Release!:A Walker Brothers Novel (The Walker Brothers Book 1)(46)

Eva had been amazing, cooking delicious meals and charming my brothers until I swore they were both half in love with her, which annoyed the hell out of me. To be honest, she was just being herself, but that was enough to make them both intrigued, especially since she wasn’t exactly the type of woman I usually dated. “I’m a lucky guy,” I replied, looking at both my brothers sitting on opposite sides of the couch in the living room from my seat across from them.

Eva had disappeared after dinner, claiming that she needed to wrap some gifts before retreating upstairs. Britney had said she was tired, and she’d disappeared also, not that I was heartbroken. I’d seen enough of the poisonous bitch to last a lifetime.

It was Christmas Eve, and I’d succeeded in never being alone with Britney for a single minute. Eva had stayed by my side, playing the part of the adoring fiancée so well that I was starting to get used to it. I can’t lie. I loved every minute of her being mine, even though it was a façade.

“You’re very lucky, Trace,” Dane agreed in a low, thoughtful voice. “It’s not easy finding a woman who doesn’t care if you’re rich and doesn’t just want you for your money. I think you can safely say that Eva doesn’t give a damn. I can tell she just wants you to be happy.”

I gaped at him, wondering why Dane thought that. It nearly killed me, but I had to ask him. “Is that the way it is with Britney?”

“Not even remotely,” Dane answered casually.

“You don’t think she loves you?” Sebastian asked, frowning as he rose to pour himself another drink.

I continued to stare at Dane, wondering what was going on in his head. Did he know that Britney was using him?

“Britney is convenient. She’s willing to stay on the island for what I can give her, and she tolerates letting me fuck her. Do either of you think I don’t know she’s using me?” He looked at Sebastian and I curiously.

Hell, my younger brother was way smarter than I gave him credit for. “Then why do you keep her?”

Dane shrugged. “Who else is going to have me? I wanted to get laid, and she was willing to suffer through it if I gave her enough to make up for the inconvenience. I don’t have any fantasies that she cares about anything more than money. She never has.”

There was some bitterness in Dane’s voice, but I was relieved that he wasn’t going to be heartbroken when Britney decided it was time to leave. In fact, it was more than likely that Dane would get tired of her whining and ask her to leave himself.

Sebastian flopped back onto the couch with a full glass. “Dude, no offense, but Britney is annoying as hell, even if she is a fine looking woman.”

I smiled, realizing that Sebastian had finally seen through Britney’s blonde hair and cornflower blue eyes, discovering that there was nothing inside to match the beauty of her exterior.

Dane shrugged. “No offense taken. She’s a raving bitch, and I know it. I think I’m starting to prefer being lonely to having her around.” He turned his head. “Is that what happened with you two, Trace?”

I nearly choked on my drink. Fuck! He knows.

“What?” I lowered my drink from my mouth with a cough.

“Did you get sick of her, too? Is that why you dumped her?”

I let out a huge breath. “How did you know I dated her?”

Dane’s lips smiled, but his eyes were sad. “I might live on an island, but I do get the media. I made sure you and Britney were done before I allowed her to come to the island. I felt kind of bad picking up with a female my brother had broken up with, but it isn’t like I have a huge variety of women to choose from. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” I said in a rush. “It wasn’t serious between us.”

He nodded. “I know.”

I shook my head at the irony that I was trying to protect Dane while he’d been sorry he’d dated a woman I’d been with in the past.

“I didn’t know you dated Britney.” Sebastian sounded pissed. “Why didn’t you say something?”

“Maybe because I never catch you sober enough to mention it.” My tone was sarcastic and accusing. I regretted saying the words almost immediately, but I couldn’t take them back. In reality, I’d deliberately avoided telling Sebastian the truth.

I watched as Sebastian’s face went dark, and he took a large swig of his full drink. “At least I don’t have a stick up my ass the size of a giant redwood,” he mumbled bitterly. “I’m sorry that I’m not as perfect as you are, brother.”

I didn’t consider myself that uptight. “I’m not asking you to be perfect. I’m just asking you to try to be better. Stop partying all the time for a living.”