The Project

CHAPTER23

“Do you think this is a good idea?” came the question that had Andi biting back a sigh as she reluctantly opened her eyes to find her brother leaning back against the kitchen counter, taking a sip of coffee as he waited for an answer that he probably wasn’t going to like.

“What are you doing here?” she asked instead because she honestly wasn’t sure how to answer him, not when she wasn’t sure what “this” was. She just knew that she didn’t want it to stop.

She’d spent the last two days with Devyn, unable to get enough of him, and now, she had no idea where he was, Andi realized as she turned her head and found a folded piece of paper on the pillow next to her. Frowning, she picked it up and opened it, noting the familiar handwriting as she read the words, “Stay out of trouble.”

“Wondering why you’re not at work,” Drew said, sighing heavily as he dropped down on the bed next to her, making her frown.

“Because I’d planned on working from home this week since Devyn wasn’t supposed to be back until Wednesday,” Andi said, wondering why Ben never stopped by Friday night to pick up the files as she moved to throw the covers aside only to realize something very important.

She was naked.

Clearing her throat, she said, “I’m going to need you to leave now.”

“And I’m going to need some answers,” Drew said with a satisfied sigh as he took another sip of coffee.

“I really need to use the bathroom,” Andi said, which unfortunately for her, was quickly becoming a problem.

“And I really need some answers,” her brother drawled, not really looking all that concerned as she lay there, wondering why Devyn didn’t wake her before he left.

“It’s none of your business?” she said, hoping that it would be enough to get him to leave.

“That’s probably true, but I’m still gonna need you to answer me anyway,” Drew said with a heartfelt sigh as he took another sip of coffee while she lay there, contemplating shoving a pillow over his face and-

“As soon as I regain consciousness, we’ll pick up where we left off,” he said, correctly guessing that her thoughts had turned homicidal, but then again, she most likely gave it away with the way that she was glaring at him.

“Fine. What do you want to know?” Andi demanded, securing the covers around herself as she told herself that Devyn didn’t wake her up only because he knew that she was exhausted and-

She really was pathetic.

“Do you really think that this is a good idea?” Drew murmured conversationally as though they had all the time in the world for this conversation.

“Did I mention that I really need to use the bathroom?” she asked, sending the bathroom a hopeful look.

“Then you should probably answer quickly,” he said, not really looking all that concerned that she was about to create a memory that neither one of them would ever forget.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Andi admitted with a glare. “Are you happy now?”

“Mildly,” Drew murmured around a sip of coffee. “He’s your boss, Andi.”

“I’m well aware of that,” she said, deciding that she’d waited long enough.

Keeping hold of the sheet with one hand, Andi reached over and-

“I guess we can move on to the next stage of the interrogation,” Drew said, sounding thoughtful from where he now lounged on the floor while Andi quickly wrapped the sheet around herself and rushed to the bathroom.

“Like the part where you explain why it’s any of your business what I do,” Andi said as she made quick use of the bathroom.

“Does Uncle Shawn know about him yet?” came the question that had her wincing as she turned on the shower.

“He doesn’t need to know,” she said, hoping that would be enough to get him to drop it.

“And why is that exactly?” Drew asked, making her sigh as she dropped the sheet on the bathroom floor and-

“Because I have no idea what this is,” Andi admitted even as she had to admit that she definitely wanted to kiss Devyn again.

For most of her life, she’d felt lost, but when she was in Devyn’s arms, she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be and that scared her. Every time she let herself get close to someone…

She didn’t want to find out just how much it would hurt to lose Devyn, Andi thought as she finished her shower and grabbed a towel. Not really in a mood to get interrogated by her brother today, Andi took her time drying her hair and brushing it before brushing her teeth, applying lotion to her skin and once she was done, she wrapped the towel around herself and bit back a sigh as she opened the bathroom door and-

“We should probably clear a few things up,” came the softly murmured words that had her heart skipping a beat as she looked up to find Devyn reclining on her bed.

“What are you doing here?” Andi asked even as she couldn’t help but wonder where Drew was.

“Wanted to see you,” Devyn murmured softly as he held his hand out to her.

“And my brother?” Andi asked, quickly crossing the room and taking his hand as she climbed onto the bed and settled on his lap.

“Suggested that I make sure that you knew just how much you meant to me,” Devyn said as he cupped her face in his hands and leaned in, slowly brushing his lips against hers. “This isn’t a game to me, Andi.”

“Then, what is this?” she found herself asking as Devyn leaned back against the pillows with a soft sigh as he took her hands in his and entwined their fingers.

“I don’t know what this is, Andi, but I know that I don’t want to stop,” Devyn said as he gently caressed the back of her hands with his thumbs.

“Fair enough,” Andi murmured as she watched his thumbs move over her skin. “You left without saying goodbye this morning.”

“Did you miss me?” Devyn asked as he pulled her closer.