Page 24 of My Fiancé's Brother

“Yes.”

I couldn’t quite decipher the energy he was giving off. If I wasn’t mistaken, he was even more on guard than when it was just the two of us.

“Matt said that you used to live together.”

He cracked open a beer. “I used to live with Matt’s family.”

I held my breath. “Matt just mentioned that to me today, but he didn’t say why.”

Green eyes held my gaze with intense honesty. “Matt’s dad used to arrest Ted for being drunk and disorderly. And more often than not, I ended up at Matt’s house.”

My eyes widened. “Oh.”

He picked up his beer and took a long drink.

I hesitated over my question. “Ted is your dad?”

“Ted is the man I lived with after my mom died.”

Questions flowed through my mind. When did Jackson's mom die? How old was Jackson when she passed on? Who was Ted? Did Ted have legal guardianship over Jackson? If he wasn’t Jackson’s birth father, then who was? I stood there looking up at him unsure what to ask next.

He swallowed and pinned me with his gaze. “It was a long time ago.”

His tone said the conversation was over. I stood there and watched him take another sip of his beer while I tried to keep the sympathy from showing on my face. I had a feeling that Jackson didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him.

Matt pounded down the stairs.Words flowed from him before he even hit the bottom step. He grabbed his beer, tasted something from the stove, kissed my neck and checked his phone. I secretly referred to Matt as a tornado in a bottle. His energy was explosive. He never slowed down. I watched as he fired questions at Jackson, talked about work and scrolled through his phone to show Jackson something. Matt moved a hundred miles a minute. Jackson revealed his intensity through his quiet demeanor and his stoic strength. Matt noticed nothing and Jackson observed everything.

“Time to eat,” I said, carrying the last of the food to the table.

They communicated like old friends, but their differences were stark. Matt talked nonstop. Jackson listened more than he spoke. Matt looked short and lanky. Jackson appeared to have DNA from some mythical Adonis. Matt appeared younger with his combed-back blond hair and a clean-shaven face. Jackson’s overgrown hair and stubble added years, giving him the appearance of being older. I needed to stop comparing these two men. I disliked where my thoughts were going.

I abruptly stood up. Both men glanced up at me.

Matt gave me a smirk. “You okay?”

I looked down at my plate. It was still half full. “Yes.”

“You’re as nervous as a cat,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me back down. “Relax.”

I sat down and picked up my fork. They continued to talk. It was hard to believe these two guys had grown up together. What was the story? I was dying to get Matt alone so that I could pump him for information.

Finally, they were done eating.

I shot up again and started to pick up their plates.

“I'll do dishes.” Jackson’s voice was low.

No. That was a bad idea. I needed some space. To think and clear my head. “Don’t even think about it. You two should sit outside. It is a beautiful night.”

Matt stood up. “That’s a great idea.”

I carried plates into the kitchen. Matt followed me and grabbed a beer out of the fridge. “Great dinner, babe.”

I smiled, looking up at his face. Matt ignored my expression and walked out to the patio. Matt’s brush off made me flush. Jackson observed all from where he sat.

I wiped my hands on my skirt. “Would you like another beer?”

“No thanks.”

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