Page 102 of Stolen Moments

“Nah, I’m done leaving him alone. He’s made himself non-existent since the Fourth. Did something happen with Airport Girl?”

My plans to avoid my family so I don’t have to talk about what happened have been too obvious. I have thrown myself into work and even convinced my partners to take on a new project, only after I promised to be the team leader and would do all the travel. No matter how far I fly or how busy I keep myself, I can’t outrunher tear-streaked face or the way it feels like half of me is missing without her.

The night I walked away, I was fuming, anger coursing through my veins like lava. Livid, I tried to find clues in every conversation we had, every meeting. The only thing I could come up with was her mentioning the expectations her parents had for her. Other than that, nothing. Believe me, I tried. I played it over and over, from every angle.

When the car service finally picked me up, I was so mad I rashly blocked her number. I wanted to make her and the pain disappear, and I’ve been too stubborn to undo it. Did my ego take a hit? Yes. Am I afraid to see what kind of messages she’s left me? Yes. Do I miss her like crazy? Also a yes.

I just don’t know if anything she has to say will take away the sting of the betrayal her lies have made on me. I don’t know if anything will be enough to take away the empty ache in my chest.

She lied to me, and getting over that seems … impossible.

Secrets were the one thing I told her I had no room for—I needed complete honesty in our relationship. After everything I’ve seen happen with Jace and the shit with Brittany screwing me over, I needed full transparency. I might be a grouchy, grunting bastard, but I’m not like my oldest brother. I’m not equipped to handle heartache and move on like him.

Fuck it.

I grab a shot of tequila off the tray and put down the same beer I’ve been nursing since we got here. “Yes. We’re over.”

I lift the warm shot before bringing it to my lips and throwing it back. The liquid burns like fire down my throat as Eli and Cameron follow my lead, each grabbing a shot and taking them down.

Slamming the glass on the tray, Cam sits back and starts bobbing his head to the music blaring from the old jukebox, looking too casual. “What happened?”

She has a fucking fiancé, that’swhat happened.

“It didn’t work out. Long distance.” I shrug, trying to play it off. I don’t want my brothers to know I was played for a fool. Nor do I want their pity—they get half the truth.

Eli’s watchful eyes burn the side of my face. He knows I’m lying through my teeth. Weeks ago, I was confessing to him that I loved her before racing off to get on a plane to be with her. He hasn’t pressed for answers, but he knows something is up.

Jace and Levi—Jace’s childhood friend, who is married to Rylann’s best friend, Scarlett—join us at the table.

Levi pulls out his phone, reading something on his screen. “The ladies are here. They are looking for a parking spot.”

“Finally,” Jace grumbles, his eyes on the door waiting for Rylann to walk through.

The women spent the day at a spa for the bachelorette portion of the day, taking advantage of both sets of grandparents being in town, who no doubt are spoiling my nephew and niece rotten. A part of me wishes I stayed back with Rhys and Sariah to spend more time with them before I head to Chicago for client meetings tomorrow morning.

The lounge door swings open and Jace stands, his chair sliding back behind him. I watch him race to Rylann, her face lighting up at the sight of him. My brother wraps his arms around his woman and pulls her in for an over-the-top kiss.

I look away. Their love is like lemon juice on a paper cut. Listen, I’m happy for my brother, but right now, jealousy digs into my chest and squeezes. Behind my eyelids, I recall getting the same reception from the woman I had fallen madly in love with. How Emery’s brilliant topaz eyes sparkled with the same loving shine as she ran into my arms in that crowded theater and kissed me.

“Holy shit, is that…”

My eyes snap open at the shock in Cameron’s voice and find his head turned toward the crowd of women who just entered the bar. Standing beside Jace and Rylann is Scarlett, with Levi’s arms wrapped around her waist as he greets his twin sisters, Laci andLexi. The twins step away in slow motion, and every molecule of air in my lungs is expelled from my chest like a jab to the diaphragm.

“Airport Girl,” Cameron mumbles in disbelief.

As if my mind conjured her up, Emery stands behind the twins, with a nervous smile, wearing a burgundy cocktail dress that molds to her body like second skin and what looks like the same sexy black stilettos I fucked her in on Valentine’s Day. Standing there, achingly beautiful, she shakes hands with Levi and Jace.

My eyes laser in on her, and I watch as her shoulders stiffen. She must feel my stare because her eyes snap to mine. Her little mouth forms a perfect O, and I can’t help the memory of her thick lips wrapped around my cock as she took me to the back of her throat from popping up.

My dick thickens at the sight of her.Down, boy. Fucker knows who he belongs to, no matter how hard I try to tell him no.

My body is drawn to her. Without thinking, I stand and my feet move in her direction, her mere presence a beacon calling me, bringing us toe to toe. What the hell is she doing here?

“Mason,” she exhales my name, and I fight the urge to touch her, to kiss her soft, luscious lips. “What are you doing here?”

I can feel everyone’s eyes on us. “I could ask the same of you.”

“My bosses invited me.”

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