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Author’s Notes –– I have to remember I’m both the author and the editor, but this scene had me so engrossed in reading it that I had to go back several times to correct some words. Ugh… I mean, if you ever see my first drafts, you’d be questioning my brain because I swear my fingers don’t see the keys, but they do this shorthand thing… that’s another video I need to make.

My goal for this chapter is to be able to lick the sexual tension up with a spoon. So let me know if I did that

I want to thank all the commenters from the previous post. You’re getting me excited, so enjoy Chapter 2, and we’ll delve deeper into the issues.

And yes, Tori had no redeeming qualities in the past, and I think characters like this need to come more to light in fiction because it’s a lot of them out there in real life. But let’s see how much pressure we can put on her. I’m looking forward to introducing you to the brothers. Let me know which one you’re voting for in the comments.

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CHAPTER TWO – The Offer She Can’t Refuse

Tori was quick to compose herself, not letting him see her entire inner self shatter into wild screams of shock. “I wasn’t hungry.” Her eyes scanned his face, loving that he looked even better than in his pictures and what she had fantasized about last night. “I usually only do dinner. I have to keep this girlish figure, you know,” she teased.

Shawn looked her body down and up. “I’m sure your husband would appreciate that.”

“I’m not married,” she conveyed.

“That’s even better. Do you even remember me?” he asked suspiciously. “Or are you just the nicest person in the world?”

Remember him? He’d been inches deep inside her fantasy just last night, but Tori had always been good at faking and manipulation; she just never thought she would have to pick up the skill again, and with him.

“Shawn… Carter?” she pretended to guess.

He outstretched those still beautiful, strong hands, and she shook the palm firmly.

“Wow! Shawn Carter!” Malea said, coming up on them. “Fancy meeting you here?”

Shawn smiled tightly as if he minded being interrupted. “Malea, it’s great to see you, too. I just realized I was sitting behind your sister.”

“What are you doing here? “Malea asked.

Tori was too nervous to speak and was glad her sister had come upon them. Damn, he looked so good in person. Better than his pictures, she had drooled over the night before. Better than in the fantasy she had of him. He wore a nice gray business suit, minus the jacket, paired with a silver tie and a white shirt. Those shoulders were solid, and that neck showed he was still in fine shape.

He had the beginnings of a nice after-five shadow with spritzes of blonde throughout the hair, looking debonair and sexy all in one. His lighter skin blackness gave him a sexy, exotic look that had her internally drooling, and she couldn’t wait to get to her tub & toys again tonight.

She felt like she was sixteen all over again. Unsure of her body but wishing she were confident enough in her sexuality to rule over him. Why didn’t she bring a change of underwear? Because every fantasy involving him over the decades now decided to shoot up into her brain and make her remember this had been her fantasy man now in person, and her body was certainly drawn to him.

“I’m being considered as a replacement as head of the podiatry department here at the hospital.” He divided his attention between her and Malea, but Tori was sure his eyes lingered more on her than on her sister. “I felt it was good to get the knowledge from this luncheon since I’m noticing an uptick in geriatric patients in the clinics I’ve been working in.”

“My sister is building a group home, and she’s got this courtyard designed to encourage activity, don’t you, Tori?” Malea said, shooting her sister a ‘will you talk‘ look.

“Yes,” Tori confirmed. “It’s a project of love that my father wanted to make happen and-“

Her sister interrupted. “She’d probably love your input on that. You two should exchange numbers to tour the place.” Malea reached into Tori’s bag and took out her cell phone.

Shawn already had his available.

Malea knew how to access Tori’s business QR code using her cell phone, so she showed it to Shawn, who scanned it.

“I’ve got to work the room with my sister,” Malea said. “But don’t forget to call her Shawn.”

“I won’t,” he said with a slight twinkle in his gorgeous brown eyes, and Tori watched as he initially sent her information in a text before saving her contact to his phone before he walked away.

Was her silence her confidence? That twinkle looked promising.

“Did your tongue get stuck somewhere?” Malea asked, maneuvering them through the crowd towards the city’s senior personnel director.

“No,” Tori said, offended. “I’m just shocked that we just talked about him yesterday, and now he’s appearing. I find that coincidental too uncomfortable.”

“Or fate,” her sister teased.

By this time, they arrived at the director, and Malea became formal as she made introductions. Tori quickly became professional enough to introduce her idea and even invite the director over for a tour of the complex. His referrals would send her great clients once she started taking tenants, and to sell out the first floor before it even opened would be a dream come true.

Although the group home had been her father’s idea, she had come to love creating a place where older Detroiters could receive the care they needed in a community where they could feel at home. On top of that, geriatric care was a prosperous business with boomers selling off their homes but not wanting to move into their children’s homes or into a rigid nursing home that felt more like a hospice.

Malea took her around to others, and the networking put her back into her mindset. She loved making connections, and she was really appreciative of her sister for ‘hooking her up.’

“Thanks, Malea,” Tori said softly as the event drew to a close and they made their way out to the main lobby.

Her sister smiled kindly, but there was a faint look of regret briefly in her eyes, and Tori had to wonder if Malea was thinking of the past. Tori wasn’t that person anymore, but she knew a lot of hurt had been done that could be unforgettable.

“I’ll walk you to your car,” her sister offered. “Did you park on the lower level?”

Just as they walked out to the front of the campus, a giant light gray Hummer with yellow streaks on the side and the front pulled up in front of them, and Tori gasped as Duncan and Kevin jumped out.

Just like their pictures, but more visceral, vibrant, and vigorous.

“As I live and breathe, the Song sisters,” Kevin crooned.

Both were dressed in dress suits and pants, as if they’d come from a businesslike setting, but were relaxing with their top shirts unbuttoned, no ties, and even casual shoes on.

Malea moved over and hugged Kevin in greeting, and Duncan awkwardly side-hugged her, but his eyes drifted up to Tori in a heated glance, and then he looked away as if something pained him. Tori didn’t approach either of them and did her best to avoid looking uncomfortable.

“We just saw your brother,” Malea said as if this was normal.

“We’re here to pick him up,” Kevin said and moved over to Tori. “Don’t I get a hug too, Tori? I mean, we were almost like family, weren’t we? I should at least get a big brother hug, right?”

Was that a dig at her breaking up their parents?

Pushing her wariness about this whole situation aside, she politely hugged him, feeling his arms seem to crush around her waist. Was that a whispered hum? Groan?

Kevin let go before things felt too uncomfortable. “Hey, Duncan, come give your almost little sister a hug.”

Duncan seemed to take one large step to get in front of her and pulled her into his arms. A hum. That was definitely a hum, but as with Kevin, he pulled away before things became uncomfortable.

“Wow! Now I’m jealous,” Shawn said, coming out the doors to where they stood. “I didn’t get a hug.”

Politely, she hugged him, hoping she could contain her excitement. His body was so warm.

“Isn’t it nice to see them?” Malea asked, hugging Shawn as well.

“Sure,” Tori said stiffly.

“I was going to ask Tori if she wanted to have dinner since that’s all she eats,” Shawn said.

“Well, that’s nice,” Malea said. “I eat too, Shawn.”

“How about we all eat? Catch up on good times,” Kevin offered with a playful wink. “Duncan can get us some seats over where he works in about an hour.” Kevin patted his brother’s back, and Duncan only shuffled his feet and nodded, still looking at the ground.

Tori gritted her teeth, ready to refuse, but Malea said, “Shawn, text us the address, and my sister and I can meet you all over there.”

“Hell, yes,” Kevin said excitedly. “Do it, Shawn! And let’s get the hell out of here.”

Shawn smiled with a wink, following his brother back to the ridiculous Hummer. “See you tonight, Tori.”

Damn if she could prevent herself from getting lost in his toothy, perfect smile, Tori could actually see if there was something strange going on.

Malea had the nerve to wave them off, and they drove away, waving back at Tori like they were actually long-lost brothers.

“I thought you felt they were weird,” Tori said.

“You said they were weird.”

“Malea, don’t give me that. You always felt they gave you the creeps, and Kevin was salacious to the peak. Now you’re acting like their family? Oh no, I think Kevin said, almost family. Was he being fucking serious?”

“That’s Kevin. He’s always been a dick, but all that stuff about them is in the past. And I saw the way you were looking at Shawn. You know if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. Maybe you could finally get a permanent visitor instead of those illicit nighttime one-timers or couch whores. And you can certainly get rid of that toy chest in your bathroom.”

“This isn’t about my pussy, Malea.”

Malea covered her mouth, giggling. “I’m going to get my bags, and we can drive over there together.”

At that moment, the text came in, and she had to gasp again. Gaston’s?! The most exclusive Michelin four-star restaurant in Detroit. How had they gotten a table? The restaurant was usually booked out a month in advance.

Where did Duncan work? What contacts could a lowly sous chef have?

When Malea got into her car, and Tori told her where they were headed, her sister said, “I told you he was a sous chef.”

Suspiciously, now that she had time to think, she questioned, “What kind of sous chef can get a table like that?”

“A very good one,” her sister remarked.

They pulled up in the valet and as soon as they got out of the car, Shawn was there at the door waiting for them.

“Kevin gave me ten bucks to bet you weren’t going to come,” Shawn said.

“Was it ten bucks for both of us or each of us?” Malea asked. “Because he owes you twenty.”

He laughed, and Tori hated herself for not changing her underwear.

“Follow me,” Shawn said, looping both of their arms together and guiding them inside.

This experience all felt surreal. Shawn, looking like a light-skinned, gorgeous supermodel, was so kind and sweet as they held his strong arms. Tori did sneak a feel up to his shoulders. That was all him… all muscle.

“We aren’t eating on the main floor?” Tori asked as he started leading them up the stairs.

“No. We’re going to the unfinished third floor, where there are private rooms. Duncan’s a sous chef during the cold months. Chef Gaston would bend over backwards for my quiet brother. He said Duncan’s one of the best sous chefs he’s ever had. Duncan just likes to cook. We all have our hobbies, right?” he was staring at her when he said this.

“Do you still sculpt?” she asked.

He sighed in disappointment. “No, I don’t. Wow, Tori. No one has asked me that in a very long time. My mom… On her deathbed, she said I should have never stopped, but unlike you, life got in the way, and after high school, I think I lost my muse.”

This saddened her. “Your mother was right. You were really good. You have beautiful hands – still.”

Shawn stopped at a door and knocked three times.

After a moment, the lock clicked, and the door swung open into a low, blue-lit room. There was a plastic section off to the right of the room that was still under construction, but the rest of the room was bathed in blue light. A faux fireplace was in the corner, accompanied by a large couch and loveseat in front.

There was a circular table, perfect for them, laid out with china featuring gold edgings, and the utensils were gold. There were water and wine glasses.

Tori was highly impressed by the layout and spontaneous planning… or was it? She wanted to listen to her gut, but just one glance over at Shawn made her forget all her marbles.

Duncan stood by the fireplace, and for some reason, she noticed another button on his dress shirt was undone, and he didn’t wear anything underneath.

He was gazing at her. Not just looking at her, but staring at her. The low light gave him confidence to look her directly up and down, lingering on her hips, and then slowly move up her body.

He was undressing her with those intense brown eyes.

She turned away but almost bumped into Kevin, who was holding a glass of wine out for her. “You look like a Sauvignon Blanc kind of girl, Tori,” he said.

A chill swept up her spine, making her feel dizzy. Kevin said her name slowly, “Torree.” His eyes were just as similar to Duncan’s. Intense perusal. Only at her. Perhaps it was because he looked like Shawn so much that there was a pull of attraction to him. But that was impossible. This was Kevin Carter—the older gaudy brother. Warily, Tori took the glass from him, careful not to let their fingers touch. Standing next to Kevin felt daunting.

No, she was seeing things. Or overthinking things.

Her sister and Shawn were speaking near the table, and Tori made her way over there.

“Do you think if we do this, we’ll have a chance?” Shawn asked her sister with a serious face.

“What chance?” Tori questioned.

Shawn and Malea looked at each other and then at her.

A waiter came from a back door with a tray of Tapenade. With this being a Michelin restaurant, she would say this was the amuse-bouche – something to wet the palate.

Looking around the room, she wondered who was going to pay for this entire meal. Or was Duncan treating them? A dinner for everyone would equate to two months’ pay for a sous chef.

Apprehensively, Tori looked over at him out of the corner of her eye. He was still looking at her, but his head was slightly bowed as if waiting for her to look his way completely so he could direct his eyes down.

The Tapenade was a smooth mixture of finely chopped capers in a sweet sauce on fresh sourdough bread. The combination was heavily on her tongue, and she had to close her eyes to savor the taste. Mixed with the wine, she was almost swept away.

“Wow, that’s fucking good,” Kevin said, breaking her mood.

Duncan moved over to the table, and everyone seemed to follow him, taking a seat. She was seated next to Shawn on one side and Duncan on her other. Her sister sat on Shawn’s other side, and Kevin sat across from Tori.

Tori asked her sister again, “What chance were you speaking of?”

Malea took a large swallow of her wine and said, “I’m helping Shawn get the position as the head of podiatry at the hospital.”

“Isn’t that a conflict of your position?”

“It’s family helping out family,” Kevin cajoled.

“I’m not stupid, Kevin, and we aren’t family,” Tori stated. “And my sister knows it’s wrong.”

“Not because of familiarity,” Malea said. “Shawn is an excellent doctor, but with our hospital being so invested and having long-standing political positions, I don’t think my superiors will choose the right person for the position. You can understand that, can’t you, Tori? Detroit residents have a long-standing gripe about people who live outside the city running things, but not caring about the citizens within the city. Sometimes you have to lay your morals aside and do what’s right.”

Tori frowned, but couldn’t quite wrap her head around what she was feeling as she realized Duncan’s thigh was pressed against hers, and at the same time, the waiter placed the appetizer down – sous vide lobster with confit vegetables. The smell hit her nose, and she had to throw her head back, feeling the food take hold of her senses even before she tasted it.

Never in her life had she experienced food that was this arousing, but she had never had the pleasure of being at a restaurant where the food and atmosphere mixed.

“You like,” Duncan said so low she was sure only she heard him.

Drawing her eyes away from the scrumptious dish, she looked at him. He drew a sharp breath as if she had hurt him.

“It smells delicious, but I haven’t tasted it yet.”

He reached over, picked up her fork, placed a small, perfect taste on the edge, and raised it to her lips. Tori couldn’t break eye contact to save her life. Duncan had some strange magnetic pull. The larger of the brothers in size, she had to wonder what his hands could do to her.

Quickly, she took the bite and drew a sharp intake as the flavors seemed to burst over her tongue and down her throat.

“It’s good,” she commended.

“Fuck,” Kevin growled, breaking the mood, watching them the whole time like he was watching pay-per-view.

“This is Duncan’s dish,” Shawn said. “One of the most requested appetizers.”

Tori took her fork away from Duncan and tasted more of the appetizer. “The lobster is soaked in something sweet and citrusy, isn’t it?”

Duncan tightened up but didn’t answer her.

“Amchoor,” she guessed.

He looked impressed. “How did you know?”

“I used to work in an Indian restaurant in college. I remember that. It takes the seafood taste away but keeps the meaty taste of the lobster.”

“Damn!” Kevin said. “I haven’t seen Duncan talk this much ever in my life.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Shawn sneered.

“But-“

Duncan slammed his fist on the table and shot Kevin a vicious look.

Malea interrupted the tension in the room and said to Tori, “I know you feel things should always be above board, but I think Shawn has the perfect plan to help out my hospital, but it’s with your help, Tori. It’s a proposition, I know you can’t refuse.”

___ *** ___

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Her Substitute Husband… His Brothers (c) 2025 Sylvia Hubbard All Rights Reserved

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