Wild Lust(4)

“Hi. Looks like my brother couldn’t stand it any longer.” He came forward and leaned on the glass of the partially opened window. On closer inspection, his eyes were the same spectacular blue as his twin’s but a bit darker in shade. While his twin’s eyes could’ve launched heat-seeking missiles aimed to destroy her, his eyes sparkled with amusement rather than being clouded with suspicion.

“Your brother?” She closed her eyes, wincing at her stupidity. What else could they be but brothers? Clones?

His laugh was deep and throaty, filled with a richness that any woman would die for. “What else would he be? My clone?”

He laughed again, and she couldn’t help but smile. He was gregarious, the kind of person who could make others smile without trying. She glanced at the first Adonis. His brother, on the other hand, seemed guarded, even his smiles controlled. He’d kept his intense gaze on her the entire time, and it was starting to make her feel uneasy.

“Don’t let my little brother bother you. Reese is the brooding type. All bark with very little bite.” He stuck out his hand and added, “I’m Blane Rawlins.”

Little brother? There was nothing little about either one of them. She couldn’t help it. Her gaze slipped down from his belt before she realized she’d done it. No doubt there was nothing little about his cock, either.

She wrenched her attention away from Blane’s crotch. Ignoring his hand and keeping the window opened only half the way, she focused what other men had called her “stone-cold glare” at Reese and summoned the nerve to challenge him. “I’m sorry if my presence made you or anyone else uncomfortable, but I didn’t know it was against the law to sit in my pickup.”

“It’s not against the law. You can sit in your pickup ’til hell freezes over. It’s the watching part that’s got people upset.” Reese arched an imperious eyebrow at her.

He was egging her on. She knew it, and he knew she knew it. But should she take him up on it? He clenched his teeth, the muscle in his jaw working.

They were two sides of one coin. While Reese acted like he couldn’t stand the sight of her, Blane appeared to be more than interested. He’d taken a good hard look at her, whipping his gaze over her body several times. She could feel his scrutiny on her skin.

“Again. Don’t mind my brother. In fact, I’d be happy to show you around Forever.”

She needed to leave, but she just couldn’t bring herself to back the pickup out of the parking space. Something about Blane made her want to trust him. She gave him a genuine smile, rolled the window all the way down, and stuck her hand out. “Nice to meet you, Blane. I’m…Candy Cane.”

Reese’s laugh had heads turning to stare at them. “You can’t be serious. No one’s called Candy Cane. Come on. What’s your real name?”

She swallowed hard and faked a hurt expression. No way would she ever tell them that she and Shannon had spent many hours as teens coming up with wild-sounding names. The fact that Candy Cane sounded like a stripper’s name didn’t help. But she’d said the first name to come to her, and she couldn’t back out now. “What’s wrong with my name? Don’t you like it?”

“It’s a pretty name. Nice to meet you, Candy.” Blane took her hand and squeezed.

All at once, a surge of power, a rush of sexual energy zipped into her hand and up her arm. The electrifying sensation flowed into her, making her heart skip a beat then pick up speed as though she was running a marathon. The effect was invigorating, exciting and downright scary. She widened her eyes, then searched Blane’s and saw his widen, too.

“What the hell?” But she doubted either brother had heard her whisper.

She glanced toward Reese, who was staring at his brother. Reese may not have experienced the sensation, but he’d noticed his brother’s reaction.

She tugged her hand out of Blane’s, lessening the sizzle. “I need to get going.”

“Wait. How about grabbing a cup of coffee with my brother and me? Or even just me?”

She shook her head, turned the ignition, and threw the car in reverse. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Why not? What could happen over a cup of coffee?”

But she was already backing out of the parking space. She took one last look at them. Reese hadn’t moved, his eyes as intently set on her as they were before. Blane looked at her, a confused expression marring his masculine face, then lifted his hand to say good-bye.

She didn’t bother waving back. She didn’t trust herself not to jump out of the pickup and take Blane up on his offer of coffee. Yet she wasn’t sure that a cup of coffee wouldn’t turn into more. Instead, she pushed the lever into drive and stomped on the accelerator.