Best Friend's Brother

Eighteen years ago.....

Kaleb Luthor hurried on. He was on an errand for his father, walking down the gravel path that cut from his house when his eyes caught something. He stopped and stared for a moment.

It was his sister's friend, Sasha. Sasha Sullivan.

She was hanging upside down from an old tree, her skinned knees hooked over a low thick branch. She was swinging back and forth, so her long braids dangled like ropes. The whole time she hummed while she blew the biggest pink bubble he had ever seen. He didn't know you could hum and blow bubble gum at the same time. As he walked past her, there was a loud pop.

"Where are you going?" she asked as she swung up so she was straddling the branch with one leg, while the other dangled down. Her palms propped up by her body and she stared down at him.

Dust fell all over him and scowling, he wiped off his face and head. He frowned. On the same level as his nose was a pair of blue canvas shoes. He slowly looked upward along her legs and knees to the small indignant face, which looked like a doll.

She blew another bubble, sucked in and popped out in an obnoxious way. "I asked where you were going. Big head," she repeated like she was the queen of some island.

"None of your business, Nosey," Kaleb replied, trying to annoy her.

It worked. He turned his back on her and started to walk away. Sasha jumped out of the tree and appeared beside him.

"My name is not Nosey," she said. "Don't call me that"

He grunted some response and kept walking.

"You are such a grump," she said. "I wonder how Tilly puts up with you."

He stopped and looked down at her. Her expression dared him to ignore her again. He started walking away again and she kept up with him, not saying anything, but he could feel her studying him. He looked at her finally. All he saw was an expressive face and a pair of frowning black eyes.

"Go away," he said. "Don't you have something to do?"

"Not really. I was waiting for Tilly" she replied. There was a pause, and then she added, "I'm not a baby, you know. I know a lot of things"

"Oh really" he said sarcastically.

"Yeah"

"Things like what... Nosey?" he asked.

"I dunno," she replied with a frown. "Anything"

He almost laughed then. She was so weird. He thought... And kinda funny too. He had to admit.

"Go ahead" She said, "Ask me something"

Kaleb stood, looking at her face staring up at him with a look that dared him to argue with her. Which he wasn't in the mood to. Didn't want to and he didn't have the time to either. He could have called her bluff. But he didn't. He knew all about pride. It was something he understood. He turned away from her and went on his way.

She didn't follow him.

-----------

"Get your ass home, Tilly. I'm going to be bored sitting out here by myself," Sasha said as she slid the key Tilly had given her into the lock and pushed the door open. She heard Tilly laugh on the other end of the line as she dropped her bag on the cushion and headed for the big kitchen to get a bottle of water.

"Relax, I'll be back in an hour or so. You know I have to study so I can pick up on my grades. They have been a mess lately."

Sasha couldn't help but roll her eyes at her best friend's comment. "I understand, but it's still your fault that you missed so many classes. What were you thinking? Now I have to suffer the consequences of your actions. Sucks for me."

She heard Tilly chuckle again, and wondered if she was just enjoying her torment. "Just keep yourself busy. Go swim in the pool or something. I'm sure you will feel better after that. I'll be back soon, I promise." Tilly said and hung up.

Sasha lifted the bottle of water to her lips and drank almost half of it, then she headed for the back door. She pushed the door open, and the sight of the huge pool made her smile. The water in the pool was as blue as the sky and clean as crystal... so calm and smooth as if begging for her to dive in and disrupt the calmness. She had to admit that Tilly was right about one thing; a swim would definitely make her feel better.

Without hesitation, She grabbed a towel from the rack and took off her top and shoes. She put on some music with her phone, and left in her shorts and sports bra, Sasha dove into the pool. The weather was really hot and the feeling of the water against her skin was soothing and refreshing. She swam from one end of the pool to the other a few times before her head broke through the surface, then she noticed someone standing at the door leading into the pool. Convinced that she was alone in Tilly's house, her first instinct is to scream.

"Hey. Hey, relax"

A voice said as she screamed and struggled to clear the water from her eyes so she could see properly. Taking a closer look at the intruder, she yelled when she finally realized who it was. "You! What the hell are you doing here? You almost gave me a heart attack!"

It was Kaleb, Tilly's older brother, who she had had a crush on since she and Tilly were in high school. He didn't seem to care about the fact that he'd startled her. Instead, he smiled and began to walk closer, but when he reached the sunlounger where Sasha kept her phone, he stopped. He stood there staring at the rings of water she had left behind, while the music from her phone continued to play... Music that Sasha could barely hear now.

She froze in the water, and she could tell that he knew that she was surprised judging by the way her eyes were widened. She watched as Kaleb turned down the volume on her phone, then he straightened and gestured for her to climb out of the pool.

Sasha swam towards him and he stretched out his hand to her. She stared at it for a few seconds, as if contemplating her decision before she finally put her hand in his and he straightened, pulling her up with him. Sasha slid her hand from his grip and turned away, immediately grabbing the towel and using it to cover herself while awkwardly pretending to dry off.... Taking her time.

"What are you doing here?"she asked him as soon as she could bring herself to meet his gaze again.

"That's a pretty weird question to ask me, don't you think? This is my house too, remember? I should be the one asking you that question." Kaleb replied.

Sasha frowned at the grin on his face, and raised her chin a little, challenging him, "Excuse me, but I was under the impression that no one was home." she said.

"I can see that," he replied, and continued to smile at her so she looked away, embarrassed by the attraction she realized she still felt towards him after all these years. Neither of them made any effort to move, and they simply stood, watching each other.

"I'm sorry, I'll get out of your way. Tilly didn't tell me you were home." Sasha finally said as she grabbed her top. Tilly was in for a lot of trouble for failing to inform her that Kaleb was home, but she also had to tell herself the truth. Tilly probably didn't feel the need to since she never told her how she felt about her brother, but still, a little heads up would have been nice.

"You're not in my way, and Tilly didn't tell you because I just arrived this morning," Kaleb said as he placed his hand on her arm to stop her movement. Sasha's eyes fell on his hands and he let go of her arm, but her skin seemed to burn from his touch even if it only lasted for a few seconds.

"You can go back to swimming if you want. I'd be happy to just stay and watch. I could cheer too, you know.... If you want," he added.

He winked at her and she shook her head, willing those feelings to go away. She was not his type and he was never going to see her as anything more than his sister's best friend, but there was something about the way he was staring at her now that told her that this time, it was different; something had changed between them, but she wasn't sure what it was. Was he really flirting with her or was she just seeing what she wanted to see? His eyes roamed freely up and down her body, and Sasha's hands tightened on the towel.

"You don't have to cover up, Sasha. You are at the pool." Kaleb said and leaned closer, almost whispering the words in her ear. "And you look hot too..."

"Well, the weather is pretty hot," Sasha replied, "That's why I wanted to swim in the first place. The water is pretty cool and it helped a lot."

Kaled grinned, "I meant 'Hot' as in 'good looking', Sasha," he said.

"Yeah right" Sasha replied, but she was blushing again. She had a feeling he just said that to tease her as he always did when they were younger. He probably was just as self conscious as she was, she thought...only that he was just better at hiding it, but she sure as hell wasn't going to stick around to find out if she was right. At least not at this moment. "I have to go."

He nodded. "It was nice to see you again, Sasha," said Kaleb.

"Right back at you" she replied awkwardly.

Sasha grabbed her phone and top and hurried out of the pool area. He didn't try to stop her this time and for that she was grateful. For some reason she paused at the door, palm pressed to one of the panels, and glanced over her shoulder in his direction. His eyes were still on her and even across the distance, she could feel the shock of that look whip through her, sizzling in her veins.

She pushed the door open and hurried inside the house. It didn't matter though... There was something about that look... that told her that she was in for a wonderful adventure.

---------

Sasha drove into her compound and hurried upstairs to her apartment. Her hair was still wet, but she didn't mind. She'd changed into one of Tilly's gowns and hurried out of the Luthors' mansion without waiting for Tilly to come home. She barely made it to the bedroom before her phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It was Tilly.

"You left!" Tilly said immediately she picked up. "I thought we agreed that you'd wait for me... and I hurried home because of you."

Sasha squeezed her eyes shut. "I'm sorry. I... I suddenly remembered something I had to do" she lied.

"Well, whatever it is. It better be worth it" Tilly replied.

"Kaleb is back," said Sasha, changing the topic. "Why didn't you tell me that he was coming home"

"Girl, I completely forgot. All these assignments I have to do have been keeping me occupied. Besides, it's just Kaleb. Did you want to throw him a welcome party?"

She didn't want to throw him a party obviously, but she'd have liked to know, Sasha thought, but she didn't say it out loud. It would have been easier if she had been expecting to see him. That way, she wouldn't have been so blown away by the incredibly handsome man Kaleb had grown into. He'd always been good looking, but now he was different -he was so much hotter.

Tall, dark hair, handsome face with dimples on both cheeks, broad shoulders, big hands and that God dammed one-sided smile of his that did weird ass shit to her insides. What was it about age that made some men grow into Greek gods?

He was wealthy too. Granted, he came from a wealthy family, but Kaleb Luthor started his own business as a freelance investor, and according to Tilly (and what Sasha knew from stalking him on the internet), his business was pretty successful.

She wondered why she never told Tilly about the way she felt for her brother. It was weird, because she and Tilly told each other everything. They kept nothing from each other. Tilly parents had even invested in her food truck business when she started it to show their support, but she'd kept her crush on Kaleb a secret. Maybe she was just scared of the way Tilly would react. What if Tilly didn't like the idea of her dating her brother? Would it leave a mark on their relationship?

She didn't want that because she valued their friendship so much. But again, what was the point of talking about it when Kaleb wasn't even slightly interested in her. He'd completely friendzoned her, and she hadn't even seen him for years.... Well, until that afternoon.

"Urmmm... helllooo" Tilly said on the other end of the line, bringing Sasha back to reality.

"No, " Sasha said finally, answering Tilly's question, "I wasn't going to throw him a party. I was just surprised to see him, that's all." Feeling uncomfortable, she changed the topic. "So I guess you're all caught up. Ready for your tests now?"

Tilly sighed. "Yeah I guess I am. To some extent, but I have done enough reading for today. We can hang out later. How about you come over tomorrow or I can come to your place if you prefer."

"You should come over. That would be much better" Sasha said immediately, knowing that she wasn't ready to face Kaleb again. "I'll see you tomorrow"

She hung up and let out a deep sigh. Just how long was Kaleb going to be around before he went back to wherever the hell he crawled out from?

--------

Sasha grimaced at the vibration of her cell phone in her back pocket as she served up an order of green papaya salad and tom yum to another hungry customer standing outside her food truck. Her delicious Thai cuisine made hers one of the more popular trucks stationed at the Park during the lunch hour.

Sasha was a wonderful chef, and when she'd proposed starting a food truck business, Tilly and her parents had insisted on investing. The love of food and cooking were just a couple things the two of them bonded over. And because they were such good friends, when she had called Tilly that morning, frantic because she'd been down a person, Tilly had been more than willing to jump in and help. It hadn't been the first time she'd volunteered, and if Sasha needed her, it wouldn't be the last and Sasha was grateful for that. Her friend always had her back and knowing that it wasn't easy to have or find such a good friend, she didn't take it for granted.

The food had been prepared and Tilly was putting them in their packages while Sasha handed them to the customer.

"Here you go, babe." Tilly handed her an order of pad thai, disrupting her thoughts. "That's number 66."

"Thanks." Sasha accepted it, bagged it and carried it to the window. "Here you go." She passed the food to the customer with a smile and turned to the next person in line. "Hi, how can I help you tod-"

Oh hell. It was Kaleb.

Her eyes widened as she stared at his cool, amused expression. "What are you doing here?" she asked, and in spite of the "I don't care about him any more" speech she'd delivered to herself since she saw him two weeks ago, apprehension quivered through her at the smirk glittering in his gaze.

"I came to check out your place," he ground out. "Tilly told me she'd be helping you in your food truck today so I decided to use the opportunity to come say hello-"

"Hey, man, order and move on. Some of us have to get back to work," someone yelled from behind Kaleb. And when several more grumbles of agreement followed, Kaleb whipped his head around. Immediately, the mumbling ceased.

Good Lord. That was some superpower. He returned his attention to her and in spite of his glare, she hiked her chin up. "Thanks, but I'm busy though. If you need Tilly, I can go call her for you. I'm sorry, but I needed her today."

"Relax. I'm not here for Tilly. Trust me, I've had enough of her and her troubles and I've only been back for two weeks." His gaze narrowed further, and he growled, "Open the door."

Before she could reply, he stalked off and disappeared. But seconds later, a hard rap at the side door echoed in the truck. From the grill, Tilly tossed her a "what the hell?" look, and, bemused, Sasha shrugged and unlocked it.

The door jerked open, and Kaleb strode through it. His big body and intense presence seemed to shrink the interior to that of a toy truck.

Sasha stared at him, open mouthed and struck silent. Which wasn't an easy feat, while Tilly simply rolled her eyes, looking unimpressed. "It's just you. What are you doing here?" Tilly asked.

"Mind your business," Kaleb retorted. With sharp movements, he jerked off his coat and suit jacket and hung them on a wall hook. Then he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and pinned both Tilly and Sasha with that dark glare.

"Well?" he snapped. "Where do you need me?"

Need him? What was happening? Sasha wondered.

"I want to help," he added helpfully.

Tilly recovered first. "I'm not sure you can be of much help, Kaleb" she said, "But let's see how much your kitchen skills have improved" She handed him a knife. "You get an order of cashew chicken going, and I'll get the green curry."

Without a word, he crossed to the sink, washed his hands, then accepted the utensil and started chopping fresh vegetables and chicken like a pro. Tilly again shot Sasha a look, but Sasha shrugged, still stunned and confused.

"You have customers waiting," Kaleb reminded her, without turning around.

Now the man had eyes on the back of his head as well as cooking skills?

Again...what the hell was going on?

Shaking her head, she returned to the window and the ever-growing line outside. For the next couple hours, the three of them worked like a well-oiled machine.