Torque by Gillian Archer (10 ebook reader txt) 📕

have chemistry with. In fact, go call Dylan and get his lazy ass in here. He should sit in on the interviews too.”

It was hard to tell which job would suck more—interviews or wiring. Six of one, half a dozen of the other really.

Resigned, I jerked my chin in a nod at my brothers and pushed through the crew crowded at the door. After pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I tapped on Dylan’s contact. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw James waving his arms to get my attention. I already knew what he wanted. Pressing the speaker button, I held the phone up so James could see and I could talk into the end.

It rang. And rang. And right before voicemail picked up, Dylan answered.

“I’m busy.”

“Good morning to you, sunshine.” I smiled and shook my head at the camera. “We need you to come in today. You know, earn that paycheck we deposit into your account every other week.”

There were some muffled sounds from Dylan’s end—a lotta voices, shuffling, rustling. Like he was in a crowded place at eight in the morning. What the hell? Finally the click of a door and silence before Dylan spoke.

“Don’t give me shit about not pulling my weight. I work until midnight some nights to keep us on schedule, and all because you guys take so long figuring out the design before you get the cans to me. I never come in on Thursdays. I’ll be there for the unveiling tomorrow. Like every fucking week.”

“I don’t give a shit how late you stayed up a night or two ago. We’re interviewing receptionists, and Austin and Ryan want your ass here. Suck it up and get over here. Wait, are you even sober enough to drive? Do I need to send a car to pick you up?”

“Yes, I’m sober.”

“Then what—”

“Look,” Dylan cut me off. “Give me an hour to tie up loose ends here, and I’ll be there.”

“But what—” I blinked as the call cut off.

Because my brother had hung up on me.

What the hell? Where was he at eight in the morning that required him to ‘tie up loose ends,’ and what the hell were all those people doing in the background?

Chapter Thirteen

Maddie

I was nervous. Would it look super obvious if I brought him dinner? Like I wanted to stay in so he could ravish me, please? Or was it obvious that I’d brought my purse so I could conveniently hide my toothbrush and extra undies? I mean I was only walking thirty feet from Dylan’s front door to Nathan’s. Oh crap, this was a bad idea. Maybe I should—

Nathan’s front door swung open in the middle of my panic attack.

“You cooked for me? Awesome. It smells amazing, Maddie.” His smile swept all my doubts and worries away. The man looked sexy without even trying. But he had tried. Instead of his usual stained jeans and t-shirt, he wore a buttoned-up shirt with clean jeans. Although it was tough to look away from his winking dimple. The thing haunted me in my dreams. But it slowly faded along with his smile. “Everything all right? Are you gonna come inside?”

“What?” I blinked out of my PG-13 fantasies of kissing that dimple and realized I was still standing on the other side of his door. “Oh right.”

I lifted my foot to step forward when the sound of Ryan’s condo door opening—right next door—spurred me into action. With wide eyes, I all but leapt inside Nathan’s place and slammed the door behind me.

After a few beats, Nathan cleared his throat. “So, uh—”

“Shhhh.” I hissed, tipping my head toward the now closed door.

A second later the muffled sound of Felicity’s wailing came from the breezeway.

“I thought she was asleep?” Ryan asked from only feet away, through Nathan’s door.

Hope groaned then made shushing sounds. “She was, until Nathan slammed his door. You know how much she hates car rides. That’s why I wanted to wait ‘til she passed out before leaving.”

I could just picture baby Fliss’s red face as she wailed. I felt a little bit bad, but at the same time I wasn’t ready for Ryan and Hope to know about me and Nathan. They’d have something to say about it, especially Ryan. Although I’d been closer to Sabrina and Dylan, Ryan had always felt like an older brother—in a way that Nathan never had. And I didn’t want to hear him harp on about all the ways this wouldn’t work out.

I wanted to live in dreamland a little bit longer.

Ryan’s voice grew fainter as they walked away, but I still heard him say over Fliss’ fading wails, “There goes date night. That asshole ruins my sex life in ways he doesn’t even know. It’s gonna take forever to calm her down once we get to Aunt Wendy’s house.”

I turned to Nathan in horror over how close a call that’d been but instead of looking horrified, Nathan was grinning and smothering his laughter.

“What about that was funny?” I glared at him, my heartbeat still pounding in my ears.

Nathan shook his head. This time he laughed out loud. “The part where I ruined his sex life? Come on, that’s pretty funny.”

I rolled my eyes. Brothers.

After taking a few deep breaths to calm my still racing heart, I tilted my head back and found Nathan slowly surveying me. His eyes skimmed from my black heeled sandals over my flared black skirt to the white button-up shirt that’d been so practical at work today, but suddenly felt too sexy. Especially with the way Nathan’s eyes lingered on my hint of cleavage. I didn’t have much, but I’d tried to work with the little I had and unbuttoned an extra button before coming over. Judging by the way his eyes flared, he approved.

My heart raced again, but this time it had nothing to do with almost getting caught by his brother.

Nathan took a step toward me, and I couldn’t breathe. That look in his eyes,