Page 45 of My Fiancé's Brother

His teeth nipped my bottom lip.

I moaned into his mouth.

Our kiss flashed in my mind on repeat. I felt my face heat up. It was going to be a long night.

CHAPTER 14

An hour later,I stood in the kitchen and pretended to wipe down the counter, because secretly it was the best vantage point to watch Julie and Jackson. Watching Julie flirt with Jackson was painful, but watching Jackson flirt back felt like a knife was going through my heart. The man had charm. I thought Matt was an outstanding flirt, but Jackson took it to a whole other level. They were no longer even interacting with other people at the party. They were huddled together talking. Every time Julie spoke, Jackson leaned down, putting his face near hers, so that only he could hear what she said. Whatever she said was apparently funny, because he laughed. I watched as he gently brushed some of her hair off her shoulder. Something ugly moved in my stomach. How could he flirt like that with her, when only a short while ago he had given me one of the most incredible kisses of my life? Just because his kiss had defined all kisses in my life to date, did not mean that it had meant anything to him. For Jackson, that was probably just another everyday kiss. He had come to my room, and I was having a pity party, so he tried to make me feel better with a pity kiss. I needed to get my act together here and just be happy for them.

Jackson lifted his gaze and green eyes met mine. My face burst into flames. I was staring at them like some creepy forlorn lover. I almost tripped over myself to turn away. This was my doing. Jackson and I had done the unthinkable. I had cheated on Matt. I had kissed Jackson. There was no coming back from that. I needed to focus my attention back to Matt. Jackson needed to concentrate his ridiculous charm and charisma elsewhere, and who better than at Julie, who looked like she was about to self-combust in heat.

Furthermore, I had no business concerning myself with Jackson’s love life. And I certainly had no right to let it bother me. I had a wonderful fiancé whom I was going to marry in three short months.

“Matt!” someone yelled over the music. I looked up with relief to see Matt walk in the door, carrying two bottles of wine. I started towards him, and then stopped in my tracks when a beautiful woman walked in behind him. He turned and smiled at her, and then put his hand on her back, ushering her further into the loft.

I watched as he walked through the room, introducing her to our various friends. She was probably just a co-worker that he had brought along. So why did something cold crawl across my skin?

I pasted a big fake-ass smile on my face and walked towards them.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hi,” Matt smiled, avoiding my eyes. The three of us all stood there. It was awkward.

“Hi Matt,” I said again and raised my eyebrows at him. His eyes were bloodshot and red, and he had that look to him. The look that said he had already drunk more than his fair share.

“This is Katherine, one of the partners at my firm.” He pointed a wine bottle at me. “And this is….”

He was loaded.

“Emily,” I glared daggers at him and stuck my hand out to shake hers. “Pleased to meet you.”

“I was getting to your name,” Matt enunciated carefully. “Any booze in this place?”

My manners kicked in. I’d deal with Matt later. I asked her, “Can I get you something to drink?”

“I would love a glass of pinot.”

As I turned away, I heard her say, “How long do we have to stay here?”

I stood in the kitchen, my hands shaking as I poured the wine. What exactly was going on here? Who was Katherine? Why had she answered Matt’s phone? Why was he already drunk? Why hadn’t he introduced me as his fiancée? Questions crowded my mind.

How could I possibly jump to conclusions when I had just kissed Jackson. Was I going to turn this situation back around on Matt and make this his fault?

I brought her a glass of wine, and we smiled at each other. Polite and welcoming conversation. I could do it.

Someone shouted from across the room, “Emily.”

“Excuse me.”

“My girlfriend accidentally knocked over your plant,” Ben said with an apologetic face.

I stared down at the tiny jasmine plant that Jackson had given me. It lay mangled on the floor amongst the black soil and the smashed blue ceramic pot. The fragile small plant lying there made me want to cry a little bit.

“I'm so sorry,” Ben’s girlfriend said with genuine regret in her voice.

“No problem,” I sat on my haunches in front of the mess.

A familiar figure appeared beside me with a hand broom and dustpan. “Here let me help.”

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