Miles Austin was forbidden. I just needed my fragile heart to get on board before it was broken.
nine
. . .
Miles
Watching Vicky’s car until I couldn’t see her brake lights anymore, I leaned my head on the doorframe.
What just happened?
With a loud exhale, I pushed off and walked into the house, my feet feeling heavy. I practically collapsed onto the sofa, resting my elbows on my knees, head in my hands, and let out a groan. I wasn’t even sure which part I was referring to.
Let’s see.
Was it when I laughed like I hadn’t in years with a woman who wasn’t a family member? Or was it the moment I got to hold her hand as she let herself be open and unguarded with me? No, maybe it was when I lost mymindand confided in her about Katy and how inadequate I felt. I tugged on my hair at the memory. What was I thinking, being that vulnerable?
Roughing my hands over my face, I leaned back, my head falling onto the impossibly comfortable sofa. The sofa Vicky had chosen for me. Turning my head, I saw the spot where we had held hands minutes earlier, my mind and heart roaring to life with emotions.
This woman.
She had invaded my mind and rewired my brain like an unexpected code that quietly fixed everything I thought was broken.
I groaned again when I thought about Luke making fun of thatmetaphor, but it was true. Vicky was quiet, yet she had entered my life with the force of a hurricane. Grabbing the pillow she had pulled onto her lap, I slowly raised it to my face like an idiot. As I expected, her perfume lingered on it. Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes in bliss.
Tonight proved that my feelings for her went far beyond my initial physical attraction. She was an incredibly beautiful woman, clearly visible to any man with eyes. But I had just begun to see deeper into who she really was.
Kind, with a sense of humor that matched mine, deeply emotional and insightful. She had it all. Everything I’d ever wanted. When I opened my eyes, my chest tightened at the bombshell she dropped. She’d never had a boyfriend, never even been kissed?
How was it even possible that this gorgeous, perfect woman had never had a man take her out and bring her flowers? Listen to her stories and make her laugh, nervously hoping for a chance to kiss those full lips?
White-hot jealousy surged through me so quickly that I gasped. Illogical thoughts of some sleazy man touching her, kissing her, and hearing that melodic laugh I got to hear tonight flooded my mind. I visualized her taking off her shoes at some man’s house and moaning with pleasure as she stretched out her arches.
I couldn’t sit anymore. Shooting up like a rocket, I started to pace around the room.
When my phone started to vibrate in my pocket, I grabbed it and answered without looking, hoping it was Vicky.
“How’d it go tonight?” Luke asked, amusement coloring his tone.
I hung my head and stopped pacing. “What do you mean?” I grumbled, annoyed that I hadn’t checked the caller ID. It was clear he knew who had been here.
“Come on. Mom told me Vicky was coming over to show you sketches. Oh shoot, is she still there?” he asked quickly. I should’ve lied but couldn’t.
“No, she’s not,” I answered, my anger subsiding. “I messed up and she left.”
I heard Sofia in the background shouting, “What did you do to her?” Of course, my dumb brother had it on speakerphone.
“Nothing, nothing. Calm down. I…just reacted to something she said and…”
“Miles, just tell us what happened. You’re too hard on yourself. Probably isn’t as bad as you think,” Luke said, no doubt trying to calm his usually sweet wife.
I knew neither of them would stop this line of questioning, so I gave in.Plopping back down on the sofa, I told them the highlights, leaving out what Vicky had said about her lack of experience. I had no idea if that was something she’d shared with Sofia and her friends, and I’d never betray her trust.
“So, you were having a great time, shared some sweet moments. I don’t see the problem. What could you have done that was so bad?” Luke asked.
“Well, in the middle of sharing something private with me, she mentioned Enzo.”
The deep groan from Sofia, followed by Luke’s “oh, no” made it clear they understood.
