3: MINE

JEWEL

Delilah Solana was a bitch.

Not just any bitch, she was the type of bitch that people ~listened~ to and adored just because she had big doe-like eyes, nice round tits with an ass to match, and those pouty fuck-me lips that men died for. The fact that my men thought that someone like her could solve all their problems with her soft curves, sweet face, and fake advice?

Was she in for a rude awakening.

This woman was miles different from what we had dealt with so far when it came to matchmakers and matchmaking companies. While she was plain and professional, she was giving off this vibe of a mousy reporter that was driving me up the wall. As if she didn’t know exactly what her looks were already doing for her alone. There was no way she would be able to understand the brothers’ preferences when looking for a significant other to raise a family with.

Both brothers were pushing thirty, having amassed a gigantic fortune that wasn’t in jeopardy of diminishing anytime soon. With that in mind, it was no wonder they both wanted to finally settle down and have children. Though why they couldn’t just look a little closer to home made me all sorts of prickly once more as I gripped the steering wheel.

Cole had given me the honor of transporting Delilah Solana, a job I wasn’t exactly keen on having considering I had once been involved with both of them. If anyone knew what they ~wanted~, it was me. Not a stranger. Even if I wasn’t it anymore, I still had a leg up on any woman which meant I had time to make them see reason.

Delilah Solana may have a great track record when it came to romantic and sexual advice, but the brothers were not typical men. I didn’t care how many matches she made in a year, or if she had won an award; let alone what articles Seth had read when he had visited Arizona last summer. Delilah already seemed like nothing more than a fraud.

One I was happy to expose with her ~professional~ nature.

I beat my fingers on the steering wheel, listening to ~Coma~ by Ash and Graves as I hit the button for the trunk. Not bothering to play nice and help her with her things. One thing that Seth hated was a whiny woman, so I was about to make this trip as unpleasant as possible.

The very thought made me smile as I glanced in my rearview mirror. Adjusting it slightly as I eyed what I considered to be the enemy. Wondering where and how this one might try to scout a future wife for them this time.

Would she be like the high-rolling venture that had only shoved a bunch of yacht-loving plastic women at Seth? Or would she try to appeal to Cole’s darker natures and try feelers into the BDSM community? Which brother would ruin the other’s relationship this time? Whatever the case I would have one of them crawling back to my bed in no time.

Trying not to laugh as she slid into the car at my next idea—I quickly threw it into reverse, not even bothering to wait for her to buckle. I throttled it out of the parking lot so quickly I expected to hear her scream. While her hands immediately went to the dash, I was sorely disappointed by her gritted expression instead. All too soon, I had run out of ways to torture her as we entered the freeway. Ideas no longer at the forefront of my mind as I focused on the road in heavier traffic for a moment.

After several beats, Delilah regained her composure. Her belt securely around her waist as she kept her eyes almost as focused as my own on the road. “Have you lived here long?”

Silence. I did my best to pretend she didn’t exist.

“Did you know either brother prior to their successes in life?”

I rolled down the windows, hoping she’d get the message that I wasn’t interested in talking. It worked.

For about ten minutes.

As we hit rush hour on the way out of Portland and the wind died down, I tried to keep my face passive. Stifling an internal groan as someone slammed on their brakes, I took a moment to readjust in my seat. Within a blink of an eye, a powder blue Prius cut me off, merging over a solid line the moment I didn’t move. “You motherfucker! You’re not saving the environment by being a dick! Ugh, I bet you don’t usually deal with pricks like this in Arizona.” Unable to help but talk to her after seeing red.

Cole said I drove like a bat out of hell—and he wasn’t wrong. Sometimes though—people should know better than to get in my way on the road. It’s why I had picked the SUV out of the business car lot. Delilah was like marble though, not bothering to egg me on, or any hint of reaction fueling my overall anger and frustration. The bitch was going to play the silent game and throw it back in my face.

I wanted out of this vehicle before I caused some serious bodily harm.

Trying to distract myself again, I pulled out a mixed CD, shoving it into my deck without looking. Trying not to grin as ~Britney’s Toxic~ began to blare on the first random song. Partly out of the possibility of annoying her further, but also the nostalgia before this woman had even been necessary. It was this very CD Cole had given me the first time I was clued in that he had any interest in me. He knew Britney had always been dear to my heart, and I had already been dating Seth for a few weeks when he had given it to me. At first, I thought Cole was just being nice…

It had only taken one moment of weakness for us to give in to each other’s temptations.

We had been in Seth’s game room when they had separate apartments the first time we had kissed. A few of our friends had gone to grab more tequila and limes since we were celebrating the company’s latest success. Others trickled out knowing they wouldn’t be back because they were likely having sex. Seth, already retired for the night due to having to be up early, passed out. The movie we had been watching was over; whatever it was, I hadn’t been paying much attention. Instead, focusing on my bright pink nails and glamming them up with some rhinestones through the entire thing.

Cole had slid over as I was placing the last gem on my pinky—realizing no one else was here the moment the CD was in my hands. Our eyes had met and something happened. That spark and fluttery feeling deep in my gut had built up. Making me know that what I felt for Seth was strong, but I wasn’t about to deny Cole’s advances.

He kissed my cheek and gave me that hungry look that still made me want to curl my toes as I was driving. Staring at one another for a very long time. Feeling the tension begin to build between us.

Something that hadn’t ever been between us before.

Within that little inch and a little bit of alcohol, it was hard to ignore what I had been feeling. While I wanted to blame the alcohol like Seth had to try and confront me at the time, I knew the truth. I knew what I wanted at that moment and the moments that followed.

I hadn’t gotten to explain to him it hadn’t happened then, not the day he had found us in bed together. Trying to explain. Instead, I had snuck into Cole’s room in the middle of the night the next night… I had woken him up to take him while he was still half asleep.

I had known what I was doing, and that guilt still sank heavily in my gut.

I did everything I could to distract myself. Drumming my fingers, bobbing my head, and even nervously tapping my heel to the beat as we slowed to a crawl. The memory turned sour and made the song suddenly feel like nails on a chalkboard. There was something to be said for sitting in a cramped vehicle realizing how badly you messed up all over again. My poor choices resulted in this piss-poor job.

“To be perfectly honest, I didn’t drive until recently. I always had my boy—my ex-boyfriend—drive me around.”

I lifted my eyebrows, suddenly feeling a little bad for Delilah at her response. I guess even Miss Matchmaker had poor relationships. Especially if she had one where he drove her around like an escort, or maybe she was just the type that expected that type of treatment.

Gross.

“Well, that’s kind of pathetic.” The words tumbled out of my mouth, making me feel like an asshole even after they came out. Since I couldn’t take them back, I went with what I said. Shrugging to enhance the effect. “I mean, who lets a man drive them around everywhere.” Deciding to make it seem like she was trapped by her statement to see if I hit a nerve.

She looked out the window as traffic began to finally free up, the speedometer climbing rapidly and the few glances showing she was more thoughtful than anything as she seemed to take a moment to respond. “Someone who comes from an extremely conservative and traditional family.”

My mouth just about dropped, not able to comprehend what she had said. Did they hire the wrong woman? Were they in for some sort of religious experience for matchmaking? What had Seth gotten them into?

I grit my teeth, too curious for my own good. This woman was too cool and hard to read. Every time I tried to irritate her, she didn’t react like I expected. Keeping a polite demeanor about her. Yet also subtly being bitchy, something I couldn’t help but somewhat admire a little if I didn’t already despise her so much.

As soon as I heard the gravel hit my tires and the familiar sign announcing “Clayton’s Auto Parts,” I wanted to laugh and give a sigh of relief. Things were about to get interesting. Whatever Seth had gotten them into, it certainly was going to blow up in their faces.

I was prepared to rub both the boys’ noses in this one.