Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“See?” Gabriel whispers to Michelle, “I told you he doesn’t let me forget that he’s the big brother.” He gestures to my seat at the head of the table versus his at my right side.
“Ha ha,” I tell my brother mockingly. “We both know you’re the one who is obsessed with sitting in the same seat at each meal. He’s freaking obsessive compulsive.” Gabriel grins roguishly and I roll my eyes at his nonsense. “But my brother does bring up a good point. Michelle, switch seats with me for tonight so you can sit next to both of us.”
She looks up, her brown eyes sparkling in the soft candlelight
“Oh, I couldn’t!” she gasps. “I can’t sit at the head of the table. This is your house.”
“No, I insist. Please, you should get to know both me and brother equally.”
I stand and hold the chair out gallantly for Michelle. Hesitantly, she gets up and moves seats. My valet raises his eyebrows but knows better than to question my choices.
Gabriel grins wickedly at my action. “Uh-oh, sweetheart. Now you’re in easy reach. I can already tell what’s going to happen.”
Michelle giggles at the taunt, and I’m pleased that I switched seats with the shy woman. She needs to feel at ease here, comfortable with being taken care of because we’re going to ask a lot of her. There’s going to be two of us, and we’ll be doing a lot more than just sitting.
As dinner slowly progresses, I watch the curvy woman, marveling at her ease and beauty. She makes both me and my brother laugh, and real laughs too. She’s genuinely funny, lovely, and enchanting to be with. The problem is that we’re going to disrupt her life, and there will be no going back.
8
Michelle
Sitting at the candlelit table, listening to soft music in the background, and taking in the two hot guys on either side, I’m not entirely convinced that I’m awake.
I take a bite of the savory-looking filet mignon, eager to try the fancy meat I’ve only read about before. “Oh my goodness,” I moan as a burst of flavor hits my tongue. “This is incredible.”
The Costas brothers each smile broadly. “It’s Wagyu beef,” Gabriel says and shrugs. “So it’s from Japan and definitely delicious.” He winks at me and I can tell he’s pleased that I like the dish.
I take a sip of wine, wondering when and how to bring up my many questions that I have for the brothers. Instead, I decide to follow their lead for a little longer and keep the conversation light.
“Why’d you bring me out here, to Long Island, instead of staying in Manhattan?” I eat a forkful of mouth-watering potatoes. This is the best meal I’ve ever had, I think and nearly moan aloud again.
“Good question,” Tom answers between bites of his own dinner. “Gabriel and I each have our own homes in the city, but we share this house, since it’s been in our family for generations. So if we’d all stayed back in Manhattan, we would have been stuck choosing which apartment.”
“Not to mention, there are a ton of distractions in Manhattan. Out here, well, it’s just us. And our household staff, of course.” Gabriel takes a bite of steak before winking at me again.
“I’m beginning to suspect that you’re the mischievous brother,” I tease the handsome man.
Tom chuckles with laughter. “She nailed it!”
“What, why?” Gabriel demands, his eyebrows raised. I laugh at his silly expression.
I ignore his question and turn to Tom. “And you are the calmer one,” I say to him.
“I’d agree with that,” Gabriel offers as he takes a sip of the delicious red wine. “I get into hot water, and Tom gets me out of it.” He smiles appreciatively at his older brother.
“Fact. But I have my mischievous moments. I’m just not so obvious,” Tom says with a mock-glare at his brother.
“It’s really nice, to see how close the two of you are.” I smile at the sexy men, hoping my sincerity is apparent. “I have a brother, but we’re not like you guys. In fact, my brother and I barely talk.”
The two handsome men nod.
“Well, opposite-sex sibling relationships are often different. Plus, we’ve had to stick together for a long time now,” Tom says lightly.
“Our wealth takes a toll, believe it or not. Everyone is always trying to finagle money from us, or believes that we’re just after women and money.” Gabriel shrugs. “So we ignore those fools and stick together.” He smiles wryly at me.
I grin at the two men as the three of us return to eating the tasty meal. I consider how to pose my next question. I take a deep pull of the heady red wine and sit up a little straighter.
“Have you always… no, never mind.” I shake my head, reluctant to ask anything too bold.