Page 22 of Resolving Rumors

My cheeks heated. “Yeah.”

“Jordan told me you had a secret relationship. Why would anyone ever want to keep you in the dark and flaunt that bitch around instead?”

“It started out as my fault. He’s younger than me, and I was not ready for all the judgement for dating my baby brother’s best friend.”

“Oh. Well, fuck that. If he was any kind of man, he would have told you it was all or nothing.”

“He had been trying to get me to date him for a year, I don’t think he was ready to give up so easily.”

“Seems to me he already made his choice and it was the wrong girl.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Those two are wearing wedding bands, sweetheart. Nothing says it’s over quite like your lover committing to someone else legally.”

He wasn’t wrong and with that in mind, I didn’t say no when he asked if I’d like to go to the dance floor with him. To hell with food. I told Jordan to order me something light, took Mark’s hand, and followed him out to the area that was cleared for a dance floor. It was one of the quirks of Frederick’s. The owner and his wife often had impromptu dances in front of all the customers. They also hosted an annual swing dance competition that they closed the restaurant down for once a year.

The only other couple on the dance floor was an elderly pair who had to be in their late 70s. They smiled indulgently at us as Mark spun me around and clasped our hands together on one side while his other hand wrapped around my trim waist. I had’t worn anything special, since I didn’t know I’d be walking into a blind date. Still, I had on a blue silk blouse and black dress slacks because Frederick’s was a place where you tried to look your best.

“The ones who aren’t afraid to take you dancing in the middle of a restaurant are the keepers,” the old woman told me and followed it up with a sly wink.

The tempo picked up and Mark swung me out in a surprise move that made me throw my head back and laugh as he then tugged and spun me back into his bubble. “God, you’re beautiful.” He whispered as my eyes came up to lock with his. “Devin is a fool.”

Of course he knew who Devin was. The fact that Jordan had spilled my secrets to a man who obviously knew all of my brothers and my secret boyfriend of two years felt even more like a betrayal. It made me wonder, once again, what she had done to piss my family off. I would get it out of her eventually, along with another lengthy apology for putting me in this position and spilling my secrets.

Mark spun me out and back again and by the time I was in his arms again, there was another couple dancing beside us. It didn’t even register who it was until the woman spoke - to me.

"Fancy seeing you here with a date," Justice snapped at me with a vicious tone. I ignored the bitch, but then Devin leaned in close. "What are you doing here with a date?"

"What are you doing here being hand fed by that bitch and having the time of your fucking life?" I countered.

Justice pulled on Devin, so he couldn’t answer right away. She turned and slid her backside down his front and made sure that I could see the full-body contact they had going on. Devin took a step back, but far too late.

As I lifted an accusatory brow in his direction, his eyes scanned me and my date. The frown line on his forehead creased deeper as he seemed to notice the respectful space between my body and Mark’s. Our hands were the only parts that touched besides where my other hand was placed on his shoulder and his just above my right hip.

There was nothing intimate about our dance whereas Justice had once again moved into Devin’s space and pulled his arms around her middle to rest his hands on her belly. She wanted to send a message to me and it was received painfully. Devin glanced down and pulled his hands back immediately, but the damage was done when the older lady on the dance floor loudly announced her congratulations to the expecting couple.

"You know what? I'm not feeling very well. I think I'm just going to go."

"If you ever get shy of him, and want to try this for real, give me a call."

"Sure,” I whispered. “Do me a favor?" He nodded.

I glanced back at Devin - who looked like someone just kicked his puppy - and Justice - who wore a smug smile that made me want to punch her right in the nose. “Don't ever hook up with that bitch." I pointed to Justice, who continued to stare at me before she noticed my date and ogled him as if Devin wasn’t right there by her side wearing a wedding ring that tied them together. Funny, I thought he tossed his ring in my house. Their “breakup date” was apparently important enough for him to get a replacement ring. Then again, I hadn’t seen a single sign of an impending breakup all night.

"She's got trouble and gold digger stamped all over her. Rest assured that would never happen, but I meant what I said about wanting a chance with you.”

“I don’t think I’m ready to spread my dating wings again just yet.”

Mark glanced back over his shoulder again. “Somehow, I think that’s coming sooner rather than later. I can be patient.”

Chapter

Fourteen

DEVIN

What in theabsolute fuck just happened?

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