by Raquel Belle
Noah took a swig of his beer and regarded Adam with narrowed eyes. “I beg to differ. You have an entire family here. Although, I suppose nothing and no one could compare to your real family.”
Adam shook his head. “I didn’t mean that how it sounded, Noah. I know you and your family adopted me in a way, and I do consider you to be my real family. But losing so much, this town didn’t feel like home anymore.”
“Hey, I get it. How did your visit with your father go? I’m surprised you chose to take Jenna instead of me.”
“It was fine, and are you jealous?”
Noah laughed again. “Hell yeah, I’m jealous. Who’s your best bud? Jenna or me?” Adam raised a brow and Noah sobered. “I’m just teasing.” His expression turned serious. “But, I really do want to know just how close you two have become.”
Adam swallowed and forced himself to meet Noah’s gaze. He shrugged and feigned nonchalance. “As close I can get to my best friend’s sister. What is this? An interrogation?” He asked, hiding his mounting nervousness with expertise. No one could say they’d ever seen him sweat during any situation, but at that moment, Adam could have sworn he felt a trickle of sweat run down his chest, and it wasn’t because of the piercing stare Noah pinned him with. It was because his and Jenna’s kiss kept replaying in his mind, and he felt guilty as fuck.
Noah’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and he let out a laugh. “Don’t take any offense. She’s my sister and you’re …”
“Not good enough for her?” Adam raised one eyebrow and regarded his friend, challengingly.
“I was actually going to say you’re a bit of a manwhore.”
“Was,” Adam said. His philandering days were long behind him, left in the past with his high school and college self. Sure, he didn’t get too involved and pretty much hopped from one woman to the next, but he wasn’t as bad as he’d been when he was younger. Adam’s lips twisted sardonically. Or maybe he was. Who was he kidding? He was still what Noah labeled him.
Seemingly unconvinced, Noah pursed his lips and lifted his shoulders. “If you say so. You were the first to put it out there before I was even thinking it, so here goes … Maybe you’re not good enough for Jenna.”
Adam’s jaws clenched. Though he was sure Noah was right, Adam was still slightly annoyed. With a grunt, he gulped down the remainder of his beer and proceeded to stare daggers at the empty bottle.
“You’re offended,” Noah said. “Look, Adam, as a protective older brother, I don’t think any man is good enough for my sister so don’t feel too bad.”
“I can’t be offended by the truth. You thought Bryce was good enough.” Just mentioning the man’s name left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Hey, in my defense, he seemed like a decent guy.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Adam said. Recalling the way Bryce had attempted to body shame Jenna made him want to find Bryce and put a fist through his face. What decent man talked to a woman like that? And Noah thought he wasn’t good enough? He might have some work to do, but he would never deliberately hurt a woman with his words or otherwise.
“I don’t know what went down between Bryce and Jenna, but he’s not who we’re talking about now. I want to make sure neither you or my sister is taking this fake relationship seriously.” Noah let out a sigh. “Jenna is much too sweet and … wholesome for a man of your…”
“Experience?” Adam asked, his brows shooting up. Along with his irritation with the entire topic of conversation, he also got some amusement watching Noah struggle to tell him to keep his womanizing hands off of Jenna in the nicest possible way.
“Yeah,” Noah said, his face taking on a slight flush. “I love you, man. You’re a great guy but Jenna is …”
“Your sister,” Adam said with a nod.
Noah let out a breath, clapped Adam on the shoulder, and nodded vigorously. “So, you do understand?”
“Perfectly.”
“And you’re not upset?”
“Not at all.”
Noah smiled. “You’re a good friend to both me and Jenna. I appreciate that.”
Adam averted his gaze and signaled the bartender. Normally, he would stop at a beer or two, but he suddenly had the urge for something much stronger.
Noah’s fist pumped the air. “Alright! It’s about time you loosened up. Let’s ditch the beer and really get this party started.” His eyes shone with excitement. “I haven’t really let loose and gotten wasted since college.”
Adam’s brows dipped into a frown. Noah wanted to relive his glory days before he turned into an old, stuffy husband while Adam’s only intention was to drink away his guilt. If he could magically drink away his absurdly potent desire for Jenna as well, that would be awesome. Stifling his groan, he plastered on a smile and somehow mustered a semblance of the same enthusiasm Noah exuded.
Chapter Twelve
Jenna
Having those penetrating eyes follow her every movement was becoming unbearable. Jenna didn’t have to look at Adam to know that he was watching her. She could practically feel his gaze on her, and the intensity of his stare. He’d kept his distance all night, and she felt horrible that he felt the need to avoid her. Had kissing her been so terrible? It must have been considering that he’d acted as if she was contagious after the fact. He’d pulled away, and his mood had changed so fast, that she still suffered from whiplash.
Scowling, Jenna swiveled her stool around to face the bar and held up her empty glass. Almost immediately one of the bartenders walked her way. The man smiled, his eyes dipping to her cleavage, and she almost rolled her eyes. If she wasn’t feeling so miserable over Adam’s treatment of her, she would have been flattered.
“Hey, Jen. You haven’t left the bar since we got here.” Sarah’s voice sounded behind her right before a slender arm wrapped around her shoulder.
Smiling sadly, Jenna lifted her glass to her lips. “This whole clubbing thing isn’t my scene.” And there was the small matter of every one of the other bridesmaids and groomsmen ignoring her. Most of them had been three grades ahead of her, so they’d barely been aware of her existence and probably still were. Basically, everyone in the group was Sarah, Noah and Adam’s friends, and she was the outcast. It was like high school all over again.
“It’s more than that isn’t it? You barely know the other girls and Noah’s friends. I didn’t even think about that. I assumed you’d just fall in with the crowd.” Guilt shadowed Sarah’s features, and Jenna felt even more miserable.
Jenna’s brows shot up. When did she ever fall in with any crowd? Social awkwardness was a chronic condition she had to bear. “It’s okay, Sarah, Don’t waste your time worrying about me. I’m having a great time watching all of you on the dance floor. You’ve got some nice moves. I had no idea you could shake it like Beyoncé.”
Sarah laughed. “I’m horrible, and you know it. You don’t have to be nice.”
“I do have to be nice. You’re the bride.”
Both women laughed, but Jenna’s amusement quickly died. “Hey, I’m fine, really.” She tipped her glass back and polished off her blackberry gin and tonic. “I have to run to the ladies room.”
“Do you want me to come with?”
“No. I think Noah’s looking for you.”
Sarah glanced over her shoulder to see Noah, searching the crowd. He staggered once and righted himself. “Oh no, I’d better get over there. We might have to call it a night soon.”
Nodding, Jenna held back her laugh. Since they had arrived at the club, Noah had been reliving his frat boy glory days. She’d overheard him encouraging Adam to let loose, but Adam wasn’t having it.
Jenna gathered her purse, as she watched Sarah try futilely to stop Noah from dragging her back to the dance floor. She rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her lips, as she fell into her half-drunk fiancé’s arms. Jenna watched the couple with a longing smile. Oh, to be in love. Her gaze shifted to find Adam in the crowd, and her smile instantly fell.
/> Sarah’s maid of honor, Caroline, was hanging all over Adam, and he was whispering something in her ear. Caroline, along with the other single women had been shamelessly trying to get into Adam’s pants, and it was all Noah’s fault. As always, her big brother ruined everything for her. No one tried to get their paws on Adam until Noah had made it clear to all who would listen that Jenna and Adam weren’t serious. After that, women clamored to get his attention. That was how Jenna ended up at the bar alone, across the room from the bridal party. She’d gotten tired of the audacious hussies practically stepping on her to bat their fake lashes at her man. Well, her fake man but, it was irritating nonetheless.
Letting out a sigh, Jenna shook her head. She had no right to be jealous. Adam wasn’t hers. With that thought, she began weaving through the gyrating bodies toward the back of the club. She would find somewhere to hide until everyone was either too drunk or too tired to continue partying. She regretted agreeing to join everyone for one last night of childish behavior before the rehearsal dinner and wedding. But, how could she have denied Sarah anything? Whatever the bride wanted, the bride got.
Finally making her way through the throng, she let out a relieved breath when she burst through the back exit. It was spring and the temperature was warm with just enough of a cool breeze. She took a deep breath, glad to be away from the crowd and glad to not be able to see women flirting with Adam and him flirting back. The door slammed shut, and only then did she realize that she was standing in a dark alley with only a sliver of light filtering in from the street. It wasn’t the best or safest location to wait out however long she had until the rest of her party came to their senses, so she tried the door to get back inside. To her dismay, it was locked.
“Awesome,” she said. Just what she needed to top off her night—to get mugged in a dark alley. With a groan, she rested against the wall. Seconds ticked by until the door swung open and slammed. “It doesn’t open from the outside,” she warned whomever was unlucky enough to get stuck outside as well.
“Good, so you can’t run back in when I start my lecture,” came the smooth baritone. The voice that never failed to make her breath hitch and her stomach clench.
“Adam,” she said. “What do you want?”
“To put you over my knee.” He stepped into the stream of light that illuminated only a half of his face. He was still shrouded in darkness, and it made his scowl that much more severe. He appeared a dangerous predator looming over her, and all she could think about was pulling him to her and kissing his scowl away. “I thought you were smarter than to come into some dark alley alone, Jenna.”
“I was trying to get back in,” she said. “And what do you care? Don’t you have women to flirt with? Caroline, the Stepford Barbie seemed to be getting somewhere with you.”
Adam’s head tilted, as he studied her in silence for a few, uncomfortable seconds. The music from the club was barely audible through the brick wall, and Jenna could swear she could hear her heart thumping as she wondered what he was thinking. “You think I would do that to you? Blatantly flirt with another woman when you and I are supposedly together?”
She folded her arms and looked away. “Well, I …” She didn’t know what to think. She’d hoped he wouldn’t embarrass her like that, but he had spoken to every woman who sought him out. She’d witnessed it with her own eyes.
“I wouldn’t,” he said, softly,
Her shoulders lifted. “You were just whispering in Stepford … Caroline’s ears.” She had to be careful, or she’d eventually slip up and call Sarah’s best friend Stepford Barbie to her face.
The corners of Adam’s mouth twitched. “Ah, so it’s jealousy that’s brought on this strange mood. And what the hell is a Stepford Barbie?”
“Clearly Caroline tries so hard to be perfect she’s fake. I caught her checking her reflection at least six times in the limo,” Jenna said.
Adam’s rumble of laughter echoed in the narrow Alley. “Resentment and anger aren’t you, Jenna.”
“Stop persisting in thinking you know anything about me, Adam,” she said. “You’ve been gone for eight years.” She sucked in a breath as shocked as Adam was by her vehement outburst. “I … I’m sorry, I didn’t mean …” Didn’t she? She was angry, on edge, frustrated and confused all in one.
His penetrating stare was steady on her face, and she desperately wanted to escape his sharp focus. “The only thing I whispered in Stepford Barbie’s ears was that I’m with you. That’s what I’ve been telling every other woman who came my way. I wouldn’t call that flirting.”
Jenna stared dumbly at him for a long while suddenly feeling ridiculous and ashamed for assuming the worst of Adam. He’d always been an honorable guy even with his parade of girls. It had never been more than one at a time. “O-Oh …”
His brows shot up. “That’s all you have to say?”
Temper flaring, she seethed, “What do you want? An apology after the way you treated me the other day? After you’ve been avoiding me all this time?”
His eyes fluttered, then closed briefly, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “I was waiting for the right time to apologize.”
“And when would the right time be, Adam? After you’ve spent sufficient time ignoring me?”
“Jenna, it wasn’t like that,” he said. “I’ve been busy planning your brother’s bachelor party, and he’s been wanting to hang out and catch up.”
Her lips twisted wryly. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. It’s not like we’re really together. I need to get back inside.” She surveyed the alley and started towards the street.
“Jenna, get back here.”
“Really, Adam, we don’t have to discuss anything. I know you really don’t want to.”
His hand wrapped around her wrist, firm enough to stop her escape, yet still gentle. He swung her around to face him. Staring down at her with incredulity, he asked, “Have you always been this stubborn?”
“Yes,” she said. “You’d know that if you’d ever paid attention.” Jenna took several steadying breaths. She had to stop with the outbursts and loose tongue. She couldn’t give Adam any hint that she’d spent years pining over him.
His brows dipped into a frown, and he swallowed. “I’m sorry. I’ve hurt you, and that was the last thing I wanted.” With growing agitation, he shoved a hand through his hair, still holding on to her. “I wanted to do it again. The second my lips touched yours, I knew I wanted more. If we go any further, I’ll only end up hurting you.”
Her lips parted, but no words came out. Jenna’s stunned gaze rested on the harsh lines of his face. He seemed utterly miserable, and she couldn’t help feeling irritated that he felt bad for wanting her. “You can’t know that.” The words came out as a mere whisper.
“I will hurt you,” he said with conviction. “We don’t want the same things relationship-wise.” He let out a mirthless laugh. “Hell, I don’t even want a relationship.”
She angled her chin challengingly. “You couldn’t possibly know what I want.”
His small, mocking smile grated on her nerves, and her mouth turned downward in a pout. He grasped her chin to run his thumb over her lower lip, making her breath hitch and causing all of her senses to go haywire. “You want the fairy tale.”
“Now you’re insulting me by making me sound like a child, a pathetic one at that. Fairy tales aren’t real.”
“Yet, you can’t help but want it.”
She swallowed her protest, knowing he had her all figured out. Damn him. She was well aware that Adam wasn’t looking to settle down, yet that did nothing to stem her inexplicable craving for him. What could she do? Lie? Tell him she could do something casual? He would see right through her. So, she took another approach. “If I heard correctly, you are attracted to me.” She pulled her wrist from his grasp and rested a hand on his chest.
“Jenna,” he said. “That doesn’t mean anything will happen between us. I can’t. You’re Noah’s sister.”
�
�You remind me of that fact so much, I’m unlikely to ever forget,” she said, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Adam attempted his no-nonsense, severe frown but failed miserably when Jenna stepped closer, pressing her body against his. “I’ve never been bold in the area of sex.” She ran her palms over his chest and lower to his abdomen. “But I see that if I don’t make a move, I’ll never get what I want.” Now that she knew for certain that Adam did find her attractive, her courage had increased tenfold.
Heat turned his gray orbs to molten silver. His nostrils flared, and his breathing became ragged, as she moved lower still to brush her fingers over the quickly hardening bulge in his pants.
With a firm grip, he stilled her movement. A few beats of silence passed, as they stared at each other. She held her breath, worried that he would push her away, but then his eyes lowered to her mouth, lingered there for a bit, and then moved lower to sweep over the rest of her body. Jenna swallowed hard, amazed that just Adam merely looking at her was building her arousal. There was something about his stare, the sheer male appreciation she saw there. A wave of jealousy hit her at the thought of him making other women feel the way she did at that moment—beautiful.
He didn’t need to say a word for her to know that he’d lost whatever inner battle he’d been waging. His eyes closed, and he let out a sigh of resignation before pulling her to him. The kiss was different than the first. Her body reacted the same way, melting into his and almost going up in flames, but his movements were rougher, more commanding, and she was sure he wasn’t kissing her just for show. One hand slipped around the nape of her neck to hold her in place so that he could deepen the kiss. A moan, a cross between a plea for more and a sigh, escaped her.
Adam pulled away. He was as breathless as she was. “We’re in an alley. There’s a dumpster just a few feet away.”
Jenna smirked. “I’ve never made out in a dark alley, behind a club before. I’m not so boring now, am I?”
His gaze clashed with hers. “You’re not seriously thinking about your ex right now.”
