“I’m happy to talk about the kissing.”
Her stomach did a little tumble. “I’m not kidding, Derrick.”
“Trust me.”
He made it sound so easy, but he had no idea. Her father used to say that, too. We’ll be fine, Ellie. This time the plan will work. You won’t have to switch schools. Then he broke the promises almost as quickly as he made them.
“You’ve been in charge and getting your way for too long.” She’d thought that from the first minute she’d met him and she still believed that was true.
“I have a feeling that’s about to change.”
Sounds as if he was finally getting it. “Count on it.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The DC Insider: There is a lot happening in the Jameson household these days. Middle brother and perennial black sheep, Spencer, has returned to the nest. Does that mean baby brother Carter is on his way? Bigger question: if the family is coming into town, do Derrick and Ellie have big news to share?
Derrick couldn’t fight off the very strong feeling he’d screwed things up tonight. He didn’t regret kissing Ellie, touching her. Hell, he’d been five seconds away from slipping her underwear off and carrying her upstairs when Spence showed up.
Them in bed. Sex. All that was going to happen. When he’d first met her, he’d thought he could keep the attraction separate, but since it sparked both ways, why fight it? They could enjoy each other, help each other with their family issues and have a good time. Win, win.
The only problem, as usual, came from his father. Those damn requirements of his. The ones that stood between Derrick and the business he’d always wanted.
In Derrick’s head it made sense to hide from Ellie the fact that he could lose the business. Why give her that much power over him? It also made sense to hide the fake engagement part from Spence and Carter, because they would never agree with his decision to make that choice.
But all the half-truths, the partial information, meant lying to the people around him. He’d never out-and-out deceived his brothers before. Sure, when they were younger, he’d downplayed their father’s crappy actions and how poorly he’d treated their mom before she died. What kind of man went to his wife’s deathbed and asked for a divorce so he could marry his mistress sooner?
This was different. He wasn’t protecting them as much as trying to handle everything his own way without interference. He worried that made him the asshole this time.
“So.” Spence made the word last for three syllables. “I think you left something out of our weekly phone call. We talked about Dad’s stupid business agreement, but I don’t remember you mentioning Ellie.”
That call was a tradition Derrick would not let die. Their father had tried to drive the brothers apart by making them compete over everything from sports to his affection. Derrick refused to let the bond break. He hadn’t always been a great brother. At times he’d outright failed at keeping the family running, but Carter and Spence mattered to him and losing them was not an option. Ever.
They were both welcome in his house anytime. He’d bought a five bedroom so they’d have a place to stay when they were in town. Carter rarely came in from the West Coast. Not since the huge falling-out with their father over the running of the family estate in Virginia—the Jameson property no Jameson currently lived in.
Spence had been bouncing around from place to place, but stopped in for a few days now and then. His timing kind of sucked this time because Ellie was moving in and the fake engagement was moving forward. Having Spence there and not telling him the whole story would only make that all the more awkward.
“Ellie was a surprise.” Derrick turned the words over in his head and decided that might be the most truthful statement he’d ever made.
“Women are like that.”
Derrick leaned against the sink, facing Spence. “Not for me. Not usually.”
“So, let me get this straight.” Spence balanced his palms on the counter behind him. “Right now you’re dealing with Dad and the business. He’s insisting you bring Carter and me home or he’ll sell it out from under you.”
That was the biggest of the moving parts. “About that—”
“Wait, I’m not done.” Spence paused, as if he needed more drama here. “Some kid has launched a campaign to paint you as a…what, bad boss? And on top of that and all the work you’re putting in you found time to date. And not just date, to seriously date for the first time in…ever, right?”
That about summed it up. “Yes.”
“Anything else I should know? Like maybe you invented something or cured cancer while I was gone.”