Page 41 of Bossy Ex's Brother

Well, that was an odd coincidence, I thought as I continued on my walk. What were the odds that when I started working for Luca, his brother would suddenly reappear back in town?

And why did he say it was a bad idea to work for Luca? What was everyone’s problem with my new boss? I understood Felix was probably playing the role of an overprotective brother…but maybe Lorenzo knew something I didn’t.

Or maybe he was concerned I would fall for his brother like so many women apparently already had.

Not a chance,I told myself, but I don’t think even I was convinced by that.

I got home to an empty house, which was a little disconcerting. I knew Emmett had planned a study date with one of his friends and had likely taken Angel along too. Felix was out looking for a job, but I had no clue where Bethany was.

I called her, and it went straight to voicemail. I was too tired to yell at her, so I simply told her to call me back if she needed me.

Then I went to get a bath started, deciding to enjoy this stolen moment of peace and solitude. I added a few drops of essential oils into the bath and took out my special Amber and Driftwoodsoap which had a relaxing minty essence. Once the bath was ready, I dipped my toe in before soaking my whole body in the warmth for a few minutes and letting my thoughts wander.

That is, until the door rang, a record scratch on the serenity.

I frowned, wondering who it was.Had any of the kids forgotten their keys?

I quickly dried off and then pulled on a T-shirt and Pajama bottoms before rushing downstairs. The ring came again right before I pulled open the door.

My heart beat once in warning, twice in anticipation.

It was Luca.

SIXTEEN

LUCA

I watched Jane’s eyes widen with shock.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

I said nothing because I truly didn’t have an answer for her.

Ever since I saw her and Lorenzo talking, my mind has been a fog of conflicting thoughts.

Once I saw it was Lorenzo who was talking to her, I kept my distance. I wanted to observe what was going to happen first, whether this was indeed the first time they’d seen each other in years, or whether she had lied to me. Luckily, the evening hid me pretty well, and I could only see them well from the lighting off the streetlights. I wasn’t close enough to hear what they were talking about because I didn’t want my brother to see me just yet. If he did, he might go riding off again and disappear into the sunset, like he’d done the last time.

And I couldn’t allow that. He held my freedom in his hands, and I was way too close to it to let him get away like that.

So I stayed put as they hugged, even though vicious jealousy burned in my gut. Despite everything else, I’d never wanted to deck my brother more than at that moment. And then she’d smiled at him as they talked like they were old friends, notseeming the least bit upset or angry, only vaguely surprised. Suspicion broiled.

Were they still involved? Had she known where he was this entire time?

I hated to think that she had.

My brother was still in love with her. I could tell from the soft expression on his face and the way he looked down at her after the hug like he wanted to kiss her. I wouldn’t have been able to hold myself back if he did. I would have run forward and wrapped my hand around his throat, wringing the life out of the little shit once and for all.

And if that didn’t say something about the intensity of my feelings for Jane, then I didn’t know what did.

Fuck, I thought.Brandon was right.

I was way too possessive over her for someone I’d only fucked once. She made me feel unstable, like a fucking Neanderthal nutcase who couldn’t control himself. Whatever I felt for her, it was way beyond simple affection and lust.

It wasn’t love.

But it was something. And that something was quickly growing dangerous.

As they continued to talk, I watched their expressions to guess what they were talking about. It was difficult to ascertain what her feelings for him were. She was too casual about his appearance for it to be love. It was as if she’d run into a friend rather than her boyfriend of…however many months they’d dated.

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