Tangle (Dogwood Lane 2)

My pace slows. She glances over her shoulder, dropping my hand.

I open my mouth to refute her words. To tell her this entire thing isn’t a facade, that she is lovely. That I am already regretting the alpha attitude I’m going to give these cocksuckers when they try to hit on her. But as I dig into her body language, I realize what she’s really saying.

Shit.

“Haley . . .” My words trail off as I try to find a rebuttal that fits. Finding ample words to describe how I feel—that I do want her only for me yet don’t want the responsibility of that either—proves harder than I expect.

“There’s a man staring at us from the window.” She brushes a lock of hair off her shoulder. “Let’s either go in or get out of here, because it’s awkward.”

“I could be convinced to leave.”

She swats me on the arm. “You aren’t leaving. You dragged me all the way here and made me put on makeup and this dress. Now we’re going in, even if it’s for ten minutes.”

“Fine.” I return her smile as we head to the house. “But for the record, I would’ve been just as proud to walk in here with you if you were wearing no makeup and your black yoga pants and pink panties.”

I pull open the door.

“You’re never letting me live that down, are you, Thief?” She groans as she walks by.

“Probably not, Ohio.”

The kitchen is all white-and-black marble with stainless steel appliances. Pink decorations give the place a pop of color and a hint that my dad has officially lost all control of his manhood. Well done, Meredith.

“I was beginning to think you seriously weren’t coming . . . Holy shit.” Jake stops in the middle of Dad’s kitchen, a glass of bourbon in hand. His eyes go wide, a smile I’ve seen a million times on his face shining like an open invitation as he takes in Haley.

I roll my eyes at my brother and wonder how inappropriate it would be to get him in a headlock in the middle of a party.

“So this is her,” Jake says, finally removing his gaze from Haley.

“Jake . . . ,” I warn.

Haley elbows me in the side. “I’m her? I mean, I’m her, but am I her?” When I look down, she winks. “I’m her, aren’t I?”

“I love that my brother brings up a woman and, all of a sudden, it’s you,” I say, fighting a grin.

“Well, you were him.” She brushes a strand of hair off her shoulder again. “And now I’m her. Funny how things work.”

We share a moment, the outside world lost to the joke only we understand. Partygoers laugh in the next room. Caterers slip into the kitchen to check on hors d’oeuvres. Glasses clink together in toasts, and none of it breaks through the moment Haley and I have.

Until my dumbass brother clears his throat.

“I’m Jacob Kelly, Trevor’s brother,” he says to Haley. “You can call me Jake.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jake,” Haley says. “Your brother has said a lot about you.”

I have no clue what she’s talking about. I’m not even sure I’ve mentioned him more than a couple of times. But she’s standing next to me, looking like every man’s dream girl, so who am I to pick things apart?

“I hope it was all good,” Jake says.

He slides a look my way, letting me know he approves of my plus-one. I try to play it cool, to keep the cheek-to-cheek grin wiped from my face, but it’s hard. Maybe even impossible. Although we’re in our late twenties slash early thirties, there’s still little else that compares with getting your big brother’s approval. It’s ridiculous and stupid and, yet, very true. But of course he would be impressed with Haley, and not just because she’s hot. She has this vibe that speaks of welcome, and it’s something so rare and stunning it’s no wonder my brother is equally smitten so quickly.

“Oh, it was,” Haley gushes. “He said he loves working with you.”

Jake looks at me, pleasantly surprised.

“He also said you’re terrible at math so you got the fun job, and now he has to pull most of the weight.” She keeps her gaze fixed on Jake. “He’s a little bothered by that. You should probably keep that in the back of your mind.”

“I did not say that,” I say. Mouth ajar, I half laugh. “What are you talking about, lady?”

She raises a brow, clearly amused at my defense. “That’s exactly what you said. More or less.”

“I bet you did.” Jake looks at me, playing along with Haley. “Tell you what, Haley. Find me later and I’ll tell you some truths about your boy here.”

“Jake, you’re dead to me,” I say.

He grabs his glass off the island and heads toward the foyer. “I’ll take my chances.”