And he suddenly knew what Samantha had said. He could even imagine exactly how she’d said it. Hadn’t she uttered such things to him a hundred times during the downward spiral of their marriage?
“You’re disgusting. You’re in love with your brother’s wife. You’ve been sniffing after her this whole time! You should be ashamed of yourself.”That sneer on her face. That look of contempt. He’d deserved all of it.
And now Maggie knew his terrible secret. She must think he was an awful person. And an awful brother. Heat flushed his face. His heart slammed his rib cage. He scratched his neck.
But there was no avoiding this. It was happening, right now, and he might as well own up to it. His gaze skittered to her eyes and found them searching his face.
“Is it true?” she said softly.
Wary, he nodded. Scanned her face for traces of loathing. Disgust. Contempt.
But he found none of that. She didn’t seem to be mad or horrified. Didn’t seem to hate him. Instead she was gazing at him like... like maybe she loved him anyway. She palmed his cheek, her touch so soft he could’ve wept. The weight of guilt fell off him like broken shackles.
She leaned closer, brushed his lips with hers. His arms went around her and she slid into his embrace, arms snaking around his shoulders. He tilted his head and went for broke. To have her back in his arms was heaven. Especially because she knew the truth and didn’t hold it against him. What a sweet release.
He lost himself in the kiss, which went on long enough to steal his breath and stir his blood. But as his brain surfaced, reality came withit. They had some talking to do. He eased away, framed her face with his hands just to make sure she didn’t go far.
“How long?” she whispered.
He stared into those doe eyes. “Since the first time I saw you in the kitchen, sitting at the island with Erin, eating grapes.”
Her eyes twinkled. “That’s very specific.”
“I can still see you like it was yesterday in that white top, cutouts on the shoulders. You wore a white choker necklace made of ribbon and dangly silver earrings. And your laughter... the sound of it made my heart skip a beat. I’d never felt anything like it.”
Maggie shook her head. “I didn’t know. I didn’t have any idea. I remember meeting you. You hung out in the kitchen with us for a while, but you were so quiet. I thought you were shy.”
“I was nervous. You made me tongue-tied.”
“But you were always so good with girls!”
“What can I say? Love slammed into me pretty hard.” Remembering what happened next, his smile wilted. “Then Ethan came around and I noticed the way your eyes lit up when you saw him.”
She winced. “Oh, Josh.”
“I was too young for you and I knew it. It took about two minutes for you guys to hook up.”
“I’m sorry. That must’ve been painful to watch.”
Nothing like teenage heartbreak. Except when those same feelings followed you into your twenties and beyond. “I thought it would pass. I’d had crushes before and they were fleeting. But this was different. This was love.”
“Nobody knew?”
“I was embarrassed at first. You viewed me as Erin and Ethan’s kid brother. I could see that. Then as we grew up and your relationship with Ethan became serious—permanent—I felt like a dog. I harboredfeelings for my brother’s wife. Feelings I would’ve done anything to eradicate. God knows I tried my best.”
Maggie smirked. “You sure did.”
His gaze sharpened on her. Was that jealousy flaring in her eyes? Well, what about that? “Every woman fell short, way short, because none of them were you.”
Her face softened. She turned his hand, pressed a kiss to his palm. “Speaking of all your conquests... Now’s probably the time to admit the real reason I called things off between us.”
Therealreason? He searched her face.
“I was scared to death you’d never be able to commit to me.”
He couldn’t help it—he burst out laughing. “Oh, that’s rich.”
“What?You dated every woman in Seabrook for, like, two seconds each.”
