Page 12 of Wicked Shadows
4
CHAPTER FOUR
“Would you look at her? I wish I had her hair. And her eyes. And her face. And her body,” Brianna mused as she watched TV. “She’s perfect in every way.”
“All of the tabloids are reporting she’s dating Jax Hart. I bet that'll make for some interesting love scenes in their upcoming movie. The book they based it on is a scorcher." Chaise fanned herself.
“Was the book based on our sex life?” Bull questioned.
“Uh, no.”
“Then it wasn’t hot enough.” He smirked with confidence.
“Do you believe the stories about them in those magazines are real?" Brianna probed, ignoring Bull.
“No,” Shadow interjected. “They’re not.”
“You sound pretty sure. Has the CIA sanctioned stalking movie stars or something?” Brianna teased.
“Anything I do is sanctioned.” His smile lit up his deep blue eyes and his handsome face.
“Because of tenure and all that jazz, huh?”
“Something like that.” Shadow winked at Brianna before his gaze floated back to the TV and the beautiful woman’s face filling the screen.
“Apparently, they want to make up their own happily-ever-after ending for the hottest silver screen costars,” Chaise replied to Brianna, ignoring Shadow’s interruption into their conversation.
“They can make up any ending they want,” Shadow grumbled. “Her happily ever after won’t be with that jackass.”
Chaise and Bull casually laughed at Shadow’s offhanded comment but otherwise continued the conversation about the movie still in production. Brianna, however, wasn’t as easily fooled by Shadow’s aloofness. She locked her gaze on him, sensing she was finally in a position to use his tactics against him. Her inherent curiosity and journalistic instincts kicked into overdrive when he became unable to hide his discomfort with being under her scrutinizing gaze.
The muscles in the corners of her eyes squeezed together, narrowing in suspicion as she tilted her head to the side. He shifted positions in his seat and stared a little too hard at the TV, not allowing his eyes to move from the single spot. For a man who noticed everything about his surroundings, his choice to ignore the way she saw straight through him spoke volumes of what he’d never willingly verbalize.
“Shadow,” Brianna gently chastised the giant of a man she loved like a brother, convinced he’d spook and run away from her otherwise. “You have to look at me at some point.”
“Sunny,” he replied with her nickname. “You are my little sister, and I love you. You know that, right?”
“I do. Without a doubt.” She leaned over and put her hand on his arm. “And you know I love you. You’re my brother, by love if not by blood.”
"You realize some things are better left unsaid, right? Some questions don't need to be asked and answered."
“You literally saved my life, Shadow. If there’s anything I can do to help you, I’ll do it in a heartbeat. But if you don’t want to talk, I’ll respect that, too.”
He nodded, deep in thought, and then lifted his eyes to hers. “Fine. Let’s take a walk outside.”
“I’d love to.” She squeezed his arm in silent reassurance. “Noah, my love. Keep an eye on Amelia, Emery, and Gray, please. We’ll be back in a little while.”
“You’re trusting me alone with all three of the kids at once?” Noah’s grin lit up his face and made Brianna groan.
"I know that look. Don't force me to hide all the chocolate before I leave, Noah Steele," she warned in her stern, motherly voice.
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted her but couldn’t hide his mischievous smile. “Whatever you say, princess.” Noah turned his gaze to Shadow and issued his own directive. “Take care of my wife on your walk, Shadow.”
“With my life, Reap.”
"We're not even leaving the grounds, Noah," Brianna chuckled.
“You’ve been known to get into trouble a time or two without even leaving the house,” Noah deadpanned.
