Oh God. Jess’s heart sank, and she couldn’t stop the tear that slid down her cheek. She felt numb all over even as her heart broke and her mind screamed at her for feeling the way she did over someone who had betrayed her. A sob escaped her lips, and she covered her mouth. Anger started to seep through her overcoming the numbness. “You took me to the boogiemen lair. You called me Jell-O Jezebel. You didn’t want to want me because I’m not like all the perfect shifter women around us.” Travis didn’t say anything, but she knew. He’d said it. She wiped her eyes and straightened her back. Travis didn’t love her. She had someone who loved her, Brandon. He would give her the stars and the moon if he could. She’d only been with him for a short time, but she knew from every action that he loved her. He’d known what Travis had done, and instead of telling her and getting her to turn on her friend so she’d spend more time with him, he’d spoken on his behalf and saved him from further punishment because he knew it would make her unhappy.
Glaring at Travis she snarled, “I know what love is, and you don’t love me. You never did. If you did it wouldn’t have mattered what I looked like or what people thought. You put not only me but Zeck in danger because of your selfishness. To think I chose to stay with you today over the people who do love me. I’m not Jell-O Jezebel. I’m not the girl with only two friends anymore.” She narrowed her eyes on Travis not letting him see her pain. “I am Jezebel Pride. Or I will be.”
With that she turned and stormed out of Travis’s room. Jess was surprised to see Brandon standing by the open door with a huge grin on his face that had his dimples popping and his eyes shining in satisfaction. As soon as he saw her staring he tried to conceal his face in a blank mask, but he still looked like a grinning loon.
“Take me home.”
Brandon nodded. “Anything for you, Jezebel Pride.”
Jess walked down the stairs and out of Travis’s parents’ house. They both got into his car, and he drove away in the direction of his house. Her father could drive her mother to come and get her car later.
“I’ll take you to my place. I have a feeling you’ll want some alone time.”
In that moment Jess realized she loved Brandon. He had been everything she could dream of for a lifetime mate and more, patient, committed, understanding, just to name a few. Brandon had even given into her parents’ demands. Family was clearly everything to him. Even hers. A sudden thought popped into her head. Was it possible? Had he truly seen her reaction to her brothers’ thoughtlessness and done something about it? Ha. Of course he did. Everything he had ever done was to protect her, even from the horrible truth. Brandon was a good man. If he could protect Travis from his own mistakes, then he would no doubt do anything for her. His mate. Everything he did, he did for her.
“You called them, didn’t you?”
“Called who?” Brandon didn’t take his eyes from the road.
“My brothers. You called them to tell them not to bring a girlfriend.”
He shrugged. “Your mother mentioned something. I just thought I’d call and see if they were bringing anyone to have lunch at my parents.”
Her heart leaped at what he’d done for her, at everything he’d done for her. She sat quiet for a while, her love for the man beside her exploding through her. How’d she get so lucky? “I don’t deserve you.”
Brandon pulled into his street. He didn’t say anything just shook his head. He drove down to his house and pressed his garage remote and drove in. He parked and got out of the car and came around to her side and opened her door. Brandon gathered her into his arms and walked into his house and sat with her in his lounge room.
“Don’t ever say that again. You, Jezebel, deserve only the very best. I’m not perfect, but for you I’ll try damn hard.”
“I love you.” Crap. She hadn’t meant to blurt it like that. Jess stared up into his big dark green eyes, reached up, and stroked his cheek. “I love you, Brandon Pride. How could I not? You strip naked in front of my parents, for God’s sake, just to change into a lion and show them what you are. You saved my friends even when they are causing trouble. You talk to my brothers. You go to dinner with my parents. You massage my feet and give in to my demands of being wooed. You do everything you can to make me happy. I know I’m the luckiest girl to have you. I love you.”
****
Brandon felt like his heart would burst out of his chest at Jezebel’s declaration of love. He loved her, had almost from the minute he saw her. “Oh Jezebel, you have no idea, do you? I’m the lucky one. I’ve loved you from day one. I don’t know anyone as loyal and loving as you. I mean it was your birthday, and you came over to comfort Sasha. You never got angry at your friends for forgetting your birthday. You’ve always made sure to make time for your friends. You, Jezebel, have put up with years of discomfort when your brothers come home with girlfriends that were nasty and disrespectful, so they wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. You keep quiet to keep the peace. My God, you didn’t even complain when that bitch we saw at the movies called you those names.”