Page 51 of Body Check

It was a flat-out lie, but he refused to give his brother any fucking ammunition. He’d learned that lesson the hard way too. Then again, were there any lessons in his life he hadn’t learned through a mixture of blood, sweat, tears, and considerable pain?

“It was a nice night for a dip in the spa,” Dakota said hastily. He immediately seemed to realize his mistake but froze.

“Yes, seemed like a good night to do laps too,” Gavin said. “You know I like to get my exercise in.”

“You’ve never been much of a swimming guy,” Thad said. And they didn’t have to have shared a womb for Gavin to pick up on the disbelief in his tone.

“Well, I’m always open to change,” he said stiffly.

Thad scoffed. “Sincewhen?”

“It doesn’tmatter. Dakota went for a dip in the spa, I used the pool. It was a coincidence we even ran into each other tonight,” Gavin said calmly, though under the surface his emotions roiled like someone had cranked up the jets in that spa, furious and agitated. “You understand what I’m saying?”

Gavin stared into his brother’s eyes—his face both familiar and unfamiliar with the cut over his eye he’d gotten in prison—willing him to understand, to play along. To not take his vendetta against Gavin out on Dakota.

Because whatever bullshit was between Gavin and his twin, he was loath to drag anyone else into it. What the hell had he beenthinkinggetting Thad a job in the organization? It had been a mistake from day one, but it was impossible to take back now.

“Sure, I can see how a coincidence might happen,” Thad said, smiling faintly, as if amused by the whole thing. “How was the temperature up there tonight?Hot, I’d imagine.”

“There was a nice breeze,” Gavin shot back. “Very relaxing.”

“Funny. When I went up a bit ago, it seemed pretty steamy to me. You know what else is weird, I didn’t see either ofyouout there.”

Gavin could hear Dakota’s sharp, indrawn breath beside him.

Gavin doubted Thad had actually gone up to the pool area at all. He was testing the waters, poking around for a vulnerable spot. He was good at that, always had been, though his time in prison had honed it to a razor-sharp edge.

He couldn’t possibly know what they’d done. Could he?

“You must have gone up there before we ran into each other,” Gavin said tightly. “But it’s getting late now, and I have some work to do before bed.”

“Me too,” Dakota said.

“Yes, lots of urgent yoga work at ten at night on a road trip, I’m sure.” Thad’s voice was silky and laced with innuendo.

Dakota bristled. “I amconstantlycreating and tweaking training plans for the team based off their fluctuating needs and injuries. Whatever you think of my work, I put a shitload of time and effort into it.”

Thad’s smirk deepened. “Undoubtedly. Pulling late nights with the team’s GM.Definitelya sign you’re dedicated to your work and the organization.”

“Stop it,” Gavin snapped, his voice cracking loudly through the empty hallways. Loud enough the guys in the rooms nearby might overhear it. He cursed under his breath, then spoke more quietly. “Don’t, Thad. Please. Whatever disagreements we have, leave Dakota out of it.”

But, like a shark smelling blood in the water, Thad smiled. “Certainly. I wouldn’t want to upset whateverrelationshipyou two have.”

Gavin turned to face Dakota, who looked a little wild around the eyes, like he didn’t know what he’d ended up in the middle of.“Dakota, this is between me and my brother. Please go. I don’t want you to be dragged into this any more than you already have been.”

Dakota’s jaw tightened like he wanted to argue, before he huffed. “Fine. But you might want to move this to somewhere a little less public.”

“I intended to,” Gavin said grimly.

When he turned back, Thad was grinning at him.

“My room. Now,” Gavin hissed, grabbing his brother by the arm and tugging him down the hall. Thad came willingly enough, though Gavin was under no illusion that if he wanted to put up a fight, there wouldn’t be much Gavin could do about it.

At least not without turning it into a knock-down, drag-out brawl.

When they reached Gavin’s room at the end of the hall, Thad lounged against the wall while Gavin fumbled for his key card.

“Aww, you know, it’s nice of you to invite me over to hang out. I haven’t even been to your condo in Boston.”

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