Page 22 of Charming Deception

“Yup. It’s not nearly this big, though.”

I eye him. “Is there something I should know?”

He kind of laughs. “Nothing bad. I promise.”

“Cole.”

“Come on. You really doubt me that much?” My brother frowns, but I’m not about to dance around my distrust of him like it’s not there.

I’m never doing that again. Even for a man I love.

“Well, let’s see.” I broach the subject as gently as I can. “You partied and gambled away actual millions you made playing hockey, years ago. Then you lost the money you made illegally gambling. Then you got arrested.”

If he and Jameson really are best friends, this won’t be news.

I can tell it’s not, by the way neither of them flinches.

My brother even subtly rolls his eyes. “That was over three years ago, Megan. And it’s all been cleared up.”

“Yes. Ancient history.”

He stares me down. “How long ago did you go back to a guy you’d already broken up with because he emotionally abused you for years?”

A lump forms in my throat, leaving me speechless. There’s really nothing I can say to argue that, because he’s right. I did do that.

And yes, it was a giant mistake. Every damn time I did it.

Jameson softly clears his throat, and I try not to look at him. This is humiliating enough.

“I seriously can’t take any more man drama right now, Cole.”

“No drama. I promise.” He reaches over and takes my hand. I let him. “Come on, Megan. I’m sorry I brought that up. Just let me help you. Maybe I wasn’t in a position to do that before. You know, mentally. But I am now.”

That tugs at my heart. It gives me a sense of hope I’m not sure I’m ready for.

My brother sighs. “It’s been a long, shitty two days on a bunch of buses, right? Let’s just eat and talk, and you can get comfortable here. If you end up wanting to go somewhere else, I can help with that, too.”

“Okay.”

“You have a home here. As long as you need it.”

“Thank you.”

When I finally look at Jameson, who hasn’t said another word, he doesn’t seem particularly happy about that.

Actually, if I’m not mistaken, he looks like he wants me gone.

Chapter 6

Megan

As the evening sky grows dark and the patio lights come up around us, my brother carries the bulk of our three-way conversation over drinks, catching me up on the highlights and shenanigans of the recently completed hockey season. Wherein the Northmen made it to the playoffs but not to the final round.

Occasionally, Jameson adds to the conversation, mostly prompting Cole to tell another story, and I do the same.

I have no idea why Jameson is so short on words—surely my hyperactive, talkative brother’s best friend isn’t always this quiet? But I’m too tired and self-conscious to say much myself, and it’s easy to get swept up in Cole’s stories, entertained.

Then the three of us sit down to dinner at the outdoor dining table. The meal is served by Jameson’s staff. Cole sits at the head of the table, between Jameson and me. And while we eat, Cole peppers me with questions about my job in Crooks Creek—which I get the weird feeling is for Jameson’s benefit.

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