Page 6 of Trust

“Laughing at me.”

“You think I’m laughing at you?”

“You’re always laughing at me.”

The moment she said it, she regretted the words. Or, actually, the tone. It sounded so sad, so pathetic. It had been a bad few months. That’s all.

“I’m not laughing at you. You just make me happy.”

“Say what now?”

His mouth twitched once more. “You don’t treat me any different than you treat your brother. It’s hard to find people—especially women—who don’t try to gain my favor.”

“Oh. It must be tough fending off all of the attention.”

“And you just proved my point.”

He went to take her by the waist, but she stopped him.

“What is with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Listen, I get that I don’t drool over you like other women.”

“I should be so lucky. How is Rick, by the way?”

She swallowed her irritation. Or at least, she tried. Jakob could always get on her last nerve.

“I have no idea.”

“And why is that? I thought he would be here for the wedding.”

Unfortunately, Rick Bellows would be at the wedding as their top surfer. Nothing like seeing your recent ex at your brother’s wedding.

“I assume he will be, but that has nothing to do with me.”

“Well, his loss.”

With that pronouncement, he plucked her off the seat and set her down on the driveway.

“Not sure he sees it that way,” she muttered as she tried to step around Jakob, but he stopped her.

“Then he’s an idiot. You were the catch in that relationship, and any man who doesn’t realize that is an ass.”

Warmth filled her even as she warned herself not to get all goo-goo over a man who pretended to be other people for a living.

“Thank you. But I suggest we head inside before Ben storms out here to ask why I’m monopolizing your time.”

As if on cue, her brother’s voice rang out across the driveway. “What is taking you so long?”

“Youdoknow him well.”

She used to, but she just nodded. They stepped away from the SUV and shut the door. As Jakob waved for her to proceedhim—always with pretty manners—her phone buzzed. When she saw the number, she knew she had to be discreet about this call.

“You go ahead. I have to take this.”

He took off his aviators, his gaze roaming over her. She knew he wanted to say something, but her brother opened his stupid mouth again. At least, this time, he was helping her. Jakob nodded, but his expression warned he was going to dig more.

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