Page 127 of My Fiancé's Brother

“No. He’s really sensitive about his memory loss which the doctors also said is normal. The doctor told me not to talk about our broken engagement because they don’t want him to become agitated or upset.”

“So he doesn’t remember cheating on you or breaking up with you.”

“No.”

“Does that mean he thinks you are still engaged?”

I chewed on my lip. “Yes.”

Silence hung between us.

His voice sounded low and ridiculously gentle. “How are you doing with all of this?”

“It’s weird to pretend that nothing has happened and not talk about it.”

He didn’t speak.

I tried again. “It doesn’t feel real but…”

“But you can’t get honest about it because you aren’t supposed to.”

“Yes.”

He looked around the loft. “You should move into your granny’s place while I'm gone. I don’t like you being out here alone when I'm gone.”

He would only be here for a few more weeks, and then he would be gone for good. “Okay.”

“My flight leaves in four hours. Why don’t you pack up and I'll help you move your bags.”

Jackson tookout the garbage and loaded Chloe’s stuff into my car, while I put together a bag for myself. It would be weird to be back at the penthouse, but I looked forward to it. That place felt more like home than the loft did. After my granny had died, I couldn’t bear to be there, but now it might comfort me while Jackson was gone.

Jackson followed so close behind my car, I could only see the enormous grill of his truck in my review mirror. How much patience did he require to follow so slowly behind me? That was the difference between us. I did a three-point check before I changed lanes. I was cautious and held my steering wheel at two and ten. He barely kept his hands on the steering wheel, much less his eyes on the road. He drove his truck like a bat out of hell. Jackson thumbed danger in the face. I lived to stay safe. I found his courage wildly intoxicating.

He carried my bags up to the penthouse and then I sat on thecouch and waited for him to pack his bags.

He reappeared a few moments later, and my heart stuttered in my chest. He looked like a soldier with his grey and white military fatigues. A faded military grade baseball cap was pulled low over his eyes. He seemed impossibly tough.

My heart slammed into my chest. Fear seized my throat, making it tough for me to speak. “Are you going to fight?”

He snorted in amusement. “I wish. My flight is military. No civilian dress on those flights.”

I let out a big pent-up breath. “Oh.”

He picked up his black duffle bag that I knew from experience weighed more than I did. A terrible feeling that he wouldn’t return crushed my chest.

“You’re coming back right?” I sounded like a lovesick teenager in angst. But I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

“I'll be back on Friday.”

I stood up and anxiously wiped my hands on my pants. I wanted to launch myself at him, but instead, I stood there and memorized every inch of him. The way his long hair licked up beneath his hat. His big black watch that wrapped around his thick wrist. The shape of his eyes that were shaded by his hat. The hard angular planes of his face. The thickness of his corded neck. The man was absolutely massive.

My hand pressed against my stomach. And this giant of a man had planted his seed inside of me. I broke out in a sweat and swayed on my feet. I was about as petite as one could get. I had a faint thought that this baby might kill me coming out if it took after its father.

His eyes narrowed. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah. Totally.” I lied through my teeth.

He frowned and looked at me.

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