Threads Of Desire (Creative Hearts Book 3) (3 page)

As elegantly as she could, she stepped from the tub, ignoring Nick’s outstretched hand, and sailed past both brothers, holding the towel tight around her breasts.

“Um. What about my question, Sunshine?” Steve said. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you not answering me.”

“Very funny,” she said over her shoulder. “How ‘bout we not make this Screw with Gabby day? I’m not in the mood.” She was just about to slam her bedroom door when she stopped and turned back to Steve. “Oh, and congrats, hon. I’m so happy for you.” Then she shot Nick a heated glare and slammed her bedroom door, flopping down on her bed in humiliation.

What the hell had she just done? Her stomach knotted and she willed the nausea back down, purposely focusing on that and not the ache in her heart or the tingling in her swollen breasts. Freaking Nicholas Ross. She wasn’t in his presence five minutes and he had her losing her mind, doing crazy, out-of-character shit like showing her wet and naked curvy ass as if she were Naomi Campbell in the ‘90s. Shit, she’d take Tyra from yesterday.

Gabby let out a groan. If Nick had her acting this way in a day, what would she be like with him staying here indefinitely? If she weren’t careful, he’d have her on her knees and eating out of his pretty little hands in no time. Eating 
something
 anyway. She paused, biting at the inside of her cheek, the thought bringing heat to parts of her body she didn’t want heated—at least, not by him. This was bad.

Gabby’s eyes darted to her nightstand. Maybe this was all just a byproduct of her going a little too long without sufficient release? Guys used that excuse all the time for falling over the first good-looking thing in a skirt. And it really had been a while since she’d broken up with… what’s-his-name. That grope fest with Dono yesterday afternoon had only gotten her more hot and bothered. And she’d barely even touched the party gift she’d gotten at her friend Mya’s bachelorette party. She reached for the knob of the nightstand’s drawer then heard shuffling outside her bedroom door. Nope. There was no way. She’d never be able to relax and enjoy herself with Steve and Nick no more than twenty feet away.

She looked up at the antique chandelier over her bed then over at her old full-figured dress form. Currently, it was draped with swathes of fabric that were soon to be her maid-of-honor dress for the rapidly approaching wedding of her other best friend, Samara Leighton. Well, vow renewal and general blow-the-top-off-New York bash, anyway. She was making her own dress, plus Samara had tapped Gabby to design her gown, which scared the bejeezus out of her. Not only was it her friend’s most important day, but the wedding was turning out to be the society event of the year.

Gabby was so nervous about designing Sam’s dress, she had even tried to steer her friend in another direction, but Samara wouldn’t have it any other way. Even though she could afford the best that New York had to offer, coming from one of the richest and most powerful families in the city, still she chose Gabby, saying she wanted something that no one else had or would have. The thought sent Gabby into a cold sweat whenever it crossed her mind, which was just about always. But still, she couldn’t help but be bolstered at her friend’s confidence in her.

Gabby let out a sigh and got up. Oh well, 
fear was for suckers
, as her mother would say. She reached for her clothes and got her mind working on a way to face Steve and Nick again with as much dignity as possible.

• • •

“So what was that all about?” Steve challenged his brother, not bothering to hide his ire.

“Hell if I know. I think your friend may be losing her mind. I didn’t know you two had a naked apartment policy around here,” Nick retorted.

Steve frowned. “We don’t. We also don’t have a share the bath and towel each other off policy. So I’ll ask again, since it seems I’m not getting answers this morning.”

“I was not toweling her off. How would that look?”

“Just like what I walked in on,” Steve shot back.

“Well, that’s not what was going on.”

Steve narrowed his eyes and leaned back on his heels. “Well?”

“Well, not like I owe you any explanation, little brother, but I had to pee and I guess I’m still a little hungover, and I just sort of wandered in while she was in the tub. Or, well, was getting out of the tub. Either way, it just sort of happened.”

Steve’s eyes got a little narrower as his jaw clenched.

“Hey, if she’s your girl, you need to go and do something about it. Let her sleep in your bed and use the bathroom in there,” Nick said, the frustration evident in his voice. “How many years you going to lead her on?” He pushed past his brother and went into the living room.

Steve’s jaw dropped and he cocked his head. “It’s not like that and you know it. I’m not attracted to her like that and she’s not to me.”

Nick snorted.

“You know it’s true and always has been. Gab is like our sister,” Steve said.

At that, Nick snorted again and Steve paused.

He looked back at the bathroom. “I thought you said you had to go pee. It doesn’t look like you’re rushing off now. What happened to you having to go?”

Shit. He was caught. Nick couldn’t very well tell his brother that he’d gone ahead and pulled his dick out while Gabby watched. Just saying it in his head sounded dirtier than it actually was. And when he thought of it, well, it was a little dirty. Why the hell didn’t she say something as soon as he walked in?

It was then that Gabby came out of her bedroom wearing black yoga pants and a tight tee that showed off every curve of her luscious figure. “I’m going out for a walk” she announced. “Be back later.”

Nick noticed the straightness of Gabby’s back and the steely way she held the door handle, firm and tight in her hand. He instantly stiffened, then remembered that he was still in his underwear. Fuck.

“Wait!” Steve yelled. “Don’t you want to hear about my part? And you haven’t had your coffee.”

Gabby stilled and turned around. Then her body went soft as she looked at Steve. Nick watched as he saw her defenses instantly going the way they always did around his brother. He swallowed down on the jealousy that rose up like bile and let out a slow and calming breath as she walked away from the front door and back into the living room. Nick really had no cause to feel the way he did. He’d had his chance with her, and he’d blown it. If Steve wasn’t the man for her… well, Nick had already proven that it damn sure wasn’t him. Better to leave her with the memory she already had of him. Breaking her heart once was enough for both their lifetimes. He wasn’t about to do it again.

“Sorry, sure. I don’t know where my mind was. Probably work. I was going to grab coffee out, but no, tell me your big news,” Gabby said.

Nick could feel her purposely not looking his way, feel the heat as it flamed off her body. The don’t-come-any-closer vibe singed him from all the way across the room. And he couldn’t blame her. What the hell was he doing? But what was she for that matter, standing up in that tub and just showing him all her goods like she had? “I need to put on some clothes, then I really should head in to work. I’m going to use your room, okay, Steve?”

Steve shot him a look. “But it’s Saturday. And don’t you want to hear about my part? Come on. Why don’t you forget work and, Gabby, you forget exercise and let’s all take a break and go and grab some breakfast?” He could tell Steve was ready to play peacemaker between his brother and his best friend as he’d done so many times when they were kids. The tension in the living room was just as thick as it had been back then, too. “I wish I could, bro, but I can’t. I need to get into the office. There’s a lot going down, and it being Saturday makes no difference when there’s money to be made.”

Nick knew he was full of it. Sure, he had work but all he really wanted to do was get out of the apartment as quickly as possible. Coming here last night had been a mistake. Everywhere he looked reminded him of her. From the billowing way the curtains blew in on the warm breeze to the damned overstuffed multicolored pillows on the couch. He needed to get some space and gain some perspective. It was nuts, but in the matter of a moment, it seemed like Claire had been forgotten, as if she’d never really existed, and once again, he was consumed by Gabby. But how could that be? Just yesterday, Claire—well, if he were honest, Claire and his 
job
—were everything. He felt his shoulders bunch up. This pattern with Gabby was the same old, same old. He was deluding himself thinking it was anything different, telling himself he was over her. He was a damned fool for starting to believe his own bullshit.

Nick looked over at her in her tight t-shirt and pants that clung to her every curve and in an instant the clothes just faded away, turning to glistening trails of water and bubbles and white-hot steam. He felt himself about to get hard and flopped down on the couch, covering himself with the rumpled sheets before things got really embarrassing. He turned abruptly toward his brother. “Tell me quickly about your job, and then I’ve got to go. What’s up?”

Steve gave him an eyeball that he refused to squirm under. Nick cocked his head and tapped an imaginary watch. He’d never kowtowed to his little brother before, and he wasn’t about to start now. It was odd how different they were. How Steve could still be so carefree and laidback after all they’d been through. But Nick knew the truth—that it was how his brother coped. That if he really slowed down and let the past in, he just may buckle under the weight of it all. “So you telling us about this part?”

Steve grinned, flipping a switch and putting on that megawatt smile that could take him from dangerous, scary thug to sweet, everyday everyman in no time flat. Though at first Nick had been hard on him for taking the tougher “road less traveled” with this acting business, he’d seen his brother grinding, really trying to make it, and now had no doubt that with his hard work and good looks, Steve would eventually. Maybe this would be his big break.

“Okay, don’t laugh, but it’s for a not-so-real reality show.”

Or not. Nick couldn’t help but raise a brow.

“A reality show. How is it they need actors for that? I thought they wanted real people—or at least what passes for real these days.”

Steve shrugged. “Not this one. It’s a show where the actors are thrown into even more extreme situations than regular people. I hope I come out alive.”

“What are you talking about?” Gabby asked before Nick could.

“Well, it’s a 
Survivor
-type of voted off the island, 
Big Brother
-esque type of thing. So I’d better brush up on my Fresh Air Camps training. Lord knows my smile may buy me an extra day and a few perks but it sure as hell won’t make a fire.”

“Hmm, I don’t think they picked you because you’re the outdoorsy type,” Gabby said.

She had a good point. His brother was a downtown New York metrosexual, through and through. “Yeah, you’re probably right,” Steve shrugged. “It’d probably do me one better to brush up on my Art of Getting Along classes.”

“So when does this go down?” Nick asked.

“On Sunday, I’m on a plane for Cali. Come Monday they want me out on location at the island.” Steve looked around. “Shit. I’d better find my passport.”

“Sunday?” Gabby yelled. “That’s tomorrow! What about your job? Jobs!”

“I called the bar, and they were cool. The rest are part-time pickups. Most of their employees are actors anyway. Either I’ll have a job when I get back or I’ll find another. At least this gig is paying.” He reached out and rubbed Gabby’s arm in an easy, familiar way that had Nick shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “No worries, sweetie. I’ll leave a check for this month and have my agent forward you money if I’m away longer.”

Unsettled with how quick this was all moving, Nick harrumphed under his breath, and Steve shot him a look. “Cut it out, brother, I can feel your judgment from over here. I don’t need you starting, getting all stern and fatherly on me,” he paused, probably realizing their father was a subject best avoided. “Hey, think of it this way, I’m finally making good and doing you proud. Think of how happy Mom would be.”

Nick got a lump in his throat at that, and then he watched Steve’s eyes glaze over as his own words sunk in.

It was then that Gabby spoke up, filling the suddenly thick silence. “You’re right. Your mother would be so proud.” She paused, looking between the two of them. “Of both of you.” She smiled at Steve. “We should at least celebrate tonight. What do you want to do?”

He grinned at her, the moment broken. “I’ve got to work. How about you both come down to the bar later. I’m sure I can come out for a bit. We’ll toast, and you can hang until I get off?”

They both nodded. Gabby shifted, seeming ready to take off, and Nick just wanted to be away from both of them right now.

“You know…” Steve looked at Gabby and then back at Nick. “I know it’s all sorts of jacked up with Claire and her flexi yoga buddy and all.” Nick shot him a look and he held up his hand. “Hear me out! I’m just trying to say that it may all work out for the best. You coming here now could actually be perfect timing. At least I’ll know that I’ve got you watching to be sure our girl stays out of trouble while I’m gone.”

Gabby jabbed Steve in the ribs and he faked doubling over. “Ouch, you wound me.”

“Oh, shut it, Steve Ross. I don’t know when the two of you will get that I’m a grown woman and don’t need either of you watching over me.”