“No!” I practically yell, uncomfortable at the suggestion that I’m incestuously interested in my half-brother. “I’m definitely with Chase. Just… wondering.”
Phoebe stares at me for a beat. “Sorry, I’m a little protective when it comes to Parker. And no, he’s not seeing anyone. Not anyone serious, anyway. I mean, I really don’t think you can call the parade of bimbos that march through his lifedating, since none of them last longer than a few nights. I love my brother, but… his taste in women needs some serious work.”
“You two sound close.”
She nods. “Yeah — mom’s dead, dad’s a big businessman. Parker basically raised me.”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t know.”
“How could you?” She shrugs. “It isn’t so bad, really. It’d be damn-near perfect, if he wasn’t so overprotective. He scares away most of my dates long before they’ve made it past night one.”
“But he let you come withBrett?” I ask, my nose scrunching.
“No, he’s out of the country, so I took advantage.” She stares at me for a minute. “You don’t like Brett.”
I stay silent, not wanting to get into it with her.
“Gemma?”
Standing there looking at me with those bright eyes, she looks so young. So innocent. And I know I’m not responsible for her, that I’m certainly not her big sister… but I can’t help myself from trying to protect her, even if it’s not my place.
“He just… gives me a vibe,” I hedge.
“Come on, girl. You have to do better than that.”
I sigh. “Let’s just say, Chase has told me some stories. And he doesn’t seem like the nicest guy out there.”
She nods. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not really interested in him, then.”
“You’re not?”
“Nope.” A slow grin spreads across her face. “But Iamhoping word that I was his date gets around to a certain someone.”
I laugh out loud. “Let me guess — someone your brother disapproves of?”
“His best friend,” she says, a little miserably. “I’ve loved him for, like, ever. But he refuses to see me as anything but a little sister.”
“So, you’re trying to make him jealous?”
“Yep.” She sighs deeply. “According to my friends, it’s a great motivator, as well as one of the only ways to get a man to see how pigheaded he’s being.”
“I wouldn’t know. I’m new at this whole dating thing, myself.”
Her eyes catch mine in the mirror. “You’re doing fine. Better than fine. Have youseenthe way Chase looks at you?”
I blush.
“Vanessa is off her head. And, quite possibly, her meds. Because that man looks at like you like he’s never letting you out of his sight.”
I snort. “Which is probably why we should be getting back.”
“You go, I’m going to touch up my makeup.”
“See you back at the table.”
“Hey, Gemma?” Her voice halts me just before I reach the doors, and I turn back to face her.
“Yeah?”