“Yeah, well, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“No. I’ll talk to him.”
She shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. He’s just being overprotective. He’ll realize that this is none of his business.” She went over to him and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’m going to take a shower, then I’ll see you downstairs.”
He wrapped his arm around her and tugged her close, prolonging the kiss until, despite the upcoming conversation with Carolina’s brother that he was dreading, all he could think about was throwing Carolina back in bed and spending an hour or so with her.
But she pulled away. “I really need that shower, before the rest of the family wakes up.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” He swept his thumb over her bottom lip. “Too bad we can’t take one together.”
She sighed. “That would have been fun. The drawback to being surrounded by family—one that doesn’t knock before entering a room.”
He laughed. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
After Carolina left, Drew took a quick shower and got dressed. Not one to delay the inevitable, he found Gray downstairs, brooding over a cup of coffee.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“My parents and their security went for an early morning walk. Evelyn’s still asleep. What the hell are you doing in bed with my sister?”
Drew went to the coffeepot and poured a cup for himself, then faced Gray. “I don’t really think that requires a detailed explanation, do you?”
“Come on, Drew. She’s my sister.”
“And well over twenty-one, and more than capable of making decisions about who she shares a bed with. It’s not like she’s a kid anymore, Gray. You need to let this one go.”
“It’s a rule, man. You never mess with a friend’s little sister. You broke the cardinal rule of friendship.”
“That was a rule set up when we were nineteen.” Though no way was Drew going to mention he had, in fact, broken that rule back in college. Gray would never forgive him.
“It’s one that still holds true.”
Drew took a couple long swallows of coffee. After not enough sleep last night, he wasn’t ready to fight this battle with his best friend. “Come on. Are you saying I’m not good enough for her?”
Gray paced. “No. That’s not what I mean at all. But I know your lifestyle. I know you go through women as often as you change socks. I don’t want Carolina to be hurt.”
“And I don’t want to hurt her. It’s not like that.”
Gray let out a short laugh. “Right. I’m sure you say that about all the women you sleep with, then dump.”
“You need to stay clear of this one, buddy. My relationship with Carolina is my business, and hers. Not yours.”
Drew knew right away it was the wrong thing to say. The look Gray leveled at him was not one of friend to friend. It was big brother looking out for little sister.
“My sister’s happiness is always going to be my business. And if I think she’s seeing the wrong guy, I’m going to step in.”
Immediately defensive, Drew stepped forward. “Since when am I the wrong guy?”
“Okay, enough of this.”
Drew looked over at the doorway where Carolina had walked in. Instead of coming toward him, though, she went to Gray and put her arms around him for a hug.
“Merry Christmas.”
Gray hugged her back. “Merry Christmas to you, too.”
Then she came over to Drew, and gave him the same innocuous hug. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Lina.”
Gray shot him another one of those looks that could kill. Tough.
Carolina grabbed a cup and the teapot and started to make tea. Then she turned to face her brother. “I’m an adult. This is my life, and I get to make the decisions about what—and who—is right for me. While I appreciate you being protective, Gray, you being irate about me sleeping with Drew is out-of-bounds. He’s your friend, and I don’t want your friendship with Drew strained over this. If this goes wrong and I get hurt, that’s on me. I’m in this willingly and with my eyes open. Got that?”
Gray looked at Carolina for a long minute, then his shoulders finally relaxed. “I guess. But you know I’m always going to watch out for you.”
“I understand and I appreciate it. And if Evelyn had had big brothers who would have been unhappy about you sleeping with her, what would you have said to them?”
Gray looked at her for a minute, then shrugged. “I’d have probably told them to fuck off, because my relationship with Evelyn was nobody’s business but the two of us.”
Carolina stared at him.
“Okay, point taken.” Gray looked over at Drew. “Sorry for flying off the handle.”
“It’s okay,” Drew said. “And Merry Christmas.”
Gray laughed. “Back at you.”
“And can we please not mention this to Mom and Dad? I’ve had enough drama this morning. I’d like to keep my relationship with Drew under wraps for the time being.”