Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“In the ladies’ room,” I lie.
“Shit, brother…” They trail off and look over to our parents.
My eyes follow their line of sight, and I hiss angrily. Mom and Dad have an addition to their group. Don Strauss stands proudly next to Dad’s old boss, raising his glass in a toast. Mom’s face is torn, and Dad is stoic.
It’s then the prickly sensation makes its way through my system and I instinctively reach for my side-arm, which isn’t there. Ace, Talon, and Ford go on alert, not hiding their stance of spreading out to look for the threat.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck…”
My adrenalin soars when I spot Jewls coming in from the side door. She’s pale as a ghost with a mixture of confusion, anger, and anguish.
I growl at the woman sauntering in confidently behind her as if she belongs.
Jewls approaches reluctantly, stopping a few feet away. I reach for her, wanting to put space between her and the bitch at her heels. She shakes her head, her eyes glimmering.
“I ran into your ex-fiancée on my way to the ladies’ room.”
At that, Darla Strauss steps forward and throws herself at me. “Major, it’s good to have you home. I’ve missed you.”
“You have some nerve showing up here,” Drake hisses.
I catch the tears shimmering in Jewls’ eyes right before a red haze fills my vision.
The woman hanging on me has little shame as I rumble, “Get off me,” setting her aside.
But it’s too late. All I see are the strappy silver heels racing to the exit.
“What the fuck did you say to her? And better yet, what the fuck are you doing here?”
“I came for you.” Déjà vu strikes when Darla’s gaze lights up satisfactorily, taking me back over a decade. It’s a look of triumph and superiority.
“Get her out of here,” I instruct my brothers, taking off in pursuit of Jewls.
14
Jewls
Get it together, Jewls. You’re stronger than this.
I take a deep breath and exhale loudly, willing the tears away. If even one falls, the dam will break. There is no way I’m causing a scene at Jim’s party. There will be plenty of time to cry in private.
I pinch my arm to make sure this is not some crazy, tripped-out nightmare. The searing pain confirms this is real.
Darla Strauss is beyond beautiful. She’s the woman who stops people in their tracks as she passes. Long dark hair, crystal blue eyes, a body to die for. And to top it off, her intricate tattoos placed in the sexy places men drool over.
And Major. God, Major. The man never loses his sex appeal. But tonight he is especially heart-stopping. The way the midnight blue suit fits his strong build, his eyes even more pronounced the way they shined the same shade.
They compliment each other. Everything about them in one another’s arms would be magazine-cover-worthy.
My eyes and nose sting, thinking about them together.
The scene from a few minutes ago replays in my head. Why did I let that woman get under my skin? One look, and it was obvious she was gunning for a reaction. And what did I do? Led her straight to Major and walked away.
No, I ran away. As fast as these heels would take me.
Humiliation washes over me, and I slump onto the bench, staring into the darkness.
Why did I run?
Oh yeah, because I came face to face with the woman Major was going to marry.
Hard footfalls sound behind me, and I barely have the chance to turn before Major’s jogging around the corner.
The next second, I’m in his powerful arms.
“Jewls.” My chest seizes at the pain in his voice. His mouth moves across my neck and cheek.
“That’s her, isn’t it?”
“She doesn’t matter. Are you okay?”
His worry fills me with guilt.
“I’m sorry,” I choke out. “I don’t have a right to be jealous of your past.”
“Baby, you don’t need to apologize.”
“I made a scene.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“She’s, ummm… something special.”
He backs away, scanning my face with an icy glare. “She’s a manipulative, conniving cunt.”
“Wow, I hope I’m never your ex.”
His expression turns glacial. “She got to you.”
I shrug. “Was she your fiancée?”
His hesitation is my answer.
My sense of self-preservation kicks in and I square my shoulders, stepping back. “Listen, I overreacted. She caught me off-guard. One minute, I was looking for a place for us to have a quickie, and the next, she was in my face. We both have pasts. No big deal.”
Even in the dim light, I catch the tick in his jaw. “Stop fucking doing that. Don’t discount what we have between us.”
“You said it yourself. You wanted to fuck me.”
“No, I said I wanted to peel you out of that dress and sink inside you.”
“Tit-for-tat.”
“Bullshit, Jewls! Me wanting to fuck you is an every minute thing. I am in love with you. We’re new, but don’t cheapen it.”
His words sting, and I know I’m being a total bitch. Before I can stop it, my eyes pool with tears again. “Sorry.”