Broken Lies (Broken Series) (4 page)

He grimaced with a light moan, panic pinching his brows. “Do you know how long it’s been since I had a civilized date?”

“Awwww,” Sofia smiled, finding that sweet. “You’ll do fine sweetheart.” She caught Daniel’s hard gaze and wanted to laugh,
kind of loving how jealous he was of any tenderness she showed his brother. “I’ll go let her in and introduce myself,” Sofia whispered, winking at Daniel as she went.

Sofia cringed inside when she opened the door to smile at her worst nightmare. “Hi, I’m
Sofia, Daniel’s fiancée. Seth’s brother?”

“Rene.” Deep lilting voice, gorgeous smile to go with the gorgeous complexion and bright green eyes. Wow, really? A fucking Barbie doll?

“Come in, come in, wow, you’re…gorgeous, Seth is a very lucky man.”

She laughed, not
arguing that obvious point.

A yucky feeling pooled in Sofia’s stomach at what was in store now. She seriously hoped Rene didn’t hurt Seth.
The air around this woman said she was all about game. Sofia eyed her backside, noting a perfect butt in the modestly cut, yet fitted summer dress, tanned back and legs on display. She wore white heels and was nearly a head taller than Sofia and was sure she had to be taller than Seth. Probably a few inches shorter than Daniel though. Long and thick blonde hair judging by the honking size of her chignon.

Sofia walked her into the living room where Daniel and Seth sat.
Both men stood when they entered. “Rene, so good to see you,” Seth said, looking like he didn’t know what to do with his hands. He quickly presented Daniel. “This is my brother I told you about. Daniel.”

The sick feeling in Sofia’s stomach tripled at seeing Daniel’s expression. Did he
know her?
By the way he suddenly seemed ready to run out of the room, uh, yeah, he did. The idea of
how
he might know her made Sofia weak kneed.

“Have a seat,” Sofia said. “Would you care for something to drink?”

“Wine please.” She tossed the request at Sofia like she was some waitress, while eying Daniel with a slight smile on her lips.

“I’ll get it.” This from Daniel who disappeared like the Flash.

“Seth, what can I get for you?” Sofia asked, fighting down anger.

“I’ll have the same Sofia.”

“I’ll be right back then.”

Sofia’s smile disappeared the second she turned. Entering the kitchen, she found Daniel pouring two glasses of wine. “Who is the second glass for?”

“Seth. I heard him say he wanted some.”

“Oh, okay.” Sofia put her back against the counter and studied his profile. Hard. Unreadable. “She seems nice at least. Beautiful too.”

“I wouldn’t say that, we barely met her.”

Sofia nodded too many times. “True.”

“Why don’t you take this to them and I’ll get dinner on the table.” Daniel still didn’t look at her and Sofia was really getting annoyed.

“No. I’m not doing this alone, you’re staying by me.”

He set the wine bottle down and turned to her. Before Sofia could wonder over the turmoil in his gaze, he crushed her body to his and stormed her mouth with his tongue. He was distracting her. Sofia gripped his shoulders, hating how good he was at that.

His lips broke away from hers and moved hungrily over her chin to her neck, his teeth nipping as he went.

“Daniel, stop, please.”

He slid his hand down her back and cupped her ass, squeezing hard before pressing her against his groin. God, he was so aroused. The idea infuriated Sofia and she pushed away. “Stop it. We have company.”

“I’m sure they would like to be alone—”

“No! I’m sure Seth
does not
want to be alone, haven’t you noticed how nervous he is?”

“So? Let him figure life out, I’m not his daddy.”

“You’re his big brother,” Sofia whispered, more pissed than she had reason to be. “Can’t you for
once
think of his needs?”

The anger that flashed across his face meant her words did more damage than she’d meant them to.  Shit, she hadn’t even meant to say it, or organize them that way in the sentence to sound like he was selfish. And it hadn’t been just anger in his eyes, but pain. Son of a bitch, why was he being so difficult? “Fifteen minutes Daniel, then I’m yours?”

He turned and lifted both glasses of wine. “Suit yourself,
Sofia
.” He headed to the living room. “Bring the wine, will you?” This without looking back.

She watched his back as he went without her. Without her! And the way he’d said her name, like the magic word, like this was a game and he was giving her what she wanted. But it was tinged with mock, contaminating it, desecrating it.
Little shit.

Sofia followed him w
obbly kneed, praying for strength to endure whatever was coming, sure it wouldn’t be anything good. Returning to the living room with a bright smile, she sat next to Daniel. He scooted over a little and pain stabbed her. Where the fuck was anger when you needed it? Oh, right, that went out the window when she’d decided to fall madly in love with him, now she got hurt, not angry. Fuck that.

“Oh
phooey, I forgot our glasses honey, I’ll go get them.” She needed a drink if she were going to survive this without becoming a blathering bleeding heart.

“So how long has it been since you left the practice?” Rene was asking on Sofia’s return. “I don’t like changing doctor’s I’ll have you know.”

Sofia fought to keep her smile as she sat next to Daniel. “Oh so you know Daniel?” Sofia poured herself a hefty glass.

“Yes, he was my doctor before I started college.”

Sofia noticed Seth seemed at least half as perturbed as Sofia at this news. Apparently he thought she would’ve mentioned that tid bit? Yeah, you’d think. Did Seth not give Daniel’s name to her maybe? Just that he was a doctor? Sofia smiled at Seth, wishing she could figure out what to say to find that out. “Daniel has been out of practice since we opened the Bakery. What Hun…” She turned to Daniel. “Four months now?”

Rene’s perfect brows arched, eyes remaining locked on Daniel. “Bakery? How cute.” She sipped her wine and put her hand on Seth’s knee. “I’m sure that’s a lot less stressful than gynecology?”

Sofia looked at Daniel who took a drink of wine, nodding. “Much less.”

“I didn’t know you knew my brother,” Seth said.

Ohhhh, so he
was
perturbed.

“Oh, well, I couldn’t be sure he was the same Dr. Daniel Fletcher sweetie.”

“I doubt they have more than one gynecologist named Dr. Daniel Fletcher,” Seth said.

Sofia tensed at the edge in his tone but Rene didn’t seem to mind at all judging by her giggle. “Seth,” she met his surprisingly sturdy gaze. “Are you jealous?” Like that would be so silly and immature
, or out of his league.

Sofia was proud that he held her gaze as long as he did. But
then he ruined it with his answer. “Maybe.”

She wanted to say
don’t be, she’s a bitch.
“Don’t know why you would be Seth, with all the women that ask about you at the Bakery.”

All eyes turned to Sofia and she nodded through the
news flash
looks on their faces. That’s right, Missie, Seth had other options.

“Interesting,” Daniel muttered.

“Well I’m not surprised, he’s as handsome as his brother.” Sofia patted Daniel’s leg without looking, sipping her wine. “And talented.”

Rene regarded Seth. “What sort of talents are you hiding from me?”

Seth looked at Sofia with a
now what
panicked expression. She glanced at Daniel, not finding any help in his quirked brows. Shit. “Well he can certainly
cook
for one. Are we hungry? I’m starving for some of Seth’s cooking. Someday he’ll make a lucky lady
very
happy. ”

Rene smiled sweetly before slicing those green eyes Daniel’s way. “Just like his brother.”

Sofia’s gut tightened and she laughed a little too loud. How would she know if he could cook? Or had she meant to say Sofia was happy. Or was she talking about
fucking
him?

Daniel got up. “I’ll serve the food and call everybody when it’s ready.”

“I’ll help.” Sofia rose.

“It’s not necessary. Why don’t you stay and entertain the guests.”

“Nonsense, they don’t need a third leg.” Sofia followed Daniel, glaring at his back as she went.

Chapter Five

Once in the kitchen, Sofia stopped and stared at him with her hands on her hips while he walked about, pretending like nothing was wrong. She strolled up to him, her heart ready to beat out of her damn chest. “So you know her.”

Daniel stirred the contents of the pot, not looking at her. “Yes.”

Oh he did not just use that tone. That
so what
tone, that
and your point is
tone.  

“How?”

“I think she said how.” He still didn’t meet her gaze.

“Don’t fucking play with me Daniel, did you…” Her mouth clamped shut with her throat. She couldn’t bring herself to voice the disgusting words.

He covered the pot and looked at her. “And if I did?”

Sofia began to tremble with fury. And if I
did?
Did he just say that? Like that?

He leaned against the counter on the opposite side and crossed his arms. “But I’m sure my brother’s talents will far surpass mine, either way.”

“You sound envious.”

“At least I’m not bragging about how amazing she was.”

Sofia couldn’t stop her gasp.

Daniel closed his eyes. “I didn’t mean she was amazing, she wasn’t.”

“Oh I just bet. No, she wasn’t amazing, she was perfect, look at her she’s miss fucking America.”

“Sofia.” Daniel suddenly appeared like he wanted to murder. He pointed toward the living room. “Do you
really
think that little
bastard
didn’t know all this? Don’t you see what he’s doing?”

Sofia’s eyes widened, not getting it. “No Daniel, I don’t. Didn’t you see his face when she informed us that you were her
doctor!?”

Daniel gave a huge smirk. “He is a fucking
liar.
I knew there was something wrong with him, I
knew
he was up to something with his little
pathetic baby brother
act.” Daniel made a cry baby voice and face before resuming his serial killer persona. “He
planned
this shit, I promise you. He is trying to split us up so he can have you. And—” Daniel gestured to her, “—you seem to be falling right for it. Maybe because that’s what you really want? After all, there are so many beautiful women asking for the
handsome
Seth at the Bakery.”

Sofia’s mouth gaped before she hissed the whisper, “You know I was just saying that for him, to even the playing field with miss thank you for inviting me so I can see your brother that I
fucked!”

“And why do you fucking care
so much about him?” he asked.

“No Daniel, why don’t
you
care! You’re always treating him like dirt, not giving him a chance.”

Fury
hardened his face. “How about fuck him and fuck you.”

Sofia stood there, watching him storm out the back door.

Oh no, he was not leaving her to deal with this shit alone. She stormed after him and blocked him from getting in the car. “You are so not running away and leaving me here.”

“Move.”

“I’m not moving.”

He took her by the shoulders and moved her aside but as soon as
he let go, Sofia scrambled back into place. “You’re not leaving.” She pointed a finger in his face. “And put your hands on me like that again and I
will
knee you in the balls.”

He stared at her for several seconds then stormed back in the house. Sofia followed him to the bedroom. “So you’re going to hide out in here? Leave me to deal with this alone? Deal with your whore?”

He walked to the door and locked it then turned to face her. “Not at all.” He began unbuttoning his shirt. “I don’t have a whore. And you can stay in here with me, let the talented Mr. Seth figure out what to do with that bitch.” He took off his shirt and Sofia hated her body for responding.

“Why are you getting undressed?” she asked, forcing her voice hard as she turned around when he undid his pants.

“Why do you care?”

Shit. He was right behind her. With sex in his voice. “Funny you should be aroused while
she’s
in the house.” Fury made her jaw ache.

“Yes, funny. As funny as you loving on my brother so much?”

She spun around. “Really? I’m nice to him and…” Sofia refused to let her eyes waver from his and lower to look at what he was doing to himself.