Page 28 of One Taste
“Yep. I’ve been entertaining him for twenty minutes now while you caught up on your beauty sleep.”
A snicker slips from my lips. “You’ve been entertaining him?”
“We played Scrabble.”
“Fuck, Brielle.” I chuckle. “Why are you the most awkward person on this earth?”
“Because you’re sleeping and he’s in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure if you spent last night with your vibrator while reminiscing about getting yourself fucked silly, so I didn’t want to send him in here to wake you up in case your tits or twat were out.”
“When has that ever happened?”
“You’re full of all kinds of surprises these days.”
She’s been harassing me about Friday night. Not in a bitchy way, but just poking fun.
“I’ll be out in five minutes,” I say ignoring her comment.
She moves off the bed with a satisfied grin on her face. “Deal. But don’t make your brother suffer any longer. I really don’t think he could take another round of Scrabble with me at nine in the morning.”
Ten minutes later, I’m padding down the hallway. I hear Mark’s voice before I see him, and it makes me realize how much I’ve missed him.
It’s not like we don’t talk, but I don’t see him much. Mark is a police officer in the city and works crazy hours, and with me taking positions wherever I needed to help me move up the corporate ranks, we haven’t spent much time together over the last six years. Hell, this is the first we’ve been able to see each other in the week I’ve been back.
Moving into the kitchen, I stand behind my brother. “Hi.”
His head whips in my direction, and the smile spreading across his face is priceless. “Devin,” he almost sings.Damn, did he get big.Not big as in fat, but large, muscular—huge.
I move toward him, and he embraces me in a hug. “Have you been working out?”
Chuckling, he squeezes me tighter. “A little bit,” he admits. “I have to stay in shape to fight the bad guys, you know?”
“I missed you, Mark.”
My brother has always been my rock. There’s never been a time where he wasn’t there for me if I needed him. I could be halfway across the country, and if I called, he’d answer.
He was the most upset when I decided to take my internship out in California. He couldn’t understand why I wanted to stay there when there were plenty of great companies to start out with in the city here. If I’m being honest, I couldn’t believe I was doing it either. I’d been away from my family before for school, but that wasn’t the same as moving across the country. It took some getting used to, that’s for sure.
“I miss you too, little one.” We pull away, looking each other over as if it’s the first time we’re meeting. “You look good, Dev.”
I smile softly. “Thank you. So do you.”
“How come I didn’t get a reunion like that? I’m practically family,” Brielle mumbles from behind us.
We both laugh, and Mark answers her. “Hey, I don’t want to hear that shit, Brielle. I played Scrabble with you, and at nine in the morning.”
“True,” she agrees. “I’m going to let you guys do your thing. I have a date with theYoungerrepeats on my iPad and some pancakes.”
“Want some coffee?” I ask as Brielle exits, leaving us alone in the kitchen.
“Is that even a question?”
I laugh, and move toward the counter where the Keurig sits, ready to brew a pot.
“So, what’s new with my sister? I’m assuming you found a job since you’re making yourself comfortable here.”
I pop the carafe pod in the machine, pressing the brew button. “I’ve gotten a few offers.”
“Does that mean you’ll be staying?” There’s hope in his voice.
