Part 1 (2/2)
”Well, yeah. But I was also thinking about him losing his wife. It's very sad she died so young.”
”Yes, it is.” Alaina leaned against the bookshelves, concern filling her eyes. ”He's still grieving so much. He's been withdrawn ever since his wife was killed. Rye says Griff does his job, then goes home and spends every night alone in his house. He goes to Sunday dinner at his parents' house only because he doesn't want to hurt their feelings. He doesn't even smile anymore.”
”Maybe he needs a little help to get back out in the world of the living.”
”Em-”
”I'm not being mean or cruel, Lainy. I feel sorry for him, I really do. But he's still alive and he's absolutely yummy. A little thin, but my cooking can put the weight back on him in no time.”
”You're determined to throw yourself at him, aren't you?”
Miffed that her friend would accuse her of being so tacky, Emma straightened her shoulders. ”I do not throw myself at men. I simply let them know I'm available.”
Chuckling, Alaina shook her head. ”You're priceless, do you know that?”
”I do my best.” She moved next to Alaina and leaned against the bookshelves. ”So,” she said, her voice lowered to barely a whisper, ”do you think Griff is hung?”
”If he's anything like his older brother...” Alaina bobbled her eyebrows.
”No complaints about Rye's tool, huh?”
”Not about the size, and not about the way he uses it.” Alaina fanned her face with one hand. ”Whew!”
Emma playfully frowned while Alaina giggled. ”You realize I hate that you're having more s.e.x than I am.”
”For a change.”
Emma joined in the giggling, until the object of their discussion walked into the office. Rye looked from one woman to the other, a perplexed expression on his face. ”I could hear y'all giggling from the kitchen. What's so funny?”
Emma looked at Alaina and they both burst into laughter. Rye crossed his arms over his chest. ”When two women laugh like that, they must be talking about men.”
”Not at all,” Emma said. ”We were discussing tools. Right, Alaina?”
”Absolutely.”
”Sure you were.” He focused his attention on Alaina. ”George wants you to look at the samples he has for the library bookshelves.”
”Okay.”
Dax stuck his head around the doorjamb and looked at Alaina. ”There you are. Come check out the paint colors and tell me which ones you like.”
”All of a sudden, I'm the most popular girl in cla.s.s. I'll be back in a bit, Em.”
”Take your time.”
Emma took a few steps forward so she could watch the two men's a.s.ses in those faded jeans as they walked away with Alaina. Very nice. There wasn't a thing wrong with those broad shoulders and strong legs either. Rye's hair brushed his shoulders and Dax's hung halfway down his back in a ponytail. While she thought the long hair s.e.xy, she was just as happy when a man had short hair.
Like Griff.
The triplets were drop-dead gorgeous. All three brothers could have any woman they wanted with simply a look from those deep brown eyes. Rye was definitely taken, but Dax wasn't. She hadn't been around him much, but he'd always flashed her a flirty smile or a wink. She had no doubt if she said, ”Let's f.u.c.k”, he'd say, ”Where and when?” She also had no doubt that he would be amazing in bed.
Yet it was Griff who tugged at something inside her.
With his too-thin body and his sad eyes, he seemed like a lost soul...someone going through the motions of existing because he still lived and hadn't died with his wife. He needed someone to put the sparkle back into those amazing brown eyes and make him smile again.
Emma knew the perfect woman to do that. Smiles always spread over men's faces after they were with her.
She grinned. She would enjoy her new a.s.signment very much.
Griff tilted his head from side to side, trying to ease the tight muscles in his neck and shoulders. Most of the day spent on a ladder, looking up, meant he was one big knot. Despite the June heat in the house, he wanted to go home and let a hot shower beat on his head and shoulders for at least an hour.
Dax came around the corner from the library, wiping his hands on a paint-spattered rag. ”Hey, bro. Done for the day?”
”Yeah. I'm heading for home in a few.”
”Instead of going home, go with me to Boot Scootin'. Rye is taking Alaina and Emma. We'll throw back some beers, have a cheeseburger, play some pool.”
”Not tonight.”
Griff turned and headed for the back door. It surprised him to find Dax right next to him when he opened the door to his van.
”Then when?” Dax asked.
”When what?”
”If not tonight, when? When are you going to be my brother again?”
Griff scowled. He didn't need any s.h.i.+t from Dax. ”I don't know what you're talking about.”
”Yes, you do.” He placed his hands on his hips and frowned. ”You haven't been my brother for ten months. You do your job, then go home to that empty house and hide from everyone.”
Griff tossed his tool belt inside his van and slammed the door. ”Shut up, Dax.”
”No, I'm not going to shut up. Not this time. I've been tiptoeing around you for ten months. It's time for you to return to the living.”
”I don't have to listen to this s.h.i.+t.”
Not wanting to hear anything else Dax had to say, Griff headed for the driver's door. Dax grabbed his arm before Griff could touch the handle. Griff jerked his arm from his brother's grip.
”Lay off!”
”I can't. Not any longer. I can't continue to watch you shrivel up. You don't care about anything or anyone. That's not my brother.” Dax clamped his hand on Griff's shoulder. ”I loved her and miss her too, Griff.”
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