"Stop, please. You are my brother and my best friend, that won't ever change no matter what happens once I've spoken to Jaxon. I'm a big girl and can take care of myself."
He coughs in surprise. "Oh?"
"Yes." My word is final, and to my relief, he says no more. "I'm going to nap before lunch.”
Leaving my brother to stew, I pad in bare feet into the room I'd claimed as my bedroom. David says he needs space while traveling, which is why we have a two-bedroom suite instead of our own compact rooms. I'm willing to humor him for now, but I'm sure there will come a time soon where we have words.
In all fairness, I did land on his doorstep in tears, not knowing what to do. So, I only have myself to blame for David’s need to protect me being a bit too much.
A soft sigh leaves my mouth as I sink into the soft mattress. Everything seems to ache these days, my heart most of all.
Exhaustion finally pulls me into a deep sleep.
***
Fastening my necklace, I stand back and look at myself in the full-length mirror. I look good. My new low-heeled black boots stop mid-thigh, leaving some of my bare legs on display. It's meant to entice. My brother would have a fit if he saw me in this. However, I want to look good for when Jaxon sees me. I know he looked before, and I want that attention again. I crave that attention.
I twist so that I'm in profile and reaching up, cradle my belly through the thin black dress. I'm eighteen weeks pregnant with a stomach that gets more significant daily. As much as I've told myself that I'm only looking for Jaxon to inform him we're having a baby, my heart is hoping for so much more. I'm afraid, though. My brother thinks I'm stupid for wanting more with Ja
xon because, after all, he never came after me. Maybe I am silly, but it's something I need to know. I need to see if he wants the baby and me, or neither of us. It will break my heart if he doesn't want us, but at least I'll know and not spend the rest of my life wondering.
David left me sleeping, probably thinking I’d sleep until morning and forget all about my plan to visit Kenza. My belly is full of nerves, but there is no way I'd forget about my idea. I knew Kenza was his family-owned business, so if Jaxon isn't there, then I'll be able to get a message to him that I'm in town—at least that is the plan.
I slip out of the hotel room and hope I don’t bump into my brother downstairs.
19
Jaxon
Watching Ryan flirt with the ladies at the bar has me wincing. He's a fool, but his corny lines are working. Once or twice, he only smiles and captures the solo attention of the women. He moves down the bar toward me with a cocky smirk on his lips. "And that," he says, "is how it's done." He swipes at me with the towel he grabs from over his shoulder.
“I find it hard to believe we’re even related right now.” I shake my head laughing.
“You’re jealous,” he accuses.
“Hell, no! I have a girl—”
“Jaxon, sorry I’m late,” Sian says, jumping up on the seat beside me.
Ryan raises a brow and ignores Sian when she asks the bartender for a drink. I'm not interested, and I'm only here because I said I'd have a drink with her—the stupid idiot I am.
“Why don’t you dance with me?”
I cringe inside but smile. "You go dancing. I'm resting my feet while catching up with my brother.”
Sian huffs and flounces off into the middle of the dance floor. Hopefully, she won't be back any time soon—lots of guys looking for a good time in her vicinity.
“Going back to this girl you’re in love with—”
Sighing, I add, “I haven’t worked out how I’m going to get her to choose me.”
Ryan blinks a few times and, leaning forward, searches my eyes. "You're not shitting me? You do have someone?" He grins. "You're in love?"
“Yeah, I am.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
I drop my head and run my fingers through my hair. "I found her," I raise my gaze and hold Ryan's, "except she was with a guy, and they had their arms around each other."