My Brother’s Girl Read online

  “Nothing bad,” I said hurriedly, realizing that might have come off the wrong way. “Just, you know, on the note of doing things I’ve wanted to do but haven’t done yet.”

  “Go on.”

  Suddenly terrified, I reached for a strawberry and plunged it into the chocolate. Then I crammed it in my mouth.

  Caden laughed. “Do you need a minute to gather your thoughts?”

  The strawberry was too big to speak around, so I nodded.

  Still chuckling to himself, he turned toward me, tucking one leg up and under himself and letting the other hang off the tailgate. “In the meantime, I have something for you.”

  I arched an eyebrow. Oh?

  “It’s not much. But I thought you could wear them for graduation.” He slipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet bag secured with gold rope. He handed it to me.

  I ran my thumbs over the velvet and pulled open the rope. I poured the contents into my palm and found myself staring down at two beautiful diamond-stud earrings cut into the shape of flower petals. My eyes immediately welled with tears and the diamonds in my palm got all blurry and bright, like lights on a Christmas tree when you squinted at them.

  “They’re beautiful, Caden. You didn’t have to.”

  “I wanted to,” he breathed. Then he took them from my palm and leaned in close enough to put them on for me. When he was done, he stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers and smiled. “Perfection.”

  “There’s no such thing.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  I wiped away my tears. Caden cupped my cheeks in his hand and pulled me close for a series of short, breathless kisses that left my lower belly in a knot of need.

  This was it. This was what I’d been waiting for.

  My purse was behind me, the condoms ready. My heart pounded so powerfully I could feel it beating in the tips of my fingers. Caden must have been able to feel it too. I was sure of it.

  When he pulled away, his green eyes danced back and forth between mine. “What was it that you wanted to tell me?”

  “I—I think it would be better if I showed you.”

  “Okay.”

  I bit my bottom lip. Then with a shaking hand, I began undoing the buttons down the front of my yellow sundress. Caden watched, his eyes widening as more buttons came undone. His gaze became glued to my yellow bra as the dress slipped from my shoulders. Then I pushed it down my legs and sat before him in my lingerie and new diamond earrings. I reached into my purse and pulled out the box of condoms and set it down between us.

  Caden looked at the condoms and back up to me. “Olivia, what is all this? Why are you—”

  “Hush,” I whispered, sliding across the blanket and pressing myself up against him. “I’ve made up my mind. I know what I want. I want you, Caden. I’ve always wanted you. And I want this moment. Right now. Before everything changes.”

  “But you wanted to wait.”

  “I know I did. Not anymore. You’re what I’ve been waiting for.”

  He still looked uncertain.

  I slid into his lap, kissed him hard, and took his hand, guiding his touch between my thighs as I slid my tongue between his teeth. He moaned softly into my mouth and I smiled as all my anxiety melted away.

  This was right.

  This was how it was supposed to be.

  Chapter 4

  Olivia

  Present Day

  “You nervous?” Dr. Darren glanced over at me as we stood beside the stage.

  The auditorium was filled with his advanced finance students who were peppering the speaker on stage with rather intimidating questions.

  “Never.” I winked. “And even if I were, no one would know it.”

  He chuckled and pressed his shoulder playfully against mine. “Somehow, I knew that’s what you were going to say.”

  “No, you didn’t.” I gave him a cocky grin and moved up onto the stage as the speaker before me made his exit on the far side of the platform.

  The applause was lackluster at best. Dr. Darren had been my advisor throughout my five years at NYC and was an excellent professor. He cared for his students and took far more time helping me not only understand the value of an invested dollar, but many of the other skills I would need to access in front of the crowd of sharks in front of me.

  “Class,” his voice boomed through the room, “please help me welcome one of my favorite students, a top graduate from our program last year, Miss Olivia Desmant.”

  I moved across the stage, the heels of my shoes clicking with every step. I wasn’t dressed like most speakers in a blazer and matching pant suit. That wasn’t my style. I had on my favorite pair of take-shit-from-nobody jeans, black pumps, tapered black leather jacket, and a plain gray T-shirt. It was what I felt best in. I could move freely and be myself. And I could command the attention of an auditorium such as this without subscribing to the expected attire of a professional.

  “Hot,” someone muttered as I took to the podium. The males in the room snickered.

  I braced myself against the podium. “It is rather hot in here, isn’t it? Maybe we should turn the air on.”

  Another round of snickers. This time, they were welcomed.

  “I’m Olivia Desmant. After working for one of the top investment firms in New York for the last year, Dr. Darren asked that I come back and tell you all the things you might not know, and perhaps wouldn’t want to.” I smiled and let my eyes move across the room. Half the people staring back at me would never make it in the dog-eat-dog world of financial investments. Another half might last their first three hundred and sixty-five days. The remaining quarter would taper off as people broke away into other careers that weren’t quite as taxing—accounting, for example. No pun intended.

  “Let’s start with a quick experiment and then I’ll give you some statistics.” I brushed my hands together and pursed my lips as I moved to the edge of the stage. “If you’re a female, please stand.”

  The girls in the room stood up, half of them giving me an eat-shit-and-die look. It was almost comical. Some of them—correction, most of them—would end up as said accountants, or they’d move into real estate, marketing, or motherhood. All were valid options with high reward. But I wasn’t here to speak about those things.

  “If you’re over the age of forty, please stand up.” I spoke softly but kept my tone steady. They already believed me to be less than worthy of their time, regardless of my credentials. I was a pretty blonde female. I had multiple strikes against me. Where most would pull the covers over their heads and go back to bed over some of the shit I took each day, I almost enjoyed overcoming the odds. This career field was male dominated and always had been. My gender might have done me favors in other avenues in the past, but it wasn’t serving me now. My mind had to make up for it.

  “If you’re timid, shy, or have a speech impediment of any kind, stand.”

  More stood and glanced around at the others as if they might attack any minute. A third of the classroom was still seated.

  “If you enjoy eating lunch, sleeping at night, or taking a piss, please stand.”

  A chuckle resounded around me.

  I pressed my fingers to my lips as everyone stood but one handsome guy with a mop of thick sandy hair and blue eyes that darted from my tits to my face. The cocky smirk he wore threatened to leave his dimples permanently pressed into his cheeks.

  Tilting my head to the side, I gave him a warm smile.

  “You there,” I said. “How about sex? If you enjoy the warmth of having a woman in your bed—or a man.” I shrugged. “If you enjoy that in the slightest, stand on up.”

  He popped up like his ass was on fire and the room broke out into laughter.

  “Good.” I clapped my hands. “Now, look around. Every one of you.”

  They glanced around the room and shuffled back and forth a little bit. There was some soft murmuring, an exchange of confusion most likely, but that faded out quickly as their attenti
on returned back to me.

  I continued. “If you think you’re capable of not only making it as an investment manager but rising to the top and owning your own firm, please sit down.”

  Four males sat down, and several others started to but seemed to waver in their belief about the future.

  And that was the end of my little experiment. They’d revealed the sucking wound that was this career path.

  “Right. Everyone sit down. Let’s be clear.” I moved to the podium and pulled out my notes. “This isn’t a career. It’s a life. And if you’re not one of the chosen few who might be ushered to the top, you have a long life ahead of you. And lastly, if you don’t think you’re capable of making it big, you are going to be in your own way from day one.”

  I glanced up and crossed my arms across my chest. “So why do it? What is your motivation? Fame? Money? Prestige?”

  “All the above,” the handsome guy said and winked at me.

  “And what is that promise worth to you, sir? Would you sell your last second in the day? The last warm meal you might ever experience? The last romp in the sheets you might get?”

  The room was solemn, right where I wanted them to be. I stood in stony silence and ignored Dr. Darren’s chuckle from beside the stage. He knew where I was going. It was a lesson he’d taught me far too well.

  “Right. That’s step one in making this thing work. What would I be willing to give up for the success I’m capable of reaching? And step two, how do I get the confidence to grab hold of it when I see it?”

  I moved through the rest of my presentation, dragging the students back into an interactive discussion about all the parts of the investment world and what to truly expect. My time was over far too quickly.

  “Now, if you’re still interested in working for a large firm like Taylor, Taylor, and Barden, then stand up.” I smiled as half the class stood up. “Good. Come see me in a few years when you graduate.”

  The room applauded, and I walked across the stage over to Dr. Darren.

  “Excellent job. Why mention Taylor, Taylor, and Barden? Did you get an offer from them?” His bushy gray eyebrow raised sharply.

  “Not yet, but I think it’s coming soon. I’m dating one of their partners, but I didn’t think that would go over too well as a good reason to sleep with the boss.” I laughed. “It’s been a long process. Luke Taylor and I have been dating since my junior year here. We’ve talked about me joining him at his firm. I’m just waiting on his offer.”

  “I think that’s incredible news.” He pulled me into a side hug and chuckled as students walked toward us. “You were successful here and will be in any endeavor you decide to take on.”

  I know, I thought as we broke apart. I didn’t have time to shake his hand and genuinely thank him for inviting me as a speaker, something that would look very promising on my list of accomplishments, before Handsome from the front row swaggered up to me.

  “Miss Desmant, I’m Talon. Nice to meet you.” He stuck out his hand and I shook it firmly.

  “Pleasure is all mine.”

  “Can I call you Olivia?”

  “I’d rather you didn’t, but suit yourself.” I pulled my hand from his and watched him closely. I’d known his type all my life, and yet I couldn’t force myself to judge him too harshly. He’d already labeled me as an easy win, either in business or the bedroom, but he was wrong on both accounts.

  “A tough cookie, I see. I like it.”

  “Did you have a question, Talon?” I smiled as politely as I could manage.

  Talon slid his hands into his jean pockets as his cocky smirk settled once more upon his lips. “Just one.”

  “If it’s to ask me to go for a drink with you after I speak to the other students, I don’t think you’ll like my answer.”

  He stared at me like I’d physically slapped him.

  I waited expectantly for him to find his voice and concluded that he didn’t have what it took to make it in this dog-eat-dog world. Rejection was part of the gig. So was reading your client and knowing what you could and couldn’t get away with. He should have known he’d never earn my favor and get me to have a drink with him.

  “Good luck with your future endeavors, Talon,” I said, brushing past him and moving toward other students I hoped had better questions for me. In the moment of solitude between him and the others, I muttered, “You’re going to need it.”

  After twenty minutes of answering questions, I took my leave. My best friend Dana was flying in that night for the next week or so. She needed a vacation from UCLA, and I needed the company. Luke was becoming more and more pushy about the future. He didn’t at all seem like the kind of guy who would want to settle down, but his words spoke of another reality entirely.

  “Olivia.” A deep voice called my name, and I turned to see Talon jogging toward me.

  “I’m late for picking up someone at the airport.” I glanced over at him as he walked with me toward the exit just ahead of us. His sandy blond hair and dark blue eyes most likely made a few hearts flutter and a few thighs clench, but he wasn’t at all my type.

  Dark brown hair and deep green eyes with a southern accent, and I was all in, but the frat-boy look with a cocky disposition? Hell no.

  “I won’t keep you. I wanted to ask you something. Not related to asking you out for a drink,” he amended quickly. “I guess it’s more of a favor really.” He chuckled as if something he said was funny.

  He’s nervous. I smiled and stopped beside my red BMW. “What’s your question?”

  “I’d really like to come by your office sometime and talk about the future. I graduate in December this year, and I think I could offer a lot to any firm smart enough to take me on.”

  I opened the door and pulled a card from my handbag. “I like your confidence, but you’d better understand what you’re signing up for before you dive head first into something that has the power to suck you under, drink you dry, and spit you out.”

  “You’re surviving well. If you can do it, I can do it.” His smile was out of place for the comment.

  “Because I’m a woman?”

  “Yeah. Exactly. And you’re blonde.” He slipped his hands into his pocket. “And likely the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Can’t be easy for you. All those alpha males vying for your attention.”

  “It’s real easy. I don’t like men.” I shrugged, winked, and got in my car. “Nice meeting you, Talon. Good luck.”

  “I’ll be in touch.” His cheeks were pink as he moved back and watched me like a hawk.

  Too bad for him that the card wasn’t mine. I didn’t even know who Sylvia Warner was, but having the card flutter out of my purse on the way into the event couldn’t have been a better omen. There was always one asshole in the group if I was lucky. Looked like it was Talon that day.

  I chuckled as I headed toward the airport to get Dana. I needed a girls’ weekend, but work was too crazy to get away. The transition from my firm to Luke’s was going to be hard but worth the leap. I could only hope that he would try and respect me enough in the office to steer clear of anything relational and simply treat me like the professional I was.

  At the office, I was an investment manager, not the girl that rode him every other night until he begged me to stop. We were great lovers but not much else.

  Somehow, he’d fooled himself otherwise.

  Chapter 5

  Caden

  “You nervous?” My secretary Annie stood at the door to my office with a smile on her ruby-red lips.

  “Never.” I continued to tap my fingers in a slow cadence across my desk as I glanced back down at the file there. “I’ve done this a million times in the last few years. Why would I be nervous?”

  “It’s a big account.” She walked in and took the seat in front of my desk. “You know this could be a game changer for you and Luke.”

  “And Perry.” I glanced up and gave her a knowing look. Everyone at the office liked to ignore the fact that Luke and I had
a silent partner in the firm, but I wasn’t able to forget him. He was the reason we had Taylor, Taylor, and Barden in the first place. The older man had not only believed in me, but he’d given quite a sum of seed money to help my stepbrother and I start our empire.

  “Of course.” She shrugged and cleared her throat. “You know Luke is expecting you for lunch downstairs in ten minutes, right?”

  “Damn. Is it already eleven?” I glanced at the clock and closed the folder, ignoring the way Annie watched me. I’d have to have a conversation with her soon, but I was hoping that her odd infatuation would simply disappear.

  Crushes were unavoidable. I couldn’t hold it against her for having the hots for her boss—or bosses. She had a bit of a thing for Luke, too.

  But I had a rule about dating anyone at work, no matter how cute she might be.

  “It’s almost eleven. You need anything from me today?” She leaned forward and pressed her hand to my desk, shifting just enough so that I could see down her shirt. The creamy-white tops of her tits caught my attention, but I ignored her and gathered my stuff. My brother wanted to have the most attractive women in all of New York working for us, and it was ridiculous.

  Or maybe it was because he was a fucking pig. That was what it came down to, a twenty-eight-year-old man whore who spoke about a girlfriend that none of us had ever seen. It had become the central joke of the office. Luke’s beautiful, talented, and brilliant girlfriend that worked for our top competition. He promised to introduce the two of us soon, but soon was the promise a year back. I’d completely lost hope that I would ever meet her. Not that I cared to meet her in the first place. If she could stand Luke’s company in and out of the bedroom, she was unlikely someone I would get along with.

  Not that I didn’t like my brother. He and I had come a long way since we first came into each other’s lives. Adulthood had smoothed out ruffled feathers. Building an empire of a business together had closed the remaining gap between us and brought us closer than I ever thought possible. I’d gone from thinking of him as a nuisance to thinking of him as family.