father and step-mother. The only saving grace
was the fact his other brothers seemed perfectly content with their own lives.
Chris wanted to try for his own happy ending.
Spending his life denying the fact Erica was his woman would be plain stupid.
He loved her. His feelings were plain and simple to him.
“You look good,”
Trent
said, coming out of the kitchen
munching on a bowl of cereal.
“Thanks.”
“Who’s the hot date?”
“Erica.” The sound of her name rolling off his
tongue sounded so right. He wanted to do nothing more than burst out laughing.
He was too nervous to do anything but give a lift of the lips in
acknowledgement of his name. Would he be this nervous if it hadn’t been for
their shared past? Chris didn’t know the answer. He hoped to never cause her
any kind of pain again.
“You’re going on a hot date with Erica Black? The woman who hates your guts?” Cassie came out of the
sitting room. Whiskers brushed past her feet, rubbing his back along Chris’s
legs. He adored that large cat.
“I asked her, and she agreed to go out with me.
I’m taking her to dinner. Nothing is going to happen,” he said. Cassie looked
unconvinced.
“I’m surprised she agreed to go out with you.
Last time she and I spoke, you were on the unwanted list of topics.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence, Cassie.
I always know I can depend on you to give it to me straight.” Chris rubbed his
palms down his pant leg. The more time he spent with his family, the more he
felt like he’d made a mistake with trying a second time at love.
“Someone has to keep you in line, Chris. No one
has a clue what you’d do otherwise.”
Blaze came out with his son in tow. “Uncle
Chris.”
He smiled down at his nephew before glaring at
the adults. They all looked at him as if he was going to fuck this up. He’d
fucked up in the past. This wasn’t like that. He wasn’t wowed by models, or the
high life, or money. Over the years without Erica, he’d mellowed out. The
playboy was not the bloody matchmaker. His reputation was mocked everywhere.
Instead of wanting to change back from the man he’d become, he relished the
change inside him. Chris had anticipated seeing Erica again. He’d hoped to be
the better man. But with the way he reacted the day before, all of his effort
was a waste. The moment they were together he acted like a total asshole.
“I think it is a good thing you’re giving love
a second chance. I blew it the first time, and Cassie forgave me. Maybe Erica
can forgive you,” Blaze said. Chris watched his brother hug Cassie to him. The
love between his brother and friend was so clearly visible to everyone who
looked. He envied them. He knew if given the chance he and Erica could have the
same. Chris wanted the same.
“Leave your brother alone,” Molly said as she
came out of the kitchen. She brushed his brothers aside, smoothed out his tie,
and tapped him on the chest. “Go and show her what a great man you’ve become.”
“ Thanks, mum,” he
said. Her eyes widened, and he saw the unmistakable sign of tears. He laughed,
looking past her shoulder to see his father staring at her with longing. Chris
knew he needed to fix his parents’ problems. But first, he needed to fix his
own problems.
“Right, I don’t want any of you staying up. I’m
going to take Erica out, and I don’t want any of you up when I get back.”
They all muttered. He shut the door behind him.
Getting into his car, he drove the short distance to the beach house where she
was staying. A few of her friends were scattered out the front. He noticed Ben
swigging beer. Chris felt an instant dislike to the guy who was trying to keep
Erica for his own.
Erica was his woman, even if he had fucked up
years ago. Did she allow this man to make love to her until the early hours of
the morning? Had she opened up her heart and soul to him as he was deep inside
her body?
So many questions swirled around his head,
threatening to
David Sherman & Dan Cragg