~ Graham ~
Graham spent the time at his brother’s house mulling over Genevieve’s reaction, barely listening to Dane’s chatter about the day’s big bust – the one that resulted in him getting Genevieve’s merchandise back.
He was seeing her a little more clearly now. When things got tough or uncomfortable she fled. It happened in Vegas and happened again at his brother’s place. Dane still didn’t know he’d been seeing her, but had confessed to Graham that he’d gone to see her the previous week.
According to him, nothing had gone on between them aside from a brief kiss and Graham believed him. His brother had no reason to lie.
However, he suspected she did have some type of feelings toward his brother. He just needed to find out from her just what those feelings were. Had it not been midnight he would have broken his no pop-in rule and gone to see her, but that could wait until tomorrow. Perhaps it was for the best, it would give them both time to think. It would be apparent to her as it now was to him that if she were to be with either of them, the relationship would have to be out in the open.
Full disclosure. Especially considering the past the three of them shared – regardless of how brief.
He turned the corner and as he drove down his street, he noticed a car already parked in his driveway. As he drew closer, it became clear it was Genevieve’s car. He wasn’t expecting to see her tonight, but he also hadn’t bought her lame excuse to leave either.
Had she been sitting in his driveway all night waiting for him to return home?
Slowing, he pulled into his driveway, parking next to her. She waited until he was out of his car and rounding his vehicle before getting out of hers.
“Hey,” she said as she approached, avoiding his gaze.
“What are you doing here Ginny?”
She walked up to him and stopped. She didn’t make an attempt to give him a hug or any kind of greeting – that worried him. She lifted her gaze from the area between their feet to meet his and he saw anxiety in her eyes.
He sighed, his mood softening. Thrusting his hand into his hair, he motioned toward the house. “Come on in, Ginny, and we can talk.”
A tight smile formed on her lips. “All right.”
He led her up the front steps and quickly unlocked the door. Stepping back, he allowed her to enter before him.
“This is a beautiful house.”
“I like the older feel to it.”
“How old is it?”
“I believe it was built in 1915. And of course remodeled over the years and upgraded. But it has many of the original features.” The first room was the living room with cathedral ceilings and a glass chandelier in the center of the ceiling. The chandelier was easily one of the most striking features of the room, in his opinion.
“It’s beautiful.” Her eyes scanned the room as she did a 360-degree circle in the center. “It’s got so much character.”
Graham shrugged off his jacket, hung it on the coat rack and then helped her out of hers, placing it beside his. “So come on and sit down and let’s have a talk.”
She perched herself on the edge of the sofa and looked down at her hands, which were clasped in her lap. “I have to tell you something.”
“All right.” Pulling his gun from its holster, he undid his belt and placed it onto the maple coffee table in front of them and then sat down next to her. “What’s on your mind?”
“I’ve been seeing Dane.”
He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. “All right. And?”
She chewed at her lower lip, refusing to look over at him. He could see the distress in her expression. It made him want to hold her, stroke her hair and tell her it would be okay. But he didn’t know. He wouldn’t know until she finished what she’d come to see him to say.
“I’ve seen him a couple times since he showed up at the store and tonight he kissed me.” She frowned. “Or I kissed him. I’m not sure who or why. It just happened.”
“You’re attracted to him.” Graham gritted his teeth. Of course she was attracted to Dane, he was the one who had picked her up in the first place. He was his identical twin for fuck sakes. Of course she would be.
She turned to face him, her eyes pleading with him. “He’s so much like you. And so different at the same time. And after what happened with the three of us, it gets… confusing.”
He turned as well so they were eye to eye. “I understand this is a hard situation. It’s hard for me too. Do you think I like knowing my brother had you first? And that at any moment he could close his eyes and remember how you feel naked against him? But, I’m dealing with it because I want to be with you.”
A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“If you want to be with me Ginny, then you need to talk to Dane and let him know there can’t be anything between you two. You can’t be on the fence, you need to make a decision. Had it been anyone else we wouldn’t be having this conversation, but considering the circumstances I’m willing to be flexible – until now.”
~ Genevieve ~
Oh, thank God! She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but held herself back. She’d driven around Staten Island for a couple of hours after leaving Dane’s house, trying to get her thoughts together before ultimately parking in his yard and waiting for him to come home. She was grateful she’d been to his house a few days ago and remembered the address.
“So you’re not angry?”
A hint of a smile touched his lips. “Oh yeah. Furious, but I’ve begun to care for you and I’m not willing to let you go unless you decide I’m not the one you want. But you need to decide right here, right now. I won’t share you with my brother.” He took her hands in his and it felt so good, it felt supportive and reassuring. A smirk touched his lips. “You can’t have us both.”
“I want you, Graham. Only you. I’m sorry, I… I don’t –”
He slipped a hand to the back of her head and urged her forward. She trembled at his touch, leaning in and swiping her lips across his. “I’m sorry,” she murmured against his lips.
“It’s okay. I’m just glad this is settled,” he whispered back. “Just stop talking for a minute and kiss me already.”
Smiling, she allowed him to fully capture her lips, kissing her with such intensity her entire body ignited with desire. A burden had been lifted. Her decision was made and she could now finally give herself fully to the man she wanted. The man, she now realized, she was supposed to be with from the start.