“That doesn’t mean they were having an affair,” Aidan pointed out.
“I’m not done,” she said tersely. “So the blonde in the picture was tagged—her name’s Stephanie Lowenstein, and she’s a mutual Facebook friend of mine and Lisa’s, my lawyer friend. So I clicked on Stephanie’s profile.”
Aidan’s stomach clenched. Shit, he didn’t like where this was going.
“Her privacy settings are nonexistent, which means I was able to look at everything on her timeline. Including her pictures.”
“Aw, f**k,” Dylan swore. “My brother was in some of them?”
“In a lot of them, at least the most recent ones.” Claire’s mouth set in a tight line. “She’s in London with him right now. And she was in Aruba with him last week.”
Dead silence crashed over the room.
On the other couch, Dylan’s face went from shocked, to stricken, to downright furious.
“Are you serious?” he demanded.
“As a heart attack. And these pictures were a lot more cozy than the one from the party.”
“That f**king bastard. What the hell is my brother thinking?”
“Probably that he’s hit the jackpot. This woman is obviously related to Frank Lowenstein, the senior partner at Chris’s firm. She’s probably his daughter, which means she’s not only loaded, but has crazy connections and a membership to that stupid country club, and she probably comes with a million other perks Chris would appreciate.”
Claire shoved a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I can’t believe him. I mean, I have to assume he was involved with her before the wedding, right? You don’t go away with someone unless the two of you have some sort of previous involvement, or at least a flirtation, right?”
Dylan let out a breath. “Yeah, I’d say they were most likely involved.”
Biting her lip, she looked down at the hands she’d clasped in her lap. “I don’t even know why I’m so upset. It’s just…fuck, call me a loser, but it’s an ego thing, I guess. I’ve never been cheated on before, and I hate the idea that someone found another woman more desirable than me. Even if that someone is Chris.” Her head lifted abruptly, her brown eyes seeking out Aidan’s, then Dylan’s. “You think I’m desirable, right?”
Aidan barked out an incredulous laugh. “Are you kidding me? You’re the most desirable woman on the goddamn planet.”
“Hands down,” Dylan confirmed.
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
Aidan patted the couch cushion next to him. “C’mere.”
She hesitated.
“Claire. Don’t make me pick you up and carry you here,” he warned.
She must have known he’d totally follow through on that threat, because she got off the armchair and joined him on the couch.
Aidan took her hand and dragged his thumb over her knuckles. “We’re not saying what you want to hear in order to make you feel better. And you know what? Forget feeling better—you have absolutely no reason to be upset in the first place. Chris is an ass—” He glanced at Dylan “No offense, man.”
“None taken.”
“—And he doesn’t get the right to put that sad look in your eyes,” Aidan finished. “Let him have his Stephanie Lowenstein. I’m sure they deserve each other. You, on the other hand, deserve way better.”
Hopping off the couch, Dylan marched over and settled on the other side of her. He reached for her free hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You deserve the best,” he declared. “You, Claire McKinley, deserve to be worshipped.”
She smiled. “You guys are too sweet.”
They both shrugged modestly.
“I’m serious,” she insisted. “You’re the sweetest, kindest, most amazing men I have ever met.”
“You don’t have to shower us with compliments,” Dylan said with a grin. “We’re already putty in your hands, honey. Case in point—that god-awful tree over there.”
“He’s right,” Aidan agreed ruefully. “I mean, for us to even allow such a monstrosity into our home says a lot about—”
She cut him off with a kiss.
Claire’s lips were soft, warm, sweeter than honey. She kissed him tenderly, with only the fleeting brush of tongue, and before he could even react, she was gone. Shifting around and bestowing that same loving kiss on Dylan’s lips.
“What was that for?” Dylan murmured.
“Just felt like it.” Smiling, she got to her feet, her hands toying with the bottom of her bright yellow T-shirt. “So I was thinking…”
Hope erupted in Aidan’s chest, but he refused to acknowledge it. Not until Claire made her intentions clear.
And she made those intentions crystal clear by pulling her shirt over her head and then wiggling out of her leggings.
Aidan’s breath lodged in his throat. Her skimpy white bra barely covered her full br**sts, and the matching panties were nothing but a little triangle with two thin straps. She was beautiful. Stunning. Extraordinary. There weren’t enough adjectives in the English language to describe the vision of female perfection standing in front of them.
Lord, her bare skin looked so soft to the touch. He wanted to run his fingers all over that silky feminine flesh, but he resisted the urge, awaiting her next move.
“Claire, you don’t have to…” Dylan trailed off, his green eyes glued to the curves she’d put on display.