Page 91 of His Secret Obsession
Call me the love of your life, your future husband, your man, or just yours.
Yeah, I’m a secret romantic. Sue me.
I pay the bar tab, wrapping my arms around her waist as I lead her towards the parking lot. Before I open the passenger door for her, I crowd her body against the truck. Threading my fingers through the silky strands of her hair and cradling her head, I kiss her softly. Her lips are as pliant against mine as ever, her arms curling around my neck as she pulls me in closer. My tongue flicks against the seam of her mouth, her lips parting to let me in. Love swells in my chest as our tongues tease each other.
I’m panting by time I pull away and rest my forehead against hers.
“You’re mine,” I whisper, our breaths mingling as my lips brush over hers.
“Yours,” she agrees softly. Her hand comes up to rest over my heart. I wonder if she can feel the way it thumps for her. “And you’re mine,” she adds.
“I’ve always been yours, sweetheart, from the first moment I saw you.”
How did I get lucky enough to call this womanmine? For a long time, I thought I was the wrong brother, that she was forever destined to be my secret obsession. But it’s not so secret anymore, is it? And not only that, but she’s just as in love with me as I am with her. And now I get to share this crazy, chaotic journey called life with her.
And I think that makes me the luckiest man alive.
Luke
One Month Later
I’ve got to admit, I’ve never understood the point behind engagement parties. Why host a party just to announce an engagement? After all, it seems like a pretty straightforward concept to me.
Hey guys, I’m engaged. No, no—I’m with the older brother now.
Okay, that does make me sound bitter. But for the most part, I’ve accepted the way things have played out. It’s hard not to when I see how happy they make each other. I take anothersip of my Jack and Coke, pulling at the neckline of my stifling dress shirt as I take in the people mingling amongst one another in Jax’s back yard. Every now and then, someone sends me a pitying look.
I roll my eyes.
“Gotta admit, I’m surprised you came tonight.”
Gritting my teeth, I turn towards Paige. Thankfully, her voice isn’t overly smug or full of pity. She says it in that strait-laced, matter-of-fact way of hers. I eye her outfit, not accustomed to seeing her in anything other than a work uniform. How have I never noticed how hot she is? The black top of her dress has a plunging V-line that shows off the slopes of her breasts while the black, flowing skirt is covered in red roses. Her feet are in some kind of heeled boots, her black hair tipped in its customary purple streaks, loose and flowing down her back. Her nose ring glistens under the fading sunlight. Her arms are bare, showing off the ink that covers nearly every inch of them.
I snort. “Trust me, no one is more surprised than me.” Once again, I don’t mean to sound bitter. But Jax and Maddison live in a small town, and these people are reluctant to forget good gossip. And when Maddison broke up with me only to step out on Jax’s arm a few months later? The old biddies in the town were shooketh.
Well, except for Mary. That woman is the least judgmental person I’ve ever met. She tries to act all loving and nurturing, but I think she has a wild streak she never grew out of.
Honestly, good for her.
“Hmm.” Paige isn’t one to be super chatty, but that’s okay.
I peer over at her, watching as she gazes out at the crowd. People are dancing, hips gyrating to some upbeat music under the low glow of fairy lights on a makeshift dance floor. To the right, there’s a table covered in a white cloth laden with snacksand drinks. Passed that, groups of people play cornhole and ring toss.
“This is actually not a shabby party,” I say aloud. Paige eyes me skeptically. She hasn’t always been my biggest fan, but I haven’t given people much reason to like me lately.
“What is he up to now?” Paige mumbles. I follow her gaze, watching as Andrew ambles over to the stereo speakers. He glances around furtively, his lips quirking.
“Always up to no good, that one,” I say, chuckling.
“I better stop him,” she says.
I halt her steps with a gentle hand on her elbow and shake my head. “Nah. Let’s see how this plays out. I’m curious.” I watch, amused, as Andrew plugs his phone into a USB slot.
“Are you sure? Because—”
Andrew bounces on the heels of his feet, looking smug as the beats of a classic rock song begin playing. I freeze, my drink half-way to my lips as I recognize the song. Conversations halt, heads swiveling between me and Jax as Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” plays. Jax, who is standing near the food table next to Maddison, fumbles the plate of food in his hands. Maddison puts a steadying hand under the plate, preventing him from dropping it. Jax’s head whips around, locking eyes with me. Everybody seems to be holding their breath.
“Too soon?” Andrew asks.
