My Sister's Boyfriend (The Trouble With Twins 1) (19 page)

And that not only hurt, but made her angry. Sure, she'd known going into the date that it was for one night only, but after the night they shared, she had expected him to act like a well-adjusted adult. She hadn't expected to be dropped without even a goodbye, never to be seen again.

Two could play the ignore game. She would outlast him and win this little skirmish.

She focused on watching Kristie, the soon-to-be bride, opening gifts, listening as the staff teased the couple. They looked so young and in love that she felt envious.

Brent crossed the room and sank down in the chair next to her. She glanced at him, her body acknowledging him with a rapid increase in her heart rate.

 “Hi,” he said quietly. "Don't you just hate these things? Look at them. He's not even finished with medical school, and they're getting married."

She glanced over at Brent and raised her brows at his comment. "No, I kind of enjoy wedding showers. It shows me that they're in love enough that they're willing to take a chance on one another. It’s refreshing."

"Refreshing?"

"Yeah, so many people live together now. I like to see couples willing to acknowledge that they believe their love is strong enough to weather any storm. So they're taking the plunge and getting married."

Brent shook his head. "Spoken like a woman who's never seen the wreck a divorce can have on a family."

"No, I'm fortunate that I've never experienced divorce firsthand. But even if I had, I hope it wouldn't make me commitment phobic."

He turned and looked surprised. "So you think I'm commitment phobic?"

"Did I mention your name? I didn't know we were talking about you. I thought we were talking about John and Kristie."

Brent frowned at her, clearly not knowing how to respond.

"Besides, you told me the very first time we went out that you were commitment phobic. So yes, Brent, I realize you have a fear of relationships, and I never expected you to act any differently than you have."

Jennifer returned her gaze to the couple in the front of the room, hoping she appeared to be unaffected by his comments.

"And how have I acted?" he prompted.

She laughed, the sound cynical. "You turned chicken and ran."

"I've been busy," he denied.

Jennifer shrugged, acting as if his reaction hadn't bothered her in the least. She refused to let him see how his actions had hurt her. "It was what I expected. I had a great time Saturday night, and the fact you stayed through breakfast surprised me. Though we didn't discuss our expectations that night, I knew with your commitment issues that I shouldn’t expect anything more than Saturday night."

"You didn't?" he asked surprised. "I mean…I was fixing your toilet…"

She gazed at him, her brows drawn together in disbelief. "What does my toilet have to do with seeing each other again?"

"Well…it just seemed so…hell, I don't know."

"Fixing a toilet represents commitment to you? So what happens if you change my oil? Does this mean we’re chained together for life?” She laughed. “Excuse me, but no one asked you to put your hands in my tank. I can hire a plumber for that job."

Brent frowned, clearly perplexed. He contemplated her words. "So you're not mad because I haven't called you?"

"Didn't expect you to," she replied, not gazing at him. She couldn't look him in the eye without admitting her disappointment. She watched the couple kiss over some sentimental gift they'd received, and her disillusionment seemed to double.

"You didn't think we'd go out again?" he questioned.

 She faced him, lowering her voice. "As far as I'm concerned, you're just a damn good lay, Dr. Moulton. Saturday night was all I expected. Nothing more."

Yes, she was lying to the man, but she could not be honest with him or he would break the world sprinting record to get as far from her as possible. Besides, she had no clear idea what she wanted from Brent. She only knew that Saturday night had been special. So special that if she wasn’t careful, her heart could get involved. And that was a frightening thought, especially considering he hadn’t even thought of telling her he’d slept with her sister. Wouldn’t he be in for a shock when he learned the truth?

A frown marred his forehead, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight. The intense look on his handsome face appeared confused as he watched the couple break a ribbon. The crowd cheered.

"How many is that?" someone called out.

"Two," the young bride said. "And no, there will be no babies until John finishes his residency."

Brent glanced over at her. He was slumped in the chair, his arms crossed, his feet spread wide apart. "So you're just in this for the sex?"

She laughed. That was how it originally started. Why did it feel like it wasn’t that simple anymore? What had started as simple sex to erase him from her memory now seemed enchanting. Yet to admit that to Brent would mean certain relationship death.

"Why do you find that so shocking?” She tossed up her hands. “You don't want a woman who is interested in a lasting relationship, but you're upset with someone who just wants to have sex with you?" She shook her head. "What do you want Brent?"

"You sound just like my sister," he said, staring at her, his expression revealing he wasn't quite sure he believed her.

"Oh buck up, sport. We used each other to get what we wanted.” She shrugged. “I've just never paid before to get laid."

She laughed at the expression of horror that crossed his face.

"It's all right; you did it for charity."

"It sounds so crass when you say it that way," he said, looking at her, perplexed. "What if I wanted more?"

"No. You've sworn off love and marriage. So what
more
could you possibly want?" she asked. "Besides sex."

He frowned. "I don't know. Saturday night was fun."

"Yes, it was a great date.”

"I'm not offering forever after."

She shot him a look of disbelief. "Who said I was asking for it?"

"Would you see me again?" he asked.

She gave him a long glance that hopefully spoke volumes. He wanted more than sex, but not a relationship. How did you tell a guy to buy a vowel, when he didn't know what letter he was looking for? "You've got my number."

"Yeah, I do."

She glanced at her watch, realizing it would be best to leave the good doctor craving more of her company. She stood. "I've got to run."

He gazed at her, his expression one of confusion. "I'll give you a call."

She smiled, knowing she’d rattled him. "You do that."

#

Two days later, Brent knocked on his sister's door. For over a week he'd felt off-balance, as if something in his universe was out of kilter. Unfortunately, he knew the exact moment the feeling started.

That Sunday morning he’d escaped from Jennifer.

Leslie opened the door, surprise lighting her face.

"Hey, come on in. Heather is in school and I could use a break from studying," she said, holding open the door. "Day off from the hospital?"

"Yeah. I kind of hoped you would be alone," he acknowledged.

"Come in the kitchen and I'll fix us some ice tea." She gave him a second look, a frown creasing her forehead. "What's up?"

Each step through the house into the cozy kitchen brought him closer to the moment of truth. He dreaded telling her his news and doubted he could fool her into believing his reasons.

"Remember I told you about that job I applied for in Denver?"

"Yeah," she said, putting ice in two tall glasses.

"They called me yesterday. It's mine if I want it," he confessed.

Why was he telling her as if he had not already made up his mind? He'd all but signed the offer.

"I thought you wanted to stay here," she replied, pouring tea over the ice.

"Well…I did," he acknowledged.

She frowned and handed him a glass. "So what's changed?"

He shrugged. "Not much. I enjoy the mountains. I could ski all winter. The summers would be cooler. And this is a good opportunity for me."

"That's never mattered before, so what's changed?"

"I could use a change of scenery. And like I said, this is a great opportunity for me."

“I thought the position here in Tyler was a good one?”

“It is.”

She handed him his tea and sat down at the kitchen table across from him. “Is the money any better?"

"A little," he reluctantly admitted.

"Is the job more prestigious?"

"Yeah. It’s a research hospital."

"You don't seem overly excited. I thought you liked County General and were determined to get this new wing built." She sipped from her glass, and he could tell she was not buying his reasons for leaving.

He nodded. "I am. We need it badly. But…I don't know."

There was a lengthy silence, and he could hear his sister’s mind churning.

"I heard about the bachelor auction. Sounds like it went great. And I heard that Jennifer bought your date."

"Yes, we went out Saturday night a week ago."

“And…?” she asked.

For a moment he didn't say anything. His sister was no fool, and no matter what he said, she'd read between the lines and figure out just what had happened. He had run scared, and then yesterday the telephone call from Denver seemed the perfect solution. Especially after speaking to Jennifer at the wedding shower and realizing he wanted nothing more than to see her again.

Today the job in Denver didn't seem quite so appealing, yet he'd already contacted a real estate agent to put his house on the market.

"We had a good time," he said, hoping she would just leave the subject alone.

For a moment she said nothing. "Have you gone out with her or called her since that night?"

He shook his head. "Not yet."

"I guess that's over. And you don't have to worry about telling her you slept with her sister." She watched him closely. "When did you get the call about Denver?"

"Yesterday."

"So after having a great date, you're no longer interested in Jennifer, and then you received the call from Denver."

“Yes,” he said reluctantly, knowing his sister would soon understand his reasons.

"You wouldn't be taking this job to get away from this girl would you?" she inquired, her hazel eyes searching his.

"Why would I move seven hundred miles to get away from a woman? I've never had a problem dumping a woman before."

"No. But you've also never seemed so interested in a woman before."

“Why do you think that?”

“Because you’ve never talked to me about your girlfriends before. Suddenly we speak of Jennifer every time we talk.”

Brent frowned. He didn’t know what to say. He wanted to run, but something was holding him back.

"It's your decision, Brent. You know Heather and I would miss you terribly. I hope you’re not running because of Jennifer. Because eventually you're bound to find someone else who interests you. Then what will you do? Run again? Do you just keep running every time a woman gets too close?"

"This is not the first time I've had a woman getting too close."

"No, but I think it’s the first time you've felt something for a woman interested in you. Suddenly your decision to avoid relationships doesn't seem so easy."

It was true. Jennifer unknowingly threatened his commitment to remain single. "I can't take the chance."

His sister smiled. "Then maybe you should move to Colorado. Move up there and you won't have to deal with Mother's husband or Father's girlfriends or Jennifer Riley and your desire to be with her."

Brent frowned. Leslie made it sound like he ran from his problems instead of facing them. But that wasn't true. He couldn't risk becoming permanently entangled with a woman when six months to a year down the road he could wake up and find her gone or he’d pulled one of his father's stunts and was tempted to have an affair.

"I'm not running to Colorado."

"You're not?" she said in surprise.

"No."

"Have you told Jennifer you were thinking of leaving town?"

"No."

"Don't you think you should?"

"Why?" This was a conversation he knew he should have, but he dreaded.

"To prove to yourself that you're not running. After all, if you're not taking this job to end this relationship, her opinion won't matter."

He frowned. Why did she always do this to him? She always managed to turn the tables and challenge him somehow.

"I've wanted to drop in on her anyway. When I leave I'll go by the hardware store and then go see Jennifer at the hospital."

Leslie laughed. "The hardware store?"

"Yeah, I promised to fix her plumbing. Before I leave town I want to keep my promise."

She shook her head. "Please don't explain. I don't want to know anything about her plumbing."

He grinned. Of course Leslie was right. Jennifer's opinion of his move to Denver didn't matter. Did it?

Chapter Thirteen

Brent walked through the hospital corridor carrying the sack from Home Depot in his hands. He'd stopped on the way and purchased a new float and chain for Jennifer’s toilet, his present to her before leaving town.

Like the crumpled sack in his hands, his insides felt twisted at the thought of telling her he had taken the job in Denver. Once he explained what a great opportunity awaited him there, Jennifer would be happy for him, especially considering their conversation at the wedding shower. After all, she had all but said their experience that night was nothing more than good sex between two willing parties.

Since their date, he’d maintained his distance, but it’d been difficult to stay away from her. Tonight he intended to prove to himself he could walk away unaffected by leaving her. And still this anxiousness refused to leave him when he thought about telling her of his decision.

Why should her opinion matter?

If he let her opinion matter then that meant he cared for her more than he should, which only made him more determined to take this job in Denver. He needed distance, and that could only mean mileage between them.