Page 7 of Promised Secret
“No, thanks,” he replied, without missing a beat. He patted my back in comfort as he returned my hug.
Rosa snickered again, which then turned into a full-blown cackling. I gave her a glare.
“And what’s so funny, Mrs. Banks? Care to share with the class?” I snapped the question at her.
She swiped a finger under her eye to wipe away the stray tear. Her eyes were still bright when she said, “You think you’re hot stuff, don’t ya? Dating all the boys and girls within a ten-mile radius of the town, then going and breaking their hearts. It’s good to see someone knock you down a peg.”
I huffed, arms still around Frederick because he gave really good hugs and his large hand patting my back was comforting. I could see why the kids loved him.
I couldn’t even argue with her, since everything she said was true. My playboy ways weren’t a secret around here, much to mylao-ba’s annoyance.
He’d made it abundantly clear he was not happy with my dating around and wanted me to hurry up and find a nice person to settle down with. At least he was accepting of my bisexuality and didn’t care if I was with a man or a woman.
That was the great thing about my dad. He was always supportive and only wanted what was best for me. When I was a kid, he was a lot stricter, but after marrying Sandra, he’d chilled out a lot.
Though no matter how laid-back he was now, I knew for a fact that he’d have a major issue with the person I really wanted to settle down with. The person I was still head over heels in love with despite trying to get over him for the past who knows how long. The one person I wanted, but I could never really have.
And as if summoned by thoughts of him, the clinic door opened and in walked the person of my desire. Clay Segall—my stepbrother.
He looked so fucking sexy in his police uniform, his dark brown hair cropped short in the back with longer tufts of bangs hanging over his forehead. Small beads of sweat had his hair clinging to his skin, and even still, he was the most magnificent personI’d ever seen.
God, I was so fucking screwed.
I was not supposed to continue lusting after my stepbrother. It was a secret I promised myself that I’d push deep, deep inside where it’d never see the light of day. Because no matter how much I wanted it, being in love with my stepbrother only had one ending.
In disaster.
Clay looked between me and Frederick, who still had his arms around me and had continued to give my back gentle pats through my lust-filled mind from seeing Clay.
With us this close, I wondered if he felt my heartbeat speeding up? Frederick peeked down at me, his expression hard as always, but there was a hint of worry there, too. His brow furrowed, as if he wanted to ask me something.
My pulse thrummed harder as I tried to decipher his thoughts from his eyes. Did he learn the secret I’d been trying to keep since I was fourteen?
It was the year I’d realized what I felt for my best friend was more than friendship. I’d been crushing on him for years, but fourteen was when I learned I was well and truly head over heels in love with the man. I wanted to hold him and kiss him like I’d seen couples do on TV. I wanted us to be together as more than best friends.
I’d geared myself up to confess my love to him and make us boyfriends, and I would have if our parentshadn’t announced they were dating before I ever got the chance to.
For the last fourteen years, I’d kept my crush under wraps for my dad’s sake, but was one lingering gaze going to ruin it all?
I pleaded with my eyes for Frederick to keep his mouth shut regarding whatever he thought he might know. Frederick’s brows furrowed deeper, clearly confused by what I was trying to convey. His confusion made his arms wrap tighter around me until we were pressed without an inch of space between us.
“What are you two doing?” Clay suddenly asked, a dangerous tone in his voice. He sounded like he was ready to make an arrest.
That shouldn’t have been sexy, and yet I was ready to offer myself up to him. He could do whatever he wanted with me.
A snort came from behind us. Finally letting go of Frederick, I spun around and found Rosa trying to hold her laugh back by putting a hand over her mouth. She composed herself when all three pairs of eyes were on her.
“While I’d love to sit here and watch this play out, my husband has lunch ready for me. I’ll be waiting to hear the play-by-play later,” she said, grabbing her purse and walking around the reception desk.
“Don’t hold your breath ’cause you won’t be hearing anything, ’cause there’s nothing to hear!” I called after her departing back.
She just waved her hand and didn’t even look back as she left us in silence.
I looked back and forth between Clay and Frederick. Clay glared at Frederick, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here right now.
Nobody spoke.
Forcing a laugh, I clapped my hands to get their attention.
