Page 11 of Just One More Affair
“Hey.” Aiden came up beside him and settled in on the sofa.
“Hey, yourself. So how’s it feel to be back?”
Though Aiden had stayed in New York for a month after their father’s heart attack, he’d taken off again for a job abroad covering a hostage release in the Middle East. He’d remained in the region afterward instead of returning. Until now.
“Better than I thought it would. Guess I needed the normalcy of home.” Aiden kicked his feet out in front of him and leaned back against the cushion. “Did I tell you I was a car behind an IED explosion?” he asked as casually as he’d talk about the weather.
“What the fuck?” Jared asked. Shock and fear for what might have happened to his brother rolled through him. “This is how you tell me?”
Aiden shrugged, then rubbed his hand behind his neck, the only indication that the incident had disturbed him. His brother had nerves of steel. “I didn’t want you to worry if you couldn’t see I was in one piece.”
Jared closed his eyes and groaned. “You don’t make it easy,” he muttered. “Thank God you’re okay.”
“Just don’t tell Dad.” Aiden’s tone was serious, and Jared agreed. No need to add to their father’s stress.
“I won’t. Keep your ass out of danger?” Jared asked his brother.
Aiden nodded and let out a shaky laugh. “I’ll consider it.”
Jared knew that was as much of a promise Aiden would make.
“So, what’s with you and Charlie?” Aiden asked, changing the subject. “I saw you huddled together talking to her earlier.”
“Everyone else talked to her too.” Realizing his answer sounded defensive, he gave his brother more information. “Fallon asked if I’d show her the empty apartments in my buildings since she’s looking for a place to live.”
“And that’s why I caught you staring at her ass and giving her puppy dog eyes like a teenager?” Aiden grinned.
“Shut the fuck up. I was not mooning. I was… admiring.”
Aiden tipped his head to the side, studying him. “Oh yeah? At Fallon’s wedding, too? I saw you two dancing.”
“What are you? My babysitter? Besides, it’s been two months since the wedding and you’re just mentioning you saw us now?”
“I haven’t been here to do it,” he said.
“Maybe it’s time you were.”
Of all his brothers, Jared was the closest to Aiden, which was why his sibling’s need to travel was most difficult on Jared. He not only missed talking to him but he hated not being able to reach him at will. Between time differences and how busy they both were, long conversations were impossible.
“Maybe it is.”
Jared blinked, stunned at the answer, but before he could reply, Aiden spoke again. “Now, about Charlie…”
“I call her Charlotte.”
Aiden smirked. “So make a move.”
Jared sighed. “My life doesn’t lend itself to a relationship. The business and Dad keep me busy enough.”
“Not too busy to show her apartments.” He leaned forward in his seat. “Isn’t Brooke helping out at the office? You promoted her, right?”
“A well-deserved, overdue promotion. Between the two of us we’re running things, but it isn’t fair of me to dump extra work on her because I want a social life.”
Aiden laughed. “At least you admit you want one. I’d say that’s a start.”
Jared grudgingly agreed with a grunt, then changed the subject. “Now, speaking of personal lives, let’s talk about Brooke.”
“Let’s not.” Aiden pushed himself up from his seat.
