“I’m sure he knows that, otherwise he wouldn’t be hiding the fact the building needs a total overhaul. Honestly, if we weren’t planning on knocking it down and starting fresh, I wouldn’t bother with it. He needs to sell it—and for top dollar. But no one is going to pay what he’s asking even if they know about the actual geologic survey. He wants way too much,” Theo said, drumming his fingers on the table.
“Agreed.” Blake picked up the folder. “Are you sure that he won’t go to one of our competitors?”
“He’ll try, but most don’t have the capital… or the vision. Most see that area north of the Javits as a has-been… especially since that stop on the 7 train hasn’t gone in.” Blake hummed in agreement. Theo continued, “But that building is in a prime position. I’m not letting him sell it to anyone else. He’s already got a reputation for selling substandard property, no one trusts him. That location is ours.” Theo always got what he wanted—images of Chloe came to mind—well, most of the time.
In his pocket, Theo’s phone vibrated with a text. He pulled it out.Shit.Ethan. He scrubbed a hand over his face.
“Bad news?” Blake asked.
“No, it’s Ethan.” Probably wanting updates on Chloe. Who fucking kept tabs on their sister like that? One overprotective brother, that’s who.
“Is everything okay? You’re frowning at your cell like you want to smash it.”
His brother wasn’t far off. “Yeah, I’d like to punch Ethan in the head and knock him on his ass for putting me in an awkward situation.”
“What situation?” Blake twirled a pen between his fingers.
Blowing out a long breath, Theo said, “He wants me to keep an eye on Chloe while she settles into life in New York.”
Blake stopped twirling the pen and clasped it in his hand. “Why?”
Theo rose from his seat, marched to the windows, and stared out at Central Park. “He’s worried men will take advantage of her because she’s alone in the city with no family to watch out for her.”
“What is this? The Dark Ages? Can’t she take care of herself?”
“I tried telling him that, but he wouldn’t see reason.”
“That doesn’t sound like Ethan.” Blake’s chair squeaked. “But I guess I wouldn’t know. Chloe’s not my sister. So just tell Ethan no, you won’t do it.”
“It’s not that simple.” Not to mention, he’d tried and Ethan had guilt-tripped him into agreeing, but Blake didn’t need to know that.
But his brother knew he was hiding something. “What’s the real problem? What aren’t you telling me?”
“The problem is, I’m one of those men she needs to stay away from.” Oh shit. He’d said too much. Blake was already like a dog with a bone gnawing to get every little bit of information; now there was no way that he was going to let the subject drop.
Theo heard Blake’s feet hit the floor. “What are you talking about?”
Turning around, Theo dug his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “Things got a little awkward between us.” That was putting it mildly.
Blake’s eyebrow rose. “When you went sightseeing?”
“No. Last Saturday night when we were at the club.” He really didn’t want to go into it.
But Blake wouldn’t let it go. “The night we were celebrating your divorce?” Blake frowned.
There were two things Theo wanted to remove from his brain from that night. His failed marriage becoming official and almost fucking his best friend’s sister. His divorce was easy to push to the back of his mind. Chloe… not so easy. The sounds she’d made, the sweet taste of her smooth skin on his tongue. Even the innocent time they’d spent on the observation deck didn’t feel so innocent when he’d pressed against her side and wanted to kiss her mouth. He needed to wipe the memories of Chloe away because if he didn’t, there was no way he could move on with his life.
“Yes. I bumped into Chloe.”
“Really? You never mentioned that when we met her and Ethan for lunch. You acted like you hadn’t seen each other in years—oh hell,she’sthe woman you left the club with.” Blake slapped his leg and laughed. “Ethan doesn’t know, and now he wants you to watch out for his sister. He’s handing her to you on a silver platter!”
“Laugh it up. You think I don’t know how ironic it is?” Theo tugged his tie from side to side to loosen it around his neck. “It gets worse. When I brought her to my penthouse, I didn’t know who she was.”
Blake stopped laughing. “You didn’t recognize her?”
“No.” How had he not recognized her? It didn’t matter that the last time he’d seen her, she’d been blonde with her hair cut above her shoulders wearing denim shorts and oversized T-shirts. Her fine facial features and warm smile hadn’t changed. He should have remembered her regardless. His only excuse was that night at the club, he’d been too blinded by lust to see clearly.
“And I take it she didn’t tell you who she was?” Blake frowned.