Lush Curves 5: Undertow by Delilah Fawkes Read Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t exactly like Gavin at all. He slammed into Gavin hard enough to draw a “whoosh” of air from his chest, laughing raucously. I winced at the impact, but then noticed Gavin was smiling too, his eyes crinkling in that way I love, his laugh loud and genuine.
    They slapped one another on the back as I watched, and I noticed the Other Gavin was lighter skinned where mine was golden brown from long days on his yacht. Where Gavin’s hair was chestnut brown, this man’s hair fell in raven-dark waves and rough stubble shadowed his jaw. Bright blue eyes shone mischievously above a smile so much like Gavin’s, but with sharper incisors. He seemed almost wild. Dangerous.
    A Fletcher , but the dark version.
    “Aolani, this mad devil is my brother, Malcolm,” Gavin said, breathless with laughter. “Malcolm, this is Aolani Kahale.”
    I gasped as he reached down and scooped up my hand in his, fingerless leather gloves caressing my skin in a way that wasn’t altogether unpleasant. He smiled his wolf’s grin at me, his eyes flirtatious.
    “And how did a poor sod like Gavin ever win the heart of such a beautiful creature,” he said, lifting my hand to his lips.
    His stubble brushed me, and I smiled, troubled by the brief stirring I felt at his touch.
    Gavin frowned down at his brother. “She’s not… we’re not,” he said. “She’s my model.”
    “Oh?” Malcolm’s dark eyebrows raised. Then he looked back at me, smiling with renewed interest. “That’s good to know, brother.”
    I stared back at Gavin, eyes narrowed, a mixture of shock and anger curdling inside of me. His model? That was it? That was how he introduced me to his brother? After the days we’d spent together? The nights?
    Malcolm wasn’t one of the crew. It wouldn’t have hurt Gavin’s reputation to tell him I was his. Unless, of course, I wasn’t. Unless I was exactly what he said. Nothing more than an employee. A fling. Replaceable and utterly unimportant.
    “Please to meet you, Malcolm,” I said, my voice so quiet it was almost a whisper, but it was all I could manage. Then louder, “I’m going to go get some air.”
    And then I was leaving, my sandals making a soft slapping noise as I headed out of the lobby into the cool air of an Edinburgh evening. I heard Gavin’s voice behind me, but didn’t look back. I needed time alone so badly, for the moment, thoughts of keeping my boss happy were gone.
    Fuck him.
    Fuck him .
    My breathing was coming fast and quick, but it had nothing to do with the swift pace I set as I walked around the edge of the old stone building, wandering toward the darkening gardens beyond. I passed an older couple chatting on the back porch, holding hands in the fading light of the sunset, then a porter, sneaking out for a smoke, but I didn’t stop until I was hidden among the hedges and rosebushes filling the lush grounds.
    When I was sure I was alone, I sat down on a stone bench and put my head in my hands.
    Goddamn it, I knew he’d said he wouldn’t give his heart to me. That I was heading straight for disappointment and sorrow if I kept tumbling into his bed, but… well, now that the moment had arrived, I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been.
    I was nothing more to him than his model. His piece of ass while he’s on the road, and now that he’s home, I’m not good enough to be introduced to his brother as anything more than that. Certainly not a lover. Definitely not a girlfriend or anything more.
    A tear splashed down my cheek, and I shook my head.
    “Stupid. Stupid .”
    I hated that I was crying. Hated that I knew this would happen, and yet still felt it like a punch in the gut. What had just happened shouldn’t humiliate me, but here I was, shame coloring my cheeks and a sadness settling on me, so heavy it made it hard to breathe.
    I stood, brushing my dress off and wiped my face, not wanting to be caught crying in the shadows. The sun was just dipping down over the horizon, and the garden was