Roman-2(Lane Brothers, Book 5)(96)

I feel Devon stiffen and I cringe, peeking up at him through my lashes when Dill wraps an arm around my waist and lays a fat, smacking kiss on me, his eyes so mischievous I want to bite his freaking lips and slap him upside the head.

No, Dill and I will never be an epic love story. We’re just not passionate enough about each other to be anything but really good friends and maybe a tepid marriage of convenience that sees us sharing laughter but not much chemistry.

I know this to my soul because I’ve come to accept that the only man who can make me burn is standing in front of me glaring at Dillon so violently I can almost see him pummelling him into the ground and then pissing on the left over bloody pulp.

But here’s the thing; I spent two months feeling like hell because I unconsciously went and fell for a guy I knew wasn’t even on the market. Those two months had been nights of crying into my pillow, crying in front of the TV while I watched an ad for Grooper’s super spicy mustard and basically anytime I couldn’t force myself to forget him.

When I wasn’t crying I was at work-okay so I cried there too sometimes - and then one day Dillon had spotted me at the supermarket and I hadn’t been alone. He listened to me whine about my stupidity and picked me up, dusted me off and forced me to start dating him.

Dillon and I are good together. Most days. He likes men and women, basically anything that he takes a liking to and never fails to make me laugh.

No, we’re no Romeo and Juliette but he makes me feel like I’m not some forgettable lump that no one wants and I like feeling that way. We’re friends and chances are we always will be so when he’d asked me to marry him to kill two birds with one stone-I get to be a married baby mama and he can finally get his father off his back with me as a semi-beard-I’d agreed.

We’d made a deal. He’d be my husband and take care of me and the kids, plural because he wants some of his own, and I’d be a buffer between him and his homophobic father.

Seems good enough. I’ve gone years without mind-blowing sex, I’m sure I won’t die if I never come again. So yeah, I’d said yeah, why not and I’m planning to tell my parents next week so that the news of my pregnancy won’t shock the heck out of them.

Although I don’t know who I’m kidding since my dad is probably gonna disown me when he finds out I quit law school and my job.

And now…there must be someone up their laughing their asses off at me because just when I thought I have a handle on things in walks Devon freaking Baxter and I’m right back to square one.

Screwed.

Because I know from that intense look on his face that I’m not going to marry Dill now. Devon won’t let me.

“I would suggest you get your hands and lips off my woman.”

Dillon grins before turning to Devon and scowling. I didn’t even know the guy was capable of anything but carefree mischief.

“Eh, I think you got your wires or something seriously crossed my man. Becky is my girl and we’re getting married. See? I even put this rock on her finger to prove it.” He purrs, kissing said rock and licking at my finger with a lazy smile.

The move makes me shiver, not in a good way but Devon interprets it differently and the next thing I know Dillon is smashed up against the wall and dangling from Devon’s fists.

He’s furious, like Hulk raging mad and I swear he’s going to kill him.

“Stop it!”

“No. I fucking warned you to get your hands off my woman.” He snarls and I shudder when Dillon grins and holds his hands up in surrender.

“Hey man, I told ya already. We’re engaged. I asked, she said yes and I got a rock on her. Your loss if you didn’t take your chance when you had it.”

Now he’s just got a death wish, I think, huffing out a sigh and grabbing at Devon’s arm. He’s built like a freaking line backer, a really hot English one whose ass I could probably bounce-

Focus Becky! Get the violent hunk off your fiancé and get a grip.

“Devon? Please stop trying to slam him through the wall and let him down.” I saycalmly, curling a hand around one of his fists.

He breathes out harshly and turns his eyes on me, his face so savage I gulp and blink to make sure I’ve seen right.

“He doesn’t bloody touch you.” He snarls, giving him another shake for good measure. “Clear?”

I nod once and narrow my eyes at Dillon, letting him know that his little display is not welcome right now. Later maybe but now, not after that…God, that speech was so freaking sweet and I’m still adrift in the moment.

“Fine, fine, just put me down already, your manly heroics are turning me on.”