Page 3 of The Wrong Promise

Ugh.

“Penny sent me to say dinner is at six.” Jobe’s gaze bores into me as he holds out a crystal flute of what I assume is champagne. “I thought you might want this, although it’s recommended not to have glass by the pools.”

I make a splash, moving too fast to sit up, and he jumpsback, almost spilling the drink. “Pass it here. You obviously can’t be trusted with fine glassware,” I joke.

He smiles and hands me the glass, his hand brushing over his tie, white shirt, and suit jacket.

“Thank you. I appreciate it. You can add psychic to your resume.” Jobe Hendricks just made me smile. One for theGuinness Book.“Are you now part of the staff to please your brother and Penny?”

He frowns at me. “Please them how?”

“Well, for one, you have offered the entire facility for Penny and us when it could easily accommodate a hundred guests. It’s a tick in her good books.”

He nods slowly, his dark hues reminding me of his older brother’s eyes as they consider me. Those brown eyes lower to where my chest is now out of the water, and then his unapologetic gaze meets mine. He is so damn unreadable.

I detest the man, but the champagne was thoughtful. Do I want him to find me a little bit attractive? Of course I do. I need some validation in my life that I’m a teeny bit desirable, even if he is the last man on Earth I ever want to say it. One look to confirm it is all I need. Yet, there is nothing. The standard Hendricks’ poker face.

“Penny is a caring, beautiful woman, and she somehow manages to extract the good in people,” he says. “She draws it out as though she is a magnet for kindness.”

I already know this since she ismybest friend. “Ah-ha, and if you do anything to hurt her, you’ll have me to deal with.”

Jobe smirks. “Firstly, I’m trying to please her because it also pleases my brother, but in saying that, I genuinely like Penny. Best sister-in-law I’ve ever had.”

“Only sister-in-law,” I correct.

“Secondly, I’m curious. How would Zara Indigo Hart deal with me?”

What?

He grins at my shock. “I am privy to the guest list.”

Right. “My mom is the sole person who says my entire name in that tone, and you have no reason to be upset with me.”

“I have some right to be offended since you assumed I would hurt my brother’s wife in some way.”

“Not assumed… warned. You have a reputation of being?—”

Jobe’s eyes hold mine prisoner, and I’m unable to finish my sentence. “You were saying?”

“Direct.” It’s the first word that comes to mind other than not-so-nice adjectives.

He nods slowly. “Enjoy your drink, Zara Hart. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Not if I can help it.

I sip my champagne and watch him walk away.

Great ass.

It’s obvious he works out, and an image of him hot and sweaty andnotin a freaking suit jumps into my head. No. I am refusing to think of Jobe Hendricks as hot, even if he is annoyingly good-looking.

I should be pondering why he is being nice to me.

Is it for Penny’s sake?

It doesn’t matter. I refuse to give him another thought.

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