Page 75 of Steele

A cheer erupted on the far side of the room. Ryan’s gaze snapped to the television. “About fucking time.” The Rooks scored, taking the lead.

While Ryan watched the game, my breath caught in my throat and my heart hiccupped into a rampant beat. The server approached to seat a couple at the booth catty-corner from ours. Brett.

God, he looked so good. Jeans molded to his thighs, rode a little low on his hip bones, and bunched around the heavy black boots he always wore when he was riding his motorcycle.

Inhale. One. Two Three. Four.

Why was he here, and who was the woman with him? Exhale. He had his hand on her lower back. She smiled at him, her red lips flirting and tempting. One. Two. Three. Four.

I lifted my head, and our gazes connected. A raw lump of insecurity crawled into my throat. The woman was older, but still attractive. I shifted my gaze away and nervously tucked my hair behind my ear. But I could still feel his gaze on me. It sucked to see him with another woman.

They slid into the booth. With the server standing between us, I snuck another glance. Because I’d gotten used to seeing him in his leather cut, I’d forgotten how good he looked in a form-fitting henley stretched across his chest. His belly was flat. Maybe not as flat as it was a few weeks ago. Not since I’d been cooking late-night snacks for him. I loved the thickness of his waist and the weight of his body on mine as he kissed me and fucked me filthy.

“Brett,” the woman said, drawing his attention back to her.

A hot flare of jealousy slipped under my skin. My breath grew sharp and shallow. She called him Brett. The server turned to our table, left the bill, and walked away, leaving an unobstructed view of Brett and the other woman.

My brother was no longer watching the game. He stared at me and then at Brett’s booth. “Do you know them?” he asked.

I was pathetically transparent when it came to my brother. If I lied, he’d know. Besides, the denial tasted bitter on my tongue. I didn’t want Ryan to ask because I didn’t want to diminish the importance of Brett in my life.

But he had asked. I just didn’t know how much to say. I laid my napkin on my plate. I couldn’t eat another bite with the tumbling of my stomach.

“Jaymi?”

“I don’t know who she is.” Oh god, his truth detector was looking for deception. I could never maintain a lie. I cracked, confessed, and suffered the consequences.

He leaned into me. “Do you know him?”

“Yes.” I barely croaked out the word. “Are you ready to go?” I grabbed my purse.

“No. I’m onto something. Who is he?”

I could feel the heat of Brett’s stare, but I refused to turn away from my brother. Maybe Brett felt the same pang of jealousy. The same coil of dread in his gut because we were exclusive. He was mine, but only in the bedroom.

No matter who the woman was.

“I can ask him.”

“No,” I snapped. “It’s complicated.”

“Uncomplicate it.”

I tilted my head and glared at him. “His daughter is in my class.”

He waited for me to elaborate.

“And we’ve become friends.”

His jaw ticked, and his mouth became a hard line. “How friendly?”

“Good friends.” I exhaled an exasperated sigh. “It’s fine. We’re getting to know each other. I like him. You were the one encouraging me to date. And don’t get too excited. We’re both committed to taking it slow.”

Ryan glared at Brett. “Who’s the woman?”

I shrugged. “A friend, I guess.”

“Maybe I should ask him.”