Page 38 of Forever and Other Lies

“You are a charmer, Derek Brennan.”

Thankfully the song ended, and she moved out of his embrace, stepping off the dancefloor. The guy was a Neanderthal. Seriously, why were there so many women vying for his attention? The dark good looks were completely wasted on him.

Jayna reclaimed her seat at the head table, relieved to find her glass of wine waiting. She picked it up and took a big gulp. Her eyes followed Leighton as she walked out the door to the waterfall patio before landing on Derek. He was back leaning against the bar, tugging on his tie. His eyes were trained on the patio door, staring after Leighton.

The guy was too much. He sneezed into her hair! Who did that? The same guy who was lusting after his brother’s fiancée. Did it bother him to see that Tommy had followed Leighton to the patio? Did it even cause him a moment of guilt to realize that he’d caused such a rift between the couple?

She wasn’t certain what had occurred between Leighton and Derek, but she was certain something had. Tommy was angry with them both. And Leighton always appeared so uncomfortable when Derek was around her. Oh, something had happened!

She’d bet her life on it.

Did the man have no morals? Were any women off-limits? And Leighton, what had she been thinking? Jayna had been observing them for a long time. There was something there, something undeniable. Had it happened while Tommy was deployed? She narrowed her eyes, taking in the tightness in Derek’s jaw as he continued to stare at the closed door.

“Have you seen Leighton?”

She jumped and turned. “Oh, Piper. Uh, yeah, she went outside to the patio.”

“I’m about to toss the bouquet. Would you mind finding her?”

“No problem.”

She stood and hurried past Derek, avoiding making eye contact. The man was not worth the aggravation. And poor Tommy. He had loved Leighton so much. No wonder he appeared so torn apart.

Pushing open the door, she stepped out onto the waterfall patio and paused. Tommy and Leighton stood at the railing. Tears were coursing down Leighton’s cheeks, and Tommy looked so sad as he reached to wipe them away.

She should have turned and gone back inside. It was an intimate moment between them. But her curiosity overrode manners, and she continued to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“Seems like I also need forgiveness. How did everything get so messed up?” Tommy spoke quietly, but not so quietly that she couldn’t overhear. “But we are different people now. We’re not those teenagers anymore. I need time and so do you.”

Jayna sucked in a breath. She was witnessing a breakup. Oh, no! They belonged together. Stupid Derek! The man not only broke hearts but destroyed relationships as well.

“I understand,” Leighton replied.

No, Leighton shouldn’t give up so easily. Fight for him, Leighton, Jayna wanted to shout out loud.

Tommy turned and noticed her. Busted.

“There you are.” She cleared her throat and pretended that she hadn’t just overheard their heartbreaking words. “Piper is looking for you. She’s about to throw the bouquet.”

Leighton glanced over her shoulder. Her expression was shattered. “I’ll be right there.”

Jayna stepped back inside. Derek was still propped against the bar. She reached out and swatted the back of his head as she walked past.

“Ouch, what was that for?” the Neanderthal complained, rubbing the back of his head.

Chapter 17

Derek rubbed the back of his head, glaring at Jayna as she sauntered past.

Without turning around, she lifted her right arm and flipped him off.

Typical Jayna. Annoying and argumentative. Nothing he said was right, and everything he did was wrong in her eyes.

Yet, she had great-smelling hair, always a different scent. Not that he went around sniffing her, of course. The first time was purely accidental when she’d fallen off the truck and into his arms, smelling of strawberries and cream. Tonight, she smelled like a tropical vacation. And that dress—wow. The woman had curves. He frowned. Was he seriously checking her out? Impossible.

Jayna had attitude and way too much of it. And she hated him. Mutual, sure, but it still bugged him. Women didn’t hate him. Well, most didn’t. Just two: Jayna and Leighton. The rest found him funny, even charming. But Leighton had preferred Tommy, and Jayna outright disliked him. She’d even said it to his face, “Derek, I don’t like you.”

That had to be the reason he was standing at the bar, nursing a whiskey sour and checking her out. The reason why he’d pulled her closer while they danced, inhaling her sweet scent. She was a challenge, nothing more. Just like Leighton had been. His feelings for his brother’s girl had been more about competition than anything deeper. He really was messed up. Luckily, he had zero interest in a relationship, so his skewed feelings didn’t matter.

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