Ryan placed both hands on James’s desk and leaned down.

  “She’s mine, cuz. You just remember that and things will be just fine.”

  Fuck. There it was again, the barely veiled threat. God, his cousin loved to play the I have all the power card.

  “Now get your ass back to work.” Ryan grinned, slapped James’s desk, and turned to leave.

  As James watched, his cousin approached Tori, who was across the room. He leaned down to say something to her. She smiled and nodded before he continued on his way.

  Fuck.

  Why did it bother him so much? The idea of them together? Why did he care who Tori chose to sleep with?

  Because Ryan was right. He had begun to like her. He couldn’t even point out when. Maybe he’d always felt it but buried it beneath the anger of that first kiss.

  His phone rang, and the distraction was a welcome one. Shoving Tori from his mind, he answered and got his ass back to work.

  For once, he finished his tasks on time and was ready to go home at a normal hour. Maybe he’d run the lake again to blow off the stress from the personal injury case he was working on. It was sucking his life away one little bit at a time.

  He flipped the light off in his office and made his way to the elevator.

  Ah, hell.

  Of course Tori would be standing there waiting, too, typing away on her phone.

  She glanced up at his approach. The smile in her eyes faded when she saw him.

  But she was all politeness as she gave a curt nod. “James.”

  “Tori.” He kept it just as civil. “Did you have a good weekend?”

  Uninhibited joy flickered in her eyes and the smile spread. “So much fun.”

  I’ll bet.

  His jaw clenched, and he could only reply with a grunt.

  The elevator opened, and he gestured for her to go in first. Not because it gave him the chance to check out her ass in that skirt, but damn. He couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Or notice her long legs that disappeared into heels.

  He loved how tall she was, only inches shorter than him. When they’d kissed in the tent that day on the beach, it had been such a novel experience. He’d always had to almost crouch down to kiss Hannah.

  Tori fit him perfectly.

  It was one of the many things he found sexy about her. Which he’d take to the grave before admitting.

  Maybe that’s why he’d been drawn to Nadia too. She was a taller woman.

  “What about you?” Tori asked as she pressed the button that would send the elevator to the parking garage. “How was your weekend?”

  At least he could answer the weekend question honestly. “It was absolutely amazing.”

  “Really? I’ve never actually been to the Oregon Coast,” she admitted pensively. She adjusted the strap on her purse and the leather pushed between her breasts of the soft-looking sweater.

  Stop looking.

  “Someday I’ll visit, though. Did you have good weather?”

  “It was sunny and warm,” he guessed. Then, because he couldn’t stop thinking about it, ground out, “Did you sleep with him?”

  James regretted the question the moment after he asked.

  Her eyes rounded, almost in alarm, and her cheeks flushed. “What?”

  “Did you sleep with Ryan?”

  “Ryan.” Understanding flickered in her eyes before they narrowed. Her mouth went taut, and any emotion on her face shut down like Fort Knox. “Is it your business if I did?”

  He sighed, realizing she was right. “No, I don’t suppose it is.”

  She stared at him for several seconds. “Would you even believe me if I said I hadn’t?”

  James blinked, trying to answer that in his head first. Again, he went with the truth.

  “I want to.”

  But her fuck off stare gave away zero hints on whether she’d been with Ryan this weekend.

  “At some point, you’re going to realize I’m not the villain in your story.” The elevator arrived in the garage, and she strode off briskly. “Have a good night, James.”

  With his gut twisted up like a pretzel, he debated following her to keep the conversation going.

  But why? So you can argue some more?

  Because he liked being in her presence, whether they were fighting or friendly.

  The realization weighed heavily on his heart.

  James reached his car first, but waited to climb in until she’d reached hers, which was farther away. Once she was safely inside and had driven away, he got inside.

  Maybe a run was a good idea.

  Or maybe he’d just go home and continue his online search for Nadia again. The perfect woman.

  He chose the run. And later, when he dozed off on the couch, his dreams shifted between Nadia and Tori.

  When he woke up sometime before midnight, he scrubbed a hand down his face and sighed.

  Shit. If it wasn’t one he was thinking about, it was the other now.

  Maybe Ryan was right—as cringy as that was. Maybe it was time for James to try actually dating again.

  Because, unfortunately, it seemed that neither Nadia nor Tori were in the cards for him.

  *

  “Are you sure he knows I’m going to be here?” Tori set down a veggie tray on Kristen’s dining room table.

  “It’s a party to celebrate him passing the bar.” Kristen shrugged as she tossed down a pack of napkins. “This place will be crawling with his friends, family, and coworkers. I’m sure he’ll expect it. Plus, you’re my bestie, so that gets you a double invite.”

  “Aw, thanks. I feel special.” Tori glanced around her friend’s new house. “And you certainly have room for a big party. This place is amazing.”

  “Thank you. We’re beyond thrilled our offer was accepted.” Kristen began placing soda and beer in the ice chest in the corner. “Hey, can you stir the beans?”

  “Will do.” Tori moved to the stove to give the baked beans a quick stir.

  “Back to my brother. Are you guys getting along okay? I know you were both a little weirded out to be working together.”

  “We’re totally good.”

  It was a lie. Sort of. They weren’t completely at each other’s throats, but that tentative friendship had vanished again with the Ryan drama.

  Oh god, was Ryan going to be here?

  She hadn’t even thought about the possibility, but he was a coworker and family. Which pretty much guaranteed it.

  “Are you good?” Kristen appeared beside her, her gaze knowing. “Like, what stage are you at? Hate each other? Tolerate each other?” She paused. “Or hopefully sleeping together by now?”

  “Kris.”

  “What?” Her friend’s eyes widened with faux innocence.

  “Like kissing a dead fish, remember?”

  Voices at the front of the house cut the conversation short.

  “Oh, looks like people are arriving. Thanks for getting here early to help out, Tori. I’ll go say hello.”

  For the next half hour, people began to pour into the house. Friends and other Wright and Williams’s employees. Ryan had showed up, to her disappointment, but fortunately, he was chatting with everyone and had only given her a quick hello.

  Maybe he’d realized she had no interest in his gross proposal.

  Still no sign of James yet.

  Her gaze caught on a gorgeous, petite Asian woman and she immediately recognized her.

  It was Hannah, James’s ex. She wasn’t alone, but was holding hands with another guy who Tori recognized as well. Eric? She knew he was one of James’s and Blake’s friends.

  She hadn’t been anywhere near Hannah since the wedding. And they’d only exchanged a handful of words ever.

  “Oh, hey, Tori, you know Hannah and Eric, right?” Kristen waved her over, and then her eyes widened. “I mean . . . yeah. Might as well formally introduce you guys.”

  And there it was. The elephant in the room. They might not know each other super-well, but Hannah was definitely aware that Tori was the one James had kissed that night. Which had been the end of their relationship.

  “I’m going to check on Blake out at the grill.” Kristen vanished, her cheeks pink.

  Way to leave me to handle this alone, bestie.

  “Tori, hi.” Hannah’s voice was nothing but bright and warm, though. “I think we met, but it’s been a while.”

  “Hi, yes. Nice to see you again.”

  “Eric?” Hannah turned to the guy next to her and placed a hand on his chest. “Give us a minute?”

  Oh damn, this can’t be good.

  Tori stiffened and braced for it.

  “No problem.” Eric pressed a kiss against Hannah’s mouth, then wandered off.

  Hannah turned to face her. “I just need to clear the air, because I’ve been wanting to do it for a while now.”

  Here we go.

  “I have zero animosity toward you. And maybe it’s weird to thank you, but I probably should,” Hannah said. “If James hadn’t kissed you that night and then fessed up, we might still be stuck in an unhappy relationship. Instead, I’m head over heels in love with one of his best friends.” She lifted her hand to show off the sparkly ring. “Engaged, actually.”

  “I . . . don’t even know how to respond to that,” Tori admitted honestly. “I’m sorry it happened, all the same. And James and I are just friends now.”

  Sort of.

  “Oh, really?” Disappointment flickered in the other woman’s eyes. “Still? You’re not, um, together yet?”

  Okay, this woman was really good at shocking her. And Tori didn’t shock easily. Why was everyone so convinced she and James were going to wind up together?

  “Just friends,” she repeated, maybe a little more vehemently than needed. “If that, even. We’re coworkers.”

  “Okay. I get it.” Hannah smiled, though she didn’t look convinced. “Anyway, you’re best friends with Kris, and she’s my good friend too. I’m sure our paths will cross in the future, and when they do, I’m just hoping there’s no weirdness. Because I’m pretty sure we’ll all end up being friends.”

  It sounded so wild and farfetched, and while she wanted to laugh in dismay, she didn’t. Couldn’t. Because Tori had the gut instinct that Hannah was probably right.

  “You know what? I’d like that.” She glanced beyond Hannah to where Eric was welcoming someone into the house. “And you guys seem very happy together.”

  “We are so happy and in love. Last week, we went to Seaside on the Oregon Coast for spring break—I’m a teacher. Can you believe it rained the entire week? As in Monday through Sunday. So it kept us mostly stuck inside. Which was . . . actually nice.” Hannah blushed faintly. “And it gave us time to sit by the fire and plan our wedding.”

  “That sounds really romantic.”

  Something pricked in the back of her mind. James had been at the coast last weekend too. Hadn’t he told her it was sunny and warm?

  Oregon is a big state, Tori. It could easily rain in one spot and not another.

  There was a commotion at the door, and Hannah turned. “Oh, hey, the guest of honor is here.”

  Tori’s gaze followed hers as James entered the house. He was all smiles and laughter, and way too attractive in dark jeans and a black polo shirt.

  Her pulse quickened, and something fluttered in her belly. And she cursed the stupid reaction that was becoming all too familiar.

  His gaze drifted around the house and then landed on her. Their gazes locked, and an invisible current seemed to run between them before his smile died.

  Of course it did. If there was one thing Tori knew she was good at, it was putting James in a bad mood.

  He stepped fully into the house, allowing the person behind him to enter too.

  A woman in a blue dress stepped inside. James placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered something.

  James had brought a date.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tori’s heart twisted a bit, and she glanced away.

  Why in the hell did that bug her?

  Either way, she wasn’t going to stick around and watch any incoming PDAs.

  She pushed her way through the crowd to the backyard and found Blake grilling burgers.

  He glanced her way and grinned. “How’s it going, Tori?”

  “It’s going.”

  She’d always liked Blake. He was a paramedic for the Seattle Fire Department. And despite looking like he belonged on one of those fire department calendars, he was pretty down-to-earth and just a really decent guy.

  Now and then, Tori gave herself a pat on the back for helping the two crazy kids get together. They really were meant for one another.

  “Are you staying for the after-party?” Blake gestured to the hot tub under the top deck. “Not everyone got the invite. You should feel special.”

  “I am special,” she quipped with a sardonic smile. “And, yeah, I think I will. This party is the only plan I have for tonight. I have a swimsuit in my backpack.”

  “Fantastic. We also have the extra bedrooms all set up if anyone needs to crash here tonight.” He lifted his soda and took a sip. “Too much to drink or whatever.”

  She knew he didn’t drink, but he was understandably cautious on the behalf of those who did.

  “Thanks.”

  Actually, a beer sounded kind of perfect right now. She grabbed one from the cooler and cracked it open. She’d just taken a sip when James stepped outside.

  “It’s the man of the hour,” Blake hollered. “How does it feel to have passed the bar?”

  “Such a relief.”

  James grinned and the two did that whole handshake-backslap thing guys seemed fond of.

  “Oh, hey, watch the burgers for me?” Blake cleared his throat and glanced between Tori and James. “I need to find your sister really quick.”

  “No problem.”

  Once he was gone, it was just James and her. Which is exactly what he’d probably intended. Tori bit the inside of her cheek and made herself count to three to keep it calm and casual.

  “Congratulations on passing.” Did that sound bitchy? She softened her tone. “Seriously, I knew you’d do great this time.”

  He grimaced and shoved his hands into his jeans. “Thank you. I’m so happy to be done. Having that hang over my head for so long made me kind of an asshole.”

  “Oh, was that what it was?” She couldn’t resist teasing him.

  “Part of it.” He pressed the spatula down on a burger, sending grease dropping and sizzling on the charcoal below. “I owe you an apology, Tori.”

  Her breath caught and her pulse quickened.

  What?

  Instead of replying, she waited for him to finish that thought.

  “You’re right. I did paint you as the villain. It was easier to have someone be the scapegoat when my life went to shit.” He glanced over at her and their gazes held. “That someone ended up being you. And I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve it. Any of the judgment, or any of the shitty things I’ve said.”

  The dam inside her splintered, and a wave of emotion soared through the cracks. It took everything she had not to let her eyes fill with tears.

  She was stronger than that.

  Victoria Brown didn’t cry.

  And she’d had plenty of reasons to in her life.

  Finally, when she was ready, she gave a small nod.

  “Thank you for saying that.”

  He nodded, and his gaze drifted to the house, where Hannah and Eric were standing in the kitchen, holding hands.

  Did he still have feelings for his ex?

  “Is it hard to see them together?”

  He blinked, surprise flickering in his eyes. “No. Not anymore. It took me a while to get to this point, but I’m happy for them. Hannah and I work much better as friends. Maybe always did.”

  Really? That was a pretty big change from how he’d felt that day in the tent. It was good to know he’d finally given up chasing the ghost.

  What had changed?

  “On another note, I believe you.” James glanced away and started flipping the burgers. “About not sleeping with Ryan.”

  She didn’t want to be relieved, but it was another weight lifted off her chest.

  “Good.” She sighed. “There is zero interest on my side. Not only is he a little sleazy—sorry, I know he’s your cousin and all—but he’s not my type.”

  “He’s absolutely sleazy.” He paused. “So you have a type?”

  Tori paused, thinking about her Aidan from Comic Con. How much fun he was and the day they’d had. Her whole body warmed and her lips lifted in a soft smile.

  “Yeah, I think I do.”

  “Are you seeing someone?” His words were casual, but she didn’t miss the way his grip tightened on the spatula.

  Did the idea of her dating someone else bother him?

  “No. I mean, I met someone recently, but it didn’t really work out.” She shook Aidan free from her thoughts. “What about you? I see you brought someone to your party?”

  “Oh. Right. Theresa. She’s a friend from law school.”

  Her stomach tightened, and she tried to keep her tone light. “Just a friend?”

  He shrugged. “Potential for more is there. We’ll see.”

  Nope.

  She didn’t want to have this conversation. Because, with that little we’ll see, she realized it did bug her to think of him dating someone else.

  “Cool.” Tori nodded. “Well, I should go find Kris, because she put me on potato salad duty.”

  “Lucky you.”

  She’d taken two steps when he called her name.

  “Hey, Tori?”

  With an inner sigh, she turned around to face him again.

  “If Ryan ever causes you trouble or makes you uncomfortable, you can come to me.”

  “Oh, sure. Thanks, James.”

  “I mean it, okay?” His gaze was solemn, full of the promise of protection.

  “Okay.” She bit her bottom lip. “Thank you.”

  The idea of James feeling protective of her left her a bit weak in the knees.

  She hated it.

  With a curse at the unwanted reaction, she hustled her ass back into the house to find Kristen.

 

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