Closer Than A Brother (3 page)

“Someone’s been working out.” She rubbed his arm.

She continued softly, “It looks good on you, Shane.”

“Dani, honey,” her mother called out, coming over to them. Startled, the two jumped apart.

Danielle didn’t know what she was thinking, staring at him like that. “Yeah, Mama?”

“Are you going to eat? You haven’t had a plate.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m gonna get a plate right now,” she answered walking away, not giving Shane another glance.

“What was that I just saw?”

“What, huh?” Dani picked up a piece of fried chicken and avoided her mother’s gaze.

“Danielle Rose.”

“Ma’am,” she mumbled. Her mother could see right through her.

“You and your little friend over there,” she said nodding to Brandi, “better not hurt my boys.”

Danielle looked hurt. “Why would I do that?”

“’Cause what you, I, and every other red-blooded woman here sees, are two sexy men.”

“Mother!”

“I have eyes and I’m a woman,” her mother said. “What that poor boy sees is the woman he has loved his whole life.”

“Well, that poor boy isn’t so innocent, Mama. You should have heard what he just said to me.”

“Nope, I don’t want to hear it.”

“But, Mama!”

“I said I don’t want to hear it. Just play fair.”

“We aren’t kids anymore, Mama,” she grumbled.

“Exactly. You’re playing adult games now.”

Danielle’s eyes got wide. “I’m not gonna have sex with him!”

Her mother covered her ears with her hands. “La, la, la, I don’t want to hear this.”

“Hey, you implied it, not me!”

“I don’t
need
to imply anything. I saw the way you looked at each other. Never saw you look at him that way before,” her mother quipped.

“Well, look at him,” she retorted. “He got damn near smokin’ hot overnight.”

“It’s been ten years, honey, and he has always been a handsome boy. You just never gave him the time of day.” Her mother also picked up a piece of chicken.

“Hey, Dani, the guys asked if we wanted to hit the club tonight,” Brandi said, walking up to them.

Danielle looked at her mother. Izzy took a bite of her chicken and eyed the young women. “You two are up to no good.”

“Mama Izzy, you know me too well,” Brandi said, winking.

“Where do they want to go?” Danielle asked as she took the beer her friend handed her.

“They co-own a club in the new business development.” Her mother piped in. “I’m sure they want to show it off.”

Brandi and Dani shared glances.

Police officers by day, business owners by night.

Chapter Four

“Where are you going?” Shane followed Danielle into the house, catching her off guard.

“I need to change my clothes. Where are
we
going?”

“Imagez.”

“Is that your club?”

“I co-own, with Jason.”

“You don’t sound at all proud,” she teased, moving down the hall toward her old bedroom. Her welcome-home party was still in full swing in the backyard.

He followed her.

“I’m
very
proud, which is why I want you to see it.”

“Why are you following me?”

“We’re talking.”

“I have to change clothes,” she repeated.

“So?”

“Privacy would be great right about now.”

“There is no one in here but me.”

She laughed. “The ‘but you’ is the problem.”

“Danielle.”

“What?” She stood in front of the closed door to her room.

“We have unfinished business.”

She tilted her head to the side. “What are you talking about, Shane?” She narrowed her gaze at him. “Are you talking about the damn speeding ticket? Shane, that was really messed up. I think I’m going to tell your mother on you,” she said, putting a hand to her hip. He was talking about that kiss ten years ago. She knew it, but she didn’t know if talking about it right now was the best idea.

“Forget the damn ticket, Dani.” He stepped into her personal space.

“No, the amount of that ticket is so crazy expensive, it is definitely unforgettable,” she said, trying to keep the subject off the dangerous sexual tension growing between them.

“Stop it,” he growled.

She paused to look at him. “What?”

“I ripped up the damn ticket.”

“Why did you do me the favor? What do you want, Shane?”

“That is a stupid question.”

“Maybe I’m stupid?”

“Maybe you are just as gorgeous as always.” He dropped his gaze to her lips.

Her heart flopped. “Well, aren’t you nice.”

“It’s true.”

“It is your turn to
stop it
,” she protested.

“No.”

“Why?”

“I want to kiss you, again.”

“Shane.”

“Danielle.”

“This isn’t right.”

“Why?”

“Because…”

“Give me one good reason, Danielle—and no bullshit—and I won’t kiss you right here, right now, in this house where you grew up.”

“That’s why…I can’t.” She couldn’t think straight with him this close, his warm breath just a hair from her lips. “I grew up here. This is my mother and father’s house. I can’t disrespect them like that.”

“A kiss from me is disrespect?”

“No—yes. Shane, stop it.”

“No.” He moved against her body, pressing her against the door to her room. His lips connected with hers, soft, warm, and dangerously persistent. He pressed his tongue against her lips. She, without any mind control of her own, opened to him. He let his tongue explore the inside of her mouth, and she soon joined in with her own. A moan escaped from one of them. She didn’t realize it was her until his moan vibrated against her lips in response. His hands moved to her waist, bringing her closer to him.

“Shane,” she mumbled into his mouth putting a hand to his chest. He moved away, slowly. His gaze fixated on her—dark, warm, and sexy.

“You’re treading in very dangerous territory,” she said, putting a hand to her chest. She felt her heart’s rapid beating.

Shane noted the tremor in her hand as it rested across her breasts.

“Stop it,” she pleaded. She already couldn’t take the heat building in her from the ground up, caused by his mouth on hers. The way he looked at her now could only mean more trouble.

“Why?” He leaned his forehead against hers. Her mouth opened, and he captured her answer, taking her lips with his again. A whimper caught in her throat as she grabbed at the front of his shirt to stay upright. She broke the lip lock with the taste of his mouth still mingling with hers. “Wow, you are bold,” she said with a lame attempt at sounding annoyed.

“I know what I want,” he whispered as his heated gaze dropped to her swollen lips.

“What do you want, Shane?” Her voice took on a husky tone she couldn’t control.

“It’s always been you, Danielle.”

“You know this is crazy. You have to stop looking at me like that. I’m going in to get dressed.” She fumbled the handle to her door.

“You need some help?” His gaze swept over her body.

“I…you…no! I don’t need help getting dressed. You can’t come in.”

“I was talking about the door, Dani.” A knowing grin grew across his face.

“Stop grinning. This is not at all funny.” Her words faltered as he reached around her, turning the handle to her room. The door swung open easily. The stiff erection straining against his jeans brushed against her side. The scent and warmth of him so near tore at the wall of denial she tried to build up. “I’ve wanted in your heart and in your bed for over ten years, Dani. I can wait a little longer,” he murmured in her ear. Her nipples strained against her shirt. Her pussy grew wet from just his words and his stolen kisses. She hadn’t had this kind of male attention in a while. She craved this tingly feeling—from Shane, though?
God, am I crazy?
He lowered his head and kissed underneath her jaw and down her neck.

“Mmm, Shane.”

“I love when you say my name like that.” He kissed at the quickening pulse at the base of her neck. “You taste like brown sugar, Danielle.” He pressed his hard body into hers. Her hands grasped at his sculpted arms for balance. His arm snaked out around her, his hand finding the small of her back, offering support. She felt as if she would melt into a puddle of goo if he wasn’t holding her. His hard body felt too good up against hers…
oh shit.
“No!” she said, shaking her head, trying to descend from cloud nine. “I can’t do this.”

“Why?” Shane asked.

“Because this is so not us.”

“What
is
us?” His breath was hot against her ear.

“I don’t…I can’t…damn, Shane. Mmm.” Her hand went to his chest. “Shit,” she groaned.

“I’ll let you get dressed then.”

She forced her eyes open. “Okay.” She was surprised by the disappointment she heard in her own voice.

“Danielle.”

“Hmm?”

“This isn’t finished.”

“Oh?”

He smiled at her. “I’m going to walk away before something starts that neither one of us will be able to stop.”

He left before she could say anything else.

Chapter Five

“What are you doing?” Brandi walked in her room. “You’ve been in here for a while, honey. Are you okay? Oh wow! Look at you!” Brandi said, looking over the dark blue halter dress. Danielle was just finishing tying the straps behind her neck.

“You don’t think it’s too much?” Danielle asked turning around to show her bare back.

“No! I love that dress! If you find it in red, please send me one.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” She smiled at her friend.

“What’s wrong with you?” Brandi dropped to Dani’s bed watching her place earrings in her ears.

“
He
followed me to my room.”

“Really and what happened?”

“He told me we have unfinished business.”

“He wants his girl.”

“I’m
not
his girl.”

“
Yet.
You can keep fighting it,
or
you can just enjoy the fact that pesky, little kid grew up to be a delicious looking man, and he still has a crush on you.”

“He
tastes
delicious.”

“You kissed him?”

“He kissed me.”

“And?”

“He is an incredible kisser. Makes me wonder how he would be in bed.”

“You are thinking about sleeping with him?”

“That is just so crazy. I’m not talking about this right now. We are going to go out. We are going to have a good time tonight. I’m not talking about or thinking about sleeping with Shane Matthews. I’ll probably find a fine
brotha
at his club anyway, and then what?” She asked, picking up her bag to walk to the door.

“You’ll break Shane’s heart,” her friend answered following her out the door.

* * * *

Shane left her house with a raging hard-on. He said good-bye to his mother and Miss Izzy quickly. He had to get out of there. “Could you ask Brandi and Dani to meet us at Imagez?” He asked, kissing his mother on the cheek. “I need to run by my house really quick and take care of some things at the club, and you never know how long ladies will take to get ready.”

“You aren’t being a very good date,” his mother scolded.

“Ma, this is hardly a date. You know Danielle doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

“Nonsense,” his mother pouted. “I want grandbabies, Shane.”

“Ma, come on, not right now. Besides, we both know that would never happen with her.” He laughed. “I gotta go.”

“Shane Scott Matthews.”

He cringed. His full name never meant anything good. “Ma’am?”

“If you love her, you tell her.”

Love her?
I adore her.
No other woman would ever compare.

He kissed his mother. “Thanks, Ma. I love you. Mom two!” He called out to Miss Izzy as she came to join them. He gave Danielle’s mother a hug. “You’re food—awesome as always. Love you.” He left the two women watching him with a knowing grin.

* * * *

“Where is this club?” She asked checking her hair in the vanity mirror. Brandi drove them in her SUV.

“We’ll be there in just a couple minutes,” Brandi responded.

“I can’t believe they left and made us come to them. I’m not into chasing guys,” Danielle complained.

“Have you seen them?”

“Brandi, stop it. This is not about how they look. This is about how they treat a woman.”

Brandi laughed. “Girl, please,” she said, swinging into a parking area at the valet. “We are going to Imagez,” she said, winking at the man who took her keys. He handed her a ticket.

Brandi joined Dani on the walkway. “Hey,” she said coming up beside her. “There are two sexy, younger men in there waiting for us. We are going to go in there, we are going to have fun, and we are not going to think twice about anything we decide to do, okay?”

“Okay.”

Imagez was alive and kicking when they entered. “Ladies, may I see ID?” The woman at the entrance asked. A big gentleman stood behind her in case there were any problems. They produced their ID’s, handing them to the lady. “Brandi and Danielle?” The bleached blonde asked.

“Yes?” they said in unison.

“You are Imagez VIP tonight. Thor, please show these ladies in.” The husky bouncer offered his arm to the ladies leading them through the dancing crowd to a less-crowded area. The music wasn’t as loud here. A booth was set in the far corner. “Ladies, if you will just wait here, Shane and Jason are taking care of some business, but they will be with you in a few minutes. Can I get you a drink?” The ladies put in their request for a fruit-infused martini and stood at a high-top table.

“Shane and Jason will be with you in a minute,” Danielle mimicked. “I like how they invite us to their club, leave us to find our own way, and then keep us waiting once we get here. Oh yeah, that’s sexy,” she complained.

Brandi raised a knowing brow. “I think you care about Shane more than you want to admit.”

“I think you are full of shit.”

“We are here to have fun, dance, drink, and not think about anything, Dani. You are only in town for a little while. Let’s not start a fight with the local boys, especially ones in uniform, if you don’t mind.”