BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER

Sasha swam towards him and he stretched out his hand to her. She stared at it for a few seconds, as if contemplating her decision before she finally put her hand in his and he straightened, pulling her up with him. Sasha slid her hand from his grip and turned away, immediately grabbing the towel and using it to cover herself while awkwardly pretending to dry off…. Taking her time.

“What are you doing here?”she asked him as soon as she could bring herself to meet his gaze again.

“That’s a pretty weird question to ask me, don’t you think? This is my house too, remember? I should be the one asking you that question.” Kaleb replied.

Sasha frowned at the grin on his face, and raised her chin a little, challenging him, “Excuse me, but I was under the impression that no one was home.” she said.

“I can see that,” he replied, and continued to smile at her so she looked away, embarrassed by the attraction she realized she still felt towards him after all these years. Neither of them made any effort to move, and they simply stood, watching each other.

“I’m sorry, I’ll get out of your way. Tilly didn’t tell me you were home.” Sasha finally said as she grabbed her top. Tilly was in for a lot of trouble for failing to inform her that Kaleb was home, but she also had to tell herself the truth. Tilly probably didn’t feel the need to since she never told her how she felt about her brother, but still, a little heads up would have been nice.

“You’re not in my way, and Tilly didn’t tell you because I just arrived this morning,” Kaleb said as he placed his hand on her arm to stop her movement. Sasha’s eyes fell on his hands and he let go of her arm, but her skin seemed to burn from his touch even if it only lasted for a few seconds.

“You can go back to swimming if you want. I’d be happy to just stay and watch. I could cheer too, you know…. If you want,” he added.

He winked at her and she shook her head, willing those feelings to go away. She was not his type and he was never going to see her as anything more than his sister’s best friend, but there was something about the way he was staring at her now that told her that this time, it was different; something had changed between them, but she wasn’t sure what it was. Was he really flirting with her or was she just seeing what she wanted to see? His eyes roamed freely up and down her body, and Sasha’s hands tightened on the towel.

“You don’t have to cover up, Sasha. You are at the pool.” Kaleb said and leaned closer, almost whispering the words in her ear. “And you look hot too…”

“Well, the weather is pretty hot,” Sasha replied, “That’s why I wanted to swim in the first place. The water is pretty cool and it helped a lot.”

Kaled grinned, “I meant ‘Hot’ as in ‘good looking’, Sasha,” he said.

“Yeah right” Sasha replied, but she was blushing again. She had a feeling he just said that to tease her as he always did when they were younger. He probably was just as self conscious as she was, she thought…only that he was just better at hiding it, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to stick around to find out if she was right. At least not at this moment. “I have to go.”

He nodded. “It was nice to see you again, Sasha,” said Kaleb.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Right back at you” she replied awkwardly.

Sasha grabbed her phone and top and hurried out of the pool area. He didn’t try to stop her this time and for that she was grateful. For some reason she paused at the door, palm pressed to one of the panels, and glanced over her shoulder in his direction. His eyes were still on her and even across the distance, she could feel the shock of that look whip through her, sizzling in her veins.

She pushed the door open and hurried inside the house. It didn’t matter though… There was something about that look… that told her that she was in for a wonderful adventure.

———

Sasha drove into her compound and hurried upstairs to her apartment. Her hair was still wet, but she didn’t mind. She’d changed into one of Tilly’s gowns and hurried out of the Luthors’ mansion without waiting for Tilly to come home. She barely made it to the bedroom before her phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It was Tilly.

“You left!” Tilly said immediately she picked up. “I thought we agreed that you’d wait for me… and I hurried home because of you.”

Sasha squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m sorry. I… I suddenly remembered something I had to do” she lied.

“Well, whatever it is. It better be worth it” Tilly replied.

“Kaleb is back,” said Sasha, changing the topic. “Why didn’t you tell me that he was coming home”

“Girl, I completely forgot. All these assignments I have to do have been keeping me occupied. Besides, it’s just Kaleb. Did you want to throw him a welcome party?”

She didn’t want to throw him a party obviously, but she’d have liked to know, Sasha thought, but she didn’t say it out loud. It would have been easier if she had been expecting to see him. That way, she wouldn’t have been so blown away by the incredibly handsome man Kaleb had grown into. He’d always been good looking, but now he was different -he was so much hotter.

Tall, dark hair, handsome face with dimples on both cheeks, broad shoulders, big hands and that God dammed one-sided smile of his that did weird ass shit to her insides. What was it about age that made some men grow into Greek gods?

He was wealthy too. Granted, he came from a wealthy family, but Kaleb Luthor started his own business as a freelance investor, and according to Tilly (and what Sasha knew from stalking him on the internet), his business was pretty successful.