Page 33 of My Fiancé's Brother 2

“Yes, she was fine.”

We stood there looking at each other.

He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry I jumped out of the way. It was more instinct than anything. I didn’t mean to put you in danger.”

He seemed sincere. “That’s okay. It all worked out.”

“So has Jackson gone back to Virginia?”

“Yes, he left yesterday.”

He looked over at the boxes. “I got your texts about you moving out. That’s why I’m here.”

I stared at him, feeling a sense of anxiety grow in my stomach. “Okay.”

“I want to give this another shot. We need to make a go of this.”

“Matt.”

“No, hear me out. I mean it, Emily. I think that the last two months have been crazy. Crazier than anyone could handle, but that doesn’t mean we have to keep reacting to the crazy. I love you, and you love me.”

“Matt,” I floundered. Why was it always so hard to be upfront and straight with this man?

“I didn’t realize just how scared and alone you felt until you publicly proposed to Jackson.” He gave a half laugh. “I mean, you put the guy on the spot there, but you need to know that you aren’t alone here, Emily. I’m here for you, and I want us to get married. I know we can have such a beautiful life together.”

He was convinced that this is what was going to happen. Matt had unfaltering confidence.

“Jackson and I got married.”

He stepped back and slowly shook his head. “No.”

“We went to the courthouse yesterday.”

“You’re telling me that you’re actually married.”

“Yes.”

Matt’s face flushed. His lips pulled back, and he snarled. “Well, that was a very stupid thing to do, Emily.”

“Matt….”

He rolled his shoulders. “You think Jackson wants a wife much less a baby? When I suggested to him that I was willing to step in as a father and to marry you, he couldn’t get on board fast enough.”

I felt my heart freeze into a solid lump. “He told you that?”

Matt gave a sharp laugh. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what?”

“The only reason why Jackson messed with you is that he was trying to get to me. It's been like that my entire life.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Jackson only dates blondes. Tall, leggy blondes.”

I lifted my chin a notch. The blood pumped wildly through my veins. “So?”

“So, you're a tiny redhead. No offense, but you would’ve never been a ping on his radar. You want to know why Jackson and I are at odds? He’s not a nice person. He came into my life when I was seven and our family never recovered. He’s been trying to ruin my life since the day I met him.”

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