag closed. “I thought I would just move on now before you ask me to leave. I don’t want to wear out my welcome.”

  “You are talking crazy.”

  “Am I? Oh, I’m sorry. I thought this affair we are having was the wild and crazy thing,” he said bitterly, tossing the bag over his shoulder. He watched the realization come to her face.

  “Shit,” she muttered.

  “Yeah, sweetheart, I overheard your conversation with Brandi. Don’t worry, Danielle, I won’t shove marriage down your throat.” He walked passed her out of the room without turning back when she called his name.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Where is he?” Danielle asked her friends when they met up the next morning to shop.

  “He caught the first flight out,” Jason answered. “He was pretty torn up over the things you said to Brandi.”

  “I don’t understand…We were just talking about marriage. Brandi, you were teasing me about double weddings. Shane and I weren’t at that point. We were just getting to know each other.”

  “You’ve known him since you were kids, Danielle. What is there to get to know, honey?” Brandi interjected.

  “I know, I know, but marriage? Come on.” She laughed nervously when neither of her friends replied. “What? What is the issue? Why am I the bad person here?”

  “Shane had a ring in his pocket last night, Danielle. He was going to pop the question after dinner,” Jason replied frankly. “He is in love with you. He has been for half his life. You think what you had was a joke or a good time but it meant a lot to him.” Jason stuck up for his friend.

  The more he talked the more like a complete bitch she felt. She put a hand to her mouth. She felt tears coming to her eyes. “Why the hell didn’t he say anything?”

  “Because you said it all when you were talking to me, I guess.” Brandi rubbed her friend’s arm. “I’m sorry, honey.”

  “I will call Shane later. We will talk about this and make it right. As for now, let’s get some shopping done for my favorite engaged couple. We have a wedding to take care of! I don’t want to shirk my duties as maid of honor!”

  * * * *

  She tapped Cancel on her phone. “Damn it!” she said through gritted teeth.

  “Is he still not answering?”

  “No he’s not! It has been three weeks!” She smoothed the black dress over her curves. “Is he working?”

  “No, sweetie. He is supposed to be off tonight. This is our rehearsal dinner.”

  “I’m sorry, Brandi. I’m stealing your thunder here.” She offered her best friend a weak smile.

  “Don’t apologize. You’re missing the man you lov—” She quieted when Danielle shot her a warning glace.

  “Watch that L-word Brandi. I just need to talk to him. I have to apologize for the drama that went down on Thanksgiving. I owe him that right?” She was babbling. She was justifying. She didn’t care. Brandi understood. She needed to see Shane to make this feeling in her heart right. It has nothing to do with love and marriage and feelings and craziness. She didn’t need any of that right now. She just had to tell Shane she was sorry. She owed him that much. She couldn’t believe he would miss Jason and Brandi’s rehearsal, dinner. He is the best man, damn it. She raked a hand through her locks—pissed that he would do this.

  “Are you okay?” Brandi asked touching her arm.

  “I’m fine. Let’s stop worrying about me this is all about you, sweetie,” she said, coming to her friend. “This is your time. Let’s get out there and greet your guests and have a couple glasses of champagne and a fabulous dinner.” Okay, I can do this for my best friend. “Your hair looks killer Brandi. Nikki really did your hair up right,” she said trying to exude a positive attitude for her best friend.

  “Thank you.” Brandi eyed Danielle. “He’ll be here. He promised Jason.”

  “I’m not worried too much about him. Like I said, sweetie, this is all about you and Jason, and your big day.” She led her friend to the dining hall to meet her guests.

  * * * *

  He was late. He felt like shit. He wasn’t ready to see Danielle. It had been three weeks since he left New York and now here she is back in South Carolina for Jason and Brandi’s wedding.

  “You’re late, bro, what the hell?” Jason asked coming up behind him, hitting him on the back.

  “I know. I’m sorry, man. Just got tied up with—”

  “Don’t lie to me,” Jason said, cutting him off. “I know you too damn well for that.”

  Shane shut up immediately. Jason knew he was thinking about her—how he still felt—how he would always feel for Danielle. “Is she here, man?”

  “Where else would she be? She’s the maid of honor. Last I checked she was headed to the restroom with Brandi. I’m going to warn you now before you see her. She is looking mighty fine in a black dress. You might have to watch out on that one.”

  Shane let out an exasperated breath. “Damn it. Which way to the bar? I’m going to need it.”

  * * * *

  His back was to her, but she knew him anywhere. Shane threw back a swallow of dark liquid and placed it back on the bar. “Can I get another, please?” She heard him grunt to the bar tender.

  She sauntered up to the bar and slid into the seat next to him. “A cosmopolitan, plea
se?” she asked. He didn’t turn to look at her. He watched the game above the bar instead.

  “I’ve missed you, Shane,” she finally said after the bartender brought the drinks.

  “Really?" he said coldly, still refusing to look at her.

  “Yes, really,” she snapped. He gave her a side glance before looking away. She wasn’t getting anywhere with him like this.

  She cleared her throat when he didn’t respond. “We are going to talk about this. It can be tonight, it can be whenever you’d like, but mark my words, Officer Matthews,” she breathed close enough so only he could hear. “You and I are going to have this conversation. Now as maid of honor and best man. We need to get our asses together and help our friends. We may be having our own issues, but they deserve nothing but the best.”

  She threw back the rest of her drink and set it on the bar. “Now that we got that out of the way, shall we?” She waited for him to finish his drink. He stood up and towered over her. Piercing her with the deepest, sexiest eyes she had ever seen, she watched as his mouth formed the words. “After you, Danielle.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “You look beautiful,” she whispered to her best friend. “Everything is going so smoothly, sweetie. This is your day,” she said.

  “Don’t you dare cry, Danielle! If you do, I swear I will cry right here and ruin my makeup, and then I’ll have to kick your ass.”

  She laughed at her friend. “We can’t have the bride kicking ass before she says her I dos.” They laughed together.

  “Have you talked to him?”

  “No, not really. We aren’t talking about this now.” They heard the music starting to play for the bridal party. “We agreed to be cordial for you and Jason.”

  “You will talk to him before you go back to New York?”

  “I’m not going to press the issue,” she said, shaking her head.

  “You are really asking for that ass kicking,” Brandi growled at her as they watched the other bridesmaids disappear through the church doors, into the sanctuary. “This could be you, sweetie. You deserve the same happiness that I have with Jason. Don’t deny yourself that, because you have some preconceived idea about the two of you. Let your heart love.”