Love Triangle Six Books of Torn Desire - Willow Winters Page 0,213

around the casino for a bit.”

“Why don’t you stay with me?” I blurt. “We have a spare room, and that way you don’t have to stay at a hotel.”

She looks at Brian, and he shoots her that same look of pleading desperation. It’s so fast that I nearly miss it. I feel like an outsider around these two, like there’s a giant secret they’re not letting me in on.

“That’s so sweet of you, Reese, but my room is already paid for. Next time.”

“Do you come to town often?” I ask.

“More now that both my brothers are here.” She looks at Brian. “You’ve even got Mom and Dad looking at houses online.”

Both my brothers are here.

Not only did I have no idea that Brian’s staying with his brother, I also had no idea that his brother lives here in Vegas.

This entire conversation has just reminded me how very little I know about the man I’m falling in love with.

“I’ll text you when we’re getting ready to leave,” he says, and then he grabs my hand and pulls me toward the reception hall.

Becker and Jill are already inside, and I can’t wait to dissect what just happened with my best friend. The only problem is that Brian hasn’t left my side—hasn’t given me even a minute to myself to chat in private with Jill. He keeps introducing me to people, tugging my arm, keeping me close. How the hell he already knows all these people when he’s only been in town for a month is beyond me.

I want to ask him about that encounter with his sister, but I don’t even know where to start.

We eat, we drink, we dance, and the only time I get a moment alone is when I’m in the restroom, but Becker has Jill tied up the same way Brian’s had me tied up. They’re in the middle of a conversation with a couple of middle-aged businessmen in the spare moment I find myself alone, so I don’t bother to interrupt. We can talk at home tomorrow.

Brian texts his sister when we’re getting ready to leave. “Shoot,” he says once he gets her reply. “Looks like she already turned in for the night.”

“Too bad,” I say. “I’d love to chat more with her. She seems sweet.”

He just gives me a tight smile, and then we head back to my place…of course.

Chapter Fifteen

“My brother’s having a few people over tonight since my sister’s in town.” I can’t quite get a gauge on Brian’s mood. He’s never been easy to read, exactly, but ever since we met up with his sister, he’s a damn enigma. We’re sitting on my couch in front of the television. Sitting is sort of a loose term. I’m sitting, and Brian’s laying across the couch with his head cradled against my lap. He’s facing the television as I stroke his hair.

“Okay,” I say lightly, hoping he’ll give me some insight into his frame of mine. “Sounds fun.”

He clears his throat. “I was thinking of not going, of having a night here, just you and me and a bottle of wine.”

Heavy disappointment settles into the pit of my stomach, but I mask it. “That’s fine. Whatever you want.” What I want to ask is why don’t you want to introduce me to your brother? Why don’t you want me around your sister? What changed between us?

“I don’t want you to think it’s about you,” he says softly, as if he can read my thoughts.

“Think what’s about me?” I ask.

“It’s them. Him.”

“What’s him?”

Brian sighs. “My brother is one of my best friends. We’ve just always had this extremely competitive relationship.” He untangles himself from my lap and sits up. When his eyes meet mine, my heart twists at the vulnerability in his. I’ve never seen him like this. “He has this way of charming women and wanting what’s mine, and he always gets what he wants.”

I press a palm to his cheek. “Brian, if you’re worried I’m going to run off with your brother, don’t be.” I keep my voice low and genuine. “I would love to meet your family, to learn more about you.”

He nods, fear replacing the vulnerability in his eyes.

“It doesn’t matter what he wants.”

“It doesn’t?” Brian asks.

I shake my head, my lips tipping up in a smile. “It doesn’t,” I confirm. “I don’t care how charming he is. I’m yours.”

“You’re mine,” he says softly. His eyes darken. “That’ll just make you more attractive to him.”

“Well you’re the brother I’m falling for.”

He blinks