He wanted Samantha to confide in him, he’d realized. He already knew what made her scream, now he wanted to learn what made her tick.
Cursing, he turned away so Alec wouldn’t see the erection filling out his jeans and busied himself at the stove.
Last night had changed everything. His head still reeled from the three-sixty his brain had done when it came to Samantha. He hadn’t stopped to think it through. He’d acted on instinct and now could potentially be sharing the woman with his brother. At least that was the impression Alec wanted him to have, but a part of him couldn’t believe it.
It looked like Caleb and Samantha were in for a heart-to-heart. Which, for them, would probably result in another knock-down-drag-out fight. Because not only was she going to set the record straight about her relationship with Alec, she was going to come clean on what exactly she’d done for Carlotta Matteo.
Caleb lifted the lid off a pot and drew in a breath. “You cook this?”
Alec laughed. “Not hardly.”
“Samantha?” He couldn’t keep the surprise from his voice. He’d never pictured Samantha as the kind of woman who knew her way around the kitchen.
“What? You think I can’t do anything but annoy the hell out of you?” The playful lilt of her voice got his attention. “I’ll have you know, I’m skilled in a lot of things. Cooking is just one of them.”
“I’m certain there’s a lot I don’t know about you.”
Caleb was struck at how beautiful she was. Her hair was wet, making it appear darker. Sexier. A slight flush painted her cheeks, her blue eyes bright against her milky complexion. She wore no makeup and he decided he liked her like that. Natural. Nothing artificial to mask her graceful femininity.
Her laughter rang out as she walked around to smack his hands away from the pot he’d been peeking in. Her feet were bare. The jeans that hung low on her hips had seen better days. He could see the skin of both her knees through the holes. Her T-shirt hugged her curves and appeared well worn, faded to the point he couldn’t make out the graphic on the front. He resisted the urge to grab her and find out if it was as soft as it appeared.
She looked more like a college freshman than an attorney—comfortable and sexy as sin.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” She hip-checked him out of the way.
“I can attest to that,” Alec agreed, sparking Caleb’s irritation yet again. Alec and Samantha had an obvious connection, making him feel like a third wheel in his own house.
Samantha absently stirred whatever was in the pot as she looked over her shoulder. “Bye, Alec.”
An unpleasant burning flared in Caleb’s throat as he observed their shared look. There was no mistaking that they were hiding something they didn’t want him to know.
How could he have been so stupid? He should’ve known better than to be ruled by his dick.
“I guess that’s my cue that I’m not invited to dinner.” Alec stood and swept her into a tight embrace, whispering something into her ear that made her laugh.
“You aren’t staying?” Caleb suppressed the urge to wipe the smirk off Alec’s face. He’d never fought over a woman before; he wasn’t going to start now. And certainly not with his baby brother.
Caleb would bow out and leave them to each other, making the deal Samantha presented last night more enticing. After knowing the feel of her body against his, it would be torture to be around her, knowing he couldn’t touch her. Or worse, watching as another man did.
When had she become so important to him?
“Sorry, Cay. I’m exhausted.” Alec’s grin widened. “Woman’s got more stamina than should be legal.”
“Goodbye, Alec.” Samantha pushed at Alec’s back, shoving him toward the door.
“Wait, my laptop!”
“You can get it later.” Samantha kept pushing until Alec relented.
“Fine, but you better save me some food.”
The door opened and closed, leaving Caleb alone with Samantha. He watched as she returned to check something in the oven. Her breasts lifted and her eyes drifted closed, breathing in, savoring the aroma.
“Almost ready,” she declared. “Did you find anything useful at the bar?”
“Did you sleep with Alec?” He hadn’t meant to bark at her, but he wasn’t waiting another second for an answer. He had to know the truth.
“When? Today?”
Her innocent expression was wasted on him. “Ever.”
“Caleb —”
His anger got the better of him. “Jesus, Samantha.” His insides twisted and he wanted to punch something. Instead, he slammed his hands down on the counter, causing her to jump. “Don’t you have any boundaries? Because fucking the same woman as my brother is certainly one of mine.”