Candy Ever After (Hot Candy 2)

And a real smile on Jet’s face.

“There’s someone at the door,” Joel goes on, leaning in to breathe on my neck, “asking for you. Could it be your brother? Only problem is, he doesn’t look like you at all, and I’ve left him waiting outside.”

I laugh, startled. “Holden looks like me! We have the same eyes.”

“Oh. You’d better go get him, then, before he leaves.”

Shit. I swat at Joel and head to the door. I throw it open, and yeah, that’s my brother, looking pissed and disheveled on the doorstep.

Joel and Jet have followed me, and now they flank me as if expecting some sort of attack.

Or maybe they’re just curious.

“Hey, little sis.” Holden glares at Joel, then shoots Jet an assessing look. “May I come in, or are you going to leave me outside all night? Take your time. It’s not like it’s cold out here or anything.”

“Holden!” I throw myself at him and he catches me with a quiet snort. My brother isn’t very effusive, but he hugs me back and that means he’s happy to see me. I pull back to gesture at my boys. “This is Jet. And you met Joel.”

“Very briefly,” Holden says and gives Joel a tight-lipped nod.

Oh boy. “Why did you leave him outside?” I demand of Joel who’s shoved his hands in his pockets and is giving me a sheepish look.

“He didn’t say he was your brother. He only asked if you were in.”

Oh God, so very like Holden. “Come on,” I tell my brother and drag him inside to introduce him to Evangeline and Micah. “Next time explain who you are, okay?”

“Who else would I be?” he mutters, with perfect Holden-logic.

Yeah, all right. I give up.

Sometimes he reminds me of Brylee. Only with bigger shoulders and a hairy chest.

Among other things.

“How have you been?” I shove a glass of wine into his hand without asking. “How’s work?”

“Fine.” He sips at the wine. Makes a face. “Why am I drinking this?”

“It’s a party!”

“I don’t drink wine.” He takes another sip. “Ever.”

“Until today.”

He likes that, I guess, because he grins. “Yeah. To you and your boyfriends.” He raises the glass.

“Thank you, big brother.” I’m genuinely happy to see him. “How about you? Any girlfriend or boyfriend in the picture?”

“Nah.” He gives me a small, rueful smile. “Not me.”

As far as I know Holden has never seemed interested in anything but numbers. Nevertheless, his reply makes me a little sad.

“I don’t want you to be lonely,” I tell him.

“I’m not.” His smile brightens. “I have some good friends. Don’t worry about me, sis. I’m happy you’re happy. I came to tell you that.”

Awww shucks…

Before I have a chance to reply that I’ll always worry about him because he’s my brother and I care for him no matter how he tortured me as a child, refusing to play with my dolls and not allowing me to hold karaoke parties on his bed late at night with my friends, the doorbell rings again, heralding the arrival of Brylee, Simone and… a cat.