Chapter 23

chapter 23

brYCE

“Maybe we could give it a try for a while… in secret. And if we both still feel the same, we could tell him.”

“S-secretly? I won’t hide from anyone. It’s all or nothing. It may sound demanding, but I won’t date in secret. You’ve already pushed me in a closet. You weren’t even hiding me from another date; it was your brother.”

“Bryce.” She turns to look me in the eyes. “I don’t know what happened to your brother and when you’re ready, I hope you’ll tell me, but… what would you have done for him? Anything? Everything?”

The organ in my chest beats rapidly, thinking about my brother. “Anything.”

“That’s all I’m trying to do… protect my brother’s career. I don’t want to be the cause of him losing his career too, after my ex stole his wife. I wasn’t good enough for Grant, so he went elsewhere to fulfill his needs.”

My body trembles as I look into her pleading eyes, I know she’s right. I would do anything for my brother, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness. I sigh and release my fists that I didn’t know I was clenching. Staring down at my trembling hands, she reaches out and intertwines our fingers, her touch calming me.

“I know it’s unfair to ask you to hide our relationship. I just don’t want to see my brother’s career suffer because of my past mistakes.”

“We’re not a mistake.”

“Bryce, as much as I feel the magnetic pull between us, I’m not risking his career until we know… really know how we feel. The sex is fantastic, but it’s the little things that make you fall in love.”

“Like watching you make dinner. Or playing board games with Jolie. Or the way you hum when you work out. Or how I love it when you’re in my space rambling, or filling it with laughter, sarcasm, and happiness. Are those the little things?” I ask as I run my hands up her arms.

My jaw relaxes. I have an idea. A fucking great one. And just maybe I can kill two birds with one stone. “Okay, we’ll date in secret until you see what I see. We’re perfect together.” She needs exactly what Jolie needs… for me to love her without conditions. God, I finally feel like a grownup.

Her hands cup my jaw, running her thumbs back and forth, caressing my face. “Really?”

My mind races with all the things I want to say to her in response, but I bite my tongue. “I want to say something dirty to make your panties wet and slip my fingers through your folds,” I whisper, my voice laced with desire. “But I won’t. I don’t want to break the rules before we’ve even set them.”

“No rules. Let’s live in the moment. ”

I throw her a wink and a coy grin. “Don’t worry, I’ll woo the fuck out of you.”

“We’ll see.” She smirks. “Now, Mr. Wynward, I need to put on my brother’s jersey.”

I let out a low, possessive growl at the thought. “Then, after the game, we’re heading to Dane and Lettie’s. You can either come with me or stay with your brother. Either way, I’ll make sure no one says a word.” I shrug on my jacket and adjust my tie, watching her watch me. “And I promise to keep my hands to myself but know that I’m thinking of them between your legs.”