He shook his head, his eyes soft. “I love the challenge,” he murmured. “Except for when it comes to my family. I don’t want to go, and I’m almost certain you don’t want to go either. So why put ourselves through it?”
Becca sat back on her heels, studying him carefully. “I’m going whether you are or not.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose between his finger and his thumb, grimacing as if he was in pain. “Becca…”
“What?”
“Why can’t we just stay here?”
“You know why. Because it’s your mom’s birthday and she’ll be hurt if we don’t go. This is what families do, Daniel. They celebrate together. They have fun. I’m happy to go see your mom, I like her.”
He stared back at her, his brows knitting together. “Okay.” He exhaled heavily. “The truth is, I don’t want to go because Lawrence and Melissa will be there.” His voice was low. “My mother has this stupid idea that we’re becoming closer as a family. She thinks that since we were civil at the ball and they agreed to the single malt that we can play happy family. And I don’t want to.”
His words felt like a punch to her gut. “Why?” she asked, ignoring the tremors in her voice. “Why would you avoid them?”
“Because they’re old history. And I’m not interested in getting closer to Lawrence. We share blood, but nothing else.”
That wasn’t quite true. They also had Melissa in common. The thought made her throat feel tight.
“Are you still in love with Melissa?” she asked, wincing as his expression darkened.
“What kind of question is that?” he snapped. “Of course I’m not.”
His answer didn’t feel like the salve she’d hoped it would be. Her body still felt on edge. Like she was on a boat constantly tilting to the side. “Then why avoid them? If they mean nothing to you.”
“Because Lawrence enjoys making people feel bad. I saw the way you looked when you were dancing with him. You didn’t enjoy it and neither did I. He’s been like this as long as I can remember. He’s competitive and nasty, the way our father made him. And I don’t want you being exposed to him more than you have to.”
“I’m a big girl,” she reminded him, her voice soft. “I can deal with your brother. It’s you I find hard to understand. I just wish you’d talk to me, open up. Tell me what it is that makes you so uncomfortable around them.”
He slid the laptop onto the table beside the sofa, taking her hand and pulling her on top of him, until her knees were straddling his thighs. She could feel the hard muscles of him against her soft behind, as he brushed the hair from her face.
“It’s old history,” he told her, leaning forward to kiss her, his lips warm and demanding. “They’re the past. We’re the future. I don’t want to talk about them. I’m more interested in us.”
She knew he was avoiding her question, but his lips and hands were so damn teasing. He knew exactly where to kiss her so she’d forget every thought in her head. Exactly where to touch her until her body began to sing.
Her head fell back as he kissed his way down her throat, his hand pushing up her blouse so he could trace the circle of her breasts. He hardened against her, the thick ridge of him digging into her exactly where she needed him. Her body began to move against him, making him groan.
Somehow, she managed to form a coherent thought. Cupping his rough jaw with her hand, she lifted his face to kiss him again, breathing in his masculine scent.
“Just say yes,” she whispered, undulating against him again.
“To what?” His voice was thick. He grabbed her hips with his hands, fingers digging into her soft flesh as he pulled her closer against him.
“Take me to your mom’s birthday.” She gasped as he slid his hand inside her bra.
“You’re a jezebel, using your body against me,” he muttered, sliding his thumb across her nipple. The sensation made her body jerk against him, making him harder.
“Yeah.” Her words were as thin as gossamer. “But isn’t it worth it?”
He captured her lips with his mouth, sliding his tongue against hers, kissing her until she was breathless.
“I’ll take you to the dinner,” he said, when their lips parted. “But you’ll owe me. Big time.”
She smiled, pressing her chest to his, hearing him groan as she slid against him. “Of course,” she whispered, kissing his jaw with soft, feathery caresses. “And I look forward to repaying.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Her Bluetooth connected and her phone rang out over the stereo speakers, Daniel’s name flashing across the display screen on the front of her car. Becca accepted the call, smiling as Daniel’s voice echoed through the speakers.