CRASH!!
Adrian Wingfield looked down at the pint?sized terrorist who had just knocked him over in the grocery store and sent a tower of canned soup crashing to the floor.
Big, gray eyes stared back at him from a mass of thick, black curls. Her olive skin heightened the white of her tank top and black shorts. Short, chubby legs ended in dirty sneakers. The rosebud lips opened and for a minute Adrian thought she was going to apologize. Instead her piercing screech was cut short by a hand clamping over her mouth.
"Got you!" a female voice snapped. Adrian glanced up to the tanned, shapely legs in khaki shorts that belonged to the voice. The kicking girl was lifted up into the air by a furious and lovely young woman.
"Sir, I do apologize. Trixie's been absolutely wild since we got here and I'm really sorry."
Adrian got to his feet, smiling.
"No harm done."
"Here I'll take her." Another woman appeared. She was in her early fifties, with styled, short auburn hair, silver glints reflecting out of it. Adrian noticed all three had the same deep gray eyes.
"Thank you, Mother." Trixie was whisked away by who Adrian figured to be her grandmother. The woman turned back to Adrian.
"Again, I'm sorry." She was near tears. Adrian felt a slight tug at his heart. The woman's gray eyes were shadowed from fatigue and she looked thoroughly harassed.
"Hey, it's ok. Kids get into trouble all the time."
"All the time is right. I've only had her a year and she just won't give in to my rules."
"She's not your daughter, then?" Adrian took in the redheaded beauty before him. Easily six feet tall, and a body most would have called slightly overweight, but the way Adrian liked them. Curvy and soft, long legs. Long, layered waves of dark red hair were held back from her oval face by a headband. A dark blue tank top revealed long arms and a light tan.
"No, my niece. My brother died last year and I was named her guardian. But he apparently never disciplined her because she's just a little monster!" her voice rose slightly
"Hey, hey, calm down." Adrian touched her arm reassuringly. "She's testing you. Kids do that sort of thing. My nephew is the same way."
"I should go. The store manager will be furious. Thank you, Mr ? ?" she asked.
"Adrian Wingfield."
"Thank you, Mr. Wingfield." she retreated quickly before Adrian could get her name.
***
By the time Laura reached her car she was shaking with fury. Trixie was in the back seat sulking. Laura's mother, Sophie, was in the front seat, rubbing her graying temples.
"The store manager was amazingly calm." Laura slid into the car after loading the groceries into the back of her white Blazer. It, too, had belonged to her brother.
Turning in her seat she glared at Trixie, who sullenly kicked the back of the seat.
"When we get home, miss, you are going to sit in the chair until dinner time and think about what you have done. Got it?"
Trixie knew by the deadly tone she had gone too far.
"Yes." The seven year old crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the window for the duration of the ride.
"And the man she bowled over?"
"Incredibly gracious."
"Incredibly gorgeous," her mother added with a twinkle in her eye.
Laura laughed and relaxed against the seat. Adrian Wingfield was an Adonis all right. Tall, muscular, long hair that was almost black and slightly wavy, thoroughly sensitive and seductive, deep brown eyes. How had such a little girl been able to knock down that big of a man?
"Yeah, he was, wasn't he?"
"Did you get a name?"
"Oh, Mother, come on." Sophie recognized the faint blush creeping up her daughter's neck.
"Name?"
"Adrian Wingfield." Laura laughed.
"Single?"
"How the hell would I know?" she winced as she said the word. Attempts to curb her swearing since Trixie's arrival weren't always successful.
"You're a beautiful girl. You need to get out more."
"Don't start, Mother. Not too many guys want to get involved with a wild child."
"Did you get a phone number?" Sophie persisted. Laura sighed as she turned onto their street.
***
The following day Laura was up early and packing the rest of hers and Trixie's clothing. They were moving into their own place today. While Laura loved her mother dearly, the last two weeks had been spent in her mother's small but elegant cottage in the retirement community. In those two weeks, Trixie had managed to smash several antiques and Laura was at her wits' end. They had moved back to Denver after Trixie was expelled from three different schools for "dysfunctional behavior".
The moving van had been loaded yesterday. Laura decided to let Trixie sleep in and take the van over herself. Scribbling a note to her mother, the twenty?seven year old tacked it to the fridge and left.
Humming along with Rick Nelson's "Stood Up", she pulled into her new driveway. The duplex was only ten minutes from her mother, in a quiet, tree?lined suburb. There were several neighbors with children around Trixie's age and Laura hoped feverishly Trixie would learn some social skills.
Hopping from the truck she stretched her legs and inhaled the clean air. Her life in dusty and dirty Dallas had been interrupted almost a year ago, when news of her brother's death had rocked the already broken family. Her third sister, Priscilla, wouldn't speak to her because Laura had been named executor of the will and primary heir. George had left her a small fortune: his houses in Miami and Venice beaches, his cars and his then six year old daughter, Trixie.
At first, Laura had been apprehensive about taking the child, but Trixie had charmed her into agreeing. Once alone, however, the angel became a terrorist and Laura had been pulling her hair out ever since. Finally she decided to move home to Denver.
"Home sweet home," she muttered, walking up the steps to the old house. The owner lived somewhere closeby, she guessed the ritzy neighborhood that started a few blocks over. The lease was being handled through a management company so she didn't know the owners, just that they lived nearby. If she liked the place well enough after six months, she would buy it.
Stepping inside, she turned on the lights. The hardwood floors gleamed up at her. It was exactly as she had remembered when she first saw it two weeks ago, though freshly cleaned, the pine scented cleanser still hanging. The walls in the front room were standard ivory colored. The dining room contained a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Then there was the kitchen, with a door to the long driveway and another to the hallways. On the other side of the hallway was the bathroom, then a closet. Two bedrooms: one for her, one for Trixie. Outside was a small yard with a thick, green lawn and high privacy fence and gate. The garage at the end of the driveway had the door down.
Returning outside she studied the quiet neighborhood, enjoying the shade of the huge tree in the yard. Neat yards, trim houses with a pleasant, peaceful atmosphere.
Hopping over the wall onto the lawn, she walked to the end of the moving van and opened it. The furniture would have to wait until her the movers she hired arrived later in the day. She could manage most of the boxes herself.
Two hours later, gasping for breath, Laura sat on the front step. The heat had risen and though the humidity was low, Laura could hardly breathe. She had forgotten the altitude difference and cursed herself for not bringing any water. Sophie would arrive eventually with groceries, but all she had right now was lukewarm tap water.
Standing up and stretching her back, she was rounding the corner of the truck when she sensed someone approaching. They collided before she could move, but Laura caught herself. Falling back against the truck her head slammed against the wall, but she felt a pair of strong hands on her arms.
Opening her eyes and blinking, she was stunned to recognize the deep, chocolate eyes looking back at her.
"We meet again. I'd say Trixie takes after her aunt," the smooth, familiar voice said. She had dreamed about it all night, its so very faint British accent tickling her memory.
"Mr. Wingfield," she said weakly, regaining her balance.
"Adrian, please."
"What are you doing here?" she blurted out. Her skills around men had never been good.
"I own this house. I was coming to meet the new tenant. She signed my lease while I was out of town." He had the most impish, promising smile he had ever seen. Promising what, she wondered.
"Oh ? I had no idea." Laura was cursing herself for being so tongue?tied.
"You ok? I'm afraid you hurt yourself," his hand touched the back of her head gently and she winced. "You're going to have one hell of a knot."
"Oh, well, it won't be the first," she said lamely.
"Let's sit for a minute. My brother will be here any minute."
"Brother?"
"Adam tends to monopolize conversations, especially with beautiful women." Adrian smiled, revealing two dimples and the most adorable smile she had ever seen. Laura was at a loss for words and let her new landlord lead her to the step.
"Trixie not with you?" he was scanning the area as if he expected her to pop out at any moment.
"Mother is bringing her in a while. I wanted to get everything done that I could without her underfoot."
"She's a real handful for you, isn't she?" he asked.
Nodding shyly, Laura felt herself warming up to Adrian. Something so comforting about that gaze. . .and that smile.
"She won't talk about my brother at all. Child psychologist says she's just acting out her sense of loss."
"What happened? If you don't mind me asking."
"Gas station robbery. Trixie was in the candy aisle and saw the whole thing. Some guy burst in, demanded the money. My brother was too slow in getting his wallet out and the punk shot him." Her eyes stared into the distance. "He got the money and ran, not knowing Trixie had seen everything. He killed the attendant, too. The police caught him from the video tapes."
"My God." Adrian murmured. "That's a lot for a little kid to handle."
"Yeah. And I hadn't spoken to George in a couple years, really. I had only seen Trixie once. So being named her guardian was a real shock. Pissed my sister off." She laughed bitterly, remembering the horrible fight she had had with the oldest sibling.
Suddenly she blushed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to babble about my screwed up family."
Adrian smiled sympathetically and Laura wondered what he'd be like to kiss with that sensual mouth. If real life matched her dreams from the previous night. . .
"Don't worry about it. My family has their oddities, too. Where's Trixie's mother?"
Laura smiled shyly. Surely a man this good?looking had a girlfriend. "Oh, she died in childbirth."
"Adrian?" someone was calling him.
"On the porch!" he called back as another man appeared. "My brother, Adam. Adam, this is ?" He looked questioningly at her. "Laura, I believe?"
"Yes." she blushed more, wondering how he knew her name. Then she remembered he must have read the lease. Standing, she held out her hand to Adam.
"Adam Wingfield. The pleasure is mine." his voice was clipped, faintly British too, she thought, surprised and delighted as he kissed her hand lightly instead of shaking it. Adrian wore an expression between amusement and irritation.
"This would be the lady I mentioned to you yesterday whose niece will be joining the Broncos as the first female," Adrian said pointedly.
Adam was taller than his brother, thinner, his features more angular than Adrian's square jaw. His hair was short but intense, hazel green eyes studied her. He was handsome and had a worldly air that Laura found intriguing. Adrian's cheekbones were sculpted, but Adam's were chiseled, and the two brothers didn't seem to look much alike.
A car horn honked and Laura looked up to see her mother's green LaBaron convertible pulling into the drive behind the truck. Trixie's black curls were flying wildly as the youngster fought in vain to hold them down.
"Ah, the petite Trixie arrives," Adam murmured. Laura felt a shiver of anticipation, standing between the brothers. Maybe her new life would be more interesting than the last.
***
Sophie was pleasantly surprised to find the two good?looking men with her daughter. Laura was flushed pink, so she knew her daughter was enjoying the situation.
Trixie scrambled out of the convertible without opening the door anddashed up to her aunt, flinging herself into Laura's arms. Barely prepared to catch the girl, she stumbled back against Adrian. His steadying hand on the small of her back sent a shiver through her.
"You left without me this morning," Trixie said crossly, ignoring the two men.
"I wanted to get started on our new home."
Trixie turned her big eyes to the house, then the two men. "Who are they?'
"Mr. Wingfield here is the man you used for tackling practice yesterday," Laura informed her. Trixie stared at him.
"Call me Adrian, please." He reached one hand towards Trixie's ear and suddenly held a gold coin. Trixie laughed gleefully as Laura smiled at Adrian. Trixie held out her arms to Adrian who took her with ease. Sophie had joined them, a tall, curvaceous woman like her daughter, same gray eyes, similar hair. Dressed tastefully in khaki shorts and a forest green polo shirt, she studied the two men who were obviously vying for her youngest daughter's attention.
"And his brother Adam. This is my mother Sophie."
"Pleasure to meet you." Adam kissed her hand as well. Adrian, whose arms were full with a wiggly seven year old gave her a charming smile that both women found to be incredibly sexy. Sophie wasn't sure which one she wanted her daughter to choose. She'd have to get to know them.
"Wanna see my room?" Trixie asked. Adrian glanced at Laura, who was failing to hide her smile, and his brother, who had concealed his smirk, but Adrian knew those eyes all too well.
"Sure."
"Ok, you can carry me. It's through there." She pointed to the door.
"Back in a flash." He winked at Laura as he carried the tyke inside.
"Mother, these are my landlords."
"Well, it's delightful to meet you. Do you always make a point of meeting your tenants up close?" she asked directly.
"Yes, ma'am. We like to know them on a personal level," Adam said graciously, with an elegant nod of his head.
"Fabulous. Darling, I'm going to take these groceries in."
"Ok, Mother." Laura smiled, knowing her mother was deliberately leaving her alone with Adam.
"You have a lovely family," Adam told her. She blushed more.
"Thank you."
"Would you like some help moving? I noticed some of that furniture is rather heavy."
"Oh, no, my cousins will be by later in the day."
"Nonsense. Adrian and I will move them."
"Oh, you don't have to ?"
Adam put one finger against her lips.
"I insist." His eyes were twinkling mischievously.
Laura swallowed, smiling weakly. Life back in Denver would be much more interesting than she thought.
***
"Well, you have a nice choice there," Sophie murmured to her daughter as they watched with hidden pleasure while the Wingfield brothers moved in the couch.
"Oh, Mother, please. They're just being nice."
"Nice? Moving nine pieces of large, heavy furniture is more than nice. I saw the way they were looking at you."
Laura rolled her eyes. Trixie was sitting on the couch shouting "Left! Left! No, right!"
"I have enough to deal with. I don't need a man to complicate things."
"You have two hunks of prime beef there, my dear; I suggest you enjoy it. Now, I'm going to go make some lemonade." Sophie winked at Laura and walked towards the kitchen.
The couch arrived safely with its cargo. Adrian had stripped off his shirt and Laura was trying not stare at the muscled, deeply tanned chest. Adam's frame was more slender, wiry and lean.
"That's the last one." Adrian sank on the couch.
"You really didn't need to do all that. My cousins will be here soon ?"
"Consider it a housewarming gift from your landlords."
Adrian's eyes twinkled as Trixie climbed into his lap.
Laura smiled weakly as her mother returned with a pitcher of lemonade, which the men accepted eagerly. Adam joined his brother on the couch and Trixie scooted over to inspect his glass.
"No bugs. You can drink," she announced. Adam winked at her.
"Thanks for the examination." Sophie had perched herself on a chair to study the brothers. Good?looking pair she thought, wondering which one would catch her daughter's heart. Adam had a strong sense of romance and world weariness. . .but Adrian's smile. . .and Trixie seemed to have an affinity for Adrian. With the dark hair and eyes, he reminded Sophie a little of her late son George.
"Well, we'll let you get settled into your new home. Please, call us, anytime." The brothers rose. Trixie had her arms around Adrian's neck.
"Stay for dinner," she ordered. Adrian laughed and untangled her, setting her on the ground gently.
"I have to take care of some business, Trix. But I'll give you my phone number and you can call me, ok? You still owe me a game of Tomb Raider."
"Ok." She beamed as he wrote his number down. He winked at Laura.
A few minutes later the brothers were gone, their mingling scents left in the room.
"Well, my dear, you have quite the fan club," Sophie said approvingly. Laura blushed.
***
The next morning, Laura took Trixie to register for school. It would start in two days and she was eager to get Trixie settled into a routine. Clutching Trixie's records she prayed this school would not throw her out.
"Well, I must admit, Ms. Stevenson, we were frankly reluctant to admit your niece. The reports we've read do not leave a good impression."
"I know," Laura muttered.
"However, judging from what the child has been through and the fact we do boast the state's best child development department, we will take her on."
Relief washed over Laura. Boarding school was *not* an option. Trixie wouldn't even hear of it. Getting her to go to school at all was nightmare enough.
"That's great. I really think it's just a phase. She won't talk about her father at all."
"Hopefully we can work with her. I'd like to schedule some appointments with the head of the child development center if you don't mind."
"Not at all. Could I sit in on the first few? Trixie doesn't always handle strangers well."
"Of course. It's of the utmost importance to make her feel comfortable."
* * *
Laura waited patiently for the girl to hand over Trixie's ice cream. The child watched with reverence as the girl scooped first chocolate chipcookie dough, then double chocolate and raspberry cheesecake flavors onto a huge waffle cone. Gray eyes gleaming, Laura hoped the kid could eat it all before it melted. For herself she had gotten a single scoop of double chocolate on a waffle cone.
As Laura paid she watched Trixie licking her ice cream blissfully. That ought to keep her quiet for a while.
"Fancy meeting you here," a deep voice said in her ear. She turned, startled, and smiled to see Adrian Wingfield.
"Adrian!" Trixie shouted with glee. "Looky! I got ice cream!"
"You sure do." Adrian eyed the toppling pile warily. He could just see it all down the front of her shirt. "Looks like some good flavors."
"I got chocolate an' raspberry an' cheesecake an' cookie dough ? want some?" she held it out, but he gently refused.
"I have my own favorite." he tousled her hair, winking at Laura, who blushed.
"Would you like to join us? We were going to sit outside so she can play when she's done."
"I'd love to. I'll be there momentarily." he smiled. Laura smiled back and she and Trixie headed outside.
Adrian got his ice cream, pecan praline, grinning to himself. It had been sheer luck to run into them, his urge for ice cream had overwhelmed him.
Finding an excuse to drop in and see them was fairly easy. Were all the lights working? The previous tenant complained one would sometimes jam and not go on or off. Did the heater work properly? It had been known to blow a fuse in the middle of the night and leave the house ice cold. Laura always gave him that thousand?watt smile and said everything was fine, would he like to come in for coffee or lemonade?
To his amazement, by the time he got outside to them, Trixie had eaten half of the enormous ice cream cone, though a good deal was smeared on her face and more than a few drops had made their way onto her overalls. Her curly, black hair was bunched into two ponytails on the sides of her head, tied with pink ribbons to match her pink overalls.
"She's really something," he said, amused. Laura nodded.
"No kidding. But she'll drop like a fly by the time we get home," she whispered confidentially.
"I thought sugar made kids hyperactive?" he asked. She shook her head.
"Some. But if they're already hyper it's like a counter effect."she grinned. Adrian smiled back. Yes, he must definitely see more of them.
"Mr Wingfield ?" Laura began.
"Adrian," he cut her off. She blushed again. Adrian wondered how long it had been since someone had kissed this lovely woman.
"Ok, Adrian, I was wondering if it would violate anything in the lease if I put in something of a garden in the backyard," she blurted out. He shook his head.
"Not at all. Do whatever you wish to." That dimpled smile appeared and Laura couldn't help but smile back. "I have an affinity for growing things. See, I'm a chef and I like to grow my own herbs and vegetables and somewhere along the line I developed passion for gardening in general so ?" she stopped abruptly, turning red. "I didn't mean to go on about it."
"No, please. Chef, you said?"
"Yes. I'm a Certified Executive Chef with the American Culinary Federation," she admitted.
"Executive chef? Sounds glamorous." She shrugged.
"It was a hard climb, but it was worth it."
"So do you have cookbooks and a show?" he asked, eyes twinkling. Laura glanced at Trixie who had wandered out to the playground and was leaping into the ball pen.
"Oh no, but I worked for the Regency for several years as one of their head chefs. I had planned to get back into it when Trixie came along."
"Why'd you stop?" he asked. Laura swallowed, not wanting to think about the real reason.
"Oh. . .just burnout. I finished culinary school at twenty, and then jumped into the ACF training. So I needed a break."
"That's understandable. Too much of anything can wear you down." he sensed her avoidance of the subject and didn't want to press. But now he knew a bit about her.
Laura was watching Trixie through the glass, and the child had stopped her play to inspect a caterpillar on the ground.
"Time to go. She's inspecting the bugs." she smiled. Adrian rose before she did and gave her that smile.
"Feel free to build whatever garden you like back there." he assured her.
"Thank you Mr ? Adrian," she corrected herself. "I'm glad you were here."
"The pleasure was mine. I'll see you soon." he winked so quickly she thought she had imagined it. Trixie had appeared with the caterpillar in her dirty hand.
"Ick. Bathroom, missy. Bye." she smiled at Adrian who grinned back and patted Trixie on the head.
* * *
Laura had just settled onto the couch with Kiss of the Shadow, the newest book by Laurell K. Hamilton when there was a soft knock at the door. Trixie was sound asleep, having been too tired to protest her bath and falling asleep before Laura even had her pajamas on.
Glancing through the doorhole she was surprised to see Adam Wingfield. He had stopped by several times since she moved in, though not as frequently as Adrian. It was her understanding he took care of the international side of their company.
"Good evening," she said shyly, noting how even in a cable knit sweater and jeans he looked extremely proper. . .and sexy.
"You shouldn't open the door this late at night." he smiled charmingly and Laura's heart skipped a beat.
"Well, uh, yeah."she smiled weakly.
"I've been out of the country for a few days, so I hope you've settled in some?" he asked. She nodded, stepping aside to let him in. He held out a bottle of champagne to her as she shut the door. "A house warming gift."
"Thank you." she was startled. "Please, have a seat."
The walls of the living room were stucco and she had freshened them with the palest ivory. Stark white had always bothered her and when making wedding cakes, she usually had managed to talk the bride out of white and into just a touch of ivory. The floors were hardwood throughout the house, but Trixie's room and the bathroom would be carpeted. The floors were just too cold in the winter to walk on barefoot. But for Laura's allergies, the hardwood in her room was better.
A large, velvety, emerald green recliner with golden threads was in front of the fireplace. Standing opposite was a matching couch. In front of the couch rested an oblong coffee table in dark cherry wood rested. Currently it was covered with coloring books and crayons. The entertainment center matched the coffee table, holding a black, nineteen inch tv and a vcr, and the side cabinet held dozens of videos, most of them Trixie's. The other side, intended for a stereo system, was crammed with Laura's books, most of them cookbooks.
A large, square rug with a green and gold celtic pattern was in the center of the room. The walls hung rather bare at this moment except for two large, framed prints. One was of two snow leopards, the other, the scene where Rhett left Scarlett in Atlanta from Gone With The Wind. Laura hadn't given much thought to anything else. The large, paned windows were dressed by lacy, white curtains that hung almost to the floor. The same curtains were actually in all the rooms; Laura had seen them and liked the pattern.
"Adrian said everything in the house is working properly?" Adam asked. Laura nodded shyly. How could a man be so elegant in such casual clothing? Even the way he moved his hands, removing his jacket, running his hand over his short hair. . .so sensual.
"Yes, just fine. Trixie tried to flush an entire roll of toilet paper for no reason, but I got it fixed." She blushed. He chuckled.
"Kids will be kids. Has she started school yet?"
"Tomorrow. I'm amazed I got her into bed. I just hope it goes smoothly."
"It will, I'm sure." Adam didn't like the way she worried so much. Her lovely face was frowning at the dreaded thought. He reached over and covered her long, slender hands with his own.
"Trixie will be fine. Now that she's back in Denver, she'll adjust and everything will be ok." He smiled comfortingly and Laura felt herself warming up to the man.
"I hope so. I didn't know what I was getting into with her. . .I hadn't spoken to my brother for a couple of years," she said awkwardly.
"Look, I know people who specialize in traumatized children. If you'd like me to bring in a specialist, I would be more than happy to," he offered.
"Oh, no, I couldn't. I think she just needs time. Having Mother around seems to help."
"Well, please call me if I can be of assistance." he smiled kindly and Laura suddenly felt very secure.
"I will."
"Adrian said you wanted to plant a garden in the back?" he inquired. Laura bit her lip.
"Is that all right? I mean, I don't have to have one ?"
"No, feel free. Some color would liven it up."
Adam took in the fetching picture before him: Laura in faded blue jeans, a faded, old, green sweater and bright red socks. Her long hair was clipped back at the sides making her appear younger . . and very lovely. A strange tightening in his chest unnerved him. Women never affected him like this. They were there to be charmed, and taken care of. . .but this one brought out something else in him, something other than the urge to sweep her into his arms and kiss her.
"Would you like some coffee or hot chocolate?" she asked. Adam loved her voice. Soft, smooth and sweet . . he had a feeling her skin would be the same. Stop it, Wingfield, he thought, you're losing your control over a woman you barely know.
"No, thank you, I must get back. I have to fly to Cuba in the morning."
"You travel a lot?" she asked, a slight degree of wistfulness in her voice. Adam wondered if she had ever been to Paris.
"Not a whole lot, just this month. Something is always coming up, it seems. Usually I handle everything from the office." And he would be more than willing to make time for her, or hell, take her along.
"Well, be safe." She smiled at him as he rose to leave, pulling on his gray trench coat.
"I will. And this is my personal cell number. If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to call me."
"I won't." She smiled sweetly at him as he left. Adam feverishly hoped to get this trip to Cuba over with and get back to the lovely Laura.
***
"Where have you been?" Adrian asked when Adam returned to the house. He was parked in front of the tv on the vinyl couch, eating potato chips. A bottle of Guinness beer sat nearby on the table.
"I paid a visit to our beautiful new tenant."
Adrian sat up. "What do you mean?" His brother had a reputation as a notorious playboy.
"I took her a gift and talked with her," Adam said casually, hanging his jacket on the coat tree near the front door. Adrian eyed him suspiciously.
"Are you going after her?"
"It's tempting. She has an exquisite quality to her," Adam mused, sitting on the chair across from the couch. "I could really. . .develop feelings for her."
Adrian sipped his beer. The brothers had a standing agreement. . .no going after the other's girl. It had never been an issue really, though; they had different types. Adam preferred older women, usually models or high profile executives. Adrian opted for more down?to?earth women who he could have fun with. Sensitive women. . .like Laura.
"She's not really your type, is she?" Adrian asked casually. Adam thoughtfully bit into a potato chip.
"No, she's not. But when I was talking to her tonight I had the strangest urge. . .that I've met her before. There's something incredibly. . .I don't even know how to describe it," he mused. He glanced up at his brother. "What's with the questions?"
"No reason." Adrian shrugged. Adam sat up in the chair.
"Do you want her?"
"Well, she's sweet," Adrian admitted. "And pretty."
"And?" Adam prompted. Adrian sighed.
"Yes, I really like her. And Trixie."
Adam raised one eyebrow. "Yes, Trixie . . cute enough. She seems to like us both."
"Which one?" Adrian chuckled. He didn't like the gleam in Adam's eye.
"I have a proposition, little brother."
"The last time you said that you had gambled the family fortune away and I had to get it back," Adrian reminded back. Adam waved his hand as if to dismiss the event in Monte Carlo from several years earlier.
"A wager, perhaps, for Ms. Laura's heart."
Adrian shook his head. "No. If you want her, I'll stand back."
"Well, she apparently enjoys both our company. Her mother has been checking us both out, as well. I suspect to see if we're worthy of her daughter, which could possibly mean she's hoping Laura will marry one of us."
"Well, you lose because you swore never to be married again, remember?" Adrian said a with a lopsided smile. Adam rolled his eyes.
"Better men than me have said that and taken the plunge. I could make a life with her, I think. Besides, I'm not getting any younger."
"Adam you're thirty?five. You're not exactly over the hill." Adrian took a long pull on his beer.
"No, but I could use some adventure. And I think I could make Laura happy."
"You barely know her!"
"Well, I plan to change that as soon as I'm back from Cuba. In the meantime. . .how bout the wager?"
Adrian shook his head. At thirty?three, he had learned to be wary of Adam's wagers. Adam had inherited their father's love of gambling and women. Adrian only had the women part. That was where the similarities ended. They had a few hobbies in common like antique collecting, especially antique swords, and both had learned to fence in boarding school. When really bored or needing to work out frustration, they sparred against each other.
"I don't want to hurt that lovely lady." He sighed. Adam shook his head with a smile.
"She won't get hurt. She has us to choose from."
Adrian shook his head, knowing the competition was on.
to be continued...
