Page 68 of Igniting Sparks
“I did.” I run my hand along the brass ring encircling thepiling. “He was my first everything. I always figured we’d wind up together.”
“And now he’s back.” Braden grinds to a halt, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “Look, do you want me to disappear? Stage a fight between us that results in me leaving? I’ll play the bad guy here. Just say the word.”
My mind reels, trying to unravel what Braden is really asking. “Why would you do that?”
Braden scrubs his face with his hands and releases a long exhale. “I don’t want to stand in the way of you being happy, but my jealousy is involved now.”
“How?”
“He wants you. Your aunt loves him. Fawns all over him. Meanwhile, she’s picking me apart, which is fine, except now you’re telling me he was your great love, and I refuse to be the guy who fucks that up.”
I rush to his side, running my hands along his chest. “He was my first love. Not my last.”
Braden averts his gaze, releasing another sigh. “I don’t enjoy being this way.”
“What way?”
Finally, he swings his head back, his eyes locking with mine as he flashes a rueful smile. “I shouldn’t be jealous. I know that. But seeing the way he looks at you… and knowing he’s had more of you than I have—it messes with my head.”
Am I shocked that Braden feels this way about Leo? Absolutely, but it warms me, too. Maybe my heart isn’t the only one involved.
I rise on tiptoe to give him a soft kiss. “You missed the most important part, then.”
His brow furrows. “What’s that?”
I shrug. Here goes nothing. “How I was looking atyou.”
Chapter 15
Whiskey, Warnings, and a Wall Kiss
Braden
My hand clutches Mina’s as we wind our way back through the hotel. Yes, I’m hurrying, because I have one destination.
Our hotel room.
After the last few hours, I’ve realized something. I’m tired of fighting this attraction to Mina.
Tired of pretending she doesn’t light up my world. Sick of worrying about her age, or lack of experience, or her extended family.
Mina chose me to pose as her fiancé. She did that for a reason, and I’m ready to play that part to the hilt.
“Hey, look who’s finally returned.” I stifle a groan when Leo calls to us from the lounge.
“Be nice,” Mina whispers, delivering a soft elbow to my ribs.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Look, Leo seems like a decent guy, but let’s get real. He was Mina’s partner ineverysense of the word, and despite Mina’s claim that he’s no longer her type, that belief doesn’t carry over to Bitsy.
The woman made it very clear that Leo was her choice for Mina and I was nothing more than a tattooed heathen, mussing up her picture-perfect family portrait.
Trouble is, I don’t know how involved Leo is in Bitsy’s plan. Is he an innocent bystander, or is he actively plotting against me, too?
This cloak-and-dagger shit is exhausting.
If Leo notices my rigid stance, he doesn’t mention it. Instead, he waves us toward them as he calls over the server. “A couple of drinks for my friends. Whiskey and champagne, right?”
