The Right Choice(39)
Author: Carly Phillips

Mike stepped toward his brother. “She’s telling the truth.”

“And why should I believe you?”

Mike groaned.

“Because he’s your brother,” Carly said. “And the only real family you have.”

“Which is why he should have kept his damn hands to himself.”

Carly drew a controlling breath. Until Mike, she had thought the devastating results of her father’s affair spoiled the possibility of her enjoying a passionate, emotional relationship. He’d begun to make her believe otherwise, but she saw now that she had been right all along.

She had succumbed to her feelings for Mike. They had crossed the line, and if he had jeopardized his fraternal relationship as a result she would never forgive herself.

“Talk,” she pleaded, attempting to reach both brothers. “You’re family. Nothing is more important than that. Especially not me.” She gave Mike a lingering glance before walking out the door.

* * *

Mike watched Carly’s retreating form. He was glad she had the sense to leave before that shirt lifted any higher. With one hand, he gave his brother a shove between the shoulder blades and pointed toward the kitchen table and chairs. “Sit.”

Peter glared before answering. “I’m going. Relax,” he muttered.

Mike settled himself in a chair and waited for Peter to join him, using the time to pull himself together. His brother had every right to feel angry, hurt and betrayed.

Mike’s irrational jealousy the moment he’d seen Peter’s hand on Carly’s shoulder had only made a bad situation worse. He glanced at his brother. “She’s right, you know.”

“About what?”

“We’re brothers,” Mike said.

“That sure as hell didn’t stop you from making a move,” Peter said.

Mike slammed his hand on the table. “It sure as hell did!”

Stunned silence followed Mike’s statement. He cursed his lack of tact, knowing he’d given his brother more information than he was probably ready to handle. Having an affair with another woman or not, ego was involved here as well as trust.

“You said you came up here on assignment.” Peter waited.

Mike assumed his brother expected him to dispute that fact. “I am on assignment. Finished this morning.” But Mike wasn’t about to admit he’d handpicked the location of the assignment or the reason for his choice. “Look, Pete…”

“Forget it. From where I sit, things are pretty damn obvious. I’m just amazed I didn’t see it sooner.” Pete leaned back in his seat, not defeated but accepting.

“See what?”

“You really care for her.” He shook his head, his expression one of pure amazement. “And all this time I thought you were doing me a favor by hanging around her and helping her out.”

“Of course I care about her, Pete.” But he wasn’t surprised that his brother hadn’t known it. “You have tunnel vision. What’s important to you and nothing else.”

Pete had the grace to look ashamed. “I need to work on that.”

Mike burst out laughing. He was surprised that his brother had bothered to drive up here, or to look deeper than his ego now. “Don’t worry. There’s hope for you.”

Pete shot him a nasty glare. “Well, at least she’s got you.”

Mike didn’t touch that statement because it would open up a discussion he didn’t want to have with his brother. Whatever he felt for Carly, the emotion didn’t change the course of his future. He couldn’t expect her to rely on him if he couldn’t rely on himself or the abilities he’d always trusted until recently. Nor could he expect her to accept a man who lived a transient life, one at odds with the stability she so obviously craved.

He looked at Peter. “If you’d really loved her or were marrying her for the right reasons, I’d never have… Hell, I should never have gotten involved anyway,” he muttered.

Pete’s smile was grim. “Neither one of us ever claimed to be a saint.”

“But I should have come clean with you once she broke things off.” But how could Mike have explained something to his brother that he hadn’t understood himself? Things he still didn’t have a firm grip on understanding.

“You know, I had a lot on my mind… the partnership decision, Regina, the ending of the engagement…”

Mike didn’t miss the order of those things but chose to remain silent.

“You’re right. You should have come clean. But you know something? It wouldn’t have changed a damn thing. You’d have done what you wanted anyway. You always do.” Pete laughed, breaking any lingering tension.

Mike relaxed. He and Pete would be fine. Carly was another story.

* * *

Mike jogged down to the beach and watched as Carly sat on the sand, gazing out at the waves crashing against the sandy shore. A light breeze blew her hair around her face. She had attempted to tie it back with a bandanna, but the wind had destroyed the effort. As he neared the water, the smell of salt air tickled his nose. He’d miss the beach, he realized with a pang of regret.

He’d miss a lot of things. “Carly.”

She turned at the sound of her name. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

She didn’t smile. “Well, how’d it go?”

“Everything’s fine. Back to normal.”

She let out a sigh of obvious relief. “He came to apologize, and you know, I believe he meant it.”

Mike sat down next to her.

“So you’re on speaking terms again. I’d never forgive myself for coming between brothers.”

“You are something special, sweetheart.”

She blushed. Her face turned a shade deeper than the lobsters they’d shared. “Did I ever mention how much I like it when you blush?”

She laid her chin on bent knees. “You have a way of doing that to me.”

“If you’re talking about last night, I’d love to do it again.” His hand came to rest on the back of her neck and he massaged the back of her skull with his thumb. But instead of relaxing, she grew stiff and unyielding beneath the innocent touch.

He swallowed a groan. He had an uphill battle ahead of him and he refused to draw back. Not because he wanted to sleep with her again, but because she had to learn that passion between two people could be a wonderful thing.

“So he really forgave us?” she asked.

“After cheating on you, he really can’t pass judgment. And you two are over, remember? You didn’t do anything wrong.”