Chapter 3

    Bryan came back home and he went to the only place, where he could think freely, undisturbed. To the stable. He wanted to work hard to ease the tension, but soon he saddled his favorite gelding and galloped towards the hills.

    For the last six months was trying really hard to erase her image from his memory. He was sure he made it. That he managed to recover from this strange infatuation, which lasted for more than a year and a half. Today he convinced himself that he was wrong!

    Everything started two years ago. He remembered that day as if it was only yesterday. It was warm May and they, as usually after spring picnic, were celebrating his birthday. On that time they organized a paintball fight in the woods. They were chasing and hunting each other as if they were kids. He will always remember the moment when she stood in front of him, aiming straight for his heart. She run out of bullets, so he was on the winning position. But he hadn't foreseen that she will throw herself at him and try to drown him in the lake. He suffered a resounding defeat, but it was the most enjoyable one in his entire life.

    - Happy birthday, Bry! - Jay said, taking a deep breath after they emerged to the surface.

    - Devious viper! - He replied.

    - Don't be mad! - She gave him an innocent smile. - It's war! - She added and kissed him on the cheek.

    As if she was kissing a friend. Or a brother.

    He could remember that he unconsciously slid his hands under her soaked T-shirt. Her skin was so soft and warm. He felt a sudden craving to kiss her. He looked into her cavernous eyes and he was lost.

    - I guess I haven't flooded you enough! - She laughed and nimbly slipped out of his arms.

    The same evening he observed her while she was fiercely discussing some technology issues with Doug Patterson. In the firelight her skin looked like pure gold, and her eyes sparkled with thousands of stars when she smiled at her interlocutor. He wanted to smash the guy's mouth.

    When he realized that what he feels is jealousy, he was shocked. They grew up together. They were almost like siblings. Or like cousins. Her brothers were his best friends. Hell, his sister was Jay's best friend! There were boundaries he should not cross. Never ever!

    He tried to tell himself that it will pass. That when he'll leave for college, he'll meet some nice girl. Brunette. It will definitely be some brunette. Or a red-haired. With brown eyes. Tall one, with impressively long legs, which she'll always expose with miniskirts and high heels. She will have light, almost milky skin. He fantasized, but he constantly saw Jay through the eyes of imagination.

    He left immediately after he graduated the high school. He didn't want to tempt the fate. He convinced himself that he was doing the right thing, as she treats him like a friend. A pal with whom she can banter with and drink a beer. He settled for good in Missoula and he felt well there. He found a girlfriend quite quickly. (Like he ever had problems with it!) She was pretty and nice. She attended the same classes as he did, so they had much in common.

     All in all, he invited Maggie for Christmas. He watched in amazement how she and Jay got along well. And although at times he felt a strange twinge in his heart, he tried to persuade himself that his relationship with Megan is getting serious. They came back to Missoula just after New Year, and only a few days later the girl told him that she has someone else. They broke up and it might be strange, but he didn't feel any grief. On contrary. He felt unspeakable relief. 

    For the next few months he was focused on his studies, and when May had come, he went for the annual spring picnic to his hometown. He was disappointed when it came out that Jay's not there. He was mad that she had chosen that particular date to go to Tennessee, to visit her uncle and cousins. Later on, he cursed to himself that he expects anything at all. He made another decision and for the summer holidays he went to his father's family in Ireland, where he gained knowledge about horse breeding.

    He was sure that coming home for Christmas is a great idea. He had wonderful girlfriend at that time. Although Regan went to her family for holiday, he called her every day. He was definitely in love with her. At least he thought so. Unless Jaysabel Tyler crossed the threshold of his family house.

    She was wearing a fitted, short dress in color of juicy cherries. She tied her hair in a messy bun, thus she showed her slender neck and shoulders. Long silver earrings glimmered in her ears, and her neckline was adorned by a matching necklace in the shape of a teardrop. High heels made her shapely legs seem to have no end. And that smile.

    - Hello cowboy! - The charming dimple in the left corner of her mouth deepened. - You haven't been here for a long time. - She pointed out.

    - I had a lot of work. - He stammered. His throat was dry with shock. He swallowed hard. - You look... - He couldn't find the right words.

    - A bit bitchy, I know! - She laughed. - But I've heard that you conquest the world and girls' hearts. - Her voice lacked irony or jealousy. - I missed your birthday. - She added apologetically.

    - Yeah. Shame. - He said finally. - We had a great fun.

    - I have to compensate it to you somehow. - She gave him a playful smirk, and at that moment he expected himself to fall to her feet. - One dance. - She winkled coquettishly. - But only one! - She warned him. - When those old vultures will notice that I dance, they won't leave me alone!

    - Sure! - At that moment he was ready to promise her everything.

    He went back to college, angry and frustrated. He cursed her and himself. He couldn't sleep nor eat. He dumped Regan and started dating with one-night girls. Everything to forget. To erase those turquoise lakes and touch of her velvet skin from memory. Drown out the sound of her resonant laughter, which constantly echoed in his head. Her sweet whisper, when she spoke with delight about Sean's new colt, while they were dancing. Her intoxicating scent when she was so close.

    When May came Bryan easily excused himself from visiting Purple Creek, without a grief. He celebrated his nineteenth birthday in companion of some alluring, red-haired student of architecture. He spent a lot of time on studying and passed all his exams with flying colors. He felt nothing special when he was driving home for short holidays. No emotions. He was completely cured of the disease 'crush-on-my-best-friends'-sister'. He decided to rest for the next two weeks and then come back to Missoula. Maybe he'll go to Ireland again? Now, when he knew that meeting Jay will be nothing more but seeing his sister's friend, he was confident.

    Even when he saw her at school court, he could still stand firmly on the ground. It was her fragrance that moved him out of balance. Her touch, when she tried to break free from his grid. Elastic muscles, supple body. The look of crystal eyes, full of rebellion and anger. However, he still had hope that he could turn back and leave. Escape. Run away. 

    It crossed his mind that when he'll kiss her, the spell will be broken. He will get rid of the charm, which doesn't let him to forget about her. At least it all begun from this. Now he got a chance to finish it. Once and for all. He'll make a small experiment, which will prove that what he feels for that girl is only friendship. Brother's love.

    But he could never, even in his wildest dreams, expect something like this!

    Her lips were so soft and sweet. Hot and moist. And when she kissed him back, he was lost completely. It was close and he wouldn't let her go. She took control over him. She tasted like a delicious ripe fruit. One that you can never get enough of. 

    At that moment he understood, that he fell in love with Jaysabel Tyler, and that he will never be able to get out of her charm.

    He came back home long after the sunset. He cleaned his horse and harness. Although he really wanted, the ride didn't bring him comfort. With a heart full of conflicting emotions, he went straight to his bedroom. He was tired, but he also knew that he won't be able to fall asleep. Not now, when his body was in a fucking fever! He went to the bathroom, took of his clothes and stepped under the freezing-cold shower.

***

    It was far after midnight. Jay was lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She spent the whole afternoon with her brothers, then she met with Mel and they went for a walk. Her friend described the whole incident from basketball field again. But Jay couldn’t focus on Mel’s words. She was thinking about Bryan. ‘Why did he kiss me?’ She was wondering. She couldn’t tell her bestie about what happened. And she felt twice as guilt, because Bry was also Mel’s brother.

    ‘Fuck!’ She swore in her head. ‘Maybe he’s just playing some freaking game?’ She thought. Jay knew Bryan very well. He was hot and popular. Just as her brothers. Actually, from the whole circle only she was trying not to gain attention. Always in the background. She was a real bystander, especially when it comes to the boy-girl relations. She was just not interested. ‘Then why?!’ She couldn’t understand.

    - Are you listening to me?! – Mel asked suddenly.

    - What? – Jay just stood there, staring at her friend.

    - What’s now on your mind? – She crossed her arms.

    - Mike of course! – Jay lied easily. – I’m worrying about him.

    - He’ll be fine! – Mel assured her. – I bet that Monique will repay him! – She snorted.

    - Oh God! I don’t want to listen about it! – She scowled. – I’d rather pretend that my brothers are still virgins!

    - Prude! –Mel laughed.

    - I can talk about sex, that’s not a taboo for me. But you can’t put any of the words like ‘sex’, ‘orgasm’, ‘dick’, ‘fuck’, ‘intercourse’, ‘masturbate’ or any like that, in one sentence with any of my brothers’ names! – She explained.

    - Why not?

    - Just because! – She yelled.

    - You’re weird!

    - Maybe! – Jay admitted. – But how you would react if I’d told you that I was making out with Bryan?! – Those words just jumped out of her mouth.

    - Geez! That’s gross! – Mel shivered. – I saw him once, with Celia Rogers. And that was one too many times! – She shook her head.

    - Now you know what I mean! – Jay said with a smirk, but deep inside she felt that she had betrayed her best friend.

    And now she couldn’t sleep. She was repaying the kiss in her mind. Over and over again. She didn’t mind to flirt with her best friend’s brother. She actually did it sometimes. But she would never thought that he’ll kiss her. And she kissed him back! ‘Shame on you, Tyler!’ She thought. But how could she resist? His lips were so gentle at first, and then tough and possessing. He tasted like cherries – sweet and juicy. When he liked her lover lip she just had to let him in!

    Frustrated, she rolled to the side and closed her eyes trying to fall asleep. She was starting to drift away when a ‘beep’ sound cut in. She grabbed her phone from the night table and checked the message.

    “U sleep?” She almost saw devilish flashes in Bryan’s eyes.

    “Like a dead man!” She answered.

    “I’d like to see it ;)” Jay could imagine his smirk.

    “Yeah sure! Come and look! :P” She laughed.

    “I can come…” Jay read the message and didn’t know how to answer this one.

    It took her few minutes, but she couldn’t think of any repartee. Then she heard another ‘beep’.

    “For sure I wouldn’t let you sleep…” ‘What the hell?!’ She thought confused.

     And then he called. She was staring at the screen not knowing what to do. ‘It’s just Bry!’ She thought and picked up the phone.

    - What’s up? – She said calmly.

    - I want. – He said.

    - What?! – Jay asked impatiently.

    - You. – His voice was deep. And damn sexy.

    - Are you high?! – Now she was worried.

    - I don’t know. Are you a drug? – He asked amused. – Then yes.

    - Weakfield! – She growled. – It was great fun! Now go to sleep and get sober.

    - Jaysabel? – He asked softly.

    - Yeah? – She prayed for patience.

    - What are you wearing? – Now that was shocking! Her jaw dropped.

    - Okay! Very funny! – She felt anger. – Still having fun? Well I’m not playing anymore! – She hissed. – Night, Weakfield!

    - Jay! – He started, but Jay cut him off simply by disconnecting the call.

    ‘That was hilarious!’ She thought sadly, convinced that Bry played a joke on her. Her phone went on again, but when she saw his name she just rejected the call and turned the phone off. She cuddled the pillow and soon she fell asleep.

***

    When Jay rejected his second call Bry already knew that he went too far. Jay wasn’t like other girls. He wanted to apologize. ‘Maybe I should ask her out?’ He thought and smirked to himself. He dialed her number again only to find out that she turned her phone off. ‘Well played, dumbass!’ He thought. ‘You gonna screw it up, you moron!’ He sighed. ‘You need to fix it!’