Swept Away (19 page)

“Why would he—” Cody came back with the drinks before he could finish the question.

“Here you go, Lily, your Diet Coke. Not that you need it. You’re perfect.” Cody set the can in front of her. He handed the same diet soda to Carson and popped open a can of root beer for himself. He dug into the burgers and sat on the edge of Lily’s desk. “No onions, huh?” He raised an eyebrow toward Lily but she was busy enjoying her lunch.

She did a damn good job of ignoring Cody’s obvious attempts at flirtation. God, he loved her for it.

He about choked on a french fry. Carson grabbed for his soda, washing it down. He saw Lily’s look of concern over the top of her computer monitor.

“I guess I should try chewing before I swallow.” Carson made the joke, letting her know he was okay. Physically at least. But he wasn’t sure about his emotional state. He couldn’t be in love with her. They’d only known each other a short time. They were just having fun. A temporary connection that had no place to go. He was leaving in three weeks. A little less now that everything was under control.

And Lily? Lily had plans of her own. Plans that didn’t involve him. Just an anonymous sperm donor. He wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about that. Only that he had no right to judge. Not when he had no intention of sticking around and giving her a baby the old fashioned way.

“So you have some good candidates?” Lily asked, and it took Carson a moment to realize she was talking about the guides. His mind was still on her plans. He wondered if she had any candidates picked out yet.

“Yeah, a couple of good guys.” Cody was the first to answer.

“And women,” Carson added, wondering if Lily would be jealous. Not that she had any reason.

“So, it comes down to the bikini test?” Lily flashed a playful grin.

“Yeah, if a guy’s not willing to put on a bikini, he’s not for us,” Cody joked. He tossed her a smile, but it seemed to be wasted.

“I meant the women.” Lily ignored Cody, focusing her attention on her lunch instead.

“Well, if any of them look half as good as you…” Cody started to move closer. Carson took a deep breath, waiting for Lily’s response.

“Please.” Lily waved him off with the back of her hand. She kept her eyes on Carson the whole time. He felt the tension drain from his shoulders. She wasn’t going to fall for Cody’s charm. “Just eat your burger.”

“We’ll have the finalists come back for a hands-on interview.” Carson relaxed into his chair. “That way we can see what they’re able to do on the river.”

“So there will be bikinis involved.” Lily grinned. “I figured as much.”

“We only require our bookkeepers to show up topless,” Cody said.

Lily shot him a look that could castrate horses.

“Too far?” Cody backed up, nearly falling off the edge of the desk.

“Yes.” Lily wadded up the burger wrapper and tossed it into the trash. Two points.

“Well, you know me.” Cody stood, picked up his trash, and started for the exit. “I can’t be trusted to say the right thing.” He shot a look at Carson. “Or to do the right thing. I’ll be going now. I guess I should stick with what I do best—beer, babes, and being an ass.”

He stormed out of the office.

Lily waited a few minutes before saying anything. “Aren’t you going to go after him?”

“Why?”

“He’s your brother. And he’s trying.” Lily stood up and came around to his side of the desk.

“He’s trying to get into your bed.”

“He’s too late.” Lily rested her hand on his arm. “I chose you.”

Carson looked up. Her eyes were warm with emotion as she lightly stroked his arm. He wanted to pull her onto his lap and never let her go.

“I chose you to share my bed.” Lily’s voice dropped to almost a whisper. A sexy, seductive whisper. “I’m not interested in anyone else.”

Carson still wondered how that had happened. Most of the time he ended up with Cody’s rejects. Or at least the women his brother had found less attractive than others. Whether they met a pair of females or a group of them, Cody zeroed in on his prey and Carson was left entertaining her friend. All too often, he ended up with a woman by default.

But Lily had picked him.

“I do think you should cut him some slack.” Her voice was mostly teasing. She didn’t know Cody like he did.

“Who? Cody?” Carson shook his head. “He’s a jerk.”

“You’re jealous.” Lily laughed even as she fingered the blond hairs on his arm. “You actually think I would… Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I trust you.” The hurt look on her face stung. “It’s just that I don’t trust him.”

“You think he has some kind of super power over women?” Lily pulled her hand away. He’d pissed her off somehow.

“No.” Carson hated that she saw him like this, petty, pissed off, and powerless. “You don’t understand. I’ve spent my whole life watching him get everything he’s ever wanted.”

“Not everything,” Lily crossed her arms across her chest.

“Right, he hasn’t had you.”

“No. That’s not what I’m talking about.” Lily exhaled sharply. “He doesn’t have your respect.
That’s
what he wants more than anything.”

She walked out the door.

Carson was afraid she was going to go after Cody. He was even more afraid that she was right.

* * * *

It’s really none of my business.
Lily had been afraid of coming between the twins from the beginning, but she realized that the rift had been there before her. They were close, but there was an underlying friction.

Sure, Carson was a little jealous. It was only natural; Cody did have a way of communicating that looked an awful lot like flirting. His cockiness only masked an underlying insecurity. Cody was very likely also jealous of Carson, and it had nothing to do with her.

No, they had established their roles a long time ago. Carson was the responsible one, the protector, the designated driver. Cody had somewhere along the line been labeled the fun-loving, free-spirited life of the party and he didn’t quite know how to live it down.

She didn’t need to get involved. But she cared about Carson. No. She loved him. And she cared about Cody, too. They were brothers. Twins. They had a connection that ran deeper than any other relationship. If one of them hurt, they both hurt. If she could heal one, she could heal them both.

Lily made it all the way to her car before she realized she still had work to do. She had been so caught up in the tension between the two men, she’d forgotten about the stack of bills in the inbox that needed her attention. And one hour’s training wasn’t going to give Cody the skills to handle her job, especially since he didn’t want it.

Lily came back through the store. She picked up a bag of peanut M&Ms and grabbed another Diet Coke from the cooler. Sure, Carson would think she’d only left the office because she was thirsty.

Carson was busy on the computer when she returned, his brow furrowed in concentration. Lily wanted to wrap her arms around him, ease his troubles, make it all better. Instead, she sat down at her workstation, opened the accounting program, and got back to work.

“So you didn’t go after Cody.” There was a hint of fear in his voice. Like he really thought she’d trade allegiance so quickly.

“He’s not my type.” It was a good thing they weren’t serious. This jealousy thing would get old.

“Oh really?” Carson’s voice held just a hint of amusement. “Why not?”

“He’s not you,” Lily said simply.

“What have I got that he doesn’t?”

“Me.” Lily walked over to his side of the desk and put her arms around him. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her. He kissed her hard. He kissed her deep. He kissed her like he was a drowning man and she’d just thrown him a rope.

He pulled away, breathless. “You really do make me lose control.”

“That’s a good thing.” Lily smoothed her hair, worried about someone walking in on them. “I like the way you lose control.”

“Yeah?” Carson moved his hands up her sides, sending shivers down her spine.

“Oh yeah.” Lily waited for his hands to reach her breasts. Her nipples were already tight with anticipation. “Carson…”

He stopped, his hands hovering just inches from her skin. “We can’t do this.” His breath was ragged. “Not here.”

“You’re right.” Lily felt more than a little disappointment. “Maybe you can come over tonight.”

“There is no maybe.” Carson dropped his hands to his sides. “I’ll be over as soon as I can.”

“You should talk to Cody.” Lily rose and perched on the edge of his desk. “You two need to clear the air.”

“I don’t want to share this with him.” Carson leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. “I don’t want to share you.”

“Sorry, but I’m not into that.” Lily let out a nervous laugh. “I prefer to only sleep with one of my bosses.”

“No. That’s not what I meant.” Carson opened his eyes and met her gaze. “I’ve never had anything that was only mine.”

“You’ve never had a girlfriend?” Lily wondered about what she’d heard at the bridal store.

“Yeah. But that was a long time ago.” Carson steadied his breath. “I dated this girl in high school. Cody dated pretty much all of her friends.”

“Did you love her?” The question slipped out before she could stop it.

“No,” he said after a long pause. “Not really. We were more study partners than anything. She’s the reason Cody made it through pre-calculus.”

“So they didn’t...” Lily wondered why she even asked, but it would explain a lot.

“No,” Carson answered quickly. A little too quickly. “I don’t think so. But he was always there, hanging around. Sometimes I got the feeling she wished she’d hooked up with him instead. He was more fun.”

“I think you’re plenty of fun.” Lily flashed a reassuring smile.

“Yeah, well, you’re the only one,” Carson said with a heavy sigh.

“So how old were you when you were labeled the ‘responsible one’?”

“Eight or nine.”

“And Cody was the ‘fun one’?”

“Yeah. I guess.”

“But it doesn’t have to be that way.” Lily reached out and touched his arm. “If you give Cody a chance, I think he’ll take on more responsibility.”

He shot her a look that said “In your dreams.”

“And I happen to know for a fact”—Lily gave him a teasing smile—“that you know how to show a girl a good time.”

“Oh yeah?” His face relaxed into a partial smile, as if he believed her.

“Oh. Yeah.” Lily slid off the desk and leaned over him, offering a clear view of the new bra she wore under her blouse. “I can’t wait for you to come over later and show me a real good time.”

“I could do that.” Carson sounded so cool.

“Good.” Lily straightened. “You and Cody have dinner. Talk. Or however you two communicate. Then come see me. I’ll leave a key for you. Under the heart-shaped rock in the flowerpot on the porch.”

“You really shouldn’t leave a spare key outside.” Carson had slipped back into protector mode. “Anyone could find it. I hate to think of you all alone out there.”

“Then don’t let me be alone for long.” Lily used her most seductive voice. A voice she hadn’t even known she had until recently. Until Carson.

“I’ll get there as soon as I can,” he promised. “I just don’t want Cody to get suspicious.”

“So we’re sticking with the sneaking around thing? Okay. Makes it a little daring. Naughty even. See, I knew you had a wild side.”

She had seen that wild side. Up close and personal.

Carson found Cody on the deck of the Argo, watching the sun set over the river. He didn’t notice his brother’s approach, he was busy flirting with the waitress.

“Another shooter? Or some hot wings?” The way she tossed her hair and licked her lips made it clear she was on the menu as well.

“I think I’ll switch to a Gold Rush.” If Cody had been doing shots, he’d need a ride home. Something else Carson would have to worry about when he left. “And I will take you up on the wings.”

“Coming right up.” She hesitated just long enough for Cody to take her up on the secret menu choice of herself, if he was interested. Sure, she was sexy in her low-cut, too-short T-shirt and super-tight jeans. Stacked, tattooed, and heavily made up, she gave off a bad-girl vibe. She’d been around long enough to know what she could expect if Cody took her home. More importantly, she’d know what not to expect. When Cody didn’t say anything more, she shrugged before heading inside to fill his order.

After she walked away, Cody looked up and acknowledged Carson’s presence with a slight nod. “There you are,” Carson said. “You left before we had a chance to talk.”

“Talk? Sure. Tell me some more how I’m not good enough for Lily. I love hearing all about it.”

“I wanted to get your input on the guides we interviewed today.” Carson ignored the sarcasm and sat down on the bar stool next to him.

“Why? So you could pretend my opinion counts for something?”

“It does.”

“We both know you’re going to make the final decision.” He continued to whine.

“It doesn’t have to be that way.” Carson flagged the waitress and ordered a pulled pork sandwich and a beer. Cody signaled for another beer. “We’re partners,” Carson said. “Equal partners.”

“Yeah? So why do I get the feeling that you don’t want me in the office? Especially with Lily around.”

“This has nothing to do with Lily.”

“Right.”

“You forget it’s an office. A place of business.” Carson knew he was being a hypocrite. “Not your personal playground.”

“I was trying to work. Until you came in there, making it very clear I was honing in on your territory. You might as well have started pissing on the office furniture. Lily was just trying to show me how things are run.”

“It’s just too much of a coincidence that you suddenly start showing an interest in the business the minute Lily started working there.” Carson
picked up the salt and pepper shakers, as if he needed to inspect them before his food arrived. Anything to keep from looking at Cody.

“Don’t worry.” Cody’s slurred speech indicated that he was pretty drunk. “I’ll behave. Unless you think Lily would be into spanking.”

“Fuck off.” Wow. He’d hit a nerve. All of them.