What Happens In Vegas... Doesn't Always Stay There (15 page)

“Emma was mine!”

“We’re not talking about Emma, asshole. And you two had broken up because you didn’t

want to marry her.”

“Good thing I have a brother like you to swoop in and give her what she wants for me.” He

laughed. “Well, until the FedEx guy came around anyhow.”

“Enough!” Their captain’s scream, his voice echoing off the walls, gained the attention of

several of the officers outside of his closed office.

Both men froze, their anger at each other forgotten as they redirected their attention back to

their captain, who was once again leaned over his desk glaring at them.

“I’ve had enough of both of you. This is how it’s going to go. You two are going to drop this

ridiculous sibling rivalry you seem to have going on between you. You’re grown men for fuck

sakes not teenagers. If you don’t drop it then you both will be on unpaid suspension. If after the suspension you two still can’t find a common ground then you’ll both be out of a job. Do I make

myself clear?”

“Yes, Sir.” Both refusing to look at the other one, they nodded in unison.

“Good. Now ask yourselves: Is some chick worth your career and your relationship with each

other?”

Dane sighed, raking a hand through his hair and chancing a glance over at Graham. Was she

really worth it? Maybe Graham was right. Emma left him because she wanted to be married and

he wouldn’t commit to her. She’d waited for him to come around, but he’d made it clear he

wasn’t interested in marriage and kids and all that went along with it. He’d even refused to allow her to move in with him, because he didn’t want her smothering him.

Graham on the other hand embraced life as a couple. And ultimately Graham’s marriage

ended because Emma wasn’t over Dane, she’d used Graham as a substitute. It was that

realization that allowed him to forgive Graham in the first place, even though
technically

Graham hadn’t been in the wrong to begin with.

But what if Graham was right about Genevieve? What if he pushed and she decided to

choose him over Graham after all? Or Graham decided to end it to make him happy? Would he

be able to give her the future she wanted? If he was honest with himself, he saw there was a good chance he wouldn’t be despite entertaining the possibility she was the one. Genevieve had been

through enough with her old fiancé, she didn’t need his games and commitment issues fucking

her over a second time.

He looked over at Graham and sighed, “I’m sorry Graham. I overreacted.”

“Ya think?” Graham turned his head to stare at his brother. “I lost a tooth because of you.”

Dane chuckled. “With that ugly mug, won’t make a difference.”

“We’re twins, idiot.”

“So are we fine here? Or does a suspension sound good for the both of you?” their captain

asked, visibly finished with the whole ordeal.

“Yeah. We’re fine.”

“Yeah,” Graham seconded his reassurance.

“Good. Get out of my sight, I have real work to do.”

“How about we go get a beer and talk this through,” Dane suggested as they exited the office,

closing the door behind them.

Graham looked hesitant but nodded. “Yeah. It’s best we clear the air. I don’t want a rehash of

what happened with Emma. I really don’t.”

~*~*~*~*~

~ Genevieve ~

It was 8pm and not a sight or word from Graham. She’d called twice and sent a few text

messages. Nothing. With a sigh she moved away from the window that overlooked the street

and flopped down on the sofa. Her brief and awkward conversation with Dane had been on her

mind. One section of their conversation in particular came to mind – the fact Graham was

manning a murder crime scene. What if something happened? What if he got hurt?

Panic began to seep into her. What if he wasn’t answering because he was in the hospital – or

worse? Ten minutes passed and her anxiety increased until the point she had her phone in her

hands and preparing to phone the precinct.

After looking up the number she quickly input the numbers and then sat with her finger

hovering over the key, not sure if she should dial or not. Just as she made the final decision to press the button, the buzzer for her apartment rang.

Oh, thank God!

Leaping from the sofa, she rushed across the room and pressed the intercom. “Hello.”

“Ginny. It’s me. Buzz me up.”

Genevieve frowned. It sounded like him, but he didn’t quite sound right. Without question

she pressed the buzzer opening the security lock on the front door. As she waited she stood in

front of the full-length mirror and examined her reflection. Her make-up was still perfectly

applied and her black knee-length pencil dress accented her figure perfectly. He’d love it.

A wide smile emerged on her lips when the knock came at her door – loud and insistent.

“Ginny!” Graham yelled from the other side of the door, followed by more loud knocking.

“I’m here!”

What in the hell?
She rushed to the door and without bothering to look through the peephole flung it open, scared he’d disturb her overly anal neighbours with the noise.

“What are you –” her mouth dropped open at the sight of him. He looked seriously fucked up.

One hand held a bouquet of mangled flowers, presumably picked from the flower beds outside,

and the other a half-drunk bottle of beer.

“Hey, Ginny.” He took a step over the threshold and thrust the flowers at her. He faintly

smelled of beer and was still wearing his uniform pants and white undershirt.

She gingerly accepted the flowers, noticing that some had been yanked out of the ground and

still contained the roots. She was so confused she couldn’t be angry. There was no doubt

whatever he had originally planned for the evening had gone straight out the door.

“What’s going on, Graham?”

He walked past her and into the apartment, clucking his tongue off of the roof of his mouth.

“Dane and I had a talk.” Surprisingly he wasn’t slurring his words although they sounded heavy

and his walking was a little off kilter.

She didn’t have to ask what about. Closing the door, she took his hand and pulled him over to

the sofa. Sitting down, she patted the vacant spot next to her. As he sat she noticed a minor

blackening of his eye and a cut on his upper lip, which was slightly swollen.

“Oh my God, what happened to you?”

“Dane.” He took another drink of his beer, finishing up the contents of the bottle.

Her eyes widened. “Were you guys in a fight?”

“Bingo.” He smiled wide and she noticed a missing tooth several teeth in from the front. She

was sure he’d had all his teeth the previous evening.

“And your tooth?” Her heart sank. She didn’t want them fighting over her and certainly

didn’t want them coming to blows with each other.

This is my fault. All my fault.

He grinned as wide as possible. “Arrr. I’m a pirate now.”

Her hand flew to her mouth, not sure if she should laugh at his antics or cry because she was

the cause of it. A giggle escaped her while tears formed in her eyes.

“Don’t worry.” He graced her with a wink. “I got a few good whacks in myself.”

“When did this happen?”

“After my shift. He found me in the locker room. No big deal.” He waved a dismissive hand

at her. “We fight all the time.”

“With your fists?” She looked down at the flowers in her hand and placed them on the coffee

table, wiping the soil from her hands on a napkin.

He did say he was going to surprise me
, she mused,
I’m thoroughly surprised.

“Nah, it’s been a while for that… we were about due really.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Wha’? No. No. No. Just had a few beers. That’s all. We worked it out over beer.”

She gave him a dubious look, but didn’t challenge him on the drunk issue.

“Oh shit! Wait!” He stood up quickly and collapsed back onto the sofa.

“Oh God, are you okay Graham? Do you need some water? Aspirin?”

“We have a date tonight. I was supposed to give you the date of a lifetime.” He leaned

forward, placing his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “I just need a minute and we

can go.”

She shook her head. “Nope. The only place we’re going is to the bedroom to get you

undressed and in bed.” She imagined that between him only having two and a half hours sleep

the previous night, the long day at work at some grotesque crime scene, the blows to the head

he’d received and the alcohol, the best thing for him at the moment was sleep.

“I’m fine.” He lifted his head, attempted a smile and stood. “Let’s go.”

She laughed and took his hand. “Only place you’re going is bed.” She gave his hand a tug,

leading him to the bedroom.

“I’m fine Ginny, really.”

She ignored him, flicking on the light as she led him into the bedroom. “You have the next

couple of days off right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well then we can spend the day together tomorrow. You’re going to bed.”

“I don’t want to impose.” As he protested she busied herself stripping his clothes from his

body. “I really don’t need you fussing.”

She looked up at him, determination flashing in her eyes. “Yeah. You do. So stop arguing

and finish getting undressed. I’ll get you some aspirin. I want you completely naked by the time I get back. I’ll wash your clothes while you sleep.” She didn’t wait for a response, but heard a dry

“Yes, Ma’am” as she exited the room, making her grin.

Making a side trip to the living room she picked up her makeshift bouquet of flowers and

made her way into the kitchen. After shaking the soil from the roots of the flowers she found a

vase, filled it with water and placed them inside, arranging them so they looked as good as a

bunch of random flowers could.

“May not be roses, but it’s the thought,” she murmured to herself with a smile on her lips,

grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge and then grabbing the bottle of aspirin.

“Okay, I’ve got umm–” She skidded to a halt just inside the doorway of the bedroom.

Graham was completely naked, sprawled out spread-eagle on top of the comforter sound asleep.

Chapter 13

~ Genevieve ~

The smell and sound of bacon sizzling woke Genevieve. She stretched and groaned softly.

“You awake?”

Her eyes sprung open to see Graham wide awake and smiling, standing in the doorway of the

bedroom in just the boxers she’d washed the previous night. She returned his smile, sitting up in bed.

“I am. Something smells amazing.”

“Tastes amazing too. Stay put.” His eyes drank every inch of her in. “And no need to rush in

getting dressed on my account.” He gave her a wink before turning and disappearing from the

doorway.

Doing as told she remained in bed and waited for his return. When he did return, there was a

silver platter in his hands. On the platter was a plate of breakfast, glass of orange juice and a vase with red roses in it.

“Awww, you didn’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I did.” He placed the platter on the night side table next to the bed and sat down next

to her.

Grabbing the vase of roses she brought them to her nose and inhaled their fragrance. “When

did you go get the roses?”

“As soon as I woke up and saw the bouquet I gave you last night I ran to the store.” He

cringed. “I’m sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am about last night.”

“How are you feeling?” The bacon smelled too good and she was helpless to resist it any

longer. Putting the roses back on the tray she grabbed the plate he prepared for her and popped a piece of bacon into her mouth. He looked better. The swelling in his lip was gone and the

darkness around his eye had lightened – slightly.

“Much better. Between the lack of sleep and beer.”

She leaned over and kissed him softly. “I understand.”

“But the good news is that I’ve finally got things settled with Dane.” He grimaced. “At least I

think I did; things started getting hazy as the evening progressed.”

“Can I ask what the deal is with your ex?” She’d been wanting to ask since he’d mentioned

he’d been married, but didn’t want to pry. After the outburst from Dane, she felt it was

something she needed to know and couldn’t hold her curiosity any longer.

Graham sighed and stretched out on the bed beside her, on his back with his fingers laced

behind his head. “Well, she’d been with Dane for a couple of years and she wanted to get

married. Dane, however, cared for her, maybe even loved her, but he didn’t want to settle down.

He likes the fast life with no one telling him what to do or tying him down.”

“I see.”

“So she had enough and he was sick of her nagging for something more serious so they broke

up. She presented him with an ultimatum and for lack of a better way of explaining it, he told her to not let the door hit her in the ass on her way out. Not too long afterward she started calling me and dropping by. Eventually things got serious between us and to make a long story short I gave

her what she wanted. But I wasn’t really what she wanted.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I think she always wanted Dane. She married me because I was a Dane substitute. I didn’t

see that at the time, but realize that now.” He shot her a rueful grin.

“Has Dane ever considered taking her back after you two split?”

Graham laughed. “Hell no. Dane holds grudges, he saw her going to me as a betrayal even

though they were broken up at the time and had been for some time. Dane and I always had an