Page 31 of Stay for Me
And then she gets out. Her deep red hair flows down her back, moving softly like waves, and my fucking chest aches.
Damn it.
“Well . . . wow.” Declan’s voice trails off.
“Told you she was beautiful. She’s . . .” I can’t finish the thought before a set of groans from my brothers causes me to face them.
“Jacob, don’t do it,” Sean warns quietly. He told me at his wedding that it was a bad idea.
“I’m not doing anything.”
He snorts. “Well, right now you look like you’re ready to fall at her feet, so don’t tell us you’re not doing anything. Not to mention, we all heard about your fishing day and new venture.”
I glare at him. “It’s not because of her.”
“Explain that to my wife when she hounds you about it later. Don’t fuck around with a girl you plan to leave.”
I am not looking for a relationship, especially not one that would be complicated. “I’m not an asshole,” I tell him.
“I know that. You’re far from an asshole, Jacob, which is why I worry.”
I turn to him. “I would never do anything like that. I’m just . . .”
“You’re fucked, that’s what you are,” Connor says. “I felt the same about Ellie, and well, we all know how that went. It’s like she steals the air from the earth and you’re left only able to breathe when you see her. I get it, we all do. Just be careful, Jacob. Getting involved, even if it’s just one-sided, with a single mom is a minefield, and those kids don’t need to be hit by shrapnel.”
I want to reply with something smartassed and biting at the same time. I’m not getting involved. I’m just lusting after her, and I need to get laid so it’ll stop. A girl who can work off this dry spell energy so I can behave like a normal person around Brenna and not want to hump her leg.
“Hi.” Brenna’s voice is right behind me, forcing me to shut it down and behave.
I turn and slip into the role of a friend who has zero interest in the girl before him. “Hey, you made it.”
“Sorry I’m late,” she says and looks around at my brothers.
“You’re not, we just came early to annoy Sean.”
He steps forward with his arm extended. “I’m Sean, Devney’s husband.”
“Yes, of course, I recognize you.” Brenna’s cheeks redden a bit, and I shove my hands into my pockets to keep from reaching out to her. “My husband was a big fan of yours.”
Sean grins. “I liked Luke very much, and he was a great player too.”
I step in and save her from having to talk about Luke. “This is Connor, he’s married to Ellie.”
He extends his hand as well. “We met briefly at the school.”
“I remember. It’s so great to see you again.”
She turns to Declan. “And you must be Declan?”
The same motion of greeting is repeated. “I am. I’ll repeat what these guys said, it’s great to meet you. I’ve heard all good things. Have you met my wife Sydney?”
“No, I haven’t yet. But Ellie and Devney have both spoken about her so much I feel like we’re already friends. Everyone tells me how wonderful she is.”
“Don’t believe any of it,” I say quickly. “She’s the devil. Truly and inherently evil. We only keep her around because we’re worried that a demon might escape if we killed her.”
Brenna shakes her head with a laugh. “I’ll do my best to remember that.”
Sean scoffs. “Please, she just likes to give Jacob the most shit, which is why we love her.”
