Bodywork by Marie Harte Page A

his shit when she moved out, had killed whatever tenderness he might have felt toward her.
    “Good. That’s great, man.” George hopped down to the floor. After a moment, his knee buckled , and he groaned.
    “Are you okay?” Shane hoped like hell his brother hadn’t damaged his knee again. Though he’d healed fast, it wouldn’t take much to set him back, not with football season coming in to swing.
    “I think so. Just a twinge.” George sighed . “Too bad Shelby isn’t seeing me anymore.”
    Shane jerked to a stop , his mind and now George talking about the woman . “Huh?”
    “Shelby, my massage therapist? The woman you’re so hot over?”
    Shane frowned. “I am not.”
    “Whatever, dude. I just came by to drop off those discs.” He limped to the door. “Don’t tell Mom about this, ok ay? In fact, maybe you could do me a favor.”
    “Here it comes.”
    “Could you let me see Shelby here this weekend, if I can get her to see me? I swear I’ll pay you back. I f Mom knows my knee hurts, she’ll make me quit the team. And it’s my last year . D ad will be so disappointed . The scholarship …” Tears glistened in George’s eyes.
    Shane nearly bought into it before he remembered who he was talking to. “Emotional blackmail. Creative. The tears are a nice touch.”
    “I thought so . ” George blinked and his sadness vanished . “But seriously, bro. I’m gonna ask her to meet me here Saturday. Could you make sure you clean the place up? And maybe wear something nice and act less pathetic than usual so sh e can get those healing hands on me without feeling awkward around you . ”
    How much more awkward would she feel to see the man she’s had sex with alongside his brother? Yet it was the perfect way to see her again . He could justify bringing her to his house to heal George. It wasn’t at all needy to want help for his brother.
    “Okay, George. You set it up , and I’ll host.”
    “Great.” George hurried to the door. “But you can’t tell Mom.”
    “Trust me. I won’t.”
    “Thanks, man. You’re the best.” George hugged him then hustled out the front door so fast Shane suspected foul play. If his brother could move like that, how the hell did the little faker think he could fool Shelby into fixing his knee ?
    For some reason, George wanted Shane and Shelby together. Shane didn’t know why, but he’d find out. After he had a taste of his Amazon again.
     
    “Did he buy it?” Mac asked as he drove George away from his brother’s.
    “I think so.” George kicked his feet up on the dash before Mac shoved them to the floor.
    “Respect the car, nimrod.”
    “Sorry, sorry.”
    The kid was a natural around women, but still a kid. All the Collinses were decent people. Shane’s old man had been a Marine, the inspiration for Shane’s service to the Corps . And probably Geo’s. That’s if the kid wasn’t drafted to play pro out of college. He already had a bead on a full scholarship to Washington next fall, after he graduated high school .
    “So what did he say?”
    “He’s not giving anything away, but I’m telling you, something went down. At dinner Sunday night, he zoned out. Shane never zones. And he’s been goofy. Grinning for no reason. It’s a woman, I swear.”
    “But he hasn’t mentioned anyone to me.” Not that Shane had to, but he and Mac were tight. Best buds for years. They had the Corps in common, as well as a basic decency too many civilians lacked.
    “I didn’t know you two girl s shared eve rything.” George batted his eye lashes, and Mac grinned.
    Then he cuffed the kid in the back of the head.
    “Ow. Okay, so he didn’t share.”
    Which was Shane’s MO when it came to a woman he liked. Mac had to pry the information from him. Unless there was no woman, and Shane zoned for some other reason.
    “Tell me again about Shelby. Don’t leave anything out.”
    As George described the woman, Mac’s curiosity grew. She sounded too good to be true. And if she