I snorted in derision as my arms sliced through the cold water. As though, I was going to go after my brother’s girl. It was a total no-no. I was supposed to be getting married in just under two month’s time to Mia. That fact, I kept pushing to the back of my mind so I wouldn’t freak out. Mia was pretty, had a slight build, but had been brought up to never lift a finger. She had no interest in anything other than TV shows and going out with friends to dinner. Not a bar, but a restaurant.
She bored me within two minutes, but what the hell could I do? I’d been hoping Liam would hook up with her as he’d always had a crush on her when we were growing up. No matter how many times I’d told him to go for it with her, he’d ignored me and blown me off. So I’d ended up being pushed into an engagement and marriage that I didn’t want. There was no way to find my way out of it either, at least not without losing my tuition fees.
Yeah, that was what Dad was holding over me. If I married Mia and all would be fine; if I didn’t, then I could kiss my law degree goodbye. Even with a part-time job, I wouldn’t be able to afford the fees as well as living expenses.
Exhausted, I pulled myself out of the river and tried to shake the water from my body. I dressed quickly, which was easier said than done considering I was soaking wet and the denim didn’t want to cooperate.
With a heavy sigh, I climbed back onto my bike and started it up. I felt better for swimming off some of my frustration. I just hoped the calm I felt lasted me through the evening meal with Liam and his girl. I wondered what she looked like as I headed towards the barn. His usual taste in women wasn’t too good so hopefully this time he’d improved.
I concentrated on staying on the bridge as I roared over the river. I’d been planning on making a start on repairing the bridge, but I was in too much of a bad mood to be of much use. I just hoped it didn’t give out before I could get back to it, especially with anyone on it.
The barn was up ahead so I pulled my bike in through the back entrance and covered it up again with the sheeting I used to keep it hidden.
That done, I walked up to the house knowing my brother would already be there. As I pushed my way through the entrance to the kitchen, Liam was sitting drinking coffee. I removed my boots, dropping them to the mat, and stared at my brother.
“What did Mom say this time?” he asked in greeting.
I frowned. “It doesn’t matter now. How you doing, little brother? It’s been a while.” I walked further into the room and grabbed a cup from the shelf, pouring coffee into it. I turned back to my brother and leaned against the cabinets, holding his stare. “So where’s your woman?” I couldn’t resist asking.
“I’m fine and she’s asleep. I wanted to leave early this morning and we didn’t get to bed till late. You’ll meet her soon enough.”
So my little brother was serious about this girl. He must be to not only be fucking her, but to bring her home for the summer.
“So does she have a name? Family?”
“Thalia, and yes she has family. They don’t care what she does or where she goes, but when she’s home, they expect her to act as though she’s still a child. That’s why I asked her to come home with me. She’s amazing, not to mention hot with curves in all the right places.”
My hand tightened around the coffee cup, while I listened to him going on about his girl. I wished I had that. I’d been engaged for twelve months and never slept with her. Never held her. Never been held by her. Our relationship was based on our parent’s friendship, and because of my dream to become a lawyer. I’d never felt so damn alone. The last time I’d been intimate with anyone was about eighteen months ago, but that had been a one-night-stand and felt like a lifetime ago.
Lost in my own thoughts Liam stood and started to walk out before pausing at the kitchen door. “Will you take Thalia’s purse upstairs and leave it outside her bedroom door for her?”
He didn’t even wait for my answer.
I picked her purse up from the kitchen table, my boots from the mat, and then climbed the stairs to my room, shutting my bedroom door behind me. I leaned back against it and let out a frustrated sigh, dropping my boots to the floor.
Needing a shower before dinner, I pushed away from the door to head towards the bathroom when I remembered I still held her purse. Curiosity got the better of me; I needed to see the girl who’d caught my brother’s attention. Walking across my bedroom, I pushed the bathroom door open, then walked across, opening her door slightly so I could look inside, making sure she was asleep.