Page 100 of Flirty Fall Fling

“He also wanted me to tell you he’s bigger,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“We both know he’s not,” Jamie says. “Everyone in this room does.”

“Please,” Patterson says, pulling a glass from the cabinet and helping himself to the wine on the table. “Do I have to serve your girlfriend too?”

Jamie wipes his hands on the towel that’s draped over his shoulder. I can’t tell if he wants to laugh or not. “You’re my karma, Patterson. I’m convinced of it.”

I laugh as Jamie fills a glass for me and hands it over. It’s the Bordeaux, the ten out of ten wine. I smile, remembering that night with him.

Jamie is confident and relaxed as his eyes meet mine. We hold a silent conversation as Patterson talks about God knows what. If only I could twinkle my nose and zap us somewhere we could be alone.

“I need more wine for this,” Jamie says, refilling his glass.

It’s like we’re the only two people in the room. I lick my lips as his eyes graze over every inch of my face and body.

“Are you even listening?” Patterson asks, glancing between us. Then he smiles and nods, like he’s giving his stamp of approval. “I really think we need to squash this rumor that I’m dating Blaire, soon, before Kendall loses her shit.”

The smile fades from my face, and I look at Patterson. “What?”

“You mean, you don’t know? Honey, the entire world thinks I’m cheating on my wife with you.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “I need my loving brother to come out and squash this now.”

It feels like an animal is sitting on my chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Patterson unlocks his phone and hands it over to me. There are pictures of Jamie and me in Salem. Post after post, trying to figure out who I am and every detail about my life. My hand shakes as a burst of adrenaline shoots through me. I almost drop his phone.

“No. People were watching our private moments?”

“I’m really fucking sorry,” Jamie whispers. “I was going to tell you tonight. I found out today and …”

My brows are lifted high. “I don’t have an online presence. I don’t want to be on the internet.”

“We will figure it out together,” Jamie tells me as I hand Patterson his phone back.

“My job and who I am come with scrutiny. I know where this leads,” I whisper, swallowing down the lump in my throat. I feel sick. “My business is really important to me.”

For weeks, I’ve convinced myself that this arrangement was uncomplicated, but I think it’s far from that.

“I think I need some fresh air,” I tell them both.

I grab my wineglass and step outside onto the balcony.

24

JAMIE

The door slides shut behind her, and my brother frowns.

“I thought she knew,” Patterson says.

“You’re an asshole.”

“Jamie.”

“Shut up.” I grab the bottle off the counter and my jacket off the back of the couch, and I follow after her.

Weeks of sneaking around a town of eight hundred people, and the one day we left to be alone, we were seen. It’s thirty-five degrees outside, and she looks down at the valley like the cold doesn’t affect her. The Ferris wheel turns slowly at the opposite end of the square.

I place my coat over her shoulders, and she snuggles into it.