Chapter 15 #2
This time, when Sarah cried before her, it was with zero shame or inhibition. She had nothing to hide from Luca anymore.
Nigel was home when Sarah returned around noon the next day. After spending the night and morning with a woman she now considered more than a lover, her apprehension at seeing her brother forced a lump down Sarah’s throat.
“Hey,” he said from the kitchen island counter. A cup of coffee steamed before him. At least he was showered and shaved. Sometimes, if Nigel stayed home for the weekend, he forewent both hygiene habits. “Back already?”
Sarah entered but did not shut the front door.
Luca had every intention of following her into her apartment.
She’s also showered, thank God. Although she rather missed the sweaty woman she made love to the night before.
Well, this one smelled better, anyway. There were pros and cons to everything in life, as Nigel could attest.
He instantly recognized the woman from the café. His reaction was also exactly what Sarah anticipated: defensive and unimpressed.
“Luca,” she might as well get this over with, “this is my brother, Nigel. You’ve met.”
Her girlfriend entered the room and extended a hand to Nigel. “Pleasure,” she said with her businesslike demeanor. “Sarah doesn’t stop talking about you.”
Nigel dismissed the hand in favor of shooting his sister a glare. “Care to explain?”
“This is Luca Blackbourne. From the office. We’re, uh, dating.”
Never before had Nigel regarded a woman with so much damned disdain. “Are you the one she’s been seeing in New York?”
“A couple of times.” Luca withdrew the handshake. “We only decided to make it official yesterday. She thought it pertinent that we formally meet.”
“I bet she did. Took her long enough.”
Just because I met Carly after your first date?
He didn’t even bring his soon-to-be girlfriend home to stay the night.
Carly came by long enough to meet Sarah, have a drink, and head back to her own apartment.
Nigel proceeded to spend the rest of the night excitedly talking about the young woman and getting his sister’s opinion on her.
The fact that this was not reciprocated did not sit well with him.
That was the problem with Sarah having her realization that they were not, in fact, the same person with the same experiences.
Can’t tell you all about my sex life. You turn into a protective big brother, whereas I’m only expected to give you mere opinions.
Maybe he would take them to heart. Maybe he would completely disregard what she thought while expecting to be the law of God around the apartment.
Besides, if he knew what I was really up to in New York, he’d have a stroke like Russell’s.
Or maybe he would simply hang his head and pray on her behalf. That was almost worse.
“I’ll probably be coming around more often.
” Bless Luca. She tried so hard to come off friendly and cordial, as if she were saying “To watch movies and cook you guys dinner” instead of “To fuck your sister’s brains out while you’re in the other room.
” Of course, it was okay for Carly to come over for sleepovers.
Damnit, why did her egg have to lack a Y chromosome? Why did Nigel get it? Thanks, Dad.
“This isn’t fair,” Nigel said with the fakest niceties he could put on. “Now my girlfriend is going to think that sophistication is the standard around here.”
“I’ll leave the suits at home if it means I can take your sister out now and then.”
“I highly doubt you’re fishing for my permission, Ms. Blackbourne. But in case you are… the deal is, make my sister cry, and… well, I’m sure you’ve heard about how well I get on with stairwells.”
Only the blackest of humor for the Clayborn twins.
Luca returned to Sarah’s side and gave her a look that insinuated her brother was a true peach.
“I must be going to pick up Victor. I’ll text you later, Sarah.
” Luca kissed her, keeping it somewhat PG for the present audience.
When she left a few minutes later, Sarah turned back to her brother, exasperated.
“Nice girlfriend. From the office? Jesus, Sarah.”
“You know how it is. Can’t date from anywhere else.” Wasn’t that how her last affair with a billionaire began?
“I can only imagine how Ms. Moreau is taking that.”
“She doesn’t know. We’re keeping it that way for now.”
Nigel didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to for Sarah to feel his disapproval.
“Who’s Victor?”
“Her son. She’s divorced.”
“Does she treat you well?”
“Yes. It freaks me out a little.”
That got her brother’s eyes to widen in surprise. “Well… that’s all that really matters. I’ll trust your instincts if you trust mine.”
“What do your instincts say?”
“Not sure yet. I’ll get back to you on that. Still processing that it’s a woman. Granted, a… I don’t know the polite terminology. But she’s a lot more masculine than Ms. Moreau.”
Sarah wanted to thwack her brother on the head, but refrained.
Only because I don’t want to have to take him to the doctor because I got him good.
He would deserve it. Her little brother knew he deserved it, too.
When Luca returned that evening, dressed in more casual clothing that suggested a night in, Sarah was eager for the three of them to have dinner together so Nigel could see what she saw in her new girlfriend.
That didn’t happen. Yet when it became clear Luca would be spending part of the night there, Nigel went to his room. He said nothing in the morning aside from, “Now I know why you’re dating her.”
Sarah had no idea she had been so loud. The only reason she was embarrassed was because this was her brother and not some crusty roommate who made her life hell. Wish he was. Would make some things easier to deal with.
Like shoving him off the island counter stool for being a raunchy jackass.