It only took a minute to pop into the hall bathroom and do his business, but just as he was about to head back to the bedroom, a loud creak echoed through the apartment.
AJ froze.
Was that the front door?
Shit. It was.
Heavy footsteps suddenly thumped from the hall, accompanied by a deep male voice. “Brett? You up?”
Fucking hell. Did Brett have a boyfriend?
The thought flew into AJ’s head like a fastball, bringing a jolt of panic. He hadn’t thought to ask her last night, but…she had to be single, right? She wouldn’t have slept with him if she wasn’t.
Right?
He was two seconds from diving into the bedroom when the footsteps got closer. “Yo, why are there clothes on the living room floor? I thought you learned how to pick up after yourself—”
A tall, dark-haired man rounded the corner and stopped in his tracks.
“Oh. Hi.” Confused dark eyes collided with AJ’s sheepish face before narrowing in suspicion. “Who the hell are—Walsh?”
Recognition dawned on the other man’s face at the precise moment that AJ experienced a déjà vu of his own. “Conlon?” he said in surprise.
“Holy shit, it is you.” Rob Conlon broke out in a broad smile. “AJ Walsh. Dude, it’s been years.”
Many years, in fact. AJ hadn’t seen Rob since high school, and Conlon was the last person he’d expected to run into this morning—while wearing a pink towel.
AJ studied his former classmate, noting that the guy hadn’t changed much over the years. Rob was as tall as he’d been back then, with the same cropped haircut and scruffy facial hair. Definitely more muscular, though, and the full-sleeve tattoos were also new.
“How’ve you been, man?” Rob charged forward to pull AJ in for a macho side hug, which he uneasily returned.
“I’m good. You?”
“Doing great.” As Rob took a step back, the joy he’d been emitting reverted back to distrust. His gaze lowered to the towel slung around AJ’s hips, as if he’d just noticed the pink monstrosity.
“What are you doing here?” Rob asked warily. “Where’s my sister?”
Sister?
Oh crap. Brett was Rob’s sister?
But a hasty examination of the other man’s face was all it took to spot the resemblance. They had the same eyes, AJ realized, though while Rob’s features were sharply masculine, Brett’s were soft and delicate. Not to mention that Rob Conlon was a frickin’ mountain compared to Brett’s pixie frame.
“Seriously, where the hell is she?”
AJ was about to answer, but Brett’s calm voice cut him off.
“I’m right here.” Like a graceful feline, she sauntered out of the bedroom wearing an oversize T-shirt that hung to her knees.
AJ saw through her composed facade. She’d clearly thrown her shirt on in a hurry—the damn thing was inside out—and her hair was noticeably tousled from sleep…and other much less innocent activities. AJ remembered tangling his fingers through that inky-black hair many, many times last night. Pulling on it, too. Hard.
Before he could stop it, a parade of vivid memories marched into his head, the most prominent involving Brett’s lips wrapped around his cock.
He had to will his lower body not to respond, because the last thing he needed was to spring a boner in front of Brett’s brother. Christ. That would go over like a punch to the face.
A literal one, most likely. With AJ’s face being the one in question.
“What are…?” Rob looked from AJ to his sister. “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”
AJ would have given his left arm to be able to fade into his surroundings. The friendly reception he’d received from Rob had all but disappeared, and the man was currently eyeing him like he’d pickpocketed his wallet or some shit. Gone was the old friend from high school—replaced by a big brother in full-on protection mode.
“Well, we do know each other.” Brett’s tone was flippant, but AJ didn’t miss the flush rising in her cheeks. “What are you doing here? I thought we talked about calling before you stop by.”
Rob ignored her. His scowl deepened as he turned to AJ. “Why are you at my sister’s apartment at nine in the morning?”
AJ had to choke back a laugh. Talk about the most obvious question on the planet. He was wearing a pink towel, for fuck’s sake.
On the same token, there was no way in hell he was admitting to Brett’s brother that he’d picked her up at the club last night and brought her home for sex.
To his relief, Brett didn’t seem interested in sharing that juicy tidbit, either. “What are you doing here?” she repeated.
“Why is Walsh here?” her brother countered.
Brett’s hands curled into small fists at her sides, and AJ could tell she was trying very hard not to lose her temper.
He searched his own brain for a suitable response, one that didn’t feature the words one-night stand or hot, sweaty sex, but again, Brett beat him to the punch.
“He’s here because he’s my boyfriend.”
Chapter Five
Shit on a stick.
Of all the times her big brother had showed up unannounced, this had to be the worst. She’d finally been making headway in her quest to prove that she’d put her wild partying days behind her. She’d even managed to finagle a promise out of Rob that he’d speak to their dad on her behalf and vouch for her new, responsible ways.
Now any endorsement from her brother was about to be shot to hell. He’d just walked in on her and her one-night stand, for Pete’s sake—how was that going to convince him she’d changed? And no matter how tough he looked, Rob happened to be the biggest daddy’s boy in her family, which meant he’d rat her out in a heartbeat.
Panic scurried up her spine as she envisioned her infuriating brother telling their dad about the scene he’d just stumbled on.
Crap. She couldn’t let that happen.
Please, please, please just go with it.
She silently pleaded at AJ from behind her brother’s head, praying that he’d back her up. AJ’s green eyes had filled with surprise at her announcement, and she could practically see his brain working to make sense of it.
“Your boyfriend?” Rob said incredulously. “Since when?”
AJ spoke up before Brett could. “It’s been a few weeks now.”
The response was so smooth and sounded so genuine that even Brett believed him, and she knew he was lying. A rush of gratitude flooded her belly, which she tried to convey wordlessly when their gazes locked again.
“Yeah?” Rob shook his head a few times, still looking confused. But it didn’t take long for him to adjust. With a big grin, he glanced over at Brett and said, “This is awesome. Dad will be thrilled.”
She furrowed her brow. “He will?”
“Are you serious? You’re dating the Ten Grand Touchdown!” her brother exclaimed. “I bet he throws you a celebratory parade.”
Her confusion only heightened. “What the hell are you babbling about?”
Rob sighed heavily, as if he couldn’t believe the comment even warranted an explanation. “Remember that game back in senior year, when half the Hawks players got injured the week we were scheduled to play the division leaders?”