1: Braxton
I nod to the bartender as he slides over my glass of whiskey. “Thanks, man.” The first sip goes down nice and smooth, sending a trail of heat to my gut. My phone vibrates and I take it out of my pocket, hoping it’s a text from Kylie. I’m kind of bummed to see it isn’t, but I wasn’t expecting to hear from her until later tonight anyway.
Instead, it’s Ronan, my twin sister Selene’s fiancé. We still on for tomorrow?
Ronan and Selene’s wedding is in a week, so we’re going skydiving for his bachelor party. Both Ronan and I like women as much, or maybe more than, the next guy, but he’s not really into the whole strip club thing. He’s more of a put himself in mortal danger kind of dude, so skydiving it is. Works for me. I’d never tried skydiving before I met Ronan, but fuck it’s a rush. I’ve gone up with him quite a few times since he started dating my sister. It’s fucking awesome.
I text back: You know it.
I wonder if he’s doing the same thing I am—feeling sorry for himself because his woman is out of town without him—and send another text: I’m at Phinney Tavern if you’re bored.
Selene and Kylie went away for Selene’s bachelorette party weekend, and won’t be home until Sunday. Ky was really looking forward to this, so I’m glad she gets to go have some fun with my sister. But fuck, I miss her. She’s been gone for maybe twelve hours and I already hate it. We haven’t been apart, except to go to work, since we got married—hell, not since we got back from London, when I proposed to her. When I almost lost her.
I shudder at that memory. What a fucking nightmare that was. I was such a dumbass for lying to my sister about our relationship.
I know Selene feels bad about what happened, but I’ve never blamed her. She did make me promise not to hook up with Ky, and like an idiot I broke up with Kylie over it. But Selene had no idea how I really felt about Kylie. When I finally stopped lying, and told Selene how much I loved Kylie, she was ready to do anything to help me get her back. She even flew to London with me when we realized Kylie had gone away for New Year’s Eve.
I know Selene was only trying to protect Kylie, and protect their friendship. She had every reason to believe I’d hook up with Ky and leave her—it’s what I’d done with all the women who came in and out of my life before.
But Kylie was always different. She was always the one I wanted.
And the look on Selene’s face when Kylie and I got back to our hotel in London, and Kylie was wearing my ring? Fucking priceless.
Thinking of that makes me smile a bit, and I take another sip of my drink.
Ronan texts back. Nah, I’m wiped from work. Calling it a night.
Ronan’s a good guy. I wanted to tear his arms off when he broke up with Selene, but in the end, he came around. I’m happy for my sister. I’ve been anxious to see her with the right guy for years, and I’m relieved she found someone who’s so good for her. It’s satisfying to know she’s not living alone in our childhood home anymore.
“Braxton Taylor,” a voice says behind me. I cringe. The voice is familiar, but I’m not quite sure who it is. The way she said my name makes me think it must be one of my exes, or at least a girl I slept with once or twice. I glance over my shoulder, hoping I remember who she is. I’ll feel like a dick if I have to ask her name.
It’s Hope, a girl I dated for a couple months not long before I finally got together with Kylie. I’m relieved I know her name but, if I remember correctly, Hope had a temper.
I decide to play it cool and pretend this isn’t going to be awkward. I turn around and give her an easy smile. “Hope. Good to see you again.”
“How nice,” she says. “You actually remember me.”
Did I really date her? What was I thinking? “Yeah, of course. What are you up to tonight?”
She shrugs and slides up onto the stool next to me. Uh oh, what is she doing? “Nothing much. I just moved to an apartment around the corner from here. I came in with some friends and saw you. Figured I’d come say hi.”
“Um, hi.” Now I am feeling awkward. Hope is clearly checking me out. Her eyes move up and down, lingering on my crotch longer than necessary. When she looks up, she holds my gaze. I know that look. She wants to hook up with me tonight. I’m guessing she just wants a casual fuck, but there’s no mistaking her expression. She’s giving me the I’m going to fuck you later look.
There was a time when she’d have been right. I’d have taken her home, and not worried too much about the consequences. But now? Hell, no. Those days are long behind me, and I’m fucking ecstatic about it. I don’t care who I was before Kylie. I’m all Kylie’s—now, and for the rest of my life. There isn’t a woman on this planet who could even tempt me.
Hope’s got a lot of skin showing, and by all accounts she’s an attractive woman. My dick? Doesn’t give a shit. All I can think about is how to get out of this situation.
“So, are you here all by yourself?” She licks her lips. “That’s not like you.”
My mouth turns up in a half smile. “Actually, my wife’s out of town, so I’m just killing time.”
Hope’s eyes widen and her mouth drops open. I shift on my stool so I can lean my arm on the bar, my left hand in plain sight. Her eyes dart to my hand. Yes, Hope, that’s a wedding ring you’re looking at.
“You got married?” she asks.
I keep smiling. This just got fun. “Yes, I did. Over a year ago.”
“What, did you knock her up or something?” Hope asks.