Page 14 of Marrying My Brother's Best Friend

“I want my privacy always. I get to choose if or when I want to show up for any interviews with the press of any sort. No physical contact when we’re alone, or flirting, and definitely no falling in love!”

No falling in love is the most important part. I can’t have my heart doing crazy things while Trevor is close because I know fully well that he’s not the kind of guy I should fall for. He has hurt me once before, and I’ve not forgotten the sting of his rejection. The truth is, Trevor’s rejection made it difficult for me to open up to anyone else. I haven’t dated in years or even allowed myself the freedom to let anyone into my heart.

Because I’ve been scared of rejection.

Everything about Trevor screams danger! It always has, and I must protect my heart at all costs.

“Do we have a deal?” I finally ask after sucking in a deep breath to ease the quake in my heart.

Trevor nods as he extends a hand to me. The corners of his lips tip towards a smile, and my insides quiver from the look in his eyes.

“Deal,” he says just before I place a hand in his warmer ones.

My rule is no falling in love! But why does my pulse take a leap towards the heavens at that moment? Why does being this close to him make me forget the past eight years?

Chapter 8

Trevor

A week later is her first time in New York, and Gracie is as charming as ever. She twirls around in the red dress she picked from the stockpile in front of her. It’s day one, and we’re focused on revamping her looks.

Not like I want to change a thing about her. Gracie is perfect with her copper shade of hair to those sweet lips that torment me night and day.

We have a deal! No flirting and no touching. But how can I stop myself from craving her? We’ve posted every moment on social media, leaving lots of wistful comments in our wake. My social media presence is a hot trail for now, thanks to this scam.

“How does this look?” she asks when she steps out in a white dress. “Perfect for a date with your teammates? Like a double date or something? They can all bring their wives or lovers or whatever. What is it called? WAGS? Wives and girlfriends of..."

My laugh stops her shot, and she frowns before popping her hands on her hips. “What? Am I babbling?”

“Kind of,” I tease, and she marches to me, punches me in the arm, then laughs too. The moment eases up, and she walks into the changing room to try on more dresses.

I try to ignore the flutter that rises inside me each time she comes out dressed in another outfit. Some were short, exposing the creamy skin of her legs, and others long enough to cover her and tease me at the same time.

“Tired?” I ask her hours later after we drive around Manhattan’s busiest street in my convertible, then stop at a famous restaurant for dinner.

“You kidding me?” she answers with a breathless laugh. “This place is huge! I mean, I can’t get enough of the streets, and, my God, everyone seems like they’re in such a hurry all the time.”

“Welcome to the big city,” I say with a laugh, and she joins in.

We dine on the rooftop where it’s quiet and has a perfect view of the skyline.

“How’s your first day?”

Gracie tosses her head back and heaves a deep sigh. “I’m exhausted,” she complains. “It’s only been one day and I have a headache. How do you folks here cope with how intense it is?”

“You haven’t seen intense yet. Wait till morning, during the rush hours, when everyone’s trying to get to work or someplace. It’s crazy in those times.”

“And you don’t ever miss the peace and quiet back in Golden Bay?”

Her eyes widen as she asks, and I’ve always known Gracie to be extremely expressive, so her curiosity is obvious in her rounded eyes.

“I miss it every day,” I whisper as an ache enters my heart. Gracie’s wide eyes remind me of the night she confessed her feelings to me.

I think we have something special, Trevor. I can feel it and I know you feel it too. She had tried to kiss me then, and my heart had threatened to burst out of my ribcage if I let her close.

I stopped her then to protect her from myself. Gracie deserves better than a man like me who doesn’t believe in the life she dreams about. I’m not and can never be the kind of man she wants.

She starts talking about the town and making those elaborate hand movements in the process. I love the sound of her voice. It’s soothing, and it helps me relax. I don’t think about what the next three months will be like.

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