Wrapped in You by Jules Bennett Page B

filled the line and Zach held his breath, waiting for Braxton’s reaction.
    â€œYou can’t act on these feelings.” Braxton’s knowing tone was low, worried. “I know the other night I told you to risk it, but Sophie was torn up when I saw her. How could you—”
    â€œDrop it.”
    No way was he getting into this discussion with anyone, especially one of his brothers. Anything he felt for Sophie, past or present, would stay locked away. They both led different lives, both had goals that didn’t involve each other.
    â€œIf you’re strong enough to keep your emotions in check, then you need to fix whatever you did to her,” Braxton went on. “I’m not going to pry, but if I see her visibly upset one more time, I’ll kick your ass.”
    A piercing pain sliced through his heart. Hurting Sophie even more than he already had, was not an option. Yet another reason he wouldn’t even attempt a relationship with the only woman he’d ever truly wanted.
    â€œI’ll fix it,” Zach vowed. No matter the struggle, no matter the heartache he felt, he’d sacrifice anything for Sophie’s happiness.
    * * *
    Leaving Martin a voice mail telling him she couldn’t go out of town with him seemed rather cold, but she’d tried several times and never could get him to pick up. She couldn’t put off telling him any longer, because he deserved to know and time was running out.
    Not only could she not go out of town with him, she couldn’t see him anymore, but that conversation was definitely something she needed to do face-to-face, and she’d just have to demand a few minutes of his time.
    Sophie didn’t need any more time to think about her relationship with Martin. Not after that kiss she and Zach had shared. No way could she continue seeing one man when her mind remained fixed on another.
    She’d always wondered what kissing Zach would be like, but now she knew, and it wasn’t something she could ignore. The memory of the instant fire that had spread through her at Zach’s rough, demanding kiss had her body heating up all over again.
    For some asinine reason she was completely drawn to the gruff, grouchy exterior of a man who kept pushing her away. She could easily blame her attraction on the teenage girl who found herself falling for the town bad boy against her parents’ wishes. If that had just been an infatuation, those feelings would’ve dissipated long ago.
    Instead, everything she felt for Zach kept getting stronger, more powerful each time she saw him. She was to the point she was going insane with conflictions. Did she risk telling him, only to have him shut her out even more?
    Regardless of the outcome with her and Zach, Sophie wouldn’t be with a man she didn’t have strong feelings for, so she needed to tell Martin they should see other people.
    Sophie curled her feet beneath her on the sofa and slid her pencil in a smooth, easy glide over the clean sheet of paper. Flynn curled next to her and purred softly, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Soothing jazzy music filled her living room. Most times her favorite selection was her go-to in order to relax. Unfortunately, tonight she was anything but relaxed. Even her favorite band wasn’t taking the edge off.
    Her cell vibrated on the wooden coffee table. When she glanced at the screen, she groaned and went back to her drawing. No way could she deal with her mother. No doubt the woman was calling to discuss some little shop she’d just been in or to complain about Sophie’s father. No matter what, Sophie simply wasn’t in the mood.
    Breaking things off with Martin would be easier than telling her mother that the relationship was over. Her parents loved Martin, or rather they loved his social standing in the community and how he would look in the family. Not that her family was loaded, but they liked to play the part. They had, or rather