Page 15 of Burly and Possessive

CHAPTER 8

JAX

I’m watching my future wife work at the concession stand with my little sister, and I know my heart is right about this woman. She has an easy laugh with the children and looks like she’s been doing this for years. She fits in my world.

Watching how she talks to the small children? A powerful, primal urge rises up in me. I want to build a family with my woman.

“Well, if it isn’t my big brother, lurking in the shadows like always,” Olivia says, appearing beside me with a knowing smile. She’s holding a bag of popcorn in one hand, her other resting on her hip.

“I’m not lurking,” I say, crossing my arms.

“Right. You just happened to position yourself with a perfect view of the concession stand.” She pops a piece of popcorn in her mouth. “Have you even gone and said hi to her yet?”

“Liv—”

“Don’t ‘Liv’ me.” She steps closer, lowering her voice. “I see how you look at her. Andrea has filled me in on her story and introduced us. Don’t try to say it’s nothing because you never let anyone but family stay with you.”

“It’s not that simple.” Inwardly, I curse at Andrea for telling Olivia about Leesa and introducing them, but I realize it was inevitable. If I’m honest, I’m on edge, not because Olivia knows, but because people are already talking. What if the worst-case scenario happens and Leesa doesn’t want me? I could maybe learn to live with the loss of Leesa, but I couldn’t live with everyone and their damn dog knowing about it.

“Actually, big brother, it is. She’s special,” Olivia says softly. “I met her. I like her—a lot. She’s the kind of woman you hold on to.”

I nod, my throat tight. “I know.”

“Do you? Because from where I’m standing, you’re doing an awful lot of watching and not much else.” She gives me the same stern look I’ve seen her give her daughter. I may be the oldest of us, but Olivia was the first to get married and have a child. You’d think she was the eldest by the way she tries to tell me how to live my life. Thing is, she puts into words the emotions I don’t know how to describe. “Convince her to take a break and talk to her.”

“Olivia—”

“Go.” She pushes me forward. “Before I tell everyone about the time you cried watching ‘The Lion King.’”

“I waseight.” I swear to God I love my sisters, but sometimes I wish I could erase certain memories.

“Don’t lie. You were fifteen.” She grins. “Now go.”

As the movie starts, I make my way to the refreshment stand, where Leesa and Andrea are cleaning up. “Hello, ladies.”

Andrea shoots me a look. I glare at her, silently telling her to get lost. Thankfully, for once in her meddling life, she gets the point.

“Do you have everything under control, Leesa?” she asks. When Leesa nods, she adds, “Great. I’m going to take some of these boxes back to my car. Make sure my brother here doesn’t steal anything.”

Leesa laughs and agrees. She turns and smiles at me so intensely that my knees buckle with desire. She’s beautiful, but when she smiles? It’s the most dazzling fucking sight in the universe.

“You came,” she says, her voice warm.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I reply, reaching for a box of leftover candy. “Need some help?”

She laughs, handing me a box. “I won’t say no.”

“You were great with the kids,” I say, meaning it.

Her smile falters for a second like she doesn’t quite believe me, but then she nods. “You were watching me?”

“Not for long, no. Just as I was coming over.” It’s not technically a lie, but am I supposed to admit I was staring at her like a lovestruck idiot?

Andrea looks at me for a long moment, then smiles. “Don’t tell Andrea, but if there’s something you want, I won’t tell.”

Leesa winks, and I swear on my life my cock nearly explodes in my jeans. This woman has no fucking clue how gorgeous and sexy she is. I’m going to remind my future wife of that each and every day.

“Nah. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. But thanks.”

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