Stealing Her (Covet 1)

The rest of the world would assume all was right within Tennyson Financial, and Julian would rest while I quietly did what he couldn’t, run a multibillion-dollar company.

Right. What could possibly go wrong?

I still felt exhausted and beat up, so I asked him for one more day.

And it wasn’t just because I was still healing, it was because I was intrigued by her, because everything Izzy did had purpose, and because every single time she smiled at me, it was either sad as hell or faraway.

And I hated it.

I let that hate fester in my soul.

My hatred toward my father.

And a growing resentment toward my brother, toward a man I was trying to help. Then again, I hadn’t expected to walk into this role and see a whole different side of him through her eyes.

A side that was often cruel.

And selfish.

A side I knew had existed when we were kids but was repressed because we had each other and we had Mom.

Living with Izzy was like living with a horse whose spirit had been broken. I almost wondered what the woman was living for. It sure as hell wasn’t Julian.

The only family she now had was mine.

Depressing as fuck, if you asked me.

One more day with her.

And I was still clueless why someone so obviously unhappy would stay in this relationship.

She would be back from her morning run in a few minutes, because her schedule was the same every day. The woman woke up at seven, ran at seven thirty, came home, made a smoothie, stared at the bacon in the fridge like it was going to make itself, sighed, and took a shower.

She’d start making lunch because apparently Julian was such an asshole that he didn’t eat sandwiches. When I asked her, she said she knew I would want something hot for my meal.

She was acting like my maid.

I loved the attention, hated the reasons for it.

And she seemed almost insulted when I helped her do anything.

Thank God the flinching finally stopped.

I eyed the door, the knob twisted, and in she came, wearing black running pants, a pink tank top, sweatshirt, and a beanie that looked adorable on her head.

She looked up at me, her gaze narrowed. “Why are you grinning like that?”

“I think it’s the hat.” I leaned forward, resting my forearms on my thighs. “You look cute in hats.”

“Cute?”

“Yeah.” I patted the spot next to me on the couch. “In fact, you should probably come over here, with that hat, so I can get a closer look.”

“Are you . . .” She swallowed and then put her hands on her hips. “High?”

“High,” I deadpanned.

“High,” she repeated. “You know, from the drugs you have to keep taking.”

“I’m popping Advil,” I pointed out. “And no, I’m not high. Can’t a man find his fiancée attractive?”

“Oh, he can.” She slowly made her way toward me. I was loving those tight leggings and the way they hugged her ass. “But my fiancé hasn’t called me cute, ever.”

“Then he’s a total dick.” I meant it too.

She stared at me, and then burst out laughing. “Did the untouchable Julian Tennyson just call himself a dick?”

“I think he did.” I shrugged. “Trust me, it was a low blow.”

She smirked.

“Very hard,” I added.

Soft laughter.

God, I felt like I was winning the Olympics.

Finally!

“Extremely—”

“Disappointing?” she offered.

I dropped my jaw. “Are you calling my dick disappointing?”

She lifted a shoulder like she was challenging me. “Maybe, maybe not.”

“I see the gauntlet’s been thrown.” I stood.

“Oh no you don’t.” She grabbed my hands. I loved it. I wanted her to hold my hands more. I wanted to tell her I wasn’t my asshole brother, that I knew how to use my own equipment so well she’d never want to leave that damn bed and would beg me to cuff her to it. “You’re still healing.”

“I go back to work tomorrow.” My chest felt heavy.

“Yeah.” She looked away but didn’t drop my hands.

“Which means . . .” I squeezed her fingertips. “You should shower and then come out here and have a movie day with me. It’s our last day of freedom before we have to adult again.”

“You don’t sit and watch movies with me, Julian.” Her voice was strong, soft, defiant.

“Ah, but remember I’m turning over a new leaf and I did almost die, so I do, in fact, want to watch movies with you, as soon as possible, and I’ll even let you hold the remote because I’m a gentleman,” I teased.

She tilted her head to the side. “You’re acting funny.”

“Again, I almost died. How would you act if you had one day with the most beautiful woman in the world?”

“Now I know you’re high,” she grumbled.

“Izzy? Please?”

She licked her lips and then finally nodded. “Yeah, I’ll watch movies with you, Julian.”

She turned around and made her way into the living room, so she didn’t see the face I made after she called me by his name.