The Billionaire regret: Reclaiming his contract Bride

The Brother

CHAPTER 14

Two months later...

"Higher, Daddy! Higher!"

I watched from the park bench as Damien pushed Liam on the swings. Both of them laughing.

This was our Saturday routine now. Park in the morning. Lunch at home. Afternoon at Damien's place. Dinner together.

We were a family.

Not officially. Not married. But a family.

My phone buzzed. Maya.

Maya: How's domestic bliss?

Me: Shut up.

Maya: You're smiling right now, aren't you?

Me: Maybe.

Maya: I'm happy for you. You deserve this.

Did I?

I watched Damien catch Liam at the bottom of the slide. Spin him around. Both of them grinning.

Yeah. Maybe I did deserve this.

"Mommy! Did you see how high I went?"

"I saw, baby! You were so high!"

Liam ran off to the monkey bars. Damien walked over, sat next to me.

"He's fearless," Damien said.

"Gets it from you."

"Pretty sure he gets it from the woman who packed up her life and started over in a new city with a newborn."

I smiled. "Maybe a little from both of us."

Damien took my hand. Laced our fingers together.

This was normal now. Hand-holding. Casual touches. Quick kisses.

We still hadn't... well. We were taking things slow in that department.

"What are you thinking about?" Damien asked.

"How happy I am. How scary that is."

"Why is it scary?"

"Because happy things don't last. Not for me."

"They will this time." He squeezed my hand. "I promise."

"You can't promise that..."

"Watch me." He turned to face me. "Sophia Martinez, I promise that I will do everything in my power to keep you happy. Every single day. For the rest of our lives."

"That's a big promise."

"Good thing I'm good at keeping promises now."

I leaned into him. Rested my head on his shoulder.

"I love you," I said quietly.

He stiffened. This was the first time I'd said it since we'd started dating again.

"Say that again," he whispered.

"I love you."

"Again."

"I love you, Damien Cross."

He tilted my chin up. Kissed me. Soft and sweet and perfect.

"I love you too," he said against my lips. "So much. So goddamn much."

"Daddy! Mommy! You're kissing!"

We pulled apart. Liam was standing there, grinning.

"Ewww!" he said. But he was smiling.

"Come here, buddy." Damien pulled him into a hug. "Group hug!"

I found myself squished between them. Laughing.

This. This was what I'd always wanted.

This was everything.

That evening – Damien's apartment

Liam was asleep in his room at Damien's place. His weekend sleepover.

I should have gone home. But I didn't want to.

"Stay," Damien said, reading my mind. "Just to sleep. Nothing else. Just... stay."

"Okay."

We'd never done this before. Never slept in the same bed since getting back together.

It felt like a big step.

Damien lent me a t-shirt. I changed in the bathroom.

When I came out, he was already in bed. Shirtless.

Oh god.

"I can sleep on the couch if you're uncomfortable..." he started.

"No. It's fine. I'm fine."

I climbed into bed. Stayed on my side.

We lay there in the dark. Not touching.

"This is weird," I said.

"Very weird."

"We used to be married."

"For three years."

"And we never slept in the same bed."

"My biggest regret," he said quietly.

I turned to face him. "Really?"

"I had you in my house for three years. And I never once held you while you slept. Never woke up next to you. Never..." He trailed off. "I was an idiot."

"Yeah. You were."

"Can I hold you now?"

"Yes."

He pulled me close. My back against his chest. His arm around my waist.

"This okay?" he murmured into my hair.

"Perfect."

We lay like that. His breath on my neck. His heartbeat against my back.

"Sophia?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for giving me this. For giving us another chance."

"Thank you for not giving up on us."

"Never. I'll never give up on you."

I believed him.

For the first time in six years, I actually believed Damien Cross wouldn't break my heart.

I fell asleep in his arms.

Safe. Loved. Home.

The next morning...

I woke up to voices in the living room.

Liam's. Damien's. And... someone else?

I grabbed Damien's robe and walked out.

A man stood in the living room. Tall, dark hair like Damien, but softer features. Warm brown eyes instead of gray.

"...and you must be the famous Liam!" the man was saying.

"Who are you?" Liam asked.

"I'm your Uncle Ethan. Your dad's brother."

I froze.

Ethan. Damien had mentioned him briefly. Younger brother. They weren't close.

Ethan looked up. Saw me standing there in Damien's robe, clearly having just woken up.

His eyebrows rose. "And you must be Sophia."

"Ethan, what are you doing here?" Damien came out of the kitchen, coffee in hand. Saw me. Smiled. "Morning, beautiful."

"I came to meet my nephew," Ethan said. "And apparently, the woman who's tamed my brother."

"I'm not tamed..."

"You're making pancakes on a Sunday morning. With a four-year-old. You're domesticated." Ethan grinned. "It's a good look on you."

Damien glared. "Sophia, this is my brother Ethan. Ethan, this is Sophia. And you're leaving now."

"I just got here..."

"And now you're leaving."

"Damien," I said. "It's fine. He can stay for breakfast."

"See? She's nicer than you." Ethan sat on the couch. "So, Sophia. Tell me everything. How did you manage to turn my commitment-phobic brother into a family man?"

"I didn't do anything..."

"She's amazing," Damien interrupted. "And you're being inappropriate."

"I'm being friendly."

"You're being annoying."

I watched them bicker. Saw the family resemblance. But also the differences.

Damien was intense. Serious. Guarded.

Ethan was... easy. Charming. Open.

"Uncle Ethan, can you come see my room?" Liam asked.

"I'd love to, buddy."

Liam dragged Ethan down the hallway.

Damien turned to me. "I'm sorry. I didn't know he was coming. He just showed up."

"It's fine. He seems nice."

"He is nice. Too nice. Especially around beautiful women."

"Damien Cross, are you jealous?"

"No. Maybe. Yes." He pulled me close. "You're in my robe. In my apartment. Having spent the night in my bed. So yes, I'm feeling a little possessive when my charming younger brother shows up."

I laughed. "I'm not interested in your brother."

"Good."

"I'm interested in you."

"Better."

He kissed me. Morning breath and all.

Ethan came back with Liam. "Okay, you two, there's a child present."

We pulled apart.

"Uncle Ethan said he's staying in Seattle for a while!" Liam announced.

Damien's jaw tightened. "How long is 'a while'?"

"Few weeks. Maybe a month. I'm opening a new branch office here." Ethan looked at Sophia. "Which means I'll need a local guide. Someone to show me around. Any recommendations?"

"There are plenty of tour books..." Damien started.

"I'm free some afternoons," I said. "I could show you some good places."

Damien's head snapped toward me. "You're free?"

"For your brother. Who's new in town. Yes." I looked at Ethan. "What kind of places do you like?"

"Coffee shops. Bookstores. Art galleries. Good restaurants."

"I know all of those. I'll send you a list."

"Or you could just come with me." Ethan smiled. "If you have time."

"I..."

"She doesn't," Damien said firmly.

"I can answer for myself," I said. "And sure, Ethan. I can show you around sometime."

Ethan's smile widened. "Great. Can I get your number?"

Damien looked like he wanted to murder his brother.

I gave Ethan my number. Just to spite Damien a little.

"Wonderful. I'll text you." Ethan stood. "I should go. Let you guys enjoy your Sunday. Nice meeting you, Sophia. And Liam, buddy, I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay!"

Ethan left.

Damien immediately turned to me. "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You gave him your number."

"He's your brother. And he's new in town. I was being friendly."

"He doesn't need friendly. He needs to stay away from you."

"Damien..."

"You don't know him like I do. He's charming. Women love him. He's going to..."

"Going to what? I'm with you, Damien. Not him."

"I know. I just..." He ran his hand through his hair. "I don't like how he looked at you."

"How did he look at me?"

"Like you were interesting. Like he wanted to know you better."

"Maybe he's just being nice..."

"Ethan is never just nice. Not to beautiful women." Damien pulled me close. "I know I'm being ridiculous. I know I should trust you. But I spent three years taking you for granted. I'm not making that mistake again."

I softened. "I'm not interested in your brother."

"Promise?"

"Promise. I love you. Only you."

He kissed me. "I love you too. So much it makes me crazy."

"Daddy! Mommy! Can we make pancakes now?"

We pulled apart.

"Yeah, buddy," Damien called. "Pancakes coming right up."

That afternoon – My apartment

My phone buzzed. Text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hey! It's Ethan. Thanks for offering to show me around. How about coffee tomorrow? 2 PM?

I stared at the text.

I should say no. Should maintain boundaries.

But he was Damien's brother. And I was just being friendly.

Me: Sure. There's a great place on Pike Street. Café Allegro.

Ethan: Perfect. See you then.

I put my phone down.

It was fine. Just coffee. Just showing Damien's brother around town.

Nothing to worry about.

Right?

That evening

Damien came over for dinner. Our routine.

"Ethan texted me," I said casually while cooking.

Damien tensed. "What did he want?"

"Coffee tomorrow. I'm going to show him that café on Pike Street."

"You're going to coffee with him?"

"Yes. As friends. To show your brother around Seattle."

"Sophia..."

"Damien, he's your brother. And I'm your girlfriend. There's nothing inappropriate about me getting coffee with him."

"I know. I just..." He came up behind me. Wrapped his arms around my waist. "I know I'm being irrational. But I can't help it. When I see another man looking at you, even my own brother, I just... I can't think straight."

"That's very possessive."

"I know. Is it too much?"

I turned in his arms. "A little. But also kind of sweet."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. But Damien, you have to trust me."

"I do trust you. It's him I don't trust."

"He's your brother..."

"Exactly. I know him. I know how he operates. And Sophia..." He cupped my face. "You're beautiful and smart and funny. Any man would be interested in you. Including Ethan."

"But I'm not interested in any man except you."

"Promise?"

"Promise." I kissed him. "Now stop being crazy and help me cook dinner."

He did. But I could see the worry in his eyes.

And a small part of me wondered...

Was Damien right to be worried?

Was Ethan really just being friendly?

Or was there something else?