Chapter Twenty
ZOEY
I swung my hips to the left and right, pumping my fist in the air while I drank my morning coffee. I couldn't believe I'd fallen asleep at nine o'clock, but I felt super refreshed this morning.
Colton was going to drop by soon. I already had a text from him when I woke up. He’d sent it late last night, which meant he went to bed thinking about me.
I was going to show him exactly what I’d planned for him last night.
After drinking my coffee, I put the garters under my pink glittery dress. It wasn't appropriate for the office, more of a clubbing dress, but still, you couldn't see the garters unless I bent down, which I didn't plan to do.
At 9:20 a.m., my doorbell rang. Out of habit, I looked through the peephole, thinking it was Colton, and gasped. Holy shit, my brothers were here.
I took a step back, quickly glancing in the mirror. They’d immediately get suspicious if I opened the door wearing a sexy dress at this time of day. I darted to the bathroom, grabbing my fluffy maroon robe and putting it over me.
Shit. You could still see the top of the dress. It wouldn't do.
The doorbell rang again.
"Just a minute!" I yelled. Running to my bedroom, I took off the dress, putting on the first thing I grabbed, which was a homey cotton dress, then threw the robe back on.
I just had to make sure not to undo the belt of the robe because this dress was so short, you could see my garters. The last thing I did before I opened the door was text Colton.
Zoey: My brothers showed up here unexpectedly. Save yourself and don't come over just yet or they'll eat you alive. I'll text you when they're gone.
I put my phone on the console next to the entrance before flinging the door open. Dean was holding coffee cups, and Alex had bags of delicious treats that smelled amazing.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
Dean was looking behind me. "Are you hiding someone?"
"No," I said very quickly. I mean, I was, but not in the way he thought.
"We brought you breakfast. Thought we'd surprise you."
"Yeah, we haven't caught up in a while," Alex said.
"Come on in." My voice was high-pitched.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Dean asked.
I nodded and welcomed them to the living room.
"Let me grab plates," I said.
I took three from the kitchen, bringing them to the living room and putting them on the coffee table that I also used as a dining table. When I sat down, I pulled my robe tighter so it covered me completely. Why didn’t I take the garters off? My brain wasn’t up to speed this morning.
"Thanks for bringing breakfast.”
"You look well rested," Dean said.
I nodded. "I fell asleep super early last night."
"So, how's work going?" Alex added.
"It's good."
"Whitley treating you all right?"
I swallowed hard. "You could say that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean asked.
I looked at my brothers with a grin. “We’re going out.”
"Why didn't you tell us?" Alex inquired.
I picked a donut out of one of the bags, eating it over my plate. "Because it's still at the beginning."
"We want to meet your boyfriend," Dean said.
I blinked, putting my plate down. "We are not referring to him as my boyfriend, okay?"
"Oh, fucking hell, I knew it. He's taking advantage of you," Alex said, getting to his feet and pacing around. Clearly, he had no interest in the goodies he'd brought. That was fine by me. It meant I had more for myself.
"No, he's not," I said patiently. "I'm very happy with how things are. Look, I'm not one to rush into things." I shrugged.
"I want to talk to him," Alex said.
"You will. In, like, a million years."
I crossed and uncrossed my legs before realizing I wasn't supposed to do that. I quickly covered myself again. Luckily, my brother hadn't noticed.
The doorbell rang just as I was about to reach for a second donut. I froze.
"Are you expecting someone?" Dean asked.
Please let it be the postman. Please let it be the postman.
Did I forget to press Send on my text message?
I swallowed hard, getting up from the couch and heading straight to the door, looking through the peephole. Yep, it was Colton.
This is going to be a bloodbath.
"Who is it?" Alex asked.
"It looks like you’ll get your wish after all," I said. "It's Colton."
I spoke loudly, hoping Colton could hear me from the other side of the door, and then I swung it open. He looked exhausted and was carrying a blue gift bag.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him. "Didn't you get my message?"
His eyebrows shot up. "No, my phone's battery is dead."
"My brothers are here," I said under my breath.
And by here, I meant they were right behind me. They'd teleported from the living room or something.
Colton looked up at them as he stepped inside. Alex's and Dean's eyes fell on the blue bag, which Colton set on the table.
"What’s that?" I asked him.
"A present for you."
I clapped my hands, smiling broadly. "I'll open it later. Colton, this is Alex and Dean."
"Nice to meet both of you," Colton said.
To my relief, they behaved themselves as they exchanged pleasantries. Then we all went to the living room.
"They dropped by with breakfast. Help yourself," I told Colton.
"I'm not hungry," Colton said. "I grabbed something on the way from the office."
I stared at him. "Why were you at the office?"
"I was at the lab until late at night, and I ended up sleeping there."
My mouth dropped open. That would explain why he seemed a bit stiff. I thought it was a reaction to my brothers. I was going to take care of him as soon as we were alone.
"So, Colton, my sister told us you two are dating, but you refuse to be called her boyfriend. Would you mind explaining to us how that's not taking advantage of her?" Alex asked.
I nearly dropped my donut.
"Alex! You can't talk to him like that," I said.
Colton cleared his throat and took my hand, kissing the back of it. "I've got this," he said.
Okay, that wasn't the reaction I was expecting. Not sure what I thought—maybe that he'd bolt or punch my brother.
He looked at the two of them calmly.
"Zoey and I don’t want to put pressure on ourselves.
The second she tells me she wants me to be her boyfriend, I will be more than happy to let the world know.
But until then, we're both good. I understand you want to protect her.
As her brothers, it's your right. But know this: I’d never take advantage of her. "
My brothers blinked.
Alex nodded. "All right, that's a reasonable explanation."
"I can't believe you two," I said. "Why are you behaving like this?”
“We're just looking out for you, Zoey," Dean said in a soft tone.
"I'm not having it," I informed them.
Colton chuckled.
"What?" I asked him.
"I don't have sisters, but if I did, I’d probably act exactly like this too."
"Good to hear that, man," Alex said, his voice warmer than before.
Oh really? That's what it takes for them to warm up to Colton?
On the other hand, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Right, I think we'll catch up another day," Dean said.
Alex looked like he wanted to disagree, but Dean cocked a brow at him.
“Yes, don’t be a stranger, Zoey," Alex added.
"I'm not," I protested, although I’d abandoned them a bit since I'd started spending more time with Colton. I was going to fix that.
Colton and I went with them to the front door. I opened it quickly, not wanting them to change their minds. I loved my brothers dearly, but they were being impossible today.
After they left, I closed the door and grinned at Colton. "I'm really sorry about that."
"You have nothing to be sorry about."
I looked behind him at the bag containing my present. "Can I open this now?"
"Sure, I bought it for you."
"Between you and me, I think showing up with a present helped win my brothers over."
He chuckled. "The only one I wanted to impress was you."
I opened the bag and gasped. "You brought me something from Tiffany's?"
"I passed by and saw it, and I thought it would look great on you."
I glanced at him over my shoulder. "You just bought something on a whim from Tiffany's?"
I untied the knot with trembling fingers, then just as carefully unwrapped the paper. It was so pretty that I didn't want to risk damaging it. I opened the box, admiring the gorgeous necklace. It had five teardrop-shaped stones, each a different color.
"I love it," I said.
"Want me to put it on you?"
"Yes. Thank you, Colton."
Once he'd hooked the clasp, I looked at it in the mirror, undoing the belt of my robe so I could see it better on my skin. "Colton, you don't have to buy me gifts."
He stepped behind me, bringing his mouth to my ear, looking at me in the mirror. "I wanted to give you something that would always remind you of me."
I grinned. "I'll wear it all the time." It was understated, so I could even wear it at the office.
He groaned, taking a step back. "What are you wearing?"
I whirled around, glancing down at myself. Yeah, with my robe open, he could totally see my garters.
I laughed, licking my lips. "Funny story. My plan last night was to come into your office wearing these and seduce you. I felt like we could break a few rules. Actually, my original plan was to seduce you in your lab."
His eyes flashed, and his pupils dilated. "Go on."
"This morning, I put them on because the plan was still to seduce you. I had to improvise when my brothers came, and I covered myself up with the robe."
He groaned again, stepping closer. "So, this is all for me, yes?"
I nodded.
"Say it," he commanded.
"It's all for you, Colton," I whispered.
COLTON
She looked like a goddess with the necklace, the short dress, and the garters.
"You're the most beautiful woman in the world," I told her.
She opened her mouth, and I stepped closer, tilting her head back slightly.
I covered her lips with mine, kissing her slowly, savoring her, losing myself in the way I'd needed to last night.
The work in the lab had been completely unsatisfactory.
For the first time since I could remember, work hadn't provided the relief I sought. This was what I needed.