How to Handle a Heartbreaker (9 page)

“Hey, Abby.”

“Flynn. You didn’t have to come out here. I could have taken Colin home.”

“No problem. I really appreciated you helping me out. First Brody, now me…” he trailed off, his gaze focused on Colin. “So how’s it going with Mutt?”

She snorted. “About how you’d think. That dog is stubborn. He thinks he owns Brody’s house.”

“House? You’re being nicer than I thought you would.”

“House, pit, scrap heap, haunted horror. Take your pick.”

“Yeah. All that.”

They laughed.

“Actually, his bedroom is nice.”

Flynn turned to her and wiggled his brows, and she made sure to keep to the script. No one but her and Brody needed to know they’d been intimate.

“Stop. You know what I mean. Brody and I are just friends. That’s it.”

“Uh-huh.” His knowing grin aggravated her.

“Vanessa’s right. You are annoying.”

“Consider the source.”

She swallowed a laugh. “So anyway, I’ve been thinking about your website and I—”

He held up a hand. “Stop. I am not dealing with your freaky technological issues. You want me to unclog your sink or install new fixtures? Call me. The computer shit is Brody’s bag.”

“It’s not shit. It’s my job.”

“Oh really? Because Maddie told me you’re an amazing
writer
.” He gave her a superior grin.

“She has a big mouth.”

“That she does.”

Abby sighed. “You’re not telling people about me, are you?”

“Nah. That might imply I read, and I like to be underwhelming. I’m all like I don’t know what books are, focused on nothing more than being beautiful on the job. Takes women off their guard.”

She huffed. “So you’re keeping the field open while you play with my best friend’s heart?”

“What?” He blinked. “Hell no. Where do you get your ideas?”

“Creative license. Writer.” She pointed to herself.

“Ah. Yeah, well. I was talking about our female clients.” He grinned, oozing charisma. “The prettier I am, the more business I bring McSons.”

“It’s like I want to kick you in the knee, but then you start smiling and I forget myself.”

“Right. See? A gift.”

She laughed at him. “Stop being a ho and collect your nephew. And by the way, he told me you forgot to feed him.”

“Shit.”

“That’s a bad word,” Colin said from behind him.

“Damn.”

“So’s that.”

Abby refused to help him out. “He’s right. Colin, I think you should tell your dad about Uncle Flynn’s bad words. Maybe he needs a time-out.”

Colin cocked his head, that devious gleam in his eyes all Brody.

Apparently Flynn thought the same, because he groaned. “You look exactly like Ubie when he’s trying to con me into doing favors for him.”

“Learn anything new, Colin?” she asked.

“Not since Ubie left. When’s he coming back? I want him to come to my party.”

“Wasn’t your birthday on Monday?” Flynn asked. “Didn’t you have cake at Grandma’s?”

“Yeah, but I want a sleepover too. Brian is going to come over for a sleepover and bring me a present. Dad said so.” Colin turned when another boy called his name, and he left them to kick the ball again.

Flynn shook his head. “Mike is such a pushover.”

“Like his brothers.”

He grinned. “You know, it’s not too late. Mike is still single. You obviously like Colin. And Mike, though no Flynn McCauley, has his fair share of charm.”

“Yeah, about that…” She liked the flummoxed expression that crossed Flynn’s face. “No, you goof. I don’t think about Mike like that.”
Not
like
I
think
about
Brody.
“I heard your mom had a single woman waiting for him the other night. What happened? Come on, dish.”

Flynn sighed. “I knew Maddie wouldn’t keep quiet about it.”

“Brody told me.”

“Another big mouth. Well, if you must know…” He didn’t look upset but amused at sharing the information. “My mother is on a grandbaby rampage. She’s head over heels for Colin, of course.”

“Who isn’t?”

Flynn grinned. “Right. Takes after me, you know.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. All your charm. Anyway…?”

“Anyway, she’s over the moon about me and Maddie. But I told her flat out we’re waiting to have kids. I don’t want to rush or pressure Maddie, you know?”

He was such a great guy for her best friend. “I know.” Abby squeezed his arm, then let go.

“Mom’s been leaving me alone lately. Thank God,” he said fervently. “But she’s stuck on Mike for some reason. She’s not so worried about Brody or Cam. Brody because he’s so fun loving. And Cam is smart enough to stay away for long periods. None of us knows what’s going on with his chick out East, although I think it might be over. But Mike is so antisocial when it comes to women.”

She felt a moment’s discomfort. “Be honest. Do you think my resemblance to Lea bothers him?”

Flynn squeezed her shoulder. “No. Not at all. I was teasing before. I don’t see any kind of spark between you and big brother. Though I might wish otherwise.” A compliment.

She flushed. “Thanks.”

“Although I don’t mind telling you I’m happy enough to see you with Brody. The way you two look at each—”

“
What?
”

“Come on, Abby. It’s obvious. The guy can’t take his eyes off you whenever you’re around. And you try so hard not to look at him it’s funny. Well, not funny. More like sad, pathetic, and more than a little stalkerish.”

“
Stalkerish?
”

“But maybe it’s his good looks that have you freaked out. Being around us hot McCauleys has rubbed off on him. He might seem like he plays around, but he’s a one-woman guy. He dates a good bit, but he’s not a cheat. Women love him. He—”

“Shut up already. Gah. Go grab your nephew and go home. Quit pimping out your best friend. It’s ‘sad, pathetic, and more than a little stalkerish,’” she sneered and turned to leave.

“But he’s good in bed,” Flynn called in a voice just a little too loud. “Seriously. Ask around. Not that he’s been dating for months. He’s more than that crappy house and dog. Really. Call him.”

She hurried away, wondering why he thought his best friend’s promiscuity and mention of Mutt would be selling points. Then again, she could attest to the man’s skills in bed. Holy Hannah, but Brody could work magic with that tongue.

And Mutt…she was coming to seriously like. She’d given him a thorough scrub-down, and he didn’t smell anymore. Plus she’d taken to brushing his coarse fur nightly, a treat he seemed to love.

She drove home and entered the dark house, calling out for the great beast. “Killer?”

Nothing.

“Rambo?”

Still nothing. So far, no good on the names.

“Mutt?”

She heard a thump from upstairs. Must have interrupted his nap. Then the pounding of big feet on the steps. Brody had a two-story with a basement. A creepy basement she had no intention of entering without Mutt by her side. There was something to be said for having one’s own personal demon close.

Before Mutt could attack her with joy, she held a hand up. “No.” Firm, decisive.

The dog still quivered, but he stopped from jumping on her.

“Sit. Stay.” Waiting until he obeyed, she left him there and deliberately went to the kitchen for a treat for him. She stood in the kitchen holding it. “Mutt, come.” That name really had to go.

He streaked into the kitchen and stopped.

“Sit.”

He sat hard, his tail wagging.

She made a noise until he stopped fixating on the treat. When he glanced down again, she called him to her. “Come.”

He slowly walked to her and waited. He must have had training before Brody found him, because he followed her commands easily after steady reinforcement the past two days. She fed him the snack, and once he finished, she stroked his head and praised him for his behavior. Too bad men weren’t this easy to handle. With a sigh, she grabbed the leash and several doggie bags.

“Time to see about collecting my magazine back.” She attached the leash and took him for an evening stroll.

They returned to see Seth Forelli, Brody’s neighbor, sitting out on his porch wearing a heavy jacket. He smoked a pipe, and darned if he didn’t remind her of a curmudgeonly old sailor in his peacoat. For two days she’d respectfully called him Mr. Forelli until he’d griped at her to “stop with the formality and just call me Seth, damn it.”

“Hi, Seth.” They walked up his front porch instead of Brody’s, so she didn’t have to yell while speaking.

“Abby.” He nodded at the dog, who made no attempt to attack him with kisses. Finally. “Doin’ fine work on the dog. How about his owner?”

“Brody?”

“You visiting for good? Or has he really gone gay? Not that I mind. But some people can be funny about coming out.”

She just stared at him. “You think Brody’s gay?”

“Never had a woman over before you. In the past six months, nothing but men. Of course, most of those were his brothers. I like the youngest, Cameron. Mike, I don’t mind neither. But Flynn’s got a smart mouth on him.” He frowned. “A lot like Brody.”

She grinned. “True. Flynn’s dating my roommate. He’s a smart aleck, but she knows just how to handle him. It’s like a match made in heaven. She’s perfect for him.”

“And you’re perfect for Mutt.”

“You know, I really detest that name.”

“Why? It suits him. Look at him. He’s huge, hairy, big fangs. Some kind of hunting dog. Looks like he could tear a body in half and not miss a step. Not a bad dog to have by your side in the dark though.” He nodded. “Had a husky, myself. Back in ’84, had to put him down. Best damn dog I ever had.”

Surprised to see tears in his eyes, Abby pretended she didn’t notice when he hurriedly blinked them back. “Anyway, tell the boy when he comes back that I need him to find me someone to look at my sink again. Thing’s clogging.”

“I will.” She’d call Flynn tonight and ask him to swing by tomorrow. Brody had left her instructions to look after Seth as well as the dog. The old man had grown children who never came to visit, and Brody worried about his health. Just one more reason she found it so hard to relegate Brody to the loser column. He was handsome, a genius between the sheets, and cared about dogs and older people. She kept waiting to find something bad about him so she’d stop wanting more than they’d agreed upon sharing—a casual friendship with benefits. Nothing long term, or so she kept telling herself.

“Oh, and one more thing. There’s a fast-talking blond in the house. Said her name was Vanessa and you were expecting her.”

“My other roommate.”

“A little scary.”

“I know. I live with her.”

He cackled and slapped his leg. “Best of luck. You need anything, let me know.” He shuffled back inside. Once he’d gone in, she took Mutt with her to greet Vanessa, not surprised to find her neat freak of a roommate sweeping up the mess in the kitchen.

“This just reinforces what I said—keep him
here
.” Vanessa pointed the broom at Mutt, and he hightailed it upstairs to the bedroom. “Great. Now I’m scaring dogs too.” She finished sweeping. “I’m also bored out of my mind. Anything amusing you’d care to share about your day?”

Abby stifled a laugh. “Well, I lost a tire and got scared by a woman earlier. Oh, and Mike’s mom is trying to set him up with single women, or so I hear.”

“This sounds interesting. Good thing I brought popcorn.” She held up a bag of healthy, air-popped organic corn. “And drinks.” Hurray. Earth-responsible tea made from fair-trade farms. It might not taste good, but it would have little in the way of calories.

“Why not?”

Abby sat with Vanessa at the scarred kitchen table and talked about the McCauleys, Del—her new inspiration for her next novel—and Colin. As they sat together, Abby felt a sense of belonging she’d never felt with her family. She wondered why, with Vanessa of all people, she should feel free to be herself. When for twenty-six years she’d been showered with love and affection, but had always been in hiding.

Friday night, standing in Flynn’s kitchen while he shared the job’s details, Brody felt as if he couldn’t wait a moment longer. It killed him to pretend he wasn’t in a rush to get back to Abby as he gave Flynn the invoices and filled him in on the work he’d done for Polvon Custom Homes, as well as some additional work they’d have coming in the future. For five long days he’d thought of little else but his pushy little goddess. The break in Anacortes to work on a job for contractor buddies brought in some nice cash, but the timing absolutely sucked. As did the fact that he’d had more work than he’d thought, so cutting out early hadn’t happened.

He’d never been so consumed with a woman before. To his amazement, he kept wondering if she’d changed her mind and chalked him up to a one-night stand. It wasn’t as if he and she had committed to anything more than another go in bed. He wasn’t a threat and had given her orgasms. He still recalled those moments with pride, and that mind-blowing night freaked him out a little. He’d wanted immediately to do it again, but he hadn’t wanted to rush or pressure her, concerned that he might give the wrong impression.

And
what
is
that?
He didn’t do commitment. Even the thought of it gave him hives. Brody knew better than most what the wrong parents could do to a kid. It didn’t help that Alan had called him several times during the week. Never a good sign when the Singers made their presence known.

He’d done his best to ignore each and every call, but the constant anxiety of seeing his relatives refused to fade.

“Yo, bro, you good? You’re ignoring me.”

Brody realized he was staring sightlessly at his buddy’s head. “Oh, ah, yeah. I’m good.” He looked around. “Where’s Maddie?” Friday evening and no hint of the redhead?

“We’re not tied at the hip.”

“Uh-huh.” He waited.

“Up yours. She’d have been here sooner, but she’s been with Vanessa and Abby taking care of
your
damn dog,” Flynn complained. “Happy now? From what I hear, he eats magazines, paper, and underwear. Dog has a thing for silk.” He snorted. “Colin is uber impressed while Abby’s totally grossed out.”

“Oh boy.” He’d hoped Mutt might soften her toward him. He’d rescued a dog, for God’s sake. That was right up there with handling babies and walking grannies across the street.

“Don’t worry. According to Maddie, Abby’s half in love with the dog.”

“Oh?” His heart raced. That was good. A step closer to the woman without having to commit himself. Again, he asked himself what he wanted, and again, he had no answer. He just knew he wanted Abby to himself for the near future. The far future would have to work itself out.

“Yeah. I saw Abby the other day. She took Colin to practice for me.” Flynn wiped up his counter and tossed the towel on the sink. “So how long have you two been shacking up?”

Brody didn’t react, knowing Flynn to be fishing. No way in hell Abby would confess to Flynn that she’d banged Brody. “What’s that?” He blinked, adding a bit of confusion to the innocent expression he’d spent years perfecting.

“Come on, man. It’s me. Your best friend. The left half of your brain.” They looked nothing alike yet had more in common than anyone else. And they’d always joked that they shared the same mind. “Tell me true. You’re sleeping with her, right?”

It hurt him to lie, especially to Flynn. But they didn’t share
every
secret. Some things Flynn had never known, shit Brody didn’t need or want his best friend to know. He added Abby to that short list. “Sorry, Flynn. I’d love to say yes and look as accomplished as I actually am”—Flynn snorted—“but the truth is, she and I are friends. Now I
want
to get in her pants, hell yeah, but I don’t want to rain on your parade with Maddie, you get me?” Which was why he rationalized it okay to fib to the man.

Flynn sighed. “I do. I was so sure… Look, I appreciate you taking it easy with her. But you like her, bro. I know you. You’re fixated on her. You always look for her at get-togethers. And not to be all Cam-like about feelings and shit, but I think we both know you
like
her. I mean, she’s not just a piece of ass.”

The front door rattled. “Speaking of a piece of ass…”

“Brody,” Flynn growled. “We’ll talk about this later.”

“Yeah, sure. Time for me to relieve Abby of dog duty.” At Flynn’s stupid grin, he warned, “D-U-T-Y, you moron.”

“I just spent last night with a six-year-old fascinated by dog crap. Cut me some slack.”

Brody shook his head and made his way to the door, spotting Maddie. Thank God. Now he had an excuse to hightail it back to his place.

“Hey, Brody. Welcome back.” Maddie gave him a big grin as she shut the door behind her.

After a smirk over his shoulder at Flynn, Brody held out his arms for Maddie. “Give us a hug, gorgeous.”

“Brody,” Flynn growled again.

Maddie laughed and accepted his embrace, as well as his smacking kiss on the lips.

“
Hey.
” Nope. Flynn definitely didn’t like that.

“Gotta go.” He flipped Flynn the bird behind his back, then left before his best friend could school him on how
not
to deal with Flynn’s girlfriend.

Girlfriend… Not for long. Brody knew Flynn planned on proposing over Christmas. And what that might mean to the dynamics of everything gave Brody more cause to panic about the state of his future.

Brody could do change. He’d always been pretty adaptable. But he’d counted on Flynn and the others as his family for so long. Though he loved Maddie and knew Flynn would one day marry and procreate—all the McCauleys had that intrinsic need to make babies that Bitsy and Pop had passed down to them—he still wasn’t prepared for everyone to grow up and leave him behind.

Mike had been
the
older brother forever. It made sense for him to have a kid and make Brody an uncle. Add to that how much Brody had adored Lea, and he’d always be there for Colin. No matter what. But Flynn and Cam were different. And then there was Abby…

He drove himself home, still mulling over his weird emotions. He’d been so excited to get back to Abby, but now he didn’t know how to feel. He kept trying to pin her down as just a sexual attraction, to ignore those other feelings he kept having.

He continued to try to talk himself out of his enthusiasm for close contact with the woman, even as he parked in his driveway. He walked around the side of the house to the front porch, determined to fix the garage door—so that it would finally
open
—before winter hit. But as he moved step by step closer to home, his heart raced with the knowledge that Abby waited for him.

He started to knock on the front door and stopped. “It’s your house, asshole.” Shaking his head, he unlocked and opened the door and braced himself, ready for Mutt’s welcome. When nothing happened, he took a cautious step inside and closed and locked the door behind him.

“Hello?”

“In here,” Abby called out.

Relieved she was indeed in his home, he took off his boots in the foyer and turned into the living room. To his bemusement, nothing seemed changed, yet the place looked different. Same knotty pine built-ins around the fireplace. Same ugly plaid couches and scarred wooden flooring. But it smelled faintly like…lemons?

“Abby?”

“Right here. And don’t move.” She stood by the back window in the shadows, so she must have seen him park the truck. By her stood Mutt, his tongue hanging out, his tail thumping on the floor so hard Brody cringed to think he might break something. Not his tail, but the floor.

“Ah, everything okay?”

“Yes, fine. I’m training your dog. He’s going to wait until you say it’s okay to greet him. Go walk around. Don’t make eye contact. Get comfortable on the couch or something.”

He dropped his duffel bag on the floor and did his best not to look at the dog. But he couldn’t help watching Abby out of the corner of his eye. She wore a pair of jeans and a clingy sweater that made it hard to swallow. Or breathe.

“So, ah, Vanessa here?”

“No. She left with Maddie. Mutt,
stay
.” She kept her hand on the dog’s back, and to Brody’s amusement, she didn’t have to reach down to touch him. Mutt’s head came to the middle of her belly.

“How’d you know she was here?” Abby asked.

“I stopped by Flynn’s on the way over. Had to give him the rundown on the job and drop off a few invoices.”

“Oh.” She cleared her throat. “Thanks for texting me about your return. I had a few men sniffing around me but decided you probably wouldn’t want me doing them in your bed or anything. So you coming back today was a good thing.”

He froze and stared at her, wide-eyed. “
What?
” Abby never talked to him like that. She had snappy comebacks and an obnoxious banter down pat, but she seemed to steer clear of anything sexual. Or at least, she had.

She chuckled, and the tension left him. “Oh wow. If you could see your face.”

“Ha ha. Not funny. I’ve been looking forward to tonight all week.” It didn’t make him a pussy to admit he wanted her, right?

“I bet you missed your bed. The rest of the house might need work—and that’s putting it mildly.”

“Gee, don’t hold back.”

“But your bed is super comfy. It might be better than mine.”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “I love my comforter.” And it would look perfect pooled around her naked waist while she rode him hard. He’d cup her breasts and watch her take him, see her sigh as she came around him and moaned his name…

He sat on the couch and crossed a leg over his knee, hoping it hid his erection. He might not mind admitting to wanting her, but he didn’t want to appear overeager. Amazing how just moments ago he’d been confused and in a bad mood because of it. But none of that mattered right now, looking at her.

She had her hair pulled back in a clip that let strands lick her neck, framing her face along with those sexy glasses. The erotic librarian. The sweater clung to her curves but couldn’t be called anything but decent. No plunging neckline or sleek design, just a soft weave that hugged the form of a woman very well put together.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked with suspicion.

“Like what?”

“Be nice or I’ll sic your dog on you.”

“I’m not sure who that is, but that can’t be my dog.” Mutt’s fur looked well groomed. Not a waft of doggie smell hit Brody’s nose. Not even from the afghan Bitsy had made him that sat over the back of the couch. “Okay, I’ve gotta know. Why does my house smell so…”

“Clean? Vanessa stopped by a few times. You can eat off your kitchen floor, it’s so sparkly.”

“Really?” He grinned.

“Well, I wouldn’t. Your dog may look clean, but trust me, he isn’t.” She stroked Mutt’s head, and he blinked with satisfaction. “Okay. He’s going to come to you. If he even tries to jump on you, you have to tell him no and push him down. Be the alpha, for God’s sake. I’m tired of doing it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She glared at him, then released the hound.

Mutt barked and raced to him, but before the dog could jump on him, Brody gave him the death glare. “
No.
Sit.”

Mutt paused, glanced at him in question, and Brody thought he’d finally gotten the hang of owning a— “
Damn
it.
” Mutt launched himself into Brody’s lap and landed on exactly the wrong spot.

Seeing stars and trying to catch his breath, he wasn’t aware of much until Abby put her hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

He wheezed and tried to glare at her through the pain. “That…would sound…so much…more sincere…if you weren’t…laughing.”

She broke out into more gales and patted him on the shoulder, as if he was the dog. “There there. You’ll be okay. I hope. He didn’t break anything, did he?” She paused to wipe her eyes, then collapsed by his side into more laughter. “I don’t know why, but a guy getting hit in the groin is just hilarious.”

“Yeah, just.” He slowly straightened until he could breathe normally again and leaned his head back against the couch. “Did you train him to do that?”

“Oh no. Not at all. He’s been really good all week. Didn’t once try to jump on Vanessa or Seth. There’s something about you.”

He looked at her, not pleased to see her still grinning. “It’s not funny,” he snapped and glanced around. “Where is that creature from hell, anyway?”

“While you were seeing stars, I put him in the back room so he wouldn’t do any more damage.” She bit her lower lip. “I’d offer to kiss your hurt and make it all better, but I wouldn’t want you to accuse me of jumping on you too.”

He blew out a breath and yanked her closer when she tried to inch away. “Uh-uh. You stay.”

“Please. That only works on dogs and men.”

“What’s that?”

She looked like she was ready to laugh again. “Nothing.”

“You think you’re a comedian tonight, eh? Good. Laugh it up. Because you can be damn sure I’m going to make you kiss it all better in about ten minutes. Maybe. If I can walk again.”

She exploded into loud guffaws, and he used the distraction to pull her into his arms.

“Hey.” She tried to move away, so he tightened his grip.

“Reparations. Sue me.”

She settled into him and snickered. “Okay, okay. I really am sorry he jumped you like that. Honestly, he’s been so good. I just think he’s not sure who to obey. You or me. And you don’t cut it yet.”

“Great. My dog thinks
you’re
in charge.” He positioned her to straddle his lap, facing him because he wanted to drink her in. She really did have the most beautiful eyes. So deep brown, like melting chocolate. Right now, she had that gooey sweet expression in them he wanted to label as affection, or something more, but didn’t dare.
Friends. Just friends who have sensational sex. That’s all she wants, dumbass. Don’t blow this. Play things right, and you can
blow her
.

“How was Anacortes?”

“Cold.” He pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, hiding a smile when she clenched her fingers on her thighs. “Boring. Too many guys in one place. It was great to see old friends, but doing a job is doing a job. Not a lot of time for shooting the shit while I busted my hump to rough out the house in five days.”