MATT (The Hartwell Brothers Book 2) Read online

  Matt

  The Hartwell Brothers Book 2

  M. S. Parker

  Belmonte Publishing, LLC

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2019 Belmonte Publishing LLC

  Published by Belmonte Publishing LLC

  Contents

  Free Book

  The Hartwell Brothers

  1. Matthias

  2. Matt

  3. Gabrielle

  4. Matt

  5. Gabrielle

  6. Matt

  7. Gabrielle

  8. Matt

  9. Gabrielle

  10. Matt

  11. Gabrielle

  12. Matt

  13. Gabrielle

  14. Matt

  15. Gabrielle

  16. Matt

  17. Gabrielle

  18. Matt

  19. Gabrielle

  20. Matt

  21. Gabrielle

  22. Matt

  23. Gabrielle

  24. Matt

  25. Gabrielle

  26. Matt

  27. Gabrielle

  28. Matt

  29. Gabrielle

  30. Matt

  31. Gabrielle

  32. Matt

  33. Gabrielle

  34. Matt

  35. Alice

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  Office romances by M. S. Parker

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  The Hartwell Brothers

  Thank you for reading MATT, the second book in my hot, new billionaire series: The Hartwell Brothers. Each book is about a different brother and can be read stand-alone, however, I highly recommend reading the books in this order:

  Book 1: KEITH (Hartwell 1)

  Book 2: MATT (This Book)

  Book 3: JAMIE (Feb 2020)

  Book 4: SHAWN (Mar 2020)

  One

  Matthias

  March 1951…

  That kiss.

  I fell asleep remembering it and woke with the taste of her on my lips again. At least, the memory of it.

  The annoying ring of the alarm clock on my nightstand had jerked me out of the sweetest dream. After knocking it onto the floor in an attempt to silence the damn thing, I lay there for a few moments, breathing in the quiet and trying to recapture the fading threads of the dream.

  We’d been on the back deck, her face lifted to mine, looking so lovely and delicate.

  Too often, when I looked at her, I saw the fading evidence of violence left on her skin by Lewis, the prick. It was only in my head. The faint bruises I’d seen on her skin that evening had long since faded, and since early January, the asshole had been out of the country traveling.

  He hadn’t hurt her again. Yet.

  But even the memory was too much.

  If he tries to hurt her again, I’ll kill him, I told myself.

  And I would. It was a miracle I hadn’t torn him to pieces all ready.

  The rage I’d felt that night…

  Off in the depths of the apartment I’d rented, my phone rang. I jerked upright and stared for a second. It wasn’t even seven in the morning. Who could be calling?

  Throwing back the blankets, I rushed to answer and had the handset in my hand by the fourth ring. “Hello?”

  After a long pause, there was a soft intake of air.

  Somehow, I knew. “Alice.”

  “I…I’m sorry, Matthias. I shouldn’t have called so early. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “No!” It tore out of me without conscious thought. Calming myself, I cleared my throat. “It’s okay. I was already awake. Work, you know.”

  “Oh.” A shaky sigh was followed by a pause so long, I thought she might have hung up. “I…well, perhaps I should call back later. I don’t want to make you late.”

  “Sweetheart, I help run the place now that my grandfather has stepped down. The world won’t end even if I am a bit late, and I don’t have to be in until eight-thirty.”

  “Oh.”

  There was nothing else for several long moments, and I listened to the quiet sound of her breathing, giving her the time she clearly needed. Although miles separated us, I could picture her standing in the soft quiet of her little apartment near the campus, rolling the cord of the phone between her fingers. When she was nervous, she fidgeted, smoothing a napkin, adjusting a place mat, aligning the silverware, anything to keep her hands occupied.

  She took another breath before asking softly, “Will I see you later?”

  We’d made plans over the weekend to have coffee, but it wasn’t like her to call so early. And her voice shook.

  “Alice, what’s wrong? What’s going on, sweetheart?” I asked quietly. I shouldn’t call her that. I knew it. She wasn’t mine, although she felt like she was.

  “I…” Her voice hitched. “It’s nothing. We can talk later.”

  The unease inside me grew. Lewis had finally returned from his business trip and Alice had told me that both her mother and his were now talking more and more about setting a date, but Alice had yet to commit to anything.

  Lewis, so far, hadn’t pressured her. The last I’d heard, they didn’t see each other except for an occasional dinner at her parents’ home on Sundays, but I knew his type.

  He’d hurt her once. He’d do it again, as soon as he got the mind to do so.

  Checking the time, I made up my mind.

  “I’m coming over, Alice. I’ll be at your place within the hour.”

  “That’s not necessary, Matt,” she said in a rush. “You have to work, and I should shower and get ready for class.”

  “You do that. By the time you’re done, I’ll be there. We’ll talk. And don’t worry about my work. If the boss can’t take a bit of personal time, who can?”

  Holding Alice as she cried was torture.

  And infuriating.

  Each sob tore at my heart and made me want to commit acts of sheer, bloody violence. If Lewis were to appear before me just then…

  I shoved the thought out of my head and focused on the woman in my arms, rubbing my cheek against her hair. “It will be all right,” I told her. “I promise you. It will be all right.”

  Long, long moments passed before the sobs started to ease. She felt so frail in my arms, her back narrow, her shoulders hunched. Her face was tucked into the curve of my neck, breath warm and soft as she finally, finally breathed easier.

  “I’ve made a mess of you,” she whispered, pressing slightly against me.

  Instinctively, I resisted, not wanting to let her go. I never wanted to let go. “I like holding you, Alice.”

  Her eyes swept up to mine, and I reached up, using my thumb to wipe away the tears.

  She turned her face into my touch, lashes falling down. Leaning in, I pressed my lips to her forehead, aching for so much more. This was the closest we’d ever been, and it made the savage hunger within almost painful.

  Seemingly unaware of my private torture, Alice leaned against me, shifting and moving until she could tuck her head against my neck. “I don’t know what to do, Matt. I’m so scared.”

  “Don’t be.” I’d already made up my mind. “I’ll take care of you, Alice. If you’ll let me.”

  I want to take care of you. Please let me.

  A shaky sigh escaped her. I felt the caress of her breath over m
y skin. Fisting my hand in her skirt, I squeezed my eyes closed.

  “This isn’t your problem, Matt. I…I just needed to tell somebody. I have to think, have to figure something out. I can’t stay here, though. If he knows…I don’t think I’ll be safe.”

  That rage punched into me again, but I smashed it down. There would be time for that later.

  Cupping her chin in my hand, I said, “Look at me.”

  Her eyes, red-rimmed and still diamond bright, met mine.

  “You are not a problem.” I traced my thumb over her lower lip and saw the reaction, the flare of awareness. So innocent. So sweet. And so fragile now. “I want to help you. I want to take care of you. Let me.”

  “Why?” she whispered.

  Because I love you. The words hovered on the edge of my lips. Should I tell her? Would it help? Would it scare her?

  I had no idea.

  Driven by instinct, I lowered my head and pressed my lips to hers, licking the full lower one before teasing the seam of her mouth, seeking entrance. She gasped, opening for me, and I stole inside. Her body, so soft against mine, made me ache, desperate for more as love and lust tangled inside.

  Still, I took nothing more…just the kiss.

  She made a low noise in her throat, and when she craned closer, her hip brushed against my rigid cock. Reflexively, I tightened my grip on the material of her skirt in an effort to hold her still, but there was simply too much of the soft cotton of her dress and petticoat beneath it for it to make much difference.

  Stop, I told myself.

  But she flicked her tongue against mine.

  Then she wiggled around, turning in my lap to face me.

  Aw, fuck…

  My mind went red and hazy with lust as her small hands landed on my shoulders, fingers kneading my muscles through the fine cotton of my dress shirt. Gripping her waist, I pulled her closer, arranging her so our upper bodies pressed flush together…and her knees straddled my thighs. Petticoats and skirts billowed up, no longer such an impediment, and the soft, seductive heat of her thighs pressed to mine.

  “Stop,” I said, tearing my mouth away. Inside my chest, my heart pounded.

  Alice looked at me with glazed eyes. Awareness came slowly, but when it did, her cheeks flushed a hot pink.

  I was prepared.

  She tried to jolt away, and I gripped her hips, holding her in place.

  “Don’t,” I whispered, staring at her. “Don’t run away from me…from this.”

  “I…I shouldn’t have done that. I…” Her voice broke, and she shook her head. “I don’t know what came over me. Matt, please…”

  Pressing my finger to her lips, I somehow managed to smile. It was one of the hardest things I’d ever done, giving her an easy, carefree smile when all I wanted to do was strip her naked, worship her body, beg her to be mine as I told her how much I loved her.

  “You have no idea how many times I’ve imagined holding you, touching you, just like this, Alice. Please don’t break my heart by regretting it.”

  Her lips parted.

  I couldn’t help it. I groaned. The feel of her lips moving on my skin when I was still hard and aching for her…

  “Matt…?”

  “I want you,” I said bluntly. “Surely that doesn’t come as a surprise.”

  Mute, she shook her head.

  Because I didn’t want her to be confused, I continued. “But it’s much more than want.” I stroked the outline of her lips, then curved my hand over the back of her neck. “I want to take care of you, Alice. In all ways. I want you to be mine. Let me do this. Let me help you now.”

  It didn’t take long to make plans and preparations. A few days was all I needed.

  Lewis was still out of town, and our parents were both convinced we were wrapped up in our busy lives.

  Alice only had a half day of classes on Fridays, and her normal routine was to leave the apartment and head to the cabin in Cape Cod. Instead, she waited for me at her apartment. The threat of a winter storm had me concerned, but it went north, and when I picked her up, the sky was a pale, pearly gray, the sunlight thin and weak.

  After packing her suitcases in the trunk of my car, I took her hands. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes. I left the letter to Mom and Dad in my room. It will take them a few days to find it, but…they’ll find it.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Are you sure about this? You’re giving up so much.”

  “No. I’m getting everything I’ve ever wanted,” I told her, brushing her hair back from her face. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” She nodded nervously and darted a look back at the apartment building. “I…I’m worried about my parents. Especially Mama. My dad will be so angry. Mama will be so hurt.”

  The desolation in her eyes broke my heart. Cupping her face in my hands, I waited until she met my gaze. “If you want to stay, I’ll make it happen. I won’t let him hurt you.”

  “No.” A shadow fell across her eyes, and her jaw firmed. “I can’t stay here. Not now. Maybe…maybe later, we can come back. You’re certain your brother will take us in?”

  Crooking a smile at her, I pulled her closer. “Positive.”

  Then, because she was mine now, because I could, I pressed my lips to hers. “Let’s go, sweetheart.”

  Two

  Matt

  Present Day…

  “You broke up? When?”

  “Last Saturday.” Meeting Keith’s gaze, I grinned and wondered if it looked as bitter as it felt. Entirely likely. “I was planning on having a profanity-laced talk with you about how you should stop being such a dick to her the next time I saw you. Then she tells me she doesn’t feel for me how she thinks she should feel, and there’s somebody else she can’t stop thinking about, and it would be better…hell. Fuck it, right?”

  Instead of answering, my younger brother tossed back the rest of the whiskey in his glass with a grimace and shot to his feet. Vaguely aware as he got himself another serving of whiskey, I took in the rigid set of his shoulders.

  Keith was pissed. Why, I had no idea. Was it because his little matchmaking scheme hadn’t worked out?

  Not my damn fault. I liked Veronica. No, it hadn’t been love, but maybe it could have been.

  Except she felt something for somebody else.

  Shit.

  Brooding, I studied the rich, warm amber of my whiskey, swirling it around. How had everything gotten so fucked up?

  “She came to see me Saturday.” Voice low and tight, Keith finally spoke, and those words had my muscles tensing.

  I hadn’t heard him right.

  No fucking way.

  Lifting my head just in time to see him toss back more booze, I took in the hard set to his jaw, the lines digging grooves into his cheeks, the shadows under his eyes.

  No, I decided. Not pissed.

  He poured more whiskey before turning to me. “For the record, before I tell you anything else, I really thought when I was introducing you that I was doing the right thing. You deserved…deserve better than that bitch, Nikolette. I don’t know why I thought that pushing Veronica at you was the answer, though. I had to do something, but that wasn’t the way to handle things. Not when I’d been crazy about her from the first night I met her.”

  Understanding dawned, and I put the glass down. I was tempted to throw the cut crystal highball at his head but resisted. If I kept looking at him, I wouldn’t be able to, so I shifted my gaze to the windows, staring outside.

  “She came to see me that Saturday,” he continued, “after your date.” Keith blew out a hard breath. “She told me that she wanted to know if I felt anything. Instead of answering her, I kissed her. Then I fucked her, and because I wasn’t thinking straight, I threw her out.”

  I saw red. Unaware of anything but the pulsing rage, I crossed the floor.

  “The next day—”

  I didn’t even plan to hit him, but I saw my fist fly out, saw Keith’s head snap back. He dropped his glass and stumbled before
catching himself.

  “You son of a bitch.”

  “I know.” A red splotch already darkened his jawline where I’d hit him. Eyes turbulent, he held mine.

  I couldn’t look at him. Turning away, I stalked over to the windows, staring outside. My hand throbbed, and I welcomed the pain.

  I fucked her. Then I threw her out.

  And then Veronica’s voice, so soft and steady, even as color suffused her cheeks. “I’m careful about this sort of thing…” she’d told me. “When I say careful, I mean it as in…I haven’t yet found the right guy.”

  Careful. Looking for the right guy.

  And she’d dumped me, then gone to my brother who, in his own words, had fucked her before throwing her out.

  Behind me, Keith demanded, “What, are you done all ready?”

  I faced him, watched him lift his jaw as if he wanted another hit. His voice was full of frustration and guilt.

  Good. I hope the son of a bitch choked on the guilt.

  “What’s the fucking point? We’ve both lost her now.” Turning away, I resumed staring out the window. Tension, heavier now than ever, snapped between us.

  Keith spoke again, his voice gritty this time. “Matt…I care about her. A lot. I know I hurt you, and I’m sorry, but she matters to me, and I’m not going to let that slip away—”