My heart sinks. I don’t know how he does this but he can always see right through me. Now I know I’m fucked because I’m not sure I can do as he says. I’ll try, I’d be a fool not to but even now I see the torture in my future. Seeing Summer every day, sharing our home, our lives and living so closely will destroy me. Then there are the guys she’ll bring home that I’ll want to murder on the spot. I won’t be able to bear the thought of seeing her touched by any other hand than mine. How did this lightning bolt strike after just a chance meeting? Destiny is a cruel bastard because in one hand he has delivered me a goddess and taken her away with the other.
So, I just nod and say simply, “Consider me warned. I’ll treat Summer like family, you can count on me.”
He nods and I hope I’ve done enough to call the dogs off because I know I’m going to break his goddamn rule so fast I may not have long to live. When I said I’d treat her like family, I meant every word. My family. The woman I want to call mine in every sense of the word and I know the only barrier in my way is standing before me. It’s just up to me to change his perspective because I’m not giving up without a fight.
With my resolve set, I head out to carry out my orders. They are already waiting in the car and Charlie sits tapping the wheel tied up with his thoughts. I look at him sharply because, like me, he’ll be struggling with this. I know him though and he’ll fall into the role of the older brother quickly and easily. Knowing him as I do, I only hope this doesn’t turn him against me because Charlie is loyal and won’t want to upset the family, unlike me who is set on a path to blow it apart.
I slide in beside him and he starts the engine. I don’t even look behind me because I’m not prepared to deal with more feelings tonight. Instead, I let Charlie do the talking for us and just listen, although every word she utters is like a blow to my heart.
We drop them in a familiar neighborhood with none of the wealth of ours. As we pull up outside, Charlie jumps out and opens the passenger door like the gentleman he is. Cursing my bad luck, I realize I need to get a grip and do the same. As I open it, Summer exits quickly and says hesitantly, “I’m sorry.”
Just the fact she is so close makes me forget to breathe but feeling her breath on my face pours petrol on a lit fuse. I say gruffly, “For what?”
“For making life difficult for you.”
I test the waters and look into her eyes and see the worry and anxiety mixed with something that makes my heart lift a little. I may be fighting my own demons here but we appear to be fighting the same ones. I see the longing mixed with desperation reflected back at me and itch to pull her close and never let her go. Reassure her that everything will be ok and I’ll deal with it. Instead, I shake my head and say dismissively, “You haven’t. Make sure you’re ready when we come to collect you. Pops doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
I watch the pain intensify in her eyes as she hears the coldness in my voice. “Of course, thanks for the ride.”
She moves past me and I see Charlie reach out and pull her close and whisper something in her ear. She nods and smiles at him warmly and I turn away before I kill my own brother. I don’t move until I hear their front door slam and then get back in the car like a sulky teenager.
When Charlie joins me, he says in a hard voice. “Sort it out, Max because it’s written all over your face.”
I sigh, “What is?”
“The fact you want to fuck your own sister and are already working out a plan on how you can pull it off without getting killed.”
I laugh darkly. “That’s quite an accusation, bro.”
He laughs. “You forget, I know you so well. I saw the look in your eye when you saved her from that druggy. I saw your expression when you tried to chat her up—badly I might add. Then I saw the look on your face when you realized who she was. I’ve never seen that look on your face before and if I know my own brother, you won’t give a fuck about that lecture Pops just gave you. Do you want to start a war because if you do you had better be sure it’s one you stand a chance of winning? If you do, you know I’ll back you up but I must point out, it’s the dumbest thing you’ll ever do.”
I stare broodingly out of the window and say darkly, “I’m not sure what I want. Let’s just see what happens and if the shit hits the fan, it’s been nice knowing you.”
He turns the music on and drowns out the expletives that shoot from his lips like bullets from a gun. Charlie knows me better than anyone and even he knows I won’t back down because I’m a selfish bastard. Always have been, always will be.
10
Summer
I’m not sure I slept a wink all night. Tracey fell asleep almost immediately but all I could do was stare at the ceiling and replay what happened in my mind.
My father was different from what I imagined. He was softer, more approachable, with none of the fear I thought I’d feel given his reputation. When I walked into his open arms, it felt right. Maybe that’s what biology does. Makes us realize immediately when we’re home. We share the same DNA which is probably why he seems so familiar to me. I see myself in him as well as my mom. There was no question that I would become a part of his life. I want that more than anything because he completes me.
Then I think of Max and feel the longing streaming through my body. My breathing intensifies as I see his dark eyes staring at me with the promise of a storm breaking. I know he wanted me - I felt the same. I picture his hard body and run my fingers over my breasts imagining his hands and mouth exploring every inch of my body. I feel the desire pooling between my legs as I imagine him inside me and claiming me forever. My heart beats a little faster as I think about those lips tasting me all over and wonder what he would taste of?
I already know. He would taste of forbidden fruit and everything I want in life. He would taste of danger and excitement and would become the hardest of drugs to me that I would become addicted to.
Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, I try to push the image away but all it does is show me more. I see a desperate future as we long for each other but can’t act on it. I see myself sitting beside him at family events craving his touch. I watch myself fight the jealousy that seeing him with another woman will bring. Then I see the trouble it will cause when we give in to this infatuation and wreck the bubble that should protect us.
Those thoughts and many more keep me company until the dawn breaks on my future. The trouble is, I’m not sure what it will bring? Will I be happy? It’s hard to imagine I ever will be again.
Aunt Kim is horrified when we fill her in the next day. I feel bad as I see the pain in her eyes and she says in a broken voice, “I can’t believe it. I’m sorry, Summer; I should never have brought you here.”
Tracey rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry about Summer, mum. Joey was charm personified. I saw the way he looked at her, he was overwhelmed. You forget he’s her father and never even knew she existed. What I saw last night was a man keen to make up for a lifetime of deception. He never stood a chance to be a dad because he never knew. Summer will be looked after and I’m pretty sure he’s the best man to do it.”
Aunt Kim looks at her with astonishment. “When did you grow up and become smart, young lady?”