Falling for the Brother

He wasn’t out to ruin her. Or anyone. But he wanted answers.

“I also need to speak with you.” His time was limited. Twelve days and ticking. He had to get to the truth. Anything else driving the need to meet with her in person was irrelevant.

“I turned the third bedroom in our townhome into a minigym so I can keep up with my physical conditioning without taking time from Brianna. I work out several nights a week and I’ve already missed one of them. If you’d like to join me in the gym, you’re welcome to do so.”

She’d just invited him into her home? To work out?

“What are the chances Brianna would hear us and wake up?”

“Slim to none. Her bedroom is upstairs beside mine. The gym is downstairs, in the den. Why?”

“She’s four. I don’t think it’s a good idea if she knows I’m in town. Just in case she sees or speaks with her father.”

“I’m thinking it’s best that I find a way to keep them apart,” she said. “She’s going to mention Miriam to him otherwise. But as far as you’re concerned, she’s not going to know who you are, Mason. You never see her.”

And it wasn’t like his brother kept pictures of him around the place. Even the one his grandmother used have on the mantel in the living room disappeared when Bruce moved in.

His niece had no idea he was alive. He’d figured as much. Funny how a guy could care so much and be nonexistent at the same time.

“I put her to bed between seven thirty and eight. Give us until nine, since she might take a while to get to sleep.”

He had all night. And he had to talk to her.

If he only had a minute, and no need to meet with her, he’d still go. He wanted to see where she lived. To be in her home. Just so he’d no longer have a reason to wonder where she was and how she was doing.

“What equipment do you have?” If he was going there, he might as well make use of the gym.

Or rather, he should definitely make use of the equipment. He needed to spend time with her. To observe. And to ask her some questions. Not to get turned on.

“I have a dual-cable home gym—up to five hundred pounds, plus an elliptical trainer and a treadmill.”

“I’ll be there at nine.”

Starting his vehicle, he backed out of the lot as she hung up. He’d need dinner. And had to stop somewhere to purchase exercise wear. O’Brien had left a message while he was talking to Harper, letting him know Bruce was on the job and accounted for.

Mason would see Harper that night, Gram in the morning, and head back to Albina with time to spare.

The investigation was going as planned.

CHAPTER TWELVE

HARPER RECOGNIZED TROUBLE the second Mason, in black basketball shorts and a white T-shirt, stepped into her home. She’d thought expending physical energy and mental concentration in the gym would distract her from lusting after him.

She’d neglected to consider the attire factor—other than to choose baggy sweats and a too-big T-shirt for herself, rather than the leggings and short bra top she usually wore to work out. She’d turned up the air so she didn’t get too hot.

There was no air conditioner that could dissipate the heat that Mason gave off. It was that way five years ago, too. What had been left of her alcohol-infused brain had known it was wrong to sleep with her fiancé’s brother even though for those hours, she’d considered the engagement over. She’d returned the ring. She’d also been very aware that Bruce had refused to accept her declaration and had said he’d hold on to the ring for her. But her body’s message had been much louder than anything her head was telling her.

She’d blamed it on the alcohol.

She’d had nothing but water this evening.

Her plan to take him straight to the gym room was thwarted when he stopped to look over the easel with painted and colored artwork in a corner of the living room, a corner that was decorated like a children’s playroom. It was neat, but filled with colorful child-sized furniture and a toy box, plus shelves with books and toys. And the easel.

“Wow,” he said, looking at the picture Brie had drawn while Harper cooked some macaroni and cheese with peas in it for dinner. Her daughter loved peas. “She did this herself?”