Page 65 of Out of the Dark
“I get off on you.”
“Let go of me.”
Hutch tightened his grip around my waist. “You’re going to cause a scene, right here, right now, while our siblings are so happy?” he dared.
Brooklyn brought the camera down. “Thank you all so much.” She beamed happily.
“Hutch, Jillian, you two are a couple, right?”
“Yes.”
“Hell no,” I blurted out, only to slap my hand over my mouth.
Brooklyn’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry, I thought...Jo had said you were together.” She looked so upset that I felt terrible.
I kicked my leg against Hutch’s shin, and when he let go of me, I rushed to the photographer. “Brooklyn, I shouldn’t have said that to you.” I touched her arm. “It’s... complicated with us.” I flashed a quick smile, hoping I didn’t offend her.
“Trust me, I understand complicated,” she assured me as a smile pulled at her lips. “My husband and I had a very rocky relationship in the beginning. I thought he was the most arrogant man I had ever met, but things changed.”
Hutch gasped, “I knew you looked familiar! You’re married to Rand Shepard, aren’t you?”
I had no idea who that was. “Who?” I looked between the two of them.
“He’s a NASCAR driver, Jills, remember I had his shirt on the night of our first date?” Hutch’s brows dipped.
Nope, I did not remember the shirt. The shirt he had on was stretched to its limits across his very thick and muscled chest. “Sorry, doesn’t compute.” I shrugged as if I could care less.
“He’s my husband, yes.” Brooklyn was flipping through her tablet. “He’s actually back at the Ocean View Hotel right now, totally bored out of his mind. He hates weekends off, but didn’t want to stay home alone so he tagged along with me.” She glanced back up. “Come by tomorrow so you can meet him. I promise you he’s not the dick everyone thinks he is.” She grinned. “I’ll catch you both later for more pictures.” She wandered off to get the rest of the wedding party.
I batted my lashes. “Oh, you get to meet your idol,” sarcasm dripped from my tongue.
“Knock it off, Jillian,” Hutch warned.
“What time is this happening because I want to see this go down?” I wish I had my phone so I could look this guy up. Brooklyn was super gorgeous so I had to expect Rand to be equally attractive.
“You wish.”
“You bringing the little lady? I’m sure that’s right up her ally.”
“Watch it.”
“Or what?” I rolled my eyes. “Remember you started this, so make sure you can finish it, big boy. I told you to leave me alone. Not to talk to me unless you had to. So if you can’t play in the big leagues, Hutch, maybe you should go back and sit at the kids’ table.”
Hutch stared at me for a second before he just stomped off, leaving me there by myself. What the hell was that about? He could dish it out, but couldn’t take it? He had been flirting with me all day too. I decided to let it go and went to find Knox and drown my sorrows in the top shelf booze my sister and now brother-in-law had provided.
