Page 68 of Double Booked

“Oh, really. Do tell,” Ty said, leaning closer to her.

“When we were teenagers, she had a calendar of men in uniform in her room,” Eden said, eyes dancing. “And she had a collection of romance books with firemen on the cover.”

“Book covers. Hmm. Now there’s something I haven’t done,” Ty mused.

“Oh no. Now look what you did,” Cole said, shaking his head at Eden.

“Maybe I’ll get to meet her sometime. Your sister,” Ty clarified.

Eden nodded. “Maybe.”

Cole took that as a good sign, not for Ty, but for him and Eden. He’d already been envisioning a future with her, and maybe she was, too. Slow down, buddy, he reminded himself.

“Well, this has been fun, but I should probably head out,” Ty said. He pushed back the stool and stood to his full height, which was a couple of inches shorter than Cole. Cole used to lord that over him, but given Ty’s job and the pounding workouts he did, Ty was stronger.

“Head out? You just got here,” Eden said.

“True, but I can’t stay here now. Three’s a crowd and all that.”

Cole came around the counter and stood next to Ty. “I have an idea.” Eden and Ty eyed him with curiosity. Then he told Ty about the recently vacated cabin. “I don’t see why you can’t stay there.”

Yesterday, in addition to turning off his phone, they hadn’t gotten around to returning the cabin key to Angela. Cole had planned on returning it today, but maybe he didn’t have to.

“That’s a great idea,” Eden said.

Cole was less enthusiastic. While he enjoyed hanging out with Ty, he’d intended on spending every spare moment with her in the time they had left. Since his brother was here, and she didn’t seem to mind, he had no choice but to go along with it.

“I’d be happy to pay for it,” Ty said.

Cole shook his head. “It’s already paid for.”

“I’ll take you two out to dinner then,” Ty said.

“It’s a deal,” Cole answered for them. Then he glanced down at his pajamas. “Give me a few minutes to get dressed. Then we’ll go to the leasing office and talk to Angela.”

“Is she hot?” Ty asked.

“If you’re into older women,” Cole replied dryly.

“I don’t discriminate,” Ty said.

Cole rolled his eyes. “I’ll be right back and don’t harass my girlfriend while I’m gone!”

Ty chuckled.

Cole went upstairs and into his bedroom. As he was getting dressed, he realized he was smiling. My girlfriend, Eden. It was amazing how much he loved the sound of that.

Twenty-Three

Eden was listening to Ty and thinking, What a charmer. Physically, there was no mistaking he and Cole were brothers. Ty was shorter and broader, but he had the same light brown hair and hazel eyes. Personality-wise, Cole was quieter and more contemplative, while Ty was talkative and flirtatious.

“I should probably get dressed,” she said, after Ty finished telling her about saving a dog and her pups from a house fire. Regaled by his story, she’d forgotten how little she was wearing and how rumpled she must look.

She stood and started walking away when there was a loud knock on the door. Now what? She glanced at the door with trepidation, thinking there was still a possibility Patrick might return.

“I’ll get it,” Ty said. He jumped up and went to the door while she stayed back. Cracking it open, he said, “Can I help you?”

“Oh, thank God you’re here. I’m Eden’s sister, Hope. Can I come in?”