Graham laughed. “Not so sure about that. Dane’s the woman’s man. We’re identical twins, but he’s always been the one to get all the women. He’s a cocky bastard, but it works for him.
I’ve never been able to harness his magic.”
“Maybe you have your own magic.”
He cocked a brow at her, waiting for her to continue. He had to admit he was extremely flattered. He usually wasn’t on the receiving end of compliments, or at least he hadn’t been for some time, and it felt good. Being married and being cheated on with the FedEx guy had been a humbling and ego-bruising experience.
Being around Genevieve made him feel good – carefree – unlike any woman he’d met before her. He was glad he wasn’t going to have to compete with Dane over her, but if it came to that he was willing to go head to head. Luckily it wouldn’t come to that; in Vegas Dane had been quite clear she was “just another girl” and when he’d informed Graham that he’d found her, he made no indication he had any interest in pursuing her. But if it came to a battle for her affections, then game on!
~*~*~*~*~
~ Genevieve ~
Genevieve hadn’t ever come across a man so handsome, yet so humble in her life. It was endearing. Dane seemed to be the wild and challenging twin while Graham was the sweet, funny and secure one. After her experience with Alex, sweet and secure was an extremely good feeling – although Alex seemed to be sweet and secure as well and she knew how that turned out. She saw Dane’s faults, he seemed to wear them on his sleeve – revelled in them even, which made her wonder if Graham really was as perfect as he seemed to be.
Now you’re just being paranoid Genevieve, the voice at the back of her mind chastised.
“What’s the matter?” Graham asked as he reached across the picnic basket and brushed a lock of hair from her face, breaking her from her thoughts. His touch was light, tender, sweeping across her temple and causing a soft sigh to come from her parted lips.
“Nothing. Just thinking about how different you and your brother seem to be. Not that I know either of you very well,” she shrugged, “from what I’ve experienced so far.”
She watched his reaction, wondering if he knew Dane had shown up at her house the previous evening. Maybe this was some kind of game the brothers were playing; a challenge to see who could win her over? Dane possibly, but she just couldn’t see Graham doing something like that. Then again… Alex had her fooled and Graham had let her go down on him thinking he was his brother.
“Just because we’re identical physically doesn’t mean our personalities also are. Growing up, Dane was always the outgoing one. He’d drag me into his insane schemes and I’d go along to make sure he didn’t kill himself or get arrested doing something stupid. We had different friends, had different likes. Even our taste in women is different.”
Genevieve’s interest piqued, curious on what Graham’s opinion on what Dane’s normal would be like. And she couldn’t help but wonder about his ex-wife. “How are your tastes different with women?”
He took a bite from his sandwich and considered. “I love my brother and I usually try to refrain from saying negative things about him…”
“But…”
“But, he has a tendency toward the hot, wild ones. He’s never too concerned about what’s upstairs as long as they look good on his arm. Some of the ones he’s brought home over the years were plain bat-fuck-crazy, but hot.”
She cringed. She wasn’t sure if she was flattered or hurt by Graham’s statement. But she knew the score the night Dane had picked her up at the casino. She’d known – more or less – that the night would end up with them in bed.
“Why does he go for those types?”
“He’s the type who indulges in immediate gratification?” He shrugged, quite visibly bemused himself. “Just his personality. He’ll eventually see there needs to be more to a woman than her looks. He’s just not interested in being there quite yet. Maybe he figures if he finds a woman who challenges him mentally he’d feel compelled to give up his carefree lifestyle for her and settle down.”
Genevieve chewed at her lower lip, considering. Could she be the one Dane wanted to settle down with? Or was she just another amusement to him; a challenge until he moved on to the next hot thing that caught his fancy?
“And what about you?”
He took a deep breath in and slowly released it. “I won’t lie. I prefer a physically attractive woman, but then again, that’s a pretty subjective thing. Let’s use you for example.”
She cocked her head to the side and eyed him. “I’d rather you didn’t.” She was only halfway joking.
He ignored her. “If I could put together a wishlist of physical attributes for the perfect woman you’d be the result of that list.”
She was shocked at his compliment and she could tell it wasn’t being said simply to flatter her, but he genuinely felt that way, which contributed to her speechlessness. It had to be one of the most incredible compliments she’d ever received. She knew she was somewhat attractive, but to be the model of someone’s fantasy woman was a little surprising.
“I guess that’s part of the reason I wasn’t quick to respond to… when you…” He thrust a hand into his hair and sighed. “In Vegas.”
Her face grew warm and she raised her hand, motioning for him to stop, for both of their sakes. “I think I get it now.”
The look of relief in his expression was almost comical. “Yeah. So above the physical, I really want someone who’s put together. Someone who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. I’m not looking for club bunnies or short-term flings – I never have. I like being part of a couple and one failed marriage isn’t going to change that.”
“So your wife?” she prompted.
“Would’ve been better off staying with my brother. I think she wanted the wedding, but not the commitment marriage entailed. I jumped thinking she was the right one, and I made a mistake. But I’ve learned from my mistakes and won’t make that mistake again.”
“What do you mean, stayed with your brother?”
He clucked his tongue off of the roof of his mouth. “She was with Dane first. He didn’t want to be married and was very clear to her about it. She moved on with me a while later. But turns out she also wasn’t ready for that commitment, just thought she was. It was a mistake and Dane and I had issues for a while because of it. But that’s over now and we’ve since reconciled.”