Double The Ache

“You better know what you’re doing,” he says as he turns and goes back to the dining room table.

“Me too,” I mumble to myself before I join him.

Chapter Seven

Amelia

I cut the sandwich in half and slide it across the counter to my dad.

“You going to tell me why you’re all dolled up now?”

“I’m not all dolled up,” I say defensively, looking down at myself. I’m in yoga pants and a loose-fitting shirt and I’m barefoot.

My dad raises an eyebrow at me. “Your hair and face.”

“Oh.”

My dad didn’t get here until late afternoon. I wanted to keep myself busy, so I took a long bath, then spent extra time on my hair, nails, and makeup. I knew I was going to be cutting it close between my dad being here and the plans I made for tonight. I’ve already picked out an outfit and shoes to wear so I can get dressed quickly when my dad leaves. Apparently I’m not as clever as I thought. I’m not even trying to get dressed up for my date, more like keeping myself busy so I’ll stop wondering about the two men next door.

“I might have a date.” I shrug and now both his eyebrows rise. “I mean, it’s kind of a date. I don’t…it’s nothing special.” I throw my hands up in the air.

Dad smiles at me. “With?”

I pick my phone up off the kitchen counter and pull up the guy’s profile to show him. My dad scans it before handing my phone back to me. “He’s a doctor.”

I nod.

“I don’t like him.”

I roll my eyes. “How can you not like him? You haven’t met him. Aren’t dads supposed to want their daughters to date doctors?”

“A doctor will work too much,” he complains.

“You don’t know that.” I grab a grape from the bowl I put out to go with the sandwich I made my dad. “We’re both into health. The human body,” I add, trying to come up with something. I don’t even know why I’m bothering. It doesn’t really matter because I’m not excited about the date.

“I’m sure he’s into the human body,” my dad says, rolling his eyes, and my cheeks heats.

I throw a grape at him and he laughs.

“Dad! I’ve got to put myself out there. I need to date and meet people.”

“You’ll meet people when you come to work. That’s how most people make friends.”

“I want more than friends, Dad, and I don’t know if it’s wise to date someone I work with.” I can’t stop myself from glancing at my front door. My mind goes straight to Dean and Wes.

“Yeah, maybe that’s not a great idea.” I glance back to my dad and I see his eyes are now on the door. “I didn’t want to bring this up while we were going over work, but since we’re done with all that I’m slipping into dad mode.”

“Uh oh,” I mumble and smile at him.

He takes a bite of his sandwich and I wonder where this is going. “I hear you went out last night with the team. That Dean and Wes were there.”

“Most of the team was there,” I try to play it off.

“Yeah, but Dean and Wes were there.”

“So?”

“They don’t do the party scene.”

“Oh.” I pick up the bowl of grapes and carry it over to the fridge and put it away. I’m not sure what to say to that, but my stomach feels warm. They were telling the truth about what they like to do. They are low-key and I like that.

“Yeah. Oh. Something had to have gotten them to come out and I think I know what that something is.”

I turn to face my dad and his eyes are locked on me.

“Me?” I ask. I want to get it out there and not beat around the bush.

My dad sets his sandwich down. “Yeah, you.” He lets out a deep breath.

“Does that bother you?” I ask. I don’t like the idea of my dad not liking something I’m doing.

“I’m not sure what I think about it.”

“Me either,” I admit.

I don’t tell him that they make me feel things I’ve never felt before. When I found out those girls were their sisters, I never felt such relief in my life. That’s when I really knew I was in trouble.

These men could own me and they act like they want to. I don’t know how to handle one man, let alone two. To top it off, they aren’t normal men. They are freaking giants who are pumped full of testosterone.

I sigh. “Well, nothing’s happened and who knows if anything will. Let’s not worry about something that might not take place.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince my dad or me.

“They went out to the club for you. They were letting the team know you’re off limits.”

I bite my lip, unsure how to take that. I’m conflicted—should I be mad that these two are getting jealous over me, or should I be a little happy about it?