Page 59 of The Wrong Brother

He passes Mina back her phone and crushes his lips against mine. I feel branded by his touch, his fingers gripping my face, his tongue dancing with mine. I forget Mina is still there until she gasps.

“Shit. I just realized exactly what height that ass print is at and I no longer want any details! I’ve gotta go get Griffin to replace those horrifying mental images with some of his sexy body doing dirty things to me. Have fun tonight!”

We don’t even say goodbye and we’re running a few minutes late when we finally leave. I had to fix my lipstick and Rafferty was reciting an odd mantra about his grandma in a bathing suit. I take my man’s hand. After everything that has happened, it seems so silly that I thought this was the endpoint. I put so much unnecessary pressure on appearing perfect to people who don’t matter, like getting their approval was the ultimate end goal for my life. Thinking about it makes me feel like such an idiot but I’m grateful for the lesson. Because of this ridiculous plan, I can now let go of the hold I’ve let Pressley have on me for all these years. I don’t need or want her approval. The man next to me is the only one who matters. I’m excited to be dressed up with him, an evening of delicious food and dancing ahead of us. Party here we come!

37

rafferty

I don’t know what will ultimately come out of tonight but I’m feeling as good about it as I possibly can. Catherine looks incredibly beautiful and I feel so lucky to be the one standing next to her. The silky peach fabric gives her skin a golden glow and shows off her shape. There’s this sexy slit that highlights her long legs with every step. I could spend all night doing nothing but looking at her. The Witherings have what amounts to a giant fucking estate in Hawai‘i Kai. The gated driveway is open and there are two guys in matching blazers, acting as valets. It makes me chuckle to hand over the keys to the crappy little car I’ve slept in so we can walk into a giant mansion by the ocean.

Bob and Helen, as they insist we call them, are gracious hosts. Their house is beautiful and I can see why Catherine liked spending time here. Even though it’s massive with multi-million dollar views from every window, it feels like a home and not a fancy museum. The huge glass doors that make up one wall have been slid back, leaving the wall open to make the luxurious lanai an outdoor extension to the formal living room. There are tables set up across the large lawn with a canopy of lights. It looks like something out of a movie.

“Helen, your view is unreal. I don’t know how you get anything done living here.”

She pats my arm, smiling broadly. “Oh, I don’t! Bob’s the hard worker in the family. I spend a lot of time right there, on the lanai, with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and a good book. I’m really quite spoiled! Speaking of the view reminds me of something I wanted to ask, Rafferty. A friend showed me your account on that photo app. We don’t need to lock down the details during the party, but I want to commission you to do a painting of our view. I love how your oceanscapes make me feel and I want to make sure I’m the first one out of our set to have a genuine Rafferty Simms hanging in my house!” Catherine walks back over from some introductions Bob had been making and kisses Helen’s cheek fondly.

“Of course, you should have one! We’ll work something out later. Maybe he can paint here, from the house and I can visit with you while he works.”

“Oh, that would be lovely, Catherine dear! I look forward to it. Rafferty, before I lose you to more exciting things, I wanted to get the inside scoop on one of your pieces. My absolute favorite of everything I’ve seen is ‘Home.’ It feels warm and a little sexy. Like falling in love. What inspired it?”

I swallow thickly, unsure of how honest I should be. Fuck it. I’ve been all in since the beginning. No point in holding back now.

“It’s Catherine.” They both look confused so I press on. “What I mean is, ‘Home’ wasn’t inspired by her, itisher.”

Helen blushes, her cheeks warming with a pale pink that brightens her light blue eyes.

“I can see that now. If it wasn’t so personal, I’d want to buy it. Don’t ever sell that one. It’s special.” She leaves us to make another circuit around the room and Catherine slips her dainty hand into mine. She doesn’t push me to explain or ask questions. When my heartbeat has calmed enough I look over at her. She has her phone out and is looking at the photo of my painting. Her blue eyes meet mine, her lips trembling.

“I don’t know how I missed it before. It’s me.” She gestures at my art. I trace the creamy curve that stretches diagonally across the center of the canvas with the tip of my finger.

“I’m surprised you didn’t recognize my favorite part of your body, Kitty Cat.”

“That’s how you see me?”

“Yes. And how you make me feel.” The moment is building between us. She hasn’t taken her eyes off of mine and my heart is in my throat. I can be brave. I can ask her about the patches and the friendship reminders. I can tell her how I feel and trust this is more and I’m not too much. I have to stop worrying and leap. I take a deep breath, finally ready to say more, and Connor strolls over, breaking the spell.

“You two clean up nice! Bob and Helen sure know how to host a party, don’t they?”

We both smile in agreement, but all I want is for Connor to scram. His smile is wide though and his posture is relaxed. I don’t think he was simply making the rounds. Fuck, I was so close. This teetering on the edge of hope and fear is making me feel sick.

“I wanted to thank you again, Catherine, for listening to me and forgiving me. You are so much more gracious than I deserve. I admire you and hope you know how lucky I feel to have someone as smart and capable as you are handling our accounts. Getting to manage this restaurant is such a huge opportunity for me. This is the first step in building a life for me and Pressley. I don’t want to mess it up. Having you on the team is definitely a step in the right direction.”

“Wow! That’s really nice. Thank you, Connor, for saying that. I’m looking forward to having a good working relationship with you.” Catherine rests her hand on Connor’s forearm as Pressley marches up, her heels clacking on the bamboo floors. She pushes Catherine’s hand away, almost falling in the process. She’s obviously already had too much to drink and they’ve only just started circulating appetizers.

“Pressie baby, don’t you think—” Connor starts but she interrupts him with a sharp hand in the air before turning to face Catherine.

“I see you over here! Acting like you’re better than everyone else! Sucking up to my parents. Showing off. Flirting with Connor even though he’s mine! Well, I know better, Catherine.I. Know.”

Connor is holding her up, his face red with embarrassment.

“I don’t know what you mean, Pressley.” Catherine’s voice is low, the picture of calm. “We’re here because your parents invited me, as someone who works with them. We’re happy to be included and celebrate your engagement, for their sake.”

“Of course they invited you. They couldn’t wait to tell me that they reconnected with you after I fucked everything up. I’m sure they’ve been waitingyearsfor this chance. Because of you, I lost the life I was supposed to have! My parents decided to teach me a lesson and wouldn’t pay for my last year of college.Perfect Catherinesends them a letter and suddenly I’m cut loose!” Her voice is dripping with malice. “I spent that year working, being treated like I no longer existed by everyone in our circle, and missing out on all the social events with only Conner for company.” Conner looks hurt but Pressley doesn’t notice, her fury ratcheting up. “And no matter how hard I’ve tried, I’ve never gotten back to where I was. I lost my place. My parents treat me differently—the bitch who took Catherine, the daughter they wish they had, from them.” Her eyes fill with tears and she looks like she’s going to cry before she clenches her jaw and shakes her head, like her social mask is visibly sliding back in place. “Whatever. The point is, I see right through you!” Her speech is slurring slightly and her face is flushed, eyes glassy. “You’re not better than me. I looked into this guy you’re parading around and he isn’t the great catch you’re acting like he is!”

“I’m not acting like he’s anyone, Pressley. I’ve known Rafferty since we were kids. We grew up across the street from each other.”

“Uh huh. Maybe you thought you could pull one over on us because he’s all tall and sexy, but that guy is a LOSER!” Her voice has gotten progressively louder and people are turning, looking at us. “He’s been arrested! He’shomeless! What kind of great catch sleeps in his car?” She laughs shrilly, teetering on her heels. “At least my fiancé has a house and a real job!”

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