At the end of Part 4:
“I want to be whoever it is that makes you happy.” His thumb stroked the back of her hand and she shivered. “Whether it’s Storm or Rafe, I’ll be happy if you’re by my side.”
Her heart swelled at the warmth and passion in his sky blue eyes.
“That’s why…” He slid from the couch and placed one knee on the floor, then kissed her hand. “I want to ask you something very important.”
She shook her head. This couldn’t be happening. He reached into his pocket and pulled out something. She realized it was a royal blue velvet box, which he opened to reveal a stunning ring with diamonds forming the shape of a butterfly. Or a moth.
“Will you marry me?”
Jessica stared at him. Her heart clenched. A part of her wanted to fall into his arms and tell him yes, yes, yes! But the reasonable, sane part of her flared with anger.
“Are you kidding me?” She bolted to her feet, then across the room. “I don’t even know who you are. Do you really expect me to marry a complete stranger?”
He stood up and closed the ring box, looking totally crestfallen. She felt cruel rejecting him like that but … it was crazy of him to put her on the spot like this. He’d dumped her, then waltzed back into her life and two seconds after explaining why he’d left … proposed!
And that ring. It was beautiful and expensive and exactly underscored the difference between Storm and Rafe. Storm could never afford something like that, whereas Rafe wouldn’t even blink at the price tag, no matter how high it was.
Fuming, she turned her back on him and strode to the window, taking solace in the spectacular view of the city below.
Then she felt his hands on her shoulders.
“You do know me, Jess. I’m the same man you fell in love with.”
“I did not fall in love—” she said as she spun around, but as soon as she faced him, he pulled her into his arms and captured her lips. At the gentle pressure of his tongue against her mouth, she opened, almost in a gasp of surprise. The passion of his kiss overwhelmed her and she melted against him. Oh, God, it felt so good to be in his arms. Warm and protected. And loved.
But none of it was true.
She stiffened and pressed against his shoulders. Reluctantly, he eased back.
“Jess, please. I love you.”
“But I don’t love you.”
He stared deep into her eyes, reading all her secrets.
“I don’t believe that.”
She dodged around him, unable to bear his closeness any longer.
“Is this really about me,” he asked, “or are you involved with someone else?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you think I’m involved with someone else?”
His lips compressed. “You keep calling Dane by his first name.”
“I’ve already told you—”
“And I get a certain vibe from the two of you. Is there something going on between you?”
She sucked in a breath, then walked across the room, needing to release some of her pent-up energy. Could she really tell him about Dane? It wasn’t any of his business, but she didn’t want to lie.
Even though telling him would surely cause problems between the brothers.
“There is something between us, but it’s not romantic.”
Anger flared in his sky blue eyes. “What is it then?”
She raised her head and met his harsh gaze. She had no reason to be embarrassed. What she shared with Dane was quite reasonable. They were just two consenting adults in a purely sexual relationship.
“It’s just physical. Nothing more.”
Maybe it would have been better to let him think there was a deeper relationship between her and Dane. Then it would be easier to keep him at a distance.
The problem was, now that he’d opened up to her, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to keep him at a distance forever.
“So the two of you are having sex.” His hands clenched into fists.
“Look, I know you and Dane have had problems over women before, and I don’t want to be the cause of more friction between you.”
The
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