The Right Choice(38)
Author: Carly Phillips

Family was a logical starting point but not a topic she was anxious to delve into yet. The same could be said of Male-Female Relationships, she thought, recalling her night with Mike. She set those piles aside. Friendship seemed like a safe place to begin. From there she would progress to Male-Female Relationships and ultimately Family Relations. The last two topics caused a distinct and unwelcome freezing in the region of her heart.

She sighed. How could she give advice when those areas of her own life were so complicated and unsettled? For years she’d walled off her emotions for fear of facing them. Thanks to Mike, she couldn’t put off facing her personal life much longer. But first she had a deadline to meet. As a professional she had learned to separate her personal feelings from her career. Anything less now and she would lose all objectivity.

She stood and stretched, each cramped muscle protesting her prolonged period of sitting in one position. The rumbling sounds of her stomach echoed in the empty room. This morning’s breakfast had filled the garbage disposal more than it had her stomach. A late lunch would help, she decided, and headed for the kitchen.

The light tap on the side door startled her. This exit led not to the main drive but to the beach. She wasn’t expecting company, and Mike wouldn’t be so formal as to knock before announcing his presence. Pulling back the curtains, she found herself face-to- face with her ex-fiancé. He’d given her no warning and she found herself unprepared for any sort of confrontation.

“It was a long drive, Carly. Will you let me in?”

Stunned, she stared through the glass. “Sure.” She opened the door and Peter walked into the kitchen. Dark circles surrounded his eyes and razor stubble covered his normally clean-shaven cheeks. He looked tired, she realized. And a lot more casual than the formality she’d grown accustomed to seeing. She took in his rumpled khaki chinos and a burgundy T-shirt and shook her head. She barely recognized him.

“This was a long drive.” And he could have just used the telephone. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

He ran a hand through his neatly trimmed hair.

“I needed to straighten out a few things.” His gaze traveled the length of her body.

Too late she remembered that she wore nothing but the blue oxford shirt and a pair of satin bikinis. After her shower, the button-down had seemed like the most comfortable item of clothing to work in. And, she grudgingly admitted, after the morning’s painful revelations, she took comfort in something that smelled so much like Mike.

Embarrassed by her lack of clothing, she retreated behind the center island and immediately felt more protected. “Everything already makes sense to me, so you wasted the trip.” She didn’t want to get into a discussion of why he’d felt the need to cheat on her with Regina. She already knew and didn’t need to hear how she’d fallen short with him in the romance department.

Peter cleared his throat. “I think you have the wrong impression.” He shook his head. “No, you probably have the right impression.” He let out a groan.

“Let’s make this easy. I’ve done a lot of thinking since I’ve been here,” Carly said. “We’re both at fault. I certainly shouldn’t have given in at every turn or let you think I was happy when I wasn’t.”

“And I shouldn’t have…” He flushed, a deep red against pale skin.

“No, you shouldn’t have.” But she couldn’t suppress a laugh. She much preferred being around Peter now that they were no longer engaged.

“I wanted to apologize in person. We were good friends once.”

“I know.” Her voice softened. “And I hope we will be again. We lost that somewhere along the line.”

He shoved a hand into his front pocket and started across the kitchen. “We were good together for a while, and then… I stopped thinking about you and took advantage. Thanks for sticking up for me with Roger.”

At least he’d admitted his mistakes. And maybe even learned from them. He deserved to be happy and she wished him the best, as long as it wasn’t with her. “You’re a good attorney. You never needed me as leverage.”

He stepped up beside her.

“Nothing’s happened to change your position… has it?” she asked, wondering if her father had acted out of belated parental concern.

“Actually, yes.”

“I’m sorry. My father promised he’d be fair.”

Peter grinned. “He was. You’re looking at the newest litigation partner.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great news.”

His smile never reached his eyes. Instead he brushed a strand of hair off her cheek. “I never meant to hurt you.” His hand came to rest on her shoulder.

She’d liked Peter, and he wasn’t the only one who’d made mistakes. “I know that.”

“Work time’s over, Carly. Time for a little fun.” Mike’s deep chuckle and footsteps reverberated throughout the small house.

The sounds stopped abruptly. “I had no idea we had company.”

“Mike…”

“I know you’re my brother and she’s your ex, but I’d appreciate it if you’d take your hands off her.” The cool control in Mike’s voice startled her.

Peter obeyed his command, releasing her immediately. No doubt it was the shock of Mike’s sudden appearance that had him responding so quickly. Taking advantage, she took a few steps backward.

Peter’s gaze ping-ponged from Carly to his brother. Mike stood, arms crossed over his bare chest. Fresh from a shower, his hair was damp and his jeans were zipped but unbuttoned. He looked settled and comfortable, a man who had a rightful place in her home.

The intimacy of the situation couldn’t have escaped Peter. “Well,” he said, “I see I’m not the only one who was fooled.” The hurt in his voice was unmistakable. “While I was working, giving you free rein over my fiancée, you took advantage.” He glared at his brother.

“It wasn’t like that,” Carly said, hoping to prevent irreparable harm between Mike and Peter.

“Are you telling me looks are deceiving?” He pinned her in place with a narrow stare.

“Yes.” Carly glanced down at her bare legs. “I mean no.” She threw up her hands in despair. “Nothing happened until after I got up here.”

Peter laughed aloud. “I’m not that big a fool. At least you could have been honest about why you broke up with me.” He turned toward Mike. “And you…”