Page 41 of Her Greatest Mistake

Hopefully, the tradition skips Adalyn because I’msonot ready for that yet.

Noah is different with Tinsley . . . warmer, kinder. She’s the only one who has ever been able to get through to him, and while that’s great and all, she lives in Toronto with her family, and, well, Noah is here. At least with him there for a while, I won’t have to worry about him getting into trouble.

“What did you get Mom for her birthday?” I change the subject, and Addie’s face immediately lights up.

“O-M-G! I got her a new luggage set for their trip to Greece. You know how Mom is when it comes to buying herself new things. I swear she’s had her old luggage since she was my age.”

I nod along with her. Mom spoiled us rotten when we were kids, but she hardly spent anything on herself. Dad made up for it, though.

“That’s great, Addie. She’ll love it.”

“Yeah, she will.” She flicks her gaze behind me briefly before looking back and batting her eyelashes. “So . . . theoretically, how mad would you be if Mom and me invited Braxton to the party today?”

I narrow my eyes. “Why?”

“’Cause, cousin. Little Braxton Heights is walking over here as we speak,” Jamie notes, and as I quickly get off the ground, I find him staring toward the back door.

“Adalyn,” I grumble, following Jamie’s line of sight to find Braxton stepping outside.

My lungs pinch as I take her in. A flowy yellow sundress with short sleeves and white lace flows down her body, hitting her mid-calf and cinching at her waist, showing off her curves and the swell of her tits. A pair of white trainers and a twinkling diamond necklace that hangs just above the crease between her breasts in the shape of a heart finish the look.

Half of her hair is pulled back and secured with a clip, keeping it out of her face. My fingers twitch, wanting to remove that clip so her curls fall free.

“When did that happen?” Oliver mutters behind us, and I don’t know if he’s talking about our reunion or the fact she’s grown into a woman, but I get annoyed regardless.

“She’s not for you,” I snap.

“So, she’s yours?” he asks.

“It’s not your bus—”

“Women don’t belong to men, Oliver, but yes. Braxton is herewithMaddox,” Addie answers for me.

I look over at her with questions in my eyes, and she mouths, “Go with it.”

Unease swirls, but against my better judgment, I listen to her. With three strides, I’m leaving them behind and am in front of Braxton, using my six-three frame to block her from view of anyone else.

One smile is all it takes to have me all twisted up inside. I try to grapple for self-control, but having her here, at my family home again, fuck.

“You look like the sun,” I blurt out. My eyes widen. “I mean, the dress. It’s yellow like the sun . . . sunshine. It’s bright. Yeah.”

The blue in her eyes is so clear I can’t look away. She blinks at me once, twice, and then asks, “Do you want to borrow some sunglasses?”

16

BRAXTON

The ground growsunsteady beneath my feet when Maddox’s lips part on a smile. Gleaming teeth and a dimple sunken deep in the apple of his right cheek. I want to reach into the pocket of my dress—convenient, right?—and grab my phone to snap a photo of him.

The smile is beautiful and real, so real that I can’t help but smile back. And oh boy, does it feel amazing to smile with him again, even if it’s a once-off.

“Do you happen to have an extra pair? I forgot mine in the truck,” he deadpans.

I shove both hands in the pockets at my hips before pulling the inner fabric inside out. “No room.”

“Shame.”

A pop of blonde peeks out from behind Maddox a second before Adalyn joins us. She pushes in front of her brother and grins at me, her lips and cheeks a matching shade of bright pink.

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