Page 2 of Sheltering You

Yet, here he sat, in Jasmine’s friend zone.

Technically, he sat on Sam’s couch, watching the woman of his dreams on the far side of the living room. A Christmas tree glittering with lights and shiny ornaments stood in the corner between a stacked-stone fireplace and a wall of windows. The star that topped the tree sparkled just centimeters below the twenty-foot ceiling. Presents already poked out from beneath it, though they were still weeks from the holiday. Other Christmas decorations filled almost every surface—Eliza’s doing, no doubt.

Between the festive decor and all the family and friends, it was downright cramped. Eight women were gathered near the entrance, and Derrick’s brothers and dad hovered around them like spotters at the gym, as if one of the females might swoon and need rescue.

Only Derrick held back, trying to be a casual observer. Trying not to stare.

Despite being the future bride’s twin and the maid of honor, Jasmine stood apart from the rest of the bridal party as they prepared to go wedding gown shopping. She wore a shapeless dress that was too big for her slender, five-foot frame. She had straight, silky brown hair that reached past the middle of her back and the most gorgeous liquid-brown eyes he’d ever seen. Right now, they were wide as she observed the crowd, an expression Derrick had seen often in the months since he’d met her. She was overwhelmed and nervous—but also delighted, as if being here were a blessing she couldn’t wrap her mind around.

That was one of the reasons Derrick loved her—that beautiful wonder she saw in the world.

“You got a little drool”—Bryan plopped on the sofa beside him, tapping his chin—“right there.”

“Shut up.”

His brother grinned. “How’s that coming along?” He tipped his head toward Jasmine as if there was no question of what he meant. All the brothers knew exactly how Derrick felt about Jasmine, who’d escaped with her sister from their tyrannical father in Iraq. He figured her twin, Leila, also guessed Derrick’s feelings, though, unlike his brothers, she was too kind to tease him. Mom and Dad knew. If Derrick had to guess, all the sisters-in-law knew.

Everybody knew how Derrick felt about Jasmine—except Jasmine.

“It’s fine,” Derrick said. “Just great.”

“You ever need some advice⁠—”

“I’ll ask someone who knows something about women.”

“Which one of us has a girlfriend?” At the word, Bryan glanced at the curly-haired blonde who’d recently moved in with Leila and Jasmine. Sophie probably knew, too, come to think of it. She, like the twins, was hiding in Shadow Cove from terrorists. Because…yeah, his family had had a strange few months. Derrick wasn’t privy to all the details, just enough to know there’d been danger and excitement—all of which he’d missed.

“I’ll figure it out,” Derrick said.

Bryan eyed him like one might eye roadkill. “You should get a haircut. Maybe Jasmine prefers her men to look like, you know, men.”

“She likes it.” Didn’t she? She’d remarked on it once, her cheeks turning bright red about a second later. Derrick ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair. “You’re just jealous.”

“Yeah”—his voice was heavy with sarcasm—“that’s it.”

“Bryan,” Sophie called from the middle of the throng. “Can you help me with something?”

He popped up and rushed to her as if he’d been summoned by the queen.

Derrick’s gaze skimmed the women and, of course, landed on Jasmine again. She smiled that shy smile—lips closed but tipped up at the corners, chin dipped, eyes wide as she watched him from below those long eyelashes.

The expression was a hit to the solar plexus. It took everything in him not to act just like his brother, run to her and take her in his arms.

He was an idiot.

His phone rang in his pocket, and he wasn’t sorry for the excuse to walk out. Heading toward the kitchen, he glanced at the number, then swiped to connect. “Derrick Wright.”

“Hey, man.” Chet Williams, Derrick’s biggest client. “Hate to do this to you, but I gotta cancel. We had a last-minute change of plans.”

Derrick’s stomach swooped like he’d hit an air pocket. “Just tomorrow, or…”

“The whole week. Board’s decided to have the meetings on Zoom to save money and stick close to home for the holidays. You know how it is.” He lowered his voice. “Tell you the truth, I was hoping to get out of here. My mother-in-law’s in town.”

As if Derrick should feel bad for the guy. He’d been hired to fly Chet to North Carolina, then the entire board down to Florida for a few days of golf before returning everyone home.

He’d had it on his schedule for months.

He’d turned down other clients because of it—higher-paying clients.