Page 9 of Beat of Love
“St-stop!” Brandy sputtered.
“His stamina was impressive.”
Brandy drained her glass, absorbing Jackie’s shocking revelation.
She had never felt entirely comfortable around Sullivan’s twin when he visited them that one time. Not that he’d made any sexual overtures or said anything inappropriate. In fact, he’d mostly ignored her, and when they had interacted, he’d treated her with utmost respect.
But the moment the man had entered her orbit, she’d been on alert.
And she had never been able to pinpoint why Rafferty Lawson had put her on tenterhooks, and when he’d finally left, she had breathed a sigh of relief.
“He made me uneasy,” she blurted.
“Hmm.” Jackie poured the last of the wine into Brandy’s glass. “I’m not surprised.”
“What do you mean?” she asked and took a generous sip.
“He wanted to … dance withyou, love.”
Brandy sputtered, wine spurting out of her mouthandnose. Her eyes watered, and her nasal passages burned. Jackierescued the crystal from her hand, replacing it with a paper napkin. Brandy wiped her eyes and blew her nose, her mind whirling. “You’re wrong,” she croaked.
Jackie remained silent.
And Brandy thought some more about her interactions with the man. Other than an initial embrace when Sully introduced them, Rafferty had never touched her again, even going to painstaking lengths to never be alone with her. And he’d always looked away when she felt his brooding stare on her.
But what if the brooding had masked …?
“Shit.”
“Ah, she sees it now.”
“He never …”acted on it, she added silently, looking at Jackie.
Jackie was a mind reader amongst her other annoying qualities. “Of course, he never acted on it, love. You were forbidden. His brother’s girlfriend,” she added softly, placing her hand on Brandy’s arm.
Brandy narrowed her eyes. “Is that why you … danced with him?”
“Would’ve been a waste to let all that pent-up sexual energy go untapped.”
“Jackie!”
“What?” Jackie returned, wild-eyed. “Don’t judge. I was still exploring, finding my zone. And Rafferty was hot.Wayhotter than his brother. Dancing” — she grinned, wickedly — “with him was no hardship.”
Brandy pushed aside the pang of envy and reminded herself why she disliked Rafferty Lawson. “Rafferty’s the reason Sullivan left. Back then,” she clarified. “Sullivan explained when he looked me up last year as things were winding down at Weeping Willow.”
“How come?”
“His brother was injured during an undercover mission and they” — she gave her friend a derisive smile — “whoevertheywere, arrived at our apartment and asked Sullivan to take his place.”
“Serious?That’swhy Sullivan left?”
“Yep.” It still stung the way Sullivan had abandoned her. She had gone out that Saturday morning, only to return to an empty apartment two hours later.
Oh, right. He had left a note.
I’m sorry. Have to go. Will contact. Love, S.
Jackie grabbed her hand. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you during that time.”
