Chapter Eleven

“Your eyes haven’t left her since the evening started.” Linc stopped at Brenden’s side. “I’ve known you since we were eighteen and ain’t never seen you like this over a woman.”

Brenden leaned against the fireplace mantel and set his empty glass down. A small grin etched onto his face as he watched his beauty mingle within the crowd gathered to celebrate Katie’s birthday. He wasn’t the only one captivated by the way Paige’s black hair tumbled down her back in thick waves or how those cognac eyes glittered whenever she smiled. The woman possessed an inescapable radiance, which he knew had everything to do with why his brotherhood seemed so entranced by her.

A momentary lapse in self-control made him lick his lips as he traced the curves giving shape to the one-shoulder number she wore. Paige was like a piece of caramel candy tucked tightly within a pink wrapper. Green had been spectacular on her; however, the shade of pink she was wearing had him doing all sorts of somersaults the minute she stepped from his guest room completely changed and ready to entertain.

Brenden waited patiently for Paige to finish charming Rod, Luke, and Josh before he made her eyes lock to his. There was something special about Paige. She cared, and her positive vibes framed with sincerity grounded him in a reality that accepted him for who he was and not what he could be. A conversation with Katie had to happen sooner than later. There was no way he could continue sneaking kisses from the woman who’d stolen his heart.

“Damn, Jas.” Linc smacked him in the chest. “This girl has your head gone.”

“Sorry, man.” He slowly pulled himself from the spell Paige cast on him. He stood upright and slid his hands into his pockets. “My mind was somewhere else.”

“Dude, she’s beautiful, but don’t you think you should leave it alone?”

“Feels like just yesterday I was giving you that same advice.” Brenden followed Paige’s movements, avoiding eye contact with Linc, since he wasn’t sure if he could take the joke, but certain that he should, since he kept a revolving door of women to drown out his ex. “She’s special, Linc.” Brenden leveled Linc with his serious-shit face. He knew where this was going. His mind had wandered down the same dark rabbit hole, and he didn’t care to go there again. Not after finding Paige in the house when he returned. Her presence had chased the chaos away from their failed mission.

“So there is a Barbie for GI Joe?” Linc half-heartedly released a chuckle. “I’m just worried, brother. I’ve been in your shoes before. I don’t want you distracted. We lost an asset and you haven’t said anything.”

“Maybe I don’t want to think about that shit right now.”

“Not like you, but fine.” He took a sip of his drink. “So, if you’re all about Paige, what’s up with Megan?” He gestured to Brenden’s ex on the opposite side of the room.

“What about her?” Brenden grabbed his empty glass. “I’ve asked her to leave. Not sure why she bothered coming here tonight.”

“You know why. She’s the daughter of a senator and you’re a military legacy. It’s not hard to imagine what Senator Franks would do with that political capital. Hell, he already tried once with Dan—” Linc pressed his lips together.

Threads of guilt tugged at Brenden’s conscience. He didn’t want it to take him prisoner on a night like this. He then glanced over to Megan chatting with the girl who had showed up with Josh. “Trying to please Daddy will only lead to hurt feelings.”

The unexpected sound of Robert Jasper’s deep-bellied laughter grabbed his attention. There, in the middle of his living room, was his father standing alongside his mother and a giggling Paige. An extra-large grin set into Brenden’s face, erasing the scowl that was there moments ago.

“I’ll catch you later, man.” He eased from Linc’s side, suppressing the validity of his concerns because he wanted a chance at something that wasn’t part of the life he led as the commander for Black 2131.

Brenden crossed the room as quickly as he could without appearing anxious. Linc had just confirmed that the watchful eyes of his brotherhood were zoomed in on him. Under normal circumstances, their scrutiny wouldn’t bother him. Tonight was different.

He battled closing the distance between him and Paige against preserving Katie’s well-being. Then, there was Megan’s presence. From the moment Paige greeted his ex at the door, a subtle awkwardness entered the party. Now, a tangible tension swirled around the room, and it multiplied as the evening unfolded, with Paige floating around like the queen bee. She dazzled everyone, working the room like the woman of the house—his woman.

A bubble of hope bloomed within Brenden’s chest at the thought. “What’s so funny over here?” He slid between his mother and Paige, who were now chasing back wide grins.

“Nothing,” Paige sang as she bumped him with her hip.

Brenden managed to hold back his base desires as he looked down on the little five-foot-three vixen. The debauchery taunting his flesh made him want to kick everyone out just so they could have a moment together. After weeks of dreaming about Paige, he was desperate to catch up. Maybe take a walk on the beach before he hauled her to his bed and devoured her sweet body.

Not having Paige the way he wanted was driving a wedge between his heart and logic. And if it were not for the unspoken promise to his niece to get her through the rough patch she was battling, he wouldn’t have to hold back his affections for the woman he’d dreamed about since the night they first met. He’d already spent all afternoon sneaking Paige off to corners in the house to get a taste of her delicious lips, since she feared Katie might suffer a set back if she discovered there was competition for his attention.

Rational thought had prevailed at a cost he was afraid to pay. How long would he have to ignore the inexplicable feelings surging within his body, contradicting logic, and provoking thoughts beyond lust?

“Oh, it’s something,” Brenden chuckled. “I never hear my father laugh.”

“Well, son,” Robert Jasper moved closer to Paige and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, instantly making Brenden jealous that he could not do the same, “this pretty darling tells me and your mother you’re all bark with no bite.”

“Ooooh, now be fair, Mr. Jasper.” Paige turned her gaze to Brenden’s quizzical face. “Your parents were wondering how Katie and I wrestled you into agreeing on the party décor, since it apparently hangs from your sacred walls and ceilings.”

Brenden stepped in closer, inhaling the scent he would remember forever. “And you told them it was because I was all bark with no bite?”

“That would be correct.” She pursed her lips at him, then cut a sly smile back to his parents.

Instead of laughing along with his father, Brenden began scanning the perimeter. For the first time since he arrived home, he paid attention to the décor the girls had used to pull off this shindig. Tulle-covered balloons, garland, and a backdrop for a candy buffet did indeed infringe on his precious angles and pristine walls. Although the architectural integrity of his home had been compromised with lavish girly stuff in shades of lavender and lime, he took joy in knowing he’d made it home to celebrate this day with his niece.

“Brenden,” his mother started. “Dr. Nichols—”

“Please, call me Paige, Mrs. Jasper.”

“You sweet girl.” Joan Jasper gave a pleased nod. “Paige meant nothing by it, Bren. We simply know how particular you are about the interior space within your home.”

His mother’s words went in one ear and floated through the other. He was still too busy taking inventory of the command strips and putty ruining his walls for frilly marabou garland. “You and Katie have a lot to clean before you go home tonight.”

“Oh no, mister,” Paige cocked a brow, “you will get off the X and help.”

Mirth took the four by storm. The vixen knew military lingo and had somehow managed to pull the carefree side from Robert Jasper. A long time had passed since Brenden saw this side of his father. Again, he was grateful.

As they remained engaged in conversation, Brenden took a chance and glanced over to Paige. Her smile was what helped guide him back home, and it was as beautiful now as it was the moment he first saw her. Unable to control himself, he reached over with his long finger and brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. Her giggles quieted as long lashes fluttered over bright cognac orbs.

The rise and fall of her chest was in double-time. He knew now, like he did earlier when he snuck her to the laundry room for a kiss, that she was his. There was no denying the strength of the electric current coursing through their veins and bringing them together.

Despite his father clearing his throat and the lingering gaze of his mother, he made the decision to no longer resist. He had to seize the moment. Paige was the woman who held his future, and he’d be damned if he remained a traitor to his feelings.

Just as he extended his arm to wrap around Paige’s waist, Katie squeezed between them and whispered something in her ear.

“Excuse me. It seems I’m needed.” Paige left with Katie.

“She’ll be back, Bren,” his mother teased. “But while she’s gone, I want to know if she’s here for you or Katie?”

“Katie, of course,” Robert Jasper piped up. “Now’s not the time for him to lose his focus.”

“I’m standing right here, Dad.” Brenden swallowed hard before he glanced over his shoulder to see where his niece had taken Paige. “And why couldn’t she be here for me? You never said that about Megan.”

“Didn’t have to. The way you look at that young lady is not a way I have ever seen you look at Megan.”

“So you object?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest. He’d already had to explain once tonight. He had no problem doing it again even if this was to the man who wore two hats in his life. He wanted Dad and the Secretary of Defense to know he was done not living while not on mission.

“I’d take caution, son. Paige is a beautiful woman with a kind heart. I mean, look at the way she stepped in to help Katie.” Robert scanned the interior. He winked at his wife then looked back to his son. “Men in your line of work are drawn to women like Paige, despite the risk.”

…

On the way to Bellamy, Paige lifted a glass of Cabernet Franc from the bar. A few silent seconds passed while she inhaled the black currant laced with oak before taking a long swallow of the violet liquid. She closed her eyes and relaxed as the taste of blueberries coated her insides. A buzz tingled along her spine from sipping so much at one time and, once she was certain the room wouldn’t spin, she opened her eyes.

Her focus landed on Brenden. She thought nothing could compare to how sexy he had been in jeans and the white V-neck exposing his light chest hairs earlier. Tonight changed her mind. He was outrageously handsome in his tailored charcoal suit. His skin was a little more tan, enhancing his eye color, and his chin stubble was giving off this rugged flare. Brenden was a damn dream, and he wanted her, a thought her mind was still processing as his ex-girlfriend threw daggers at her from the other side of the room.

Knots twisted deep within her belly. Brenden’s beautiful ex made it clear she wasn’t ready to let him go. The animosity Paige received was more than she bargained for when agreeing to help Katie.

“Did I misread?” Bellamy whispered.

“Maybe, yes…I don’t know,” Paige took a swig from her glass. “His parents were nice. No over-the-top questions or assumptions like what you’d expect from mine. So I guess I was okay.”

“I couldn’t tell, that’s why I sent Katie,” Bellamy said as they both glimpsed in the direction of Brenden’s parents.

With a nod of appreciation, Paige sipped more of her Cabernet before moving into the background with Bellamy. For the first time this evening she had a chance to observe those in attendance. Witnessing the interaction between Brenden and the men he identified as his brothers made her think of the closeness she and Bellamy shared.

There was no doubt they spent a great deal of time together. Another obvious fact was the loyalties of Luke’s and Josh’s girlfriends. The two women had been standoffish all night and were now huddled up with Megan.

Paige waved away the view then cast her sights on Katie. The birthday girl’s cheerful disposition was the perfect shield for all the stones being cast her way.

“Six!” Bellamy screeched in laughter and pointed to where Brenden stood with an arm extended, halting Megan from coming too close. “How many times will he give her the bitch-back-away arm?”

Paige burst into laughter as, for the sixth time, she witnessed Brenden give his relentless ex the Heisman arm. She and Bellamy quieted their chuckles when he walked off and joined another cluster of people at the party.

A little more time passed before Paige felt the calming effects of draining her goblet. She then resumed her role as party coordinator for the evening. As she moved about the house, she didn’t miss the brush of Brenden’s knuckles along her bare arm or the way his fingers played with hers when they were close.

However, it was the bold stare he set on her that rekindled the flames they had conjured so many nights ago. She was eager to explore the naughty promises Brenden whispered each time he had snuck her into a corner for their tongues to play. Except now wasn’t the time to daydream, because it was time for Katie to cut her cake.

Paige made her way to Brenden, thankful for the task occupying her mind. Two men within his circle whom she hadn’t noticed earlier were staring her down as she approached.

“Excuse me, gentlemen.” She batted her lashes.

“Eras bonita!” One of the men stepped forward, holding out his hand.

“Watch it, Alvarez.” Brenden shoved his elbow into his friend’s chest then looked down at her toothy grin. “You, too, Dr. Nichols.” He gave a lopsided smile as her face straightened. “Paige, this is Carlos Alvarez and Lincoln Marshall.”

“You really are very pretty,” Lincoln chimed, extending his hand after Carlos.

Brenden’s broad shoulders half blocked her from his band of brothers. “Cool it.”

“Thanks, Lincoln.” She gave a courteous nod then looked up to a tight-faced Brenden. “Time to cut the cake. Are you ready?”

“Been ready.” His eyes boldly traveled the length of her body before he took her bandaged finger and brought it to his lips. The taunts coming from his boys put a coy grin upon his face that made her blush. “I’ll cut. You’re not picking up another knife anytime soon.”

Brenden’s hand slid to the small of her back as he ushered her through the crowd. His soft lips grazed her ear. “Thank you for doing this for Katie.”

Paige smiled up at him and became lost in his eyes. A series of hoots and whistles came from behind them, ejecting her from the clouds. She glanced over her shoulder and saw lifted brows and cheesy grins from the men they had just left.

Brenden conjured a poker face. “They’re not used to this.”

“Used to what?” She snapped her head back to him. “Attending a party?”

“No,” his stride halted. “Me being this…open, affectionate with a woman. Megan and I, we weren’t…” His eyes flickered.

Paige spun around to see the ex-girlfriend staring them down, but she didn’t care. Her heart was dancing to the beat of Brenden’s confession.

“Come on.” She tugged him. “Katie’s waiting for us.”