Page 19 of An Inconvenient Marriage
Zach
“Isaid,no.”
I’d already been in a sour mood thanks to mylovely wifeand that mouth of hers, and now my brother’s damn whining was making it worse.
“Why is this such an issue for you?” Javier pressed.
From my spot in the living room, my gaze traveled across the grass beyond the window, to the flowers, finally resting on the vineyard. This was my sanctuary. The one place in the world where I could find perspective. The only place where I ever felt calm.
I wasn’t feeling calm now.
“It’s not an issue, brother. I simply don’t have time.”
Javier made an incredulous noise. “Excuse me? You don’t have time to introduce your brother—the only family you have—to your new wife?”
“I don’t have time,” I said again. It wasn’t the first lie I’d told my brother. But unfortunately, this one was tied to the only other one I’d ever told him. And if he knew the truth—
“Come on, Zach! I had to learn of my big brother’s nuptials through the media, and now you don’t even want me to meet her? What the hell is going on?”
“Nothing.”
Javier sighed into the phone. It was a sad, disappointed sound that felt a hell of a lot like a punch in the balls. “Well, let me know when you’re ready to tell me the truth.”
The line went dead not even a second later.
I deserved his anger, and I’d probably get a lot more of it if he knew what I was up to. Hopefully by then it would be easier to convince him that the end justified the means.
That thought was still rolling around in my head when the soft click of heels drew my attention. Shoving my hands inside my pockets, I tore my gaze away from the view outside and spun around.
Outside was beautiful, but the creature before me was breathtaking.
Natalie’s long flowy yellow dress had no straps keeping it up, just a heart-shaped neckline that clung to her breasts like a second skin. Her blonde hair was loose, falling over her shoulders in soft waves.
I didn’t like the way my fingers itched with a sudden need to find out if those waves were as soft and silky as they seemed. I also didn’t like the way my body stirred when I noticed her pink-stained lips and rosy cheeks.
Nothing about this woman was supposed to attract me. She was just a tool I was using to get to her father, and yet the way she’d spoken to me in the bedroom earlier had my mind reeling in different directions.
Naturally, at least one of those thoughts had ended with me and her tangled up in my silk sheets. I’d thought I’d squashed it before it could take root, but looking at her now, I realized I had a lot more squashing to do.
“Your home is beautiful,” she said.
It wasn’t a lie. I’d seen the amazement on her face the moment we’d arrived. And yes, there were times a man needed to be modest, but this wasn’t one of them. The Castilla and vineyard were without a doubt my most prized possession.
And not just because of its beauty. This was the only place in the world that had meaning to me. But I wasn’t about to tell her about it. Not now, not ever.
Unfazed by my lack of response, she stepped up next to me. Her gaze was glued to the scenery beyond the window. Mine stayed on her. On the scattering of freckles on her shoulder to be precise.
Does her skin taste the way she smells? Like oranges with hints of jasmine and rose? I bet those lips taste like the sweetest grapes, too.
What.
The.
Hell?
I blinked, then blinked again. What in the actual hell was going on inside my brain? Maybe I’d fallen and hit my head and this was all just a terrible dream. Because there was no damn way I’d havethosekinds of thoughts about Natalie Stevens.
I hadn’t lied when I’d told her sex with her was the last thing I’d wanted. So what had happened between then and now—not even twenty-four hours later?
