Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“What? I’m going shopping with Alex.” She smiles and tugs at her wrist.
“Raven.” Jett sighs and looks at Brett, who hasn’t moved, minus the tic under his right eye.
“That… this”—he lets go of her wrist, and she puts her hands on her hips—“is not a good idea,” he says, reaching for his Bloody Mary.
“Really? Why not?” She stares down at him, then over at Brett, whose gaze hasn’t left mine.
“Let them go, Jett.” Brett sits in the chair, leaning his head back on the cushion.
Raven smiles. “Thank you, Brett. Not sure why we need permission from you two, but thanks.” Her sassy tone makes me stifle a grin.
Eyes closed, Brett snorts, and Jett stares at her, his lips inching their way into a smile.
“Fine. Iain will take you.” He grabs his phone as she leans down to whisper something in his ear, then kisses him, and that pang of jealousy flows over me again. They are so in love it kind of takes the air out of me.
“All right, we’re off.” She kind of sings it, grabbing my hand.
“Alexandrea?” Brett’s deep voice stops us both, and I turn.
“Yes?”
He raises his head so his eyes lock with mine. “Be good.” And my core instantly floods with need.
“Oh, wow,” Raven mumbles, smiling at me, then back at Brett. “Don’t worry, I’ll take perfect care of her.” She walks us back into the mansion.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” Brett says, which is insulting because I was such a rule follower and good girl before I met him.
“This is actually perfect. We have Iain driving us, which means we can have champagne. You like Cristal?” she calls over her shoulder as she takes a right.
I keep walking, trying to calm my breathing and my pulse. It’s like he has some voodoo hold on me that I can’t break free of, even if I wanted to.
“Alex?”
“Sure,” I call out, staring at the giant painting. This can’t be a real Jackson Pollock, can it?
“Amazing, right?” Raven walks over to stand next to me, one hand holding a gold bottle of champagne, and the other with two glasses. “You like art?”
“I love it.” I nod, looking at the painting and the colors. The sheer size alone makes it intimidating, awe-inspiring, reminding me of Brett… Jesus, I’m so fucked. I can’t even look at art without thinking about him.
“Next time you come over, I’ll show you Jett’s whole collection. He has a Monet that’s unbelievable.” She smiles.
“I’d love that.” And I almost say let’s skip the shopping for the art, but I need to get away from Brett and these feelings that I can’t seem to control. He pushes my buttons. Like he didn’t have to say behave. What could I possibly do while shopping?
“Come on.” Raven brings me back to the now, and I follow her outside. A sapphire-blue Tesla is running with that same man from the front gate holding the back door open for us. Climbing in, I smile at him, but he looks around as if he’s expecting to see something, and Raven gets in next to me.
“I want to hear everything.” She pours champagne into a glass. “Because I have never seen Brett like this.”
When she hands me the glass, my stomach flips at her words.
“Do you love him?”
I almost choke on the champagne as my eyes drift to the suited man driving us.
“Don’t worry about Iain. He’s family.” Raven waves her hand and turns sideways to face me. I glance out the window. Lavish green yards blur past us. I look back at her. Do I love him? Is wanting to be with him 24/7 love? Knowing that he’s the one man who truly understands me? That every day I love him more than the last?
“Yes.” I nod, then close my eyes because it’s true, and I’m done lying to myself. Opening my eyes, I look at her. “I think I fell in love with him the moment I entered his classroom. I dropped my water bottle, and he walked over to me and I looked up and saw…”
“What? Saw what?” She reaches to squeeze my hand supportively.
Smiling, I shake my head. “It sounds ridiculous, but I looked up and saw my future in his eyes. I don’t know, it’s like whatever’s inside him is the same inside me?” I cringe, bringing the champagne to my lips and guzzling the whole glass like water.
“It’s not ridiculous. I knew Jett was it the moment I saw him.”
I bring the glass down, and she instantly refills it.
“Was Jett off limits?” I snort.
“Um, yeah.” She looks at me like I should know this. “Alex, Jett was engaged to my mother, so pretty off limits.”
I stare at her. “Wait, what?”
“I’m surprised Brett didn’t tell you.”
My cheeks heat, and I shake my head. “No, I just knew he was crazy about you and thrilled his brother was finally happy, but that… Oh my God.” I’m shocked, and maybe it’s the champagne, but if they can be together, maybe Brett and I do have a chance?