Dirty Neighbor(28)

“I’m sorry about my brother,” Brant said, leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded. He looked really dominating with the way he stood there, tall, and covering the whole of the doorway.

“Why? He’s sweet and charming. Is he always like that?”

“He drives me crazy, but yes. He’s spending the summer with me. In a couple of weeks he’ll be back at college.”

“And you’ll be all alone.”

“Yes. I’ll miss him when he’s gone. He has no filter from his brain to his mouth.”

She walked toward him and went to place her hand on his stomach and stopped. Could she touch him? Was she allowed? This was out of her comfort zone with Brant. To be honest, her other boyfriends hadn’t taken the time to spend the night with her. Brant was the first man she’d slept with, especially with him wrapped around her all night.

“You can touch me, baby. I won’t bite.”

Placing her hands on his waist, she leaned in close. “You don’t need to apologize for your brother. I happen to like him. I enjoyed being in his company at your party, and I like him now with no filter.”

“You’re sure.”

“Don’t be so worried about him. He’s a sweetheart, and between you and me, he knows it.” She licked her lips, glancing at his chest before looking back up at him. “Every Sunday I go and see my sister. It’s a habit I’ve gotten into. Would you like to come with me next Sunday?”

“You’re okay with that?”

“Only if you are. I don’t want you to feel pressured or anything.”

“I don’t feel pressured, not at all.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I look forward to it.”

Kissing his lips, Elisha closed her eyes, basking in the closeness of him. “I’ve got to go to work.”

“See you tonight?”

“Count on it.”

****

“She’s amazing. I love her,” Sean said, three days later.

Brant was in his studio, working on one of his latest commissions, but his gaze kept straying to the sketch he’d been working on when he was alone. Danny had called him, and told him the showcasing event was going ahead as planned. Most of his work was completed, but he just wasn’t feeling it. The only picture he wanted to work on was the one that was for his own personal pleasure.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“You’re telling me how much you love my woman, and you expect me to shut up, and listen to how amazing and wonderful she is.” In the last three days their relationship had taken another turn as Sean had joined them for dinner. It was Thursday, and after she’d cooked at his place Monday, she’d done the same thing Wednesday, and on Tuesday Sean had come to her place in the morning. She was cooking for the two of them, and he wondered if she had even realized that there was a change happening.

He didn’t mind the change developing between them, as he loved her company and her cooking. Brant’s main concern was Elisha changing her mind.

“And you don’t think she’s wonderful?”

“I know she’s wonderful. I’m the one dating her.”

“Has it changed to dating?” Sean asked, taking a seat on the stool nearest to him. His brother was driving him crazy.

“I don’t know what’s happening.”

“You’re not becoming a chicken, are you?”

Putting his paints down, he turned toward Sean. “You have my full attention. What is the problem?”

Sean held his hands up. “You don’t need to be moody. I was just asking how your relationship is going.”

Rubbing at his temple, Brant turned to look at the painting before him. He wasn’t feeling it, and it was showing.

“Can I have some privacy please?”

“You’re not liking how close you’re getting, are you?”

“Sean, I like her, okay. I even think I more than like her, and that kind of feeling scares me. I want to get close to her, but Elisha is skittish. I’m going to meet her sister, and it’s moving slowly.”

“Do you want it to move a little quicker?”

Brant stared at his brother, and decided to be honest with him. “I want to have a claim to her so she doesn’t get the chance to leave.”

“It’s that bad?”

“I don’t know if it’s bad, or what to feel. I never felt this way about Kasey, or any other woman. I’ve not even been with Elisha all that long, and for the most part, it was just sex. Neither of us has any other claim over the other.” And he wanted that to change. Brant let out a sigh. “I need some space.”

“Okay, that’s my cue to go and work.”