Closer Than A Brother (7 page)

“You’ve been here for two weeks, Shane. You know I like to get up early, have a cup of coffee, and get our day started. You act like this is new.” She pouted, getting up to move around her room. They had spent two amazing weeks together. She took him to all the New York attractions from the Empire State Building to horse-drawn carriage in Central Park, covered in snow. They ice-skated in Rockefeller Plaza and took the Staten Island Ferry out to see the Statue of Liberty. Every night he took her back to her apartment and made love to her until she lay breathless in his arms. He whispered his feelings to her until she fell asleep, next to him, on top of him, under him, and sometimes with him still warm within her. She was falling hard for him, and she didn’t know what to do about it. It scared her.

He sat up. “Hey,” he said softly watching her walking around her room.

“What,” she replied, still sullen.

“What time is it?”

“Ten in the morning.” She turned back to look at him. He ran a hand down his face.

“What are you cooking in there? It smells awesome.” He turned his face in the direction of the kitchen.

A huge grin moved across her face. “It’s Thanksgiving Day, knucklehead. I’m making our dinner.”

“It’s early as crap, babe,” he complained, falling back on the bed.

“So what. We’ve already missed half the damn parade. Wake up and watch it with me.” She fell on her bed. He immediately rolled over on top of her.

“Oh no you don’t.” She giggled as he nuzzled her neck.

“You know I like the way you feel in the morning.” He flirted with her.

“I know you do, and I’m not getting into this right now.”

His hand moved down the side of her body. “But I miss you.”

“We were just together last night.”

“That is too damn long ago.” His warm tongue moved in circles along her pulse.

She giggled at the sensation. “See, you know that is my spot and you are using it against me.”

“Mm-hmm.” His hand found her breasts underneath her snug T-shirt.

“Stop…mmm…I—I…have to go check on the food…”

* * * *

An hour later, Shane wandered into her kitchen, wrapped in a towel—his hair wet from a shower. Her gaze ran hungrily over his hard body, and she felt her insides stir. It didn’t matter how many times she saw this man naked, she would feel the pang of desire every time. “Would you be terribly mad if I invited some folks to dinner?”

Distracted by the towel, she barely looked up at him when she answered. “Who could you possibly know in New York?”

“They aren’t from New York,” he drawled dropping onto a bar stool.

“Who is it?”

“Our parents.”

“What?” Her gaze shot up to meet his.

“I flew our parents up for Thanksgiving.”

“You acted like you didn’t even remember it was Thanksgiving an hour ago,” she nearly screeched. “Does your mom even know you’re still up here?”

“Of course she does.” He laughed.

“Oh my God, Shane. I don’t know if I’m ready for them to know that we are—”

“That we are what, Danielle?” he asked standing up to face her. “Shacking up? Screwing like bunnies…”

“Stop it,” she warned him. “This is not funny.”

He moved toward her. “That I’m having the time of my life with the most beautiful woman I have ever met?” he said against her mouth, nipping at her bottom lip.

“No, I was going to say that we are crazy, horny nuts that have lost our freaking minds.” she said hitting his arms.

“Oh, I’m nuts all right.” He playfully swatted her ample backside.

“Stop that!”

He silenced her words with his mouth. She fell into his embrace, allowing him to kiss her.

“Brandi and Jason are coming too.” He breathed against her mouth.

“Damn it, Shane, who is cooking for all these people?”

“I saw the turkey, the size of a small child, you bought the other day, baby. I think we have enough. I can help you make sides and you know your mother and my mother will bring something.”

She frowned at him. “What is it?” he asked.

“It’s just…we are…what are we? We haven’t defined us, and now we are making Thanksgiving dinner for our parents and best friends. We are standing here in my kitchen cozy, in pj’s…and a towel, talking like a couple.”

His gray-blue eyes darkened when she mentioned the word. “That is exactly how I think of us, baby. You’re my woman.”

“We haven’t made that official,” she protested.

“I’m telling you, I want you to be my woman. If there are any other men in your life…” Shane’s voice faded. Jealousy and emotion were so sexy on a buff cop.

She grinned at him. “What’s wrong, Officer Matthews?” she asked, purring his name. “The thought of another man touching me got you worked up?”

“There better not be any other man touching you.” His voice turned dangerous.

“Whoa, partner. I don’t have time for any other man, trust me, with the way you have me lying on my back every night,” she whispered in his ear. Feeling his member twitch against her stomach, she knew she said the right thing. “What time will our families be here?” she asked moving her hand to the fold of the towel, pulling it slowly away.

“We have time.” The towel fell away, revealing his impressive erection.

She licked her lips, and he scooped her up, carrying her back to the bedroom.

Chapter Nine

By one o’clock Danielle was pleased with the spread Shane and she had prepared. Knowing their mothers were coming with more food in a cooler made her smile. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday.

She walked into her bedroom and saw Shane standing in front of her mirror tucking his shirt into his jeans. She stopped to watch him. He looked great. She felt the same fullness in her heart every time she looked at him, every time he held her in his arms, and every time he made her shout his name in pleasure. She smiled. The man had skills for sure. The feelings she had toward him scared her.

Am I falling in love with Shane Matthews? No, that is crazy.
They were just enjoying each other’s company. Making each other feel good. A warm body to keep each other company during the holiday.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said, catching her eye in the mirror.

“Hey yourself,” she replied softly, giving him the once over. “You look great.”

He flashed a mouthwatering grin. “Thanks, baby. Is there anything else that needs done in the kitchen? I can go out there and stir if you need me to.”

“No, I think everything is done. I’m just going to change my clothes,” she said, looking down at her jeans and tee covered with various cooking ingredients. “And do something with this hair.” She gestured toward her out-of-control curls.

“Sorry if I took too much time earlier—” He gave her a devilish grin.

“Don’t you start,” she warned. “Our parents will be here soon. We can’t have another round of sex now.”

He came up behind her as she opened the door to her closet. He ran his hand over her stomach. “I don’t have sex with the woman I’m in love with, Danielle,” he said softly in her ear. “I’ve been making love to you every night since I got here, baby. If I have to prove myself time and time again, I will.” He turned her to him. Her body melted into the hard contours of his body. Both hands on her face, he lowered his mouth to hers.

She could have sworn her heart stopped as his tongued gained access to hers. “I’m in love with you, Danielle. I’ll do whatever I have to do to prove that to you. I’ll wait however long it takes to hear you say the words back to me.” He dropped his hands from her face. I’ll leave you alone so you can get dressed. He left the room before she could say anything.

She groaned, turning back around to her closet. Would she be able to tell Shane she was falling in love with him too? She pulled the bright orange tee over her head and threw it in a nearby hamper. She needed to take a shower and get her mind off Shane.

* * * *

Shane stuck his head in the room an hour later. “Baby?”

She stood in front of the mirror putting on earrings, looked up and met his gaze.

He stepped in and shut the door. “Damn, you look great,” he said, his gaze moving over her jean skirt and black blouse.

Her breath caught at the storm of emotion in his eyes—love, lust, desire—a heady combination of things, as he took in the sight of her.

“Thank you.” Her voice came out husky. He looked back up at her, hearing it too. He closed the distance between them and ran his hand around her sides, pulling her closer.

“We can’t, Shane.” She knew what he was thinking. She wanted it too, but knew they didn’t have the time. “Are they here?”

“Brandi and Jason are here. Our parents are on their way. They all took separate cabs.” He dipped his head for a quick kiss. She met his hungry mouth on a sigh. He pulled away reluctantly. “I hope I didn’t scare you away with what I said earlier.”

“No, not at all.” She shook her head.

“Yet you are acting more distant.”

“No, I’m not.” She smiled at him. “I have feelings for you too, Shane. I just need time to tell you about them,” she whispered.

“I told you I will wait.”

She put a hand to his face. “You are too good and deserve so much more than to be waiting for me and my hang ups, Shane.”

“Don’t talk like that. You make it sound like you don’t want me to wait.”

She gently pushed away from him. “Let’s enjoy our Thanksgiving dinner with our friends and family. We can talk about all of this after the holiday.” She turned to leave the room.

“Danielle.” She turned to face him. “Are we okay?”

The look in his eyes was pleading. It broke her heart. “Yes, we’re fine.” She turned and left the room.

Chapter Ten

“Hey, Ma.” He smiled opening the door to his parents, hugging his mother and shaking his father’s hand.

“So are you the man of the house or what?” his dad joked with him.

He took their coats. “Yeah right, I wish,” he mumbled.

“Is everything okay, honey,” his mother asked, touching his face.

“I think I care more about her than she cares about me,” he answered, sneaking a peak over at Danielle talking to Brandi across the room.

“You’ve been here for two weeks. That should count for something.”

“She’s having a ball showing me the sights of the Big Apple, but I think that is as far as it’s going. I put my heart out there to her before everyone showed up, and she immediately went cold on me.” He ran a hand down his face. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t lose her. I do know that.”

His mother pulled him into another embrace. “After we leave, you must speak to her. Tell her how you feel.”

“She knows how I feel. She told me it will take her some time…”

His mother shook her head. “Let’s enjoy our dinner, honey. We will keep our fingers crossed that we will be celebrating an engagement before the weekend is over.”

He smiled at his mother. “Always the optimist, Ma.”

He looked up at the woman he considered his second mother coming down the hall. “Mom two,” he said, letting go of his mother, moving past her.

“There’s my boy,” Izzy said taking him and embracing him. You look good, Shane—well rested.” She smirked. “Have you been treating my daughter well?”

“I’m trying.” He smiled at her. “You know how stubborn she is.”

Miss Izabelle laughed. “I know all too well.”

“Let me take your coats,” he offered, taking the coats of the folks he hoped would one day be his in laws. He shook her father’s hand.

Danielle joined them at the door. “Oh, you all snuck in on me while I was showing Brandi something in the kitchen,” she exclaimed, hugging one friendly face after another. “I’m so happy you all could come here.”

He watched his mother kiss Danielle’s cheek and embrace her tightly winking at her son over her shoulder. He wanted to take Danielle’s hand and bring her to his side, but he didn’t know where he stood with her.

Are we a couple? Have we just been keeping each other company the last two weeks?

He told her what he wanted, but he was still in the dark about her feelings.

“Please, everyone, come in. Oh my God, where are your coats? I’m sure it is freezing out there.”

“Shane already took them, dear. Now tell me where to put this food,” Izzy said, pushing past her daughter.

Danielle turned to meet his gaze. “Thank you,” she mouthed to him.

He shrugged. “No big deal.”

He wanted to be the man in her life—the man of the house as his father had put it—the one who answered
their
door and invited
their
guests in. He let out a huge sigh.

“Hang in there, man,” Jason said, coming up to him with a long-neck bottle. They watched the women from across the room. The fathers took their seats in the recliners to watch the game on the high definition.

“She got you bad, I see,” Jason said smacking him on the shoulder.

“It is bad, man,” Shane admitted. “What sucks is she doesn’t feel the same way.”

“You’ve made no progress?”

“Besides bumping and grinding every night since I’ve arrived?” Shane said quietly so only Jason could hear. “No progress beyond that. I’m not saying that is bad, trust me. I just don’t know where we stand.”

“You haven’t popped the question?”

“How could I pop the question if I don’t know what she wants from this?” He took a drink of his beer and watched the love of his life working on the meal in the kitchen.

“You should pull her aside and talk to her. If you are sure she is the one, you need to make that known.”

“Maybe you are right.”

“Damn straight I’m right. Go get your girl.”

Shane drained his bottle handing the empty to his friend.

* * * *

“So…” Brandi whispered helping with the sides.

“So what?”

“He’s been here for two weeks, D, there has to be a
so
. How is he?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“You are lying through your teeth. I know you have totally jumped his bones. If you haven’t, you are out of your damn mind.”

“Okay.”

“Okay what!”