Page 49 of Wish I Didn't Want You Back

“That’s not what I am doing.”

“Then what are you doing?”

He exhaled sharply and rubbed a hand over his jaw. I followed his gaze, and sure enough, our friends and his brothers were watching. They weren’t even trying to pretend that they weren’t. They were outright staring and smiling.

“Let them think we just had our first lovers’ quarrel.”

I tilted my head up slightly, catching the sharp line of his jaw. “That wasn’t really our first, though, was it?”

He glided his hand up to my face and leaned in. “Probably won’t be our last, either.” Then his lips were on mine.

This was such an alpha move by him. I should have resisted. Instead, I opened wider and melted into him. We were supposed to put on a show and play our parts, but this felt like something else.

His thumb brushed my cheek, like it had every right to be there. My fingers gripped the front of his shirt as if it was the only way for me to stay upright. I kissed him back like I needed this connection as much as he did.

Brooks moved his hands into my hair and tilted my head. He was going to take what he wanted, and everyone was going to watch. There would be no more questions after this about who I belonged to.

His soft lips were eager as they moved across my jaw and down my neck. I wound my arms along his shoulders and pressed my body against his.

This was the type of kiss that thundered in your ears and turned you inside out.

He let out a low chuckle. “You were always sensitive there,” he said, sinking his teeth into my bottom lip.

This was not an act. I don’t care what he said. This moment wasn’t about anything other than us. But I couldn’t push him to admit that because then he would stop kissing me, and that was the very last thing I wanted.

Someone bumped into us from behind, startling us both. Our lips parted, yet his hand remained in my hair.My heart was in my throat as he stared back at me. “Just so we are clear, that was just for show.”

He was such a liar.No matter how convincing he tried to sound, his face betrayed him. But he would rather swallow broken glass than admit how he truly felt.

“Are you sure about that?”

His gaze darted to my mouth. Yeah, that gave me all the confirmation I needed.

As if catching himself, he stepped back. “Harlow, don’t go looking for trouble. You know what that kiss was about.”

I swallowed hard. He was retreating. Pretending that the moment meant nothing. I could still taste him on my lips. Feel the warmth of his hands on my skin. Did he seriously plan to pretend the kiss meant nothing?

I forced my expression into something neutral. If he wanted to pretend, I’d let him.

“Well, then I guess the show is over.” I turned and slipped through the crowd.

My chest tightened with every step I took away from him. The music grew louder. People were laughing and dancing without a care in the world. It felt like my heart had been cracked wide open.

It seemed foolish to hope, to think that there might still be something left between us after all this time. Maybe that was the case, but he had no intention of acting on it.

Knowing that didn’t make it hurt any less, either.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BROOKS

The office was quiet except for the click of my computer keyboard and the occasional squeak of my chair. I rubbed the back of my neck, reviewing the numbers for an estimate I was working on.

The bid was due yesterday, but the numbers didn’t make sense, and the labor hours were off. I was tempted to call the client and ask for an extension. I had to make sure everything was solid because I really wanted to land the project.

Right as I was double-checking the numbers for the cost of lumber, my office door swung open. I didn’t need to look up; Hayes was the only one in the building who ignored the concept of knocking.

“Are you still working on that proposal?” he asked, leaning casually against the doorframe.

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