Page 89 of His Secret Obsession
“It was shocking as hell to walk in and see you with my brother, and I didn’t handle it well. I’m sorry for that as well.”
“It would be hard for anyone to handle.”
“Do you love him?” He sits up a little straighter, his shoulders tensing like he’s preparing himself for the answer. I don’t want to hurt him, but I don’t want to lie either.
I nod. “Yeah, I do love him. I think he’s it for me.” The words make my heart stumble as I admit them aloud.
Luke’s expression is a mixture of pain and relief. “Good, because my brother is crazy about you. He sacrificed a lot of years to take care of me after our dad died, and he deserves to be happy. When I walked in here, he was looking at you like you hung the moon.” His head turns as he stares out the kitchen window, a contemplative expression on his features. “I don’t think I ever looked at you like that. You guys deserve each other. You both deserve all the happiness in the world.”
Relief courses through me. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed to hear him vocalize his acceptance of us. Hearing it from Jax isn’t quite the same, and now some of the silent fears in my mind have been settled. I don’t think I’ll have to worry about Luke trying to interfere in our relationship again.
“You deserve happiness, too,” I say. When he turns to look at me, a quiet disbelief mars his face. It takes me by surprise, twisting my gut. Has he always thought so little of himself? Is that why he acts the way he does?
“Maybe,” he says quietly.
“You do,” I reiterate. “You’re a good guy.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t think I am, but I’m going to try harder.”
The sound of water turning off upstairs snags my attention, my eyes traveling towards the staircase. Heat warms my body as mental images of a naked, wet Jax stepping out of the shower flash through my mind. The idea that I can have him like this every day, that we don’t have to hide our relationship like it’s something sordid, has butterflies erupting inside my belly. I fidget in my seat as I try, and fail, to tamp down my smile. Luke gives me a knowing look, jerking his chin toward the stairs.
I nearly bolt toward the door but force myself to face Luke as he stands. Reaching forward, I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze. He inhales sharply, his body tense as I take him by surprise. Then he relaxes and returns my hug.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Just be happy,” he replies, his voice thick with emotion.
I nod, my throat constricting as I stave off the need to cry. “I don’t regret us,” I admit. He pulls back, peering down at me with surprise. “Maybe we weren’t meant to be forever, but we still have a lot of good memories. And I’ll always care about you, yeah?” I lightly punch his arm, trying to break the tension.
His shoulders relax. “Go on,” he says, jerking his chin towards the upstairs bathroom again. “The fool is probably missing you already. He’s going to be attached to you all the time now, you know.”
Heading through the kitchen door, I grin. “I’m counting on it.”
I bound up the stairs, happiness making me feel drunk and giddy. As I do, I think about the future and all the possibilities ahead. Then I pause, my stomach swooping as a new idea occurs to me. I know not everybody believes in the idea of guardian angels, or fate, or whatever. But I wonder if my parents have been nudging me towards Jax all along. Maybe they saw the love we could have together, and maybe they orchestrated our paths crossing as a final parting gift to me. The thought makes my heart swell with gratitude and love.
And hope.
“Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad,” I whisper.
I turn towards Jax’s bedroom door, ready to see what our future holds.
Jax
Grinning around the lip of the beer bottle currently pressed against my mouth, I take another gulp of the amber-colored liquid and relish the way it soothes my dry throat. The honkey-tonk music pumping out overhead is loud, and the lights inside the packed bar dim. The faint scent of lingering sweat tickles my nose. And as I sit at the crowded bar, I catch snippets of conversations around me.
But none of that distracts me from the woman radiating confidence with a coy smile as she approaches me. The way her hips sashay makes my mouth water, the form-fitting blackjeans and gray tank top that show a hint of cleavage making my dick stir. I’m not the only one who notices. Other men pause, their eyes studying her in a hungry way that makes me want to growl like a possessive brute. She stops in front of me, and their blatant interest transforms into mixtures of disappointment and jealousy that give me an immense amount of satisfaction.
“Mind if I sit?” She jerks her chin towards the empty stool next to me, the only empty spot left around the bar. That coy, devious smile lights up her face and makes my heart race. “I promise to keep my hands to myself. I’m sure you have a woman waiting for you at home.” I almost break character by laughing out loud. Maybe it’s a silly idea, but I wanted us to go back and do this night over again.
This time, I get to keep the girl.
“I was saving it for you.” I give her a heated look, my lips stretching into a smirk when her cheeks pinken. She sits down, and we angle our bodies toward one another. My heart gives an excited flip at the proximity. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being close to her. My fingers are already itching to pull her closer.
“Oh, yeah? How did you know I would come over here?” She flips her hair over one shoulder, baring the silky-smooth slope of her neck to me. A quiet, nearly inaudible groan rumbles up my throat. She’s playing with fire and, based on the innocent flutter of her eyelashes accompanied by a pleased smile, I think she knows it. She likes playing with me.
“I saw you looking this way, and I thought you looked thirsty.” I lower my voice into a raspy whisper, watching as her eyes widen.
“You thought I looked thirsty?” For a minute, she looks like she wants to be offended, and it makes me chuckle. I nod toward the bartender, taking the liberty of ordering her go-to drink before turning back towards her.
