Chapter Sixteen
Kristen only had time to drag the comforter over her body—unfortunately not over her head—before her brother stepped into the open doorway.
God, she really wished she could’ve hidden herself completely in time.
The silence was deafening, but her heart pounded so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it.
“Oh, hey.” She tried to keep her tone bright.
Just pretend this is totally normal. Being naked in the same room as his best friend.
James’s gaze went briefly to Kristen, then swept to Blake where it stayed. “What the fuck?”
Blake’s jaw clenched. “You should’ve knocked.”
“Your truck was out front, and you weren’t answering my texts.”
Holy crap. Her brother was turning red. He was beyond angry.
She didn’t think he’d be thrilled on the off chance he found out, but this level of fury seemed unwarranted.
Why was her brother here in the first place? He’d just walked into Blake’s apartment like he owned it.
Damn, this was a situation she’d hoped to never be in. Or at least with more clothes on if it happened. James wasn’t supposed to have ever found out.
“I’d say this isn’t what it looks like, but it is.” Clearing her throat, she tried to diffuse the tension with some humor. “It’s no big deal. We’re both adults—”
He didn’t let her finish but strode toward Blake. “I asked you to not let her do anything stupid, not fuck her.”
Blake’s head snapped to the side with the blow from her brother’s fist. The sudden violence warred with the words looping in her head.
I asked you to not let her do anything stupid, not fuck her.
Suddenly light headed, she tried to mentally process that again.
“What?” She shook her head, her gaze sliding to Blake.
Both men ignored her.
“There’s not a woman on the planet you can’t seduce,” James ground out. “Why go after Kristen? Did hearing about her stupid plan make it too big of a temptation?”
The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. James had figured out her plan. How? Did it really even matter? The bottom line was James and Blake had worked together to keep her out of what they’d perceived as trouble.
“Actually, I did the seducing.” Her tone was surprisingly calm, even as her stomach sank to her feet. She swung her attention to Blake. “Is it true? You really were only babysitting me because my brother asked you to?”
He didn’t need to answer because the regret in his eyes was enough.
“Put some clothes on. Both of you.” James shook his head in disgust and left the room.
Blake closed the door and grabbed his jeans, tugging them on over his boxers.
Kristen, equally in a hurry to get dressed as she processed it all, threw her clothes back on while thinking, Screw James, throwing orders around like a drill sergeant.
Blake pulled on a shirt. “He overheard you talking to Tori at the party about your plan.”
“Ah.” She clenched her teeth. “But I asked you if he’d found out, and you…” It sank in. “Clearly lied about that, too.”
More guilt flittered across his face. “This is more complicated than it seems.”