Page 7 of Christmas Deal

Sierra whistles. “I’ve never seen him so…what’s the word?”

“Angry?” I suggest.

“No. I was thinking…manly.You two have history.” It’s not a question.

“Ancienthistory,” I say quickly.

“It doesn’t seem like ancient history to William…”

Oh no.Have I messed up William’s relationship with his pretty wife? One thing I’m not—and never will be—is a homewrecker. But she doesn’t seem upset, or the least bit jealous. Just…curious. Her lips lift into a knowing smile.

Her reaction isodd.But I suppose I’d be secure in my relationship if I looked like her, too. She’s shed her coat now, showcasing a tight sweater that shows off her curvy figure.

Suddenly, I’m very self-conscious of my own appearance, and make a feeble attempt to finger-comb my wet hair before giving up and staring at the fire.

It doesn’t matter what I look like. He’s already married.

William returns with my suitcase, tosses it onto the couch, and begins rifling through the contents.

“Hey!” I protest.

He ignores me, digging all the way to the bottom. “There’s not a single sweater or sweatshirt in here!” Raising an eyebrow, he holds up a bikini top. “Were you planning to do a Polar Bear Plunge in Lake Mercury?”

“I was trying to tell you before…I’m packed for a two-week Caribbean cruise. My plane detoured through Charlotte, so I thought I’d pop by Mercury Ridge. A quick pitstop, you know?”

Sierra frowns. “A pitstop? The airport is over four hours away!”

William’s eyes meet mine and so much electricity crackles between us that I’m surprised the lights on the Christmas tree don’t explode.

Does he know why I’m here?

Headlights flood the room through the window. Sierra pops up with the baby. “Romeo is here!”

A few moments later, Romeo bursts through the front door, seizing Sierra by the waist and pulling her in for a passionate kiss.

I’m stunned for a second before realizing what I’d missed until now: Sierra isn’t married to William. She’s married to his brother,Romeo. And the baby must be William’s niece.

I laugh with relief, watching as Romeo turns his attention to his little girl, cooing at her softly. William turns his attention back to the fire.

Romeo notices me then, his eyes widening with recognition. They’re the same shade of brown as William’s, and my breath hitches in my throat. It can’t be helped. The Jones brothers have always been too handsome for their own good, with dark hair, dark eyes, and lean bodies. Even as teens, they were well-developed for their age.

Very well-developed, I think, as memories of William’s glorious body swim to the forefront of my mind. I feel a blush creeping up my neck as I watch him squat to stoke the fire. His flannel shirt stretches across his shoulders, highlighting the rippling muscles of his back.

And he’s single…? So, he could be mine…

“I remember you,” Romeo says, his lips pinched into a straight line. “You and William dated when we were teens, right?”

Dated.It seems like such a small word for what William and I shared. Our feelings had been deeper than Lake Mercury once upon a time.

But as my eyes shift to William once again—I can’t seem to look away from him—I have to wonder: did those feelings ever go away?

Or were they just lying beneath the surface all along, waiting for an opportunity to flicker back to life?

Five

William

Sierratriestopushmy brother out the door, with no success. Then she says, “You have better things to do than meddle in your brother’s life, Romeo Jones.”

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