My Best Friend's Brother (A Bashir Family Romance Book 1) (8 page)

When I got up the next morning, he was gone.

The electricity seemed to be back on, so I ran upstairs and took a long shower. The hot water felt heavenly against my body and forced me to wonder how Dev’s warm body would feel up against mine. I couldn’t help but recall
the
dream
, but it seemed a poor replacement for reality. I had never felt so sensual or womanly in my life, but thinking about this man—ironically, my best friend’s jerky older brother—awakened my senses in ways I didn’t know existed.

Why was he here? To see me?
I wondered. Could he really be dating this other girl? Would he kiss me? As I combed out my long hair, I pondered the consequences of our unique situation.
Alone together.
Was I foolish to be so excited about it?

I pulled on my favorite jeans and a soft, baby blue sweater.

“Something blue.”

I got lost in the moment and let my imagination go crazy. I wondered if we might get married one day. Then I would
really
be a part of this family. My heart swelled at the thought of being Mrs. Bashir’s daughter-in-law. Of course they would accept me…even though I’m an outsider. They know me. They love me. We would find a way to make it work.

And then I remembered Shyra and I talked myself down from the ledge. I was being stupid letting my mind run like that.

Too many unanswered questions.

I heard Dev’s SUV pull up outside. Through my bedroom window I watched him come inside the house. I decided to meet him downstairs.

He held a bag from the bakery down the street and two steaming to-go cups. His face lit up when he saw me. I wasn’t used to that. See him in person, friendly and kind, was so different.

“Merry Christmas, Scarlett.”

“Merry Christmas, Dev—hey, wait a minute, you don’t celebrate Christmas.”

“I think I’m still allowed to say Merry Christmas.” His smile was charming…and infectious. I couldn’t repress one in return.

Has he always been this handsome?

“Did you find what you were looking for at the hotel?”

His smile was quickly gone and his eyes suddenly seemed haunted, distressed.

“I did. Let’s not talk about it.”

“Everything okay?”

He paused before answering. “It will be. It’s nothing that you need to worry about right now.”

As quickly as he had gone away to some dark place, he was back, smiling.

When I followed him into the family room near the kitchen, my eyes immediately found the small Christmas tree lit up the corner. Under it sat one solitary gift in red and silver wrapping.

He did this?

“Where did the tree come from?”

“I thought it would be nice to have a proper Christmas. Even though I don’t celebrate it,” he added, with an uncharacteristic wink. He held offered me one of his cups, the irresistible aroma of hot coffee filled my nose.

We sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee and devouring the pastries he had brought. I had so many questions but I didn’t want to interrogate him. I eased into it.

“Thanks for breakfast.” I finished off the last bite of my blueberry scone.

“Anytime,” he answered.

“So you left London early?”

“I did.”

“To work at the hotel?”

“That and some other things.”

“Oh.”

This was new for us. Talking. In person. We had gained such an easy rapport over the phone, but we were breaking new ground face to face.

He looked uneasy as he searched for his next words.

“I’m curious, Scarlett. Why have you been ignoring my calls for the past two weeks? Did I say something?” There was a vulnerability in his eyes. I wasn’t quite sure how to answer.

“My phone has been on the fritz lately,” I lied.

“Oh. Okay then.”

The silence felt suffocating. I decided to ask him what I was dying to know.

“I heard Shyra was there…at the wedding. That’s too bad you missed her.”

“I see her enough in New York,” he glibly replied.

“That must be nice. Your mother is so excited for you two.” Was my voiced strained? I tried to act casual. He looked confused for a second and then smiled.

“Oh, my mother is excited for us, huh? She’s wanted me to marry Shyra since we were babies. If we were in India, it would be a properly arranged marriage, I’m certain. Our families are very close.”

I wasn’t sure what he getting at. Beneath the table I clenched my paper napkin tightly so my feelings wouldn’t show on face.
Just come on out and say it, Dev.

“I’m happy for you. Shyra is very pretty.”

Dev shifted in his chair uneasily. Suddenly he understood.

“I’m not
dating
Shyra. We’re just friends.” He paused. “Is that why you stopped talking to me?”

What could I say now? He hit it square on the nose. To admit to it would be to show him my hand…to admit I was jealous and that I liked him. I decided to retain my poker face.

“No, of course not.” I forced a smile and then started to clear the table. I brought our plates into the kitchen.

He followed me in. While I was washing them, I asked him about something that had been on my mind.

“What happened to Rhett?” Have you seen him since…Thanksgiving?”

This was the first time either of us had brought up that day. I knew Dev had promised I would never have to think about him, but I still wondered.

His face tensed up. “Rhett is back at school. His father cleaned up his mess, I suppose. We don’t talk anymore, for obvious reasons.”

He took a long sip of coffee, that haunted look returned.

“And do you still hope to get a job with that bank…Franklin Bank?”

He thought about it for a moment before answering.

“Gerald Franklin is like a…
father
to me.” He laughed sardonically as if at some cruel inside joke. “If I wanted a job with him, I’m sure I could get one pretty easily.”

I turned around to face him.

“That’s great news. I thought I messed everything up for you.”

“You’re joking, right? Bringing that monster here—I’ll never forgive myself. If he ever tried to interact with you again, in any manner, I promise I will make him regret it.”

He spoke as if he cared for me, and it made me want to fall into his arms again, my face against his chest. We looked at each other, the memory of that day shadowing our faces.

He walked out of the kitchen in a hurry, as if suddenly remembering something.

“I have something for you.”

I followed him over to the family room and sat on the couch near the fire. He brought over the red and silver wrapped box and handed it to me.

“I thought you would like this.”

I looked at him suspiciously and then carefully unwrapped the box. Inside, I found a book. Not just any book, but a very old hardcover of
Gone With the Wind.

“It’s a first edition, signed by Margaret Mitchell. Open it.”

In a giddy daze, I opened the book. Written on the inside cover was Margaret Mitchell’s flowery signature.

It was the best gift I had ever been given.

“Dev…this is amazing.” I rubbed my finger delicately down the gold-rimmed spine.

“I’m pleased you like it.”

He tenderly brushed a long golden tendril away from my eye and tucked it behind my ear. It was the most sensual touch I had ever felt.

“My hair…it’s always a mess.” My heart was pounding.

“It suits you.”

I felt the heat rise in my body. I shifted away from him. I needed some breathing room.

“Dev, do your parents know you’re here…at home, with me?”

He smiled, devilishly, and leaned back into the couch. “No, they think I’m in New York interning over the holidays. I met them in London for a day and then flew straight here.”

“They must have been disappointed you didn’t go to the wedding.”

He laughed. “Are you kidding, Scarlett? My mother’s heart grows a little every time I announce I have an internship…or an interview…or any business prospects.”

“Is that what you really want to do?” I inquired. I always thought business was his passion, but then I didn’t know what it was like to feel the parental pressure to be successful. Hell, my dad was happy enough that I graduated from junior high.

“I love business and banking…and money. It’s in my blood.” He laughed to himself again. “And, not to brag, I’m pretty damn good at it. But sometimes I worry I’ll lose myself in my ambition.”

He paused, weighing his next words. “I guess that’s why I liked talking to you, Scarlett. You’re so sensitive and idealistic. I feel…grounded to real things when I hear your voice. I’ve missed our nightly discussions.”

I stroked the book like it was precious baby.
He did care for me.

“I’m sorry my phone was broken,” I offered.

“Is it fixed now?” He asked, looking deeply into my eyes. I realized he wasn’t talking about the phone.

“Yes, it’s fixed.”

“Good.”

I stood up and set the book on the mantle over the fireplace.

“Dev, you didn’t always feel that way about me,” I corrected him. “You really disliked me…before.”

He moved over to me, so closely I leaned up against the white marble side of the fireplace. It was cool against my back.

“I’ve never disliked you. Quite the contrary.”

“Then why were you so…
mean
?”

We both knew what I was referring to.
White trash.

He stared into my eyes with uncensored intensity.

“I’ll be honest with you, but please understand how hard it is for me to say this.” He almost looked embarrassed. “I’ve had a crush on you since…the day Annika brought you home. I was…
cold
to you because I was scared of you. I’ll regret forever how I hurt you, Scarlett, but I was desperate to maintain control around you. I didn’t know how else to do it. I guess I deserve the Idiot of the Year Award, don’t I?”

“More like the Idiot of the Decade Award…if you want to be accurate.”

We smiled at each other, then his gaze turned serious.

He cradled his right hand around my face and delicately caressed his thumb over my cheek, like assessing a fine silk. It was the touch that confirmed everything I hoped would be true.

“What changed your mind?” I asked.

He thought for a moment. “That day…when Rhett was here…it changed me. It gave me courage to reach out to you. To let you know me. The real me.”

I turned my face up to his, wanting more than anything in my life to be kissed by those lips.

He gave me what I desired and leaned into me, pulling my face to his. His kiss was slow and soft, and then his lips parted and forced mine to yield to him. We tasted each other…coffee, blueberries, mint…and I drank in his scent, so clean and masculine.

When he pulled away slowly, it was as if I were drunk. I steadied myself against his chest. He wrapped me up in his strong embrace and I moved my arms around his neck. This time,
I
kissed him. I had never kissed anyone before and I thought there would be more science to it, but I soon realized that instinct was the best guide.

I tugged at his lower lip, playfully, treating it as if it belonged to me. He let me explore, perhaps realizing I was new to this activity. And when he couldn’t bear my teasing touch any longer, he moved his mouth against mine, hard, penetrating…lustfully. I could feel my body responding to his, and in places I had no control over.

He pulled away from my lips and searched my eyes for confirmation that I was enjoying this as much as he. I couldn’t hide my desire if I tried. He kissed my neck tenderly, his breath warm and moist against my skin. At that moment, I understood the women in stories who fell in love with vampires.

He could bite me if he wanted.

Drink my lifeblood is he desired.

I knew that every touch from him—no matter the pain—was pleasure under his spell.

“Scarlett,” he whispered near my ear in between tender kisses. “You haven’t said anything. I’m guessing by your response you feel the same way?” He pulled back, a smile spread across his face.

I blushed, feeling my cheeks burn. I searched for my wits.

“I have to say, this is much nicer than being ignored and scowled at—
constantly
.”

He pressed his lips against my forehead, his strong arms wrapped around me, cradling me in the curve of my back.

“If you only knew what I was really thinking about, Scarlett. You would have been scandalized, I promise.”

“But it would have been so much nicer, Dev.”

“It would have been a disaster. For reasons you may not fully grasp yet.” He kissed me quickly on the lips and then pulled away. “Speaking of disasters, I need to spend a few hours at the hotel office today. I hate to leave you right now...when things were just getting interesting between us.” He kissed my forehead and turned to go.