The Better Brother Read online

  “Whatever,” I said. “But from everything you told me, she was the real deal. Didn’t she deal with all your crap during med school?”

  “You never met her,” Josh said.

  “That’s true. I know it’s none of my business, though speaking from experience good girls don’t come easy. You might regret being such a dick to her next time you see her, and she’s in the arms of another guy.”

  “You’re right. It’s none of your business.”

  I didn’t want to start an argument with Josh. Tonight was about letting loose. I’d been cooped up in my office for weeks, and I needed to relax.

  I needed another damn drink.

  “Another round?” I asked as the bartender passed by. He nodded and quickly poured me another shot of whiskey. Josh got his second beer, and we lapsed into an easy silence.

  My attention was focused elsewhere within seconds. Josh barely noticed as a blonde walked slowly past us, but I couldn’t have missed her. She was gorgeous and clearly on the prowl. As she walked by, I swiveled around on my barstool and watched her.

  She glanced back at me, her blonde hair falling gently over her shoulder. My eyes met hers for a second, and I knew she was the diversion I needed. I came into the city to forget about work, and this girl was the perfect distraction.

  “Here.” I stood up and pulled my wallet from my pocket. Slapping down a few bills, I turned to face Josh. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Where are you going?” Josh asked.

  I nodded at the blonde. She was sitting against the back wall with a few friends surrounding her. They were talking in her ear, but her eyes were still focused on me.

  Josh just rolled his eyes and grabbed his beer. I grinned and slapped his shoulder as I walked away.

  ***

  “Oh fuck.” Her head rolled forward when my fingers found her clit. “Right there. Yes. Oh god!”

  “You like that?” I asked. I slapped her ass, sending vibrations through my dick.

  I was deep inside of her, taking her roughly from behind. My fingers massaged her clit, bringing her closer and closer to the brink. With each moan she released, I pounded on her harder and faster.

  Her perky little ass looked amazing as I gripped her hip with one hand. When she came, it was with an earth-shattering cry of ecstasy that fueled my own desire.

  “Scream for me,” I demanded. “Scream for me again.”

  “Fuck!” Her voice was shrill and needy. “Holy shit! Don’t stop. Please. Don’t stop.”

  Words failed her as pleasure rocked her body. She screamed out my name and collapsed onto the bed. I grinned and pulled out of her just long enough to flip her onto her back.

  “I’m not done with you yet,” I said.

  She giggled and brushed her hair out of her face. I grabbed her legs and pulled her forward, thrusting my hips at the same time. In one motion, I was buried deep inside her all over again. She gasped and moaned with renewed pleasure as I took her harder than before.

  Her tits bounced, and her eyes rolled back in her head. It was mere seconds before she was bordering on yet another orgasm.

  “Michael!” she screamed. “Oh, Michael!”

  I could hear the people in the next room bang on the wall to silence us, but I didn’t care. In my hotel room, nothing mattered but my own release. If little miss blonde wanted to scream her head off, that was what she would do. So long as I got what I needed, my neighboring guests would just have to get over it.

  “That’s it, baby,” I said. I rammed my hips forward and groaned. I was so close that I could feel my cock begin to throb.

  “Yes!” she screamed and came again, her pussy tightening around my dick.

  “Fuck,” I groaned and released myself, hard and fast.

  I gripped her hips and hunched slightly forward, letting the waves of pleasure wash through my body. She was panting beneath me, trying to catch her breath. When I pulled out and fell onto the bed beside her, I could see her knees trembling. The sight brought a sly grin to my lips, but it didn’t last long. Once my needs were satisfied, I just wanted to sleep.

  “Well,” she said simply, after regaining her breath. “I should get out of here.”

  “All right.” I nodded and inwardly praised her for getting the hint. I hated when girls, especially those I picked up in bars, thought that sex meant the beginning of something. Clingy girls annoyed me more than anything else.

  “Thanks for tonight,” she said. She pushed herself out of bed and began searching for her clothes. “That was a lot of fun.”

  “Thank you.” I grinned. “You were fucking amazing.”

  “I try.” She winked and pulled her dress over her head.

  “Here.” I grabbed my phone off the bedside table. “I’ll call you an Uber.”

  “No need,” she said, shaking her head. “I got it.”

  “You’re perfect, you know that?” I asked, laughing softly.

  “That’s what all the boys tell me.”

  She leaned down and placed a quick kiss on my lips.

  “Thanks again,” she said.

  “Bye.”

  I watched her slip out the door and, with a sigh, I rolled onto my side. This was exactly what I needed when I came to Dallas for the weekend. Drinks with my brother and sex with a hot blonde.

  As I drifted off to sleep, I thought coming to Dallas was a great idea.

  ***

  Monday came and went without incident. I went back to work and everything from the weekend was forgotten. The blonde from Friday night slipped my mind completely, and I even forgot about my time with Josh. Once I made it back to Ennis, I threw myself into my work the way I’d done for ten years. My job was my life, and my life was my job. I allowed myself a break from time to time, but I always kept my eye on the prize. I didn’t make my millions by slacking off.

  Tuesday morning brought in some executives from one of the largest oil companies in the country that I’d never met before. I’d been in contact with their employees for years, but they’d never taken the time to sit down and speak with me one-on-one.

  Until now.

  “Good morning,” I said when they walked through the door. I jumped out of my chair and extended my hand. “Thank you for coming.”

  “It’s our pleasure,” Timothy Harrington said. He shook my hand and took a seat.

  “You must be Jonathan,” I said to the man behind him.

  “Nice to meet you, Michael,” Jonathan said.

  “You as well,” I said. “Please, have a seat.”

  I gestured toward the empty chair beside Timothy. Jonathan sat down. Jonathan was Timothy’s son, and they’d been running their company together for over twenty years. They were no-nonsense and extremely professional. I knew their reputation well, and so, I knew exactly how to conduct the meeting.

  “And you can make that work?” Timothy asked after we got further into the discussion.

  “Of course,” I said. “The tools we sell are of the highest quality, but there’s always room for improvement. I won’t hem and haw over a screw here or a screw there. So long as you can commit to exclusively using our tools on your rigs, I’ll make it work however you need.”

  “That’s great to hear,” Jonathan said. “To be honest, we were a little concerned about coming in today.”

  “Why’s that?” I asked, leaning back in my chair and crossing my hands over my chest. It was my power pose. The position I took whenever I needed to seem thoughtful and focused.

  “You’re young,” Timothy said simply.

  I smiled. “I won’t argue with that,” I said. “But my thirtieth birthday has come and gone. I’m not a zygote anymore.”

  “You might as well be,” Timothy said boldly. “I’ve had the run of the oil business for four decades now. Twenty years ago, Jonathan stepped up. We’ve been doing this since you were just a child.”

  “Which is exactly why I trust your judgment,” I said. “While I do have ten years of my own experien
ce, I understand that you’re both miles ahead of me. I look forward to learning from you and growing together.”

  Timothy nodded approvingly, but Jonathan continued to look skeptical. He didn’t know me and, yet, for some reason, he doubted me. I knew it couldn’t just be about my age, but the reason didn’t matter. I vowed internally to prove him wrong. No matter what it took.

  “Well,” Timothy said. “Have your secretary send over the contracts, and we’ll look them over. If everything is in order, we’ll sign and get this deal off the ground.”

  “Sounds great.” I smiled and stood. Timothy and Jonathan each shook my hand before slipping out of my office.

  I stayed on my feet for a few minutes, just in case they came back. When I was sure they were gone, I exhaled sharply and fell back in my chair.

  I knew I had what they needed and that the deal would benefit both of us greatly. I just hoped that Jonathan would be as on board as his father was. I needed to make sure this all went off without a hitch.

  “Marcy?” I called, not bothering to use the intercom. My secretary immediately appeared at my open office door.

  “Yes, Mr. Smart?” she asked.

  “I need you to get those contracts over to the Harringtons today,” I said. “Ideally, I’d like the papers to beat them back to the office.”

  “I’ll fax them immediately,” Marcy said with a nod.

  “Thank you.”

  She hurried out of the office and, within seconds, I heard the familiar buzz of the fax machine. I smiled. This was a good thing. Working with the Harringtons would bring in more money and more customers. I turned to face my computer and, when my phone rang an hour later, I was grateful for the interruption.

  “Hey, Josh,” I said, pressing my phone to my ear.

  “Hey, brother,” Josh said. “Listen, I had a break, and I wanted to check in about this week.”

  I frowned. “This week?”

  “I can’t get together this weekend,” Josh said. “I have that medical conference in Houston, remember?”

  “Oh, right.”

  Josh and I always tried to see each other once a week. With our schedules, it wasn’t always possible, but we made an effort. After my meeting with the Harringtons, I wasn’t thinking about anything else, least of all grabbing a beer with my brother.

  “I can do Thursday night,” Josh said. “Does that work for you?”

  I paused for a few seconds. Thursday night was open for me, but I didn’t know if it would stay that way. With this new deal underway, I knew there was a chance I’d be stuck at the office for days. Maybe even weeks.

  “I’ll have to get back to you,” I said. “I just got started on this new deal, and I’m not sure how busy things will be.”

  “That’s fine,” Josh said. “Just let me know tomorrow, okay?”

  “Will do,” I said. “So, how are things going? You heard from that ex of yours lately?”

  “No,” Josh said. “We haven’t spoken in a month.”

  “Really?” I asked.

  “I told you we broke up,” Josh said impatiently. “Or were you too distracted by that blonde to pay attention?”

  I laughed. “Well, she was pretty distracting.”

  “Are you ever going to grow up?” Josh asked.

  I bit my tongue. It was ironic that, after dumping his girlfriend because he didn’t have time for a relationship, he was lecturing me about maturity.

  “I know you broke up with her,” I said. “I just thought you might have been in touch. Closure and all that shit.”

  “I got my closure,” Josh said. His tone was nonchalant, and it grated on me.

  “And her?” I asked.

  “She’ll get over it,” Josh said. “If she hasn’t already.”

  “I’m sure,” I said. “She’s not missing much.”

  “Fuck off.”

  I laughed, and we finished up the conversation. Josh wasn’t the kind to joke around or appreciate being teased, but I didn’t care. It was fun to screw with him, especially since we missed out on twenty-eight years of each other’s lives.

  “Call me about Thursday,” Josh said as we said goodbye.

  “Will do.”

  I hung up and tossed my cell onto my desk. I groaned and pushed my chair away from my desk. The call from Josh was just the distraction I needed but, now, I had to get back to work, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  “Marcy?” I asked as I stepped out of my office. Marcy was sitting behind her desk, typing away on her keyboard.

  “Yes?” she asked, turning to face me.

  “Anything from the Harringtons?” I asked.

  “They received the contract,” she said with a shrug. “Or, at least, someone in their office did.”

  “No word yet?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “No. I’m sure their lawyers are just going over everything, and they’ll—”

  “Thanks.”

  I didn’t wait for her to finish. I stepped back into my office and pulled the door closed with a snap. Falling into my chair, I knew I had to get this deal in the bag.

  The Harringtons were the best in the business. If they backed out, others would follow. I had two other deals in the works. One with an oil rig up in Alaska and another here in Texas. Both deals would be profitable, but neither came close to what the Harringtons would bring in.

  If they were good businessmen, like I thought, then they knew I was their best option.

  No one outperformed my firm. No one outperformed me.

  Now, it was just a matter of time.

  CHAPTER 3

  Julie

  I hadn’t been in town long before I realized how much I needed a job. I longed to spend my days writing my book, but I knew that wasn’t realistic. My savings would only get me so far and, right now, I had to focus on being practical. At least for a while.

  Early on Wednesday morning, I walked to the little coffee shop I’d raved about to Andrea. It was tiny. There were only a handful of chairs scattered throughout the place, and the counter was barely longer than my bathroom vanity. Still, I loved it. After the first time I stepped foot inside the café, I knew I’d chosen the right place to move.

  “Good morning,” I said as I stepped up to the counter. “Could I get a triple espresso with a splash of milk? Thanks.”

  “You got it.” The barista smiled and immediately went to work making my drink.

  Within a minute, I was holding a white ceramic mug and making my way toward the window. I sat down at a table for two and gazed outside. My laptop was in my bag, but I wanted to wake up a little before I immersed myself in research.

  I sipped my coffee and watched the early risers walk past the coffee shop. A few people stopped inside to pick up something to go, but most walked right past. Even fewer glanced at me as they passed my window. Of those who did, every single person smiled. From what I could tell, Ennis seemed to be a busy place full of kind people. Exactly the sort of town I wanted to be in.

  “Can I get you a refill?” the barista asked from behind the counter. I was the only person in the café now.

  “No,” I said with a smile. “Thank you, though.”

  “What are you up to over there?” she asked.

  “Well,” I said, bending down to pull my laptop from my bag, “hopefully, by the end of today, I’ll have a new job.”

  “Are you new in town?” she asked. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”

  I nodded. “Just moved here.”

  “What kind of job are you looking for?” she asked. “We’re always hiring here.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled again. “But I’m a journalist. I’m hoping to find an online job. Something that will provide a steady income, but still leaves me free to enjoy my time, you know?”

  “Sounds like a dream,” she said, laughing softly.

  “Sometimes, it is,” I said.

  The barista returned to her work cleaning the espresso machine. The silence of the café pressed down
around me, so I pulled my headphones from my bag and stuck them on my laptop. Soon, music filled my ears, and I sank into myself.

  I spent what felt like hours researching online jobs. There were a million things out there, but I wanted to find the perfect position. Andrea was right. My book was too important to me. I’d let two years pass without any serious work on it. I couldn’t keep pushing it to the side, no matter what other things I had going on in my life.

  When I checked the clock on my computer, I realized I’d only been at the café for an hour. It felt much longer and, yet, I still hadn’t found a job I wanted to apply for.

  I took my headphones out of my ears and let the silent buzz overwhelm me again. Looking around, I saw that I was no longer alone in the café. A man was standing in front of the counter. I couldn’t see his face, just his dark hair, and strong build. He immediately caught my attention, but I looked away quickly.

  Today wasn’t about men. I didn’t come to Ennis to find a new boyfriend. I came for a fresh start and for a little freedom.

  “Thanks, Sarah.” The man’s deep voice rang out behind me, but I refused to turn around.

  I stared at my computer screen, barely seeing it. My mind had already begun to wander, and when the man stepped up in front of my table, I felt my entire body react to his presence.

  My shoulders tensed, and my forehead furrowed. I lifted my eyes to his face, prepared to politely tell him to go away. I was busy searching for jobs, and I didn’t need to be distracted.

  “Hey there,” he said.

  My breath caught in my throat when a handsome, well-built guy with dark brown hair stood before me with an air of confidence about him.

  His muscles were outlined by the fitted shirt he wore, and I couldn’t help but notice the bulge in the front of his pants. It seemed like his arms weren’t the only thing he was working out. I wanted to snort at my joke but stopped myself.

  His eyes were an ocean blue color. He was tall, and would easily tower over most people I knew. There was something both familiar and irresistible about him. I couldn’t pinpoint it besides that my stomach fluttered our eyes met.