Propositioning Her Brother's Best Friend (13 page)

“I didn’t realise I had to wait for
you permission to love her. Rachel was never going to be ready in your eyes. She’s
twenty-one years old. We’re adults, Mitch. I own my fucking garage, and I’ve
got everything going for me. You and I both know I’m good for her. I always
have been.”

“I leave for a couple of weeks and
you’re in her pants. I trusted you to keep her safe—” Mitch clearly wasn’t
listening to him.

“And I have kept her safe. For as
long as I can remember I’ve kept her safe. I’ve looked out for her, protected
her, and been there for her when she needed it most and you were gone.”

“And when my back is turned you fuck
her.” Mitch yelled at him.

“Don’t, Mitch, don’t you dare say
that. It’s not like that for her.” Paul warned Mitch out of respect. If it had
been anyone else they would be flat on the floor by now.

“Why not?
It’s what you do. Fuck women and
then leave them.”

“I love Rachel. I always have, and
I’m going to marry her.” Paul told him the truth hoping to cool the guy down.

“You don’t know how to love.”

Now that hurt.

“I know how to love you, bastard.
You’re my best friend, and you’re only causing a problem because you weren’t
here. She’s an adult. Get over it. You’re her brother, not her father.” Paul felt
his anger spike. The guy was being intentionally insulting.

“Rachel can do better than you.” The
words were said between gritted teeth. Paul saw the lies in them.
 

What was going on?

Mitch was blowing everything out of
proportion.

“I love her, man. She means
everything to me, and you’re not going to stop me from loving her.”

“You come near her again, and I will
kill you, Paul. Now get the fuck off my property.” Mitch for the first time
ever turned his back on Paul.

The door slammed in his face.

For now he’d let it stand. Mitch
needed to cool down before Paul dealt with him, and deal with him he would.

Chapter Twelve

Rachel glared at her brother, tears
filling her eyes as he berated her on her choice of man.

“Paul is a guy that uses women. How
could you be so stupid as to get involved with him?” He was talking down to her
like a child.

“He’s your best friend. Do you
remember that? The guy you’ve relied upon these last few years, or has all that
been forgotten to you?”

“I know who he is. You’ve got some
school girl ideal going on inside your head.”

“No, I’ve not. You’re just as bad as
he is with regards to your reputation. The women talk about you just as much as
they talk about him. Don’t try to get the whole high and mighty with me, Mitch
Kramer. You’re no fucking saint.” She wasn’t going to stand and take his
insults. Rachel couldn’t get the image of Paul looking so angry out of her
head. Mitch had shut the door in his face as if he wasn’t his best friend. Paul
had then calmly walked to his truck, gotten in, and driven away.

“Not anymore. I knew what he was
like, Rachel. He uses women for his own purpose.” Her brother wouldn’t budge.
Shaking her head she walked toward the stairs. Paul loved her, and she had
faith in his feelings.
 

“He loves me, and I’m moving in with
him. You can hate and get angry. Fucking hell, you can even trash the house,
but that doesn’t stop you being my brother. I love you, Mitch, and I’d hate to
lose you over something like this.”

“You’re moving in with him?” he
asked, shocked.

“Yeah, I’m moving in with him. You
better get your anger under control, as otherwise you’re going to lose me.
We’ve already lost our parents. Don’t let me lose my brother.” Rachel started
off up the stairs. She didn’t want to hear any more of his slanderous insults.

Today was supposed to be one of the
most memorable days of her life. Mitch had just destroyed it.

“I can’t accept it.”

She turned to see tears shining in
his eyes.

“Then you’re going to lose me
because I’m in love. You’re my big brother, and he’s your friend. Think about
that before you do anything insane.”

Rachel turned away and headed to her
room. Her brother was anything but boring.

****

Paul slammed his office door shut
cursing loudly. Why was Mitch back? And why was he being a massive pain in the
ass? Paul could have broken the news over the phone, telling him how he felt
about his sister, breaking it gently. In turn that would have given him time to
calm down. Instead Mitch had to see them like that on the front yard.

Mitch must be on a war path.

What Paul didn’t understand was why.
He wasn’t an awful guy to be dating Mitch’s sister.

He didn’t have a clue about what to
do. On the one hand he loved Mitch. He was the brother he never had, and on the
other Rachel was the woman he loved. Paul couldn’t give her up either. He
feared giving Rachel an ultimatum and making her pick between him and Mitch.

It was nuts, insane, and deeply
unfair.

Sitting behind his desk he rested
his head in his hands.

Losing either of them wasn’t an
option. He needed to understand why Mitch had changed his mind. Paul expected
some ribbing from him, but he’d not expected to be shut out. The
Kramers
had never shut him out before. Mitch slamming that
door hurt him deeply. They’d been best friends for a lifetime, and the fact
Mitch had closed him off felt like a punch to the gut.

He had no idea what to do.

Smashing glass brought his attention
around. Darren wasn’t due in today. Today was for him to check over the cars
and organise deliveries for new pieces of equipment.
 

“What the fuck?” He growled the
words while also storming out of his office. Paul hadn’t left the door
unlocked. Sometimes he did, but today he didn’t feel in the mood to be
interrupted.

He raced towards the sound and stopped
dead as he saw Mitch cupping a bleeding fist. There was a hole through his shop
window.

“Mitch, what the
fuck?”
Paul
yelled walking toward him. He hadn’t expected Mitch to come searching for him.
 

“You son of a bitch, since when have
you started locking the shop?” Mitch asked, getting ready to throw a punch.
Paul wasn’t in the mood.

“I’ve been closing it because I
didn’t want to have to deal with my pain in the ass friend.” Glancing at the
damage, Paul cursed. “You’re going to pay for that.” Paul pointed to the
smashed window.

“Consider it bought for screwing
with my little sister.” Mitch didn’t hit him even though his hand was fisted,
ready to land a blow.

Paul had enough of listening to
Mitch talking shit about Rachel. Landing a punch to Mitch’s stomach, he didn’t
get any satisfaction in the connection of flesh on flesh.
 

“I don’t talk about your sister like
that. Rachel is worth more than this shit. You of all people should know I
bought this shit-hole and made a living for myself in order to take care of
Rachel. I’ve been in love with her for a long time, Mitch.” Paul threw his
hands up in the air exasperated.
 

“You never said anything,” Mitch
said, finally talking sense.

“You decided no one was worthy of
Rachel. I’ve been worthy of her for a long time.”

“You screw everything that walks.”

Paul shook his head. “Not anymore. I
love her, Mitch. I can make her happy.”

Mitch paused looking at him for
several seconds before speaking. “You were only supposed to take care of her.”

“And I did. I cannot help the fact
that I love her. She means everything to me, you know that.” Paul grabbed a
clean cloth and handed it to him. Mitch took the cloth from him without
snatching. Paul figured he was finally getting through to his friend.
 

“She’s told me to deal with it.
Either accept you in her life or lose her. We lost our parents, Paul. I don’t
want to lose my sister. She’s all I’ve got left.” Mitch forced the words out
between clenched teeth.

“You’ll never lose her. I’m not
taking Rachel away. We’re staying here, and we’ll never leave you.” Paul was
adamant he wasn’t leaving town or the country. This was his home. His parents
lived a couple of miles from the home, and he liked working in the garage. The
emotion on Mitch’s face shocked him. Tears shone in his eyes, and Paul figured
it had more to do with fear than the cut on his hand.
 

“She’s all I’ve got left,” Mitch
said.

Paul opened his arms. “You’ve got
me. You’re always gone on your adventure trips, Mitch. Don’t you think it’s
about time you let her live? I’m not interested in going away in a tent. You
can go, and we’ll always be here when you get back.”

“She’s growing up, isn’t she?” Mitch
asked. All the fight left his friend.

“Was that you’re main concern, her
leaving you?”

“I’m a horrid brother. I leave for
weeks at a time, but she’s still my sister. And I love her. I want the best for
her.”

“I’m the best for her, and deep down
you know that. You’ve always known that. I’ve wasted a lot of time. I’m not wasting
any more. If you accept me in your life, come back for a coffee, and I’ll take
you to get your hand sorted. If not, then go home and do whatever the hell you
like. I’m done fighting you.” Paul turned away and went back to his office.

He wouldn’t argue with Mitch. Paul
refused to. Mitch would just have to accept his feelings for Rachel and that he
was going to be a permanent fixture in her life.

Chapter Thirteen

 
Rachel hid at the local diner. Her head was down
with thoughts running through her head. She kept her tears at bay even though
she wanted to sob until there was nothing left. Mitch was the only family she
had left. Why did he have to be so difficult?

Paul wasn’t a bad guy. He had a past,
and so did everyone. They were supposed to be friends.
 

She thanked the waitress for the
coffee and went back to staring out the window. What should she do? The desire
to just get up and leave was so strong. She refused to run or to take the easy
option. If she needed she’d lock them both in a room and force them to fight it
out. That was the only chance of her having a happily ever after.

“Is this seat taken?” Rachel looked
up to see Tracy Hall stood gazing down at her. The other woman wore her
signature short, tight skirt and tank top that barely covered her breasts.

Before she could stop her, Tracy had
already taken a seat across from her, invading Rachel’s much needed privacy.

“Wow, the heat today.” Tracy shook
out her bleached blonde hair sending a wave of strong perfume across the table,
almost choking Rachel.

She took a sip of her coffee and
burned her throat in the process.

Rachel smiled at the other woman.
She didn’t particularly like Tracy for the obvious reasons, but she didn’t want
to cause a scene. Tracy was known for causing a scene. The other woman loved
being dramatic. Staring out of the window, Rachel hoped Tracy would just leave
everything alone.
 

“So, there has been a little rumour
flying around about you and a certain hunky mechanic. Between us girls, you’re
going to tell me the truth. Are you fucking Paul Ellis?” The maliciousness
could not be suppressed in Tracy. Glancing at the fake blonde, Rachel saw the
hint of jealousy radiating out of the other woman. Tracy was begging for a
fight. Rachel wouldn’t give her the opportunity.

“I’ve nothing to say,” Rachel said,
sipping at her coffee. Her thoughts strayed to Paul and Mitch. They were real
problems. Not this woman in front of her.

She’s trying to get under my skin.

Tracy fucked my man.

Paul is all
mine
. She’s not got a chance again.

Taking a deep calming breath, Rachel
waited for the interrogation to start again. She didn’t have long to wait.
  

“Come on, sweetheart. You can tell
me.” Anger permeated the air around them.

“No.” Rachel was firm. She didn’t want
to tell this woman about her relationship with Paul.

“Listen, you little bitch. Paul is
mine, you hear me, mine.”

Okay, Rachel was not expecting an
outburst like that. Tracy’s claws had come out.

“He’s not yours. Paul is never going
to be yours. He can’t stand you anymore,” Rachel said. After the outburst from
Mitch this morning, Rachel wasn’t ready to deal with Tracy and her attempt at
claiming Paul.
 

“Who do you think Paul is thinking
about when he is screwing you? Hum? He’s thinking about me. You’re nothing but
a pathetic little kid compared to me. He wants a woman, Rachel. Paul needs a
woman to satisfy his cravings.” Her voice was low, but Rachel detected the
anger lurking.