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      "I'll be off then." Andrew hovered in the doorway, zipping up his jacket. "I'll call you."

      Think, Piper. Think. This is where you say something. "Yeah. 'Bye."

      "Don't worry about me, I'll see myself out." He shook his head slowly, nothing more than a twitch and I wanted him and his contempt out of my home.

      The front door slammed and once its echo died, I ran to put the chain on and turn the key in the lock, securing myself indoors with Andrew very definitely out.

      Panting with exertion or nerves or excitement or relief, I stood in the centre of my living room clutching my mobile phone, not knowing who to call but needing human contact with someone who wouldn't lose his temper or raise his hands to me.

      "Matthias." As soon as the word was out it seemed obvious. Of course. Matthias.

      The following week, drowning my sorrows wasn't on the agenda; ridding myself of the world's first migraine in human form was no cause for sorrow.

      Neither was the whole episode cause for celebration, but meeting my favorite man and a friend for a drink or several seemed like a good way to pass the time.

      Cole's, one of our favorite bars, was too upmarket, too clean to be called a pub. Its small dance floor with DJ booth in one corner usually attracted a different set from the creaky, floor-boarded watering hole clientele a generation ahead of us.

      Math and I—and special guest—would start here and see where the mood took us. Most likely to a watering hole with creaky floorboards.

      I winked at the doorman as I walked past, barely catching my breath before the man himself trotted down the steps linking the sunken foyer to the main body of Cole's.

      "Piper!" He grinned, holding his arms wide in his customary 'gimme a hug' gesture. "How's it going?" He looked down, holding a crooked finger under my chin.

      "Never better."

      "Really?" He frowned, leaned back. "Are you sure?"

      "Yes, I'm sure, Matthias Holt, so don't come over all big brother on me. When have I ever lied to you? Well, that you know of, that is?"

      Matthias cocked his head and raised his eyebrows. "I'm not sure I want either of us to answer that question."

      "And I'm not sure what you just accused me of."

      "Being impulsive, maybe. Now come on, let's go get

some alcohol."

      I linked arms with him as we climbed the steps. "But tell me." I had to raise my voice considerably as the loud dance music confronted us. "Where's that gorgeous friend of yours?"

      He raised an eyebrow as he studied me. "Piper..."

      "What? What? I'm only asking."

      "You've been single five minutes and already you're on the prowl."

      "Over a week, actually and you know I've always liked Gray."

      "You're incorrigible."

      "Couldn't you have a word with him on my behalf?"

      "Sod off!" he barked with a burst of laughter. "I'm not your pimp. You can do your own dirty work." My brother looked impossibly mischievous as he spoke and I well understood how he was able to acquire a long line of admirers both male and female with that twinkle in his eye. As far as I knew he'd only ever acted on overtures from women but there'd always been enough of those to keep him occupied.

      "Damn it, why can't you have ugly friends? It'd make it a lot easier for me to handle."

      "Because they'd make me look bad, darling. I only hang out with lookers. Anything else would ruin my mojo." Matthias elbowed his way through the crowd and headed for the bar. I merely followed.

      "So where exactly is Gray anyway? You did say he'd be here. Does he know I'm coming?"

      "He does. He also knows you're single again." A huge grin.

      Sometimes I really, really love my brother.

      "It's how I explained your imminent arrival. Said you'd just finished with your boyfriend—"

      "Nice touch. So he won't feel guilty about taking advantage of a recently dumped woman."

      "—and you'd be joining us for a few drinks tonight."

      "Matthias, you're so much more than a pimp."

      "I prefer to call it facilitator."

      "I hope you were subtle."

      "Naturally. I merely mentioned that you'd recently

ended things with Andrew. Anything beyond that? I'm staying out of it. Come on, he said he'd be somewhere at the bar. I told him to get the drinks."

      "Matthias, you're an officer and a gentleman."

      "No I'm not. I'm just your big brother and I haven't got a clue why I put up with you. Please, Piper. Go easy on him. He's my friend."

      "Gray, hi!" I'd seen his eyes widen as I approached and hoped it was admiration. I hadn't dressed up for him especially. I always made an effort when I went out at the weekend but knowing one of my brother's many gorgeous friends would be here tonight made it easier to justify taking so long to straighten my hair and do my makeup. I wore a tight black vest, my most helpful push-up bra and a couple of strings of beads to draw attention to my cleavage. The height of my heels brought me to exactly the right level for Gray to grab himself an eyeful without too much neckcraning.

      "Piper!" He touched my arm as he leaned forward to kiss my cheek. "What are you having?"

      Looking him in the eye, I paused. "There's a loaded question. I'll stick to vodka and Red Bull. For now."

      He cleared his throat and his gaze flitted from me to Matthias and back again. Obviously concerned about my brother cock-blocking him.

      "Uh, Matthias mentioned the, uh, Andrew situation." Gray looked tentative, searching my face for any signs of upset.

      "Andrew who?" I laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not upset, I'm relieved. So yes, it's out in the open, we've split, big deal, it was a long time coming, overdue, blah, blah, blah. I'm just glad it's done."

      "So you're okay with it?" His fingers tapped the bar, perhaps nervously and the rhythm of his fingers held my attention for slightly longer than was polite.

      "You don't have to tiptoe around me. I think we were both halfway out of the relationship before it blew up. Prepared. I tried talking to him, he didn't listen. What can you do? Hadn't you better try to get the barman's attention?"

      There was a beat before he turned back to the bar and did as I'd suggested. Matthias stood at my shoulder with a knowing smirk. I frowned in query, but all he did was wink.

      At least I had my brother's blessing whatever happened.

      "Go easy on him, sis," Matthias 'whispered' in my ear. 'Whispered' in the context of the background noise; outside his voice would be a shout. "You'll scare him."

      "Math, it's not me he's scared of. It's you. He's scared of your reaction."

      "Like it's anything to do with me."

      "He probably thinks you'll leap in and try to defend my honor."

      I couldn't hear the sound above the background music but his expression told me Matthias snorted in derision. He leaned in close and shout-whispered, "As if you have any honor left to defend."

~ * ~

      Teetering on the brink of artificial confidence brought about by one too many drinks, I figured it was time to stop or at least slow down.

      "Are you two going on to a club?"

      Gray's question cleared my head in an instant. I wasn't sure if it was his proximity, or my anticipation of my brother's reply which was the chief cause of my skin prickling.

      I looked across the table at Matthias, who sat beside Gray, to gauge his reaction. We now sat in a booth of Gallagher's, an out-of-the-way Irish-themed pub. Irishthemed in that it had bare floorboards and pushed the Guinness when patrons went to the bar although they'd bowed to local pressure and started stocking beer and vodka too.

      The music was quieter in here. Clichéd though it was, three guys sat at one end of the room playing a bodhran, a violin and an acoustic guitar; background music, not aural assault, making conversation not only possible but easy.

      I'd held back from Gray all evening, sensing a nervousness arcing back and forth, neither of us confessing to being its source but both sharing the job of maintaining it.

      "I'm happy to go along with whatever you two guys decide." I glared at Matthias, hoping he got the message. Hoping Gray didn't notice.

      I excused myself, leaving the two of them to figure something out. Thankfully I'd always been talented when it came to walking and even running in high heels, for which I sent up a silent prayer of thanks given the occasional perilous gaps in the floorboards.

      I killed a few minutes in the ladies' scrutinizing my reflection for signs of drunken sluttery. Eyeliner: smudged, but that was inevitable, and a good look. A narrow black line looked too perfect. As the night wore on and it smudged across my top lid and just below my bottom lashes, it looked more smoky. Come hither.

      As I toddled back out, Matthias headed towards me. Impeccable timing. Fake-steadying myself on his arm I knew he would know I'd accosted him for a quick word. "Well?"

      He yawned and patted his mouth. "I'm very tired, Piper. I think I'll go home and have an early night."

      "Oh that's a shame." I couldn't help but smile. "Are you absolutely sure?"

      "Definitely. Perhaps I'm getting too old for this nightclub nonsense. I should leave it to you young 'uns." He was, at twenty-eight, only four years older than I and one older than Gray. "But please remember he's my friend. I want him back in one piece," he whispered, leaning in so noone else heard. "And may God help him." He straightened again. "Right. I'm just going to answer a call of nature and I'll be right back."

      "Yeah, see ya." I winked as he exited, owing him one for this. "Hey, Gray." I plumped myself down in the booth next to him. I'd avoided him all evening, it was about time we exchanged a few words. "What's happening then?"

      "Did Matthias catch you? He's probably not gonna go on to a club."

      "Oh." I forced my mouth into a pout. "He's probably tired. Never mind." I patted Gray's thigh and let my hand rest for a split second longer than necessary. A barely perceptible squeeze and I lifted my hand back into my own lap.

      He cleared his throat, looking down at my lap and the hand which had just touched him.

      Gotcha.

      "I'm happy to stay out if you are," I said, finally

looking him in the eye. "Unless...? The night is still young and all that, but it depends on whether you want to stay out and go clubbing with a girl." I raised my eyebrows.

      "Won't Matthias mind?" His gaze flitted across the room, watchful of my brother's return.

      "I shouldn't think so. We could ask him if you'd like? He certainly wouldn't mind if we stayed out late."

      "It's not the lateness of the hour that concerns me. Don't you remember...?"

      "Of course I remember. I don't understand why that should be Math's business, to be honest."

      "His friend? And his sister? Surely he would mind if knew something even as innocent as a kiss had happened between us?"

      "Gray. There was nothing innocent about that kiss." It had lasted for twenty minutes at one of Math's house parties, in a bedroom with the door locked and both of us undisturbed but not coming up for air. "If you want to stay out, I'm happy enough to stay out with you. That's if you...?" I willed him to read my thoughts, my unasked question.

      "Do I mind you staying out? Hell no."

      "I wondered if perhaps you wanted a boys' night thing. Mind you, if Math's going home you'll need some company. Unless you'd rather go do your own thing." I looked around as I spoke, searching the crowd for the re-emergence of my brother, looking away from Gray so he wouldn't be on the spot.

      "No, no. It's all right by me. More than all right. Honestly." He smiled when I looked back at him and something in his eyes told me he spoke honestly. "If you're sure it's okay with—"

      "Gray. Stop fretting about my brother. He's not my chaperon. He doesn't need to warn you off me. If it makes you feel any easier, though, I'll check with him before he jumps in a taxi home and we go elsewhere."

      "I was just double checking." His shoulders dropped as he leaned back. He stretched his legs as far as they would go under the rickety wooden table, releasing some of their tension and let out a long, slow, heavy breath.

      "Hey kids!" Matthias emerged from the crowd like a mist gradually made material. "You don't mind if I cut away early do you? I'm a bit tired for staying out till three in the morning dancing. Maybe I should try cocaine..."