Forever and Other Lies (3Js, #1)

Chapter 1

“Forever Love” blasted from the speakers, and Jayna groaned, slapping the mute button. She loved Reba’s badass songs like “I Am A Survivor” and “Consider Me Gone” had practically become her anthem. But this sappy love song? Hard pass. She wasn’t buying it.

True love, soul mates, happily ever after—forever; it was all one big lie. This over-romanticized garbage filled books read to impressionable young girls. Hollywood perpetuated the fallacy further, painting the world and love in such unrealistic hues. It was cruel. And now Reba, her idol, was singing the praises of forever love. She might just have to switch to the heavy metal station.

Maybe she’d buy into the whole ‘til death do us part’ belief if she had the type of mother who read bedtime stories. Or a romantic father who showered unconditional love on his wife and child. Instead, she’d been blessed with a selfish breed of parents. With their substantial wealth, they hired staff to raise their only child while they traveled the world, searching for meaning in their unfulfilled, entitled lives.

Instead of growing up hopeful, Jayna grew up jaded. Rich and jaded, but not spoiled. She liked to think she was a step ahead of the women who desperately clung to the promise of forever love. Not that she faulted them. They held onto the illusion for stability in a world that could be so cold. But Jayna chose her own path. She’d pretty much raised herself, so it was second nature to continue on this solitary road. No man was needed to define or protect her. She could buy her own damn stuff.

Letting someone in who could break her heart? Not a chance. She preferred to be the heartbreaker. Not that any hearts were at risk. She never dated seriously. She was not looking for Mr. Right, just Mr. Right-now. Jayna Sutton was fine on her own. She always had been, always would be. She was an independent, modern woman.

However, she couldn’t shake off her small-town roots, no matter how hard she tried. Six years in the big city hadn’t helped. Pickup trucks and country music were in her blood. Now she was back home, and her brand-new, fully loaded Ford F150 Raptor was her way of thumbing her nose at the men in town. Just to be sure they got the message, the bumper sticker on the back window, “Silly boys, trucks are for girls,” slammed it home. Next to that sticker, another read, “Trauma Nurse—your stupidity is my job security.” Sadly, that one was all too true, especially now that she’d taken a job in the ER of her hometown hospital. The boys in this community aged but never truly grew up. Stupid stunts were a rite of passage or simply a way to waste a Saturday night.

Jayna slowed as she approached the bridge, waving to Graham and Amanda Willard, who strolled along the sidewalk walking a Golden Retriever. The couple had dated throughout high school and married right after graduation, buying a small house in town. Starting their family with a puppy, they now had their first baby due in a couple of months. It was the dream of so many girls she’d grown up with; the matrimonial fairytale of building a life with someone, making a home, raising a family. But it wasn’t for everyone. It wasn’t for her.

Hitting the right turn signal, she pulled onto the ornate bridge that led to the downtown core. Nestled beside a river, the main street of Blythe Landing was the epitome of old-fashioned and quaint. In December, the landscape transformed into a serene winter wonderland as it became blanketed under a pristine layer of snow. The partially frozen, fast-flowing river slowed, meandering at a more graceful pace past the picturesque town. Along the riverbanks, the bare tree branches were adorned with a light cover of ice that sparkled in the sunlight. They glistened even more magically under the enchanting glow of the moon.

With only three weeks left before Christmas, a sense of tranquility and tradition had descended upon the cobblestone streets and historic limestone buildings. Blythe Landing could be a serious contender for the next Thomas Kinkade painting. The one-of-a-kind shops brought tourists in by the droves in summer. Tonight, though, the street was empty. It was past 6 p.m. on Friday, which meant the sidewalks had been rolled up. Next Friday, though, was Midnight Madness, which would bring all the tourists back searching for that unique Christmas gift for the hard-to-buy-for.

Her gaze shifted to the vacant windows of Yesterday and Tomorrow. The store belonged to her close friend Jamie Whitney. Having bankrolled the enterprise, Jayna held the title of silent partner. However, it was Jamie’s skill and vision that had turned the second-hand and refurbished furniture shop into a thriving business, and she was happy to give her friend free rein to run it. Although Jayna was not so silent when it came to the Christmas Window Display contest. They had yet to win it. But this year, she was determined to change that.

As she drove past, two guys sitting on the edge of a tailgate waved. They were both cute but far too young, which made them off-limits. She may date ruthlessly, but she did have standards. A frown creased her face, replacing her smile. Had moving back home just drastically reduced her dating pool?

Finding male attention had never been an issue. With long flaxen blonde hair, thickly lashed cornflower blue eyes, and a curvaceous figure, she had her pick of men. The challenge was finding one who didn’t bore her after a few dates. Returning to a town of only 7,998 people would make the feat even harder.

The lights turned red at the only set in town, and she pressed the brake pedal, coming to a stop. “I’m the only vehicle on the road,” she muttered.

The digital clock on the dashboard blinked 6:20, signaling her usual tardiness. Jamie was not going to be happy. They’d made plans to meet at Patty’s Pub at 6 to toss around ideas for the Christmas window display. As a bonus, they could spy on Jessica, the third blonde in their trio, fondly referred to as the 3 Js.

Tapping her freshly manicured nails on the rhinestone-crusted steering wheel, she let out a frustrated breath. It may be the only set of traffic lights in town, but it was seriously the longest-timed set of lights anywhere. Finally, the green light flashed, and she hit the gas. Two minutes down the road, she slowed again and pulled into the parking lot behind the pub, killing the engine. Jamie sat on the tailgate of her battered truck and made a point of pulling up her coat sleeve to look at her wristwatch.

“I know, I know. I’m running late yet again.” She hit the key fob. Locking her truck was not necessary in this town where everyone knew everyone, but a habit she developed after living in Toronto.

Jayna flashed her bright blue ombre nails. “But look at these beauties.” She’d driven back to the nail salon in the city for a fill. With a nod to Jamie’s chipped and paint-stained fingernails, she continued, “You should join me next time.”

Jamie shook her head, the pixie cut barely moving. “No point, wouldn’t last five minutes in my line of work.”

A large armoire that had seen better days was secured in the truck bed. However, it would look better than new once Jamie finished with it.

“Where did you find that monstrosity?” Jayna asked her. “Exactly how do you plan to get it from the truck to the shop?”

“It’s not that heavy, just awkward,” Jamie smiled sweetly. “I was hoping I could entice a couple of friends into helping.”

“Well, this friend wants her nails to last longer than a day, and your other friend probably won’t be speaking to you after tonight.”

Jamie shrugged. “Can you blame her? I wouldn’t be speaking to us either!”

“Hey, he might end up being a great guy and she’ll be thanking us.” Jayna playfully nudged Jamie as they walked toward the bar.

Jamie pulled open the door, and Jayna stepped inside, scanning the tables for Jessica. Their friend sat at a cozy corner table, across from a man in an expensive suit.

“Look, a stuffed shirt. Just her type,” Jayna nudged Jamie again.

“By the pained expression on Jess’s face, I’d say he’s far from it,” Jamie groaned. “We are in so much trouble.”

Jayna’s eyes landed on a table near Jessica’s. Derek ‘Dare’ Brennan, the man, the myth, the legend—at least in his own mind, she thought bitterly. What probably annoyed her most about him was his equally low opinion of her.

She didn’t recognize the woman he was with, but she fit the typical Derek mold: bleached blonde, painted-on jeans, low-cut top, hair teased to an inch of its’ life. Stacked, sexy, and short-term. Exactly his type. The woman seductively sucked on her cocktail straw, offering Derek no challenge. He had the attention span of a hound dog with even lower morals. No way would Blondie get a second date.

Why did it bother her to see him out on a date? She had zero interest in him. Being Kylie’s older brother also put him on the off-limits list. The fact that he was a womanizing, conceited ape added him to the don’t-touch-with-a-ten-foot-pole list. Sure, there’d been those five minutes in high school when she believed he was a great guy and she’d been madly in love with him. But he cured her of both delusions. In fact, he’d cured her of any lingering romantic delusions. He’d been her one and only crush.

“There’s Kylie.” Jamie pointed to the center of the room, and Jayna forced her attention away from the jerk and onto his sister instead.

Kylie Brennan was the fourth in their group and the only brunette. Since kindergarten, they’d been inseparable. It had been one of Kylie’s four brothers who had dubbed them ‘the 3 Js,’ and the nickname stuck.

“Mind if we join you?” Jamie asked, grabbing a vacant chair from a neighboring table. Jayna took the only free chair, slipping her arms out of her leather jacket and hung it on the back.

Kylie sat next to Bianca Grotta, the sister of her fiancé. Beside Bianca sat Leighton Gray, the girlfriend of Kylie’s brother Tommy, Derek’s twin.

“Not at all, please do,” Leighton answered, smiling sweetly.

Jayna gritted her teeth when she glanced in the woman’s direction. Leighton was accomplished, kind, and undeniably likable. However, Jayna did not like her. All her friends loved Leighton, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t shake the deep disdain that prickled within her every time Leighton was around.

Kylie picked up her wine glass, and the giant ring on her finger flashed, catching Jayna’s attention.

“Wow, that diamond is the size of a skating rink,” Jayna whistled. “I still can’t believe you’re going to be Mrs. Captain Heroic.”

The entire town had been shocked when A-list movie star Jovanny Grotta had shown up on Kylie’s doorstep. The two had met while she was on a nursing mission in Sierra Leone, and he’d followed her home. Now the couple was engaged. It was still difficult for Jayna to wrap her head around the fact that her best friend was about to marry such a famous man.

“He’s not as big of a deal as he and the world believe,” Bianca offered. “Trust me. He is a typical man. He was the most annoying little brother. Still is.”

“Speaking of brothers, how is Tommy doing?” Jamie asked.

“Good considering all that he’s been through,” Kylie set down the wine glass and sighed. “The surgery on his leg went well, and the PTSD treatment center is doing wonders.”

“I can’t even begin to imagine,” Jamie added, then turned her attention to Leighton. “It must be shocking to learn the fiancé you thought had died is still alive.”

Leighton shifted uncomfortably and blinked. “Not even close to Tommy’s experience,” she said softly, referring to his three-year captivity under the Taliban. “Where’s Jessica?”

“Over there, on a blind date.” Jayna pointed to the corner. “We’re here to offer support or run interference.”

The three women swiveled in their chairs, stealing glances.

“He doesn’t look like her type,” Kylie said .

“He’s a corporate lawyer. He’s perfect for her,” Jayna defended.

“How did she meet him?” Bianca asked.

“An online dating site.” Jamie cringed, nervously tousling her short, platinum blonde hair. The pixie cut complemented her perfectly, hugging her oval face and delicate features like a tailored glove.

“Really?” Leighton’s brow furrowed. “Jessica doesn’t seem like someone who would use an online dating service.”

Jayna giggled, “No, she isn’t. Jamie and I enrolled her. She needs to change her email password. It’s far too easy to guess.”

“Oh, you did not!” Kylie exclaimed. “She must have been furious with you both.”

“Was she ever,” Jamie sighed, rolling her eyes upward. “And this date is not going well. We’ll hear about this for a very long time.”

“How do you know it’s not going well?” Bianca swiveled again, taking another peek at the couple in the corner.

Kylie’s left eyebrow shot up. “Jamie knows everything. It’s quite unnerving how accurate she can be. I keep telling her she needs to set up a booth in her shop to supplement her income.”

“Make fun all you want, but don’t come to me for advice next time,” Jamie spoke up, accustomed to the ribbing from her friends.

Since Jamie was a young girl, she’d always had this sixth sense. They often teased her about it, because for Jayna, it was easier to make fun of it than to acknowledge that Jamie could predict the future and speak with the dead. It was both unsettling and mind-boggling.

Jayna glanced down when her phone dinged with an incoming text. “Oh, that’s not nice! Jessica just texted that we are a couple of assholes.”

The phone dinged again. “S.O.S.,” she read out loud. “Level one, or level ten emergency?” she spoke as she typed.

“Level ten,” she giggled, reading aloud the next incoming text. “Oh, we are seriously in so much trouble!”

Ding, ding. Jayna covered her mouth with her hand and let out a loud guffaw. “Jessica says her date just told her that he is wearing a bright purple thong underneath his suit. Apparently, he loves to be spanked.”

Kylie shook her head and groaned. “You two are the worst friends in the history of bad friends. Jamie, how could you not have predicted this?”

Jamie held up both palms defensively. “You know I can’t read anyone close to me.”

“After this, I don’t think Jessica will be close with either of you.” Kylie cleared her throat. “I’ll be sure she knows that I had no part in this.”

“Poor Jessica,” Leighton added. “You have to help her out.”

“Yeah, I guess we really should.” Jayna’s eyes landed on Derek again. He still sat at the neighboring table. “It looks like your brother is about to take one for the team,” she told Kylie. Shoving back her chair, she stood. “And I’ll save Blondie some heartache while I’m at it. No way she’ll make it past one date.”

Rolling her neck, she squared her shoulders and walked toward Derek Brennan. A devious smile lifted the corner of her lips. This was going to be fun!

She raised her voice. “Derek Brennan! I can’t believe you! The minute I tell you I’m pregnant, you stop answering your phone. Then you go and hook up with the first blonde bimbo you find!” Jayna settled her hands on her hips and turned her attention to Derek’s date. “No offense. I’m sure you’re not a real blonde.”

Derek leaned back, his eyes narrowing. “Who’s the father? Why would you be calling me?”

“Seriously? Who’s the father?” Her voice cracked effectively, and she forced a hiccup before pressing her lips together. Waving a pointed finger toward him, she continued her tirade. “You damn well know that you’re the father. And that dose of chlamydia was an added surprise I could have done without. You’re going to need a round of antibiotics to clear it up.”

She leaned down closer to him, “On second thought, don’t bother. I hope it falls off!”

Derek straightened in his chair, forcing his gaping mouth shut. He spun around, probably checking for his younger brother Ben, who lived to prank him. He turned back, aiming an angry scowl directly at Jayna. “Are you drunk? Did you fall and hit your head?”

With a theatrical gesture, she covered her mouth with her right hand. It was more to hide the laugh caused by the confused expression on his stupid face. She bit the inside of her cheek, forming tears in her eyes. After this performance, she should join the local theatre group.

His date stood, letting her chair scrape loudly on the concrete floor as she shot a death stare at both Derek and Jayna before stalking toward the bar. Jayna stifled another laugh, hoping it sounded like a sob. She lowered her hand and blew Derek a discrete kiss before turning toward Jessica’s table.

“Jess, I can’t believe he’s done this to me!” She took two steps toward her friend. Jessica sent her a grateful look that she quickly changed to one of concern before jumping up out of her chair.

“Jayna, are you alright?”

“I’m so sorry to interrupt your date, but…” she sniffled loudly and shot a hurt look over her shoulder in Derek’s direction. “But I thought he loved me. I thought he wanted this baby as much as I did. Oh, what a fool I’ve been.”

Jessica draped a comforting arm across her shoulders. “You’re not the fool, he’s just no good! He certainly doesn’t deserve you.” Jessica glared in Derek’s direction.

“You both are too much!” Derek grumbled. “Are you on drugs?”

“I hate to interrupt your date,” Jayna continued to blubber and apologized to Jessica’s date. “I can’t be alone right now.”

“Todd, I am so sorry.” Jessica grabbed her purse and jacket off the back of the chair. “But my friend needs me.”

“Uh, sure. No problem.” He stood up. “I could wait around. I don’t mind.”

Jayna began to sob uncontrollably, grabbing onto Jessica’s arm.

“Oh, no. This will take some time.” Jessica steered Jayna to the bathroom .

“Do you want to reschedule? Maybe tomorrow night?” Todd called after her.

“I’ll have to get back to you,” Jessica spoke over her shoulder, then hissed in Jayna’s ear. “You are so dead.”

“Jayna, what the hell?” Derek yelled after her.

“I think you’ll have to get in line.” Jayna let out a loud snort.

After lectures and laughter in the bathroom, Jayna swore upon her life to never mess with Jessica’s love life again. She did it with her fingers crossed behind her back, so it didn’t technically count. How could she promise that? Messing with her friends was so much fun.

Jovanny Grotta and Ben Brennan had joined their group, pushing two tables together. So had Derek. Jayna chose a chair close to the actor, and far from Derek.

It was surreal to be sitting at the same table with an A-list movie star, sharing a beer and a pizza like it was just any Friday night. But it was just a regular Friday night, and somehow the actor had become a part of this close-knit community. Admittedly, when he’d first shown up at the Brennan farm, she’d been more than a little starstruck. Okay, more like completely awestruck. What woman with a functioning libido wouldn’t have been?

He was Captain Heroic, saving the world and stealing hearts everywhere he went. The man was freaking gorgeous. He had been blessed with every good-looking gene there was. Dark, smoldering eyes of melted chocolate, and whiter-than-white teeth with a 100-watt smile. And can we talk about those impossibly deep dimples? Then there was his hair, styled to perfection, begging for fingers to get tangled in the silky strands. With washboard abs, broad shoulders, and toned thighs, he was every bit a movie star. Of course, Hollywood would have noticed him.

And here he sat, in small-town Canada, at a knock-off Irish pub wearing a ball cap and an ordinary black T-shirt like every other guy in the pub. Except, unlike all the ordinary men, Jovanny didn’t look ordinary. He looked as good in regular clothes as he did wearing a tux on the red carpet. The man was beautiful.

But how did Derek Brennan, sitting next to such a handsome man, still look so damn good-looking? Wearing a black T-shirt as well, he was all biceps and black ink peeking out. With that bad boy attitude, he could very well be one of Jovanny’s co-stars. One of his hot co-stars.

Now admitting that left a sour taste in her mouth. Pouring a glass of beer from the pitcher in the center of the table, Jayna cautiously side-eyed Derek. Hopefully, he wasn’t upset that she had run off his date. She couldn’t help but notice that he hadn’t shaved today and the black T-shirt he wore belonged in the rag bin. Seriously though, if the date this evening had been well, serious, he would have at least shaved and worn a decent shirt. One with buttons and a collar, minus the holes.

As she set the pitcher back on the table, her eyes collided with his. Derek’s violet-blue ones flashed dangerously in her direction. A slow grin lifted the corner of his lips and popped the dimple on his left cheek. He was too good-looking for his own good and knew it. And she hated that she noticed. Not that it made a difference. Good-looking or not, he was still a world-class jerk. A shave, a haircut, and a dress shirt would not change that. He was in dire need of a personality transplant.

“Jayna,” he spoke her name, in a slow menacing drawl.

“Derek,” she used the same intonation he had, holding his penetrating glare. Never let the enemy sense fear. Or was that for dogs? Either way, it worked for Derek Brennan. He was her archenemy and a low-down, no-good dog.

“Should I be handing out cigars?” Ben chirped. “I’m going to be an uncle again!”

Derek shot his younger brother a scathing look before turning it back on her. “Do you mind telling me what that was all about?”

“Well Derek, I was helping Jessica get out of a bad blind date.” A smirk played across her lips.

He leaned forward, slapping both his open palms on the table. “A bad blind date?” He repeated her words, slowly and concisely. Lifting his right hand, he pointed his index finger in her direction and stabbed the air with it. “Let me get this straight. You ruined my date so she could get out of hers?”

Jayna shrugged indifferently. The muscle twitched in his jaw. She had really pissed him off. Derek was always intense, but when he was angry, it came off him like crashing waves. Tonight, his anger was a storm heading straight in her direction. She squared her shoulders.

He is an insensitive womanizer, she reminded herself. There was no need to feel guilt over ruining his date. “It’s not like you don’t have another date lined up for tomorrow night. If not, just pull out your phone and swipe right on the first big boob bimbo you see.”

Derek narrowed his eyes. “What makes you think I wasn’t planning to see…” he paused. Was he attempting to remember his date’s name? “Tanya Simms tomorrow night?”

Jayna let out a snort. “Right, okay! If you were really into her, you would have showered, changed your shirt, and brushed your hair.”

“Her name is Tonya Zimmerman,” Ben interrupted. “I went to school with her.”

Jayna snorted again, louder this time. “Ha, you didn’t even know her name. And she’s way too young for you.”

“I was close. And she’s old enough to drink and vote, so she’s old enough to date,” Derek challenged and glanced down at his t-shirt. “What’s wrong with my shirt? I showered, brushed my hair, and even put on deodorant.” He lifted his left shoulder to his nose and sniffed. “It’s still working!”

“Whatever!” She dismissively raised her hand, waving him off.

“And it’s not like you’re all dressed up.” He pointed at her T-shirt. “Superpower? Yeah, right! More like super-pretentious.”

Jayna glanced down at the rose T-shirt with the bold gold lettering; ‘I’m a nurse. What’s your superpower?’ Lifting her chin, she glared in his direction again. “I didn’t have a date. So, what’s your superpower, Derek? The ability to stink up a room even after you’ve showered and put on deodorant? I can smell you over here. You smell like bitter regret and failure. Oh, look,” she laughed, pointing to the door. “There goes your date with Jessica’s.”

Derek let out a loud grunt when he turned to watch Tonya stroll arm in arm out the door with Jessica’s date.

“Jayna, I hear you started working in the ER at Blythe Landing Hospital.” Leighton forced a change in the subject. “How are you liking it?”

She kept her gaze trained on Derek’s face, watching his angry expression soften as he turned to look at Leighton. He apparently still had a thing for his brother’s girl. And it caused that weird sensation to swirl in her gut like it did the first time she noticed it in high school. Maybe that was the cause of some of the animosity she felt towards Leighton. Maybe it was jealousy.

No, impossible!

She was not jealous over the fact that Derek had feelings for a woman he had no business having feelings for.

“Loving it,” she finally answered Leighton.

Forcing her attention off Derek, she turned toward the stunning woman. While Derek’s demeanor softened when Leighton was around, Leighton had a completely different reaction to Derek. She truly seemed to be uncomfortable around her fiancé’s twin. Just what had happened between them to cause so much tension? Something definitely had. She’d bet her life on it.

The pub door opened, and Jayna turned her head, watching the new paramedic walk in. Now there was one fine male specimen. Just when she thought she’d limited her dating options by moving back home.

“Speaking about loving it, there’s the new paramedic. Even his name is hot. Lance Roman,” Jayna cooed.

Derek spun around in his chair before he turned back and stared directly at Jayna again. “You should ask him to join us.”

Her head snapped back, her eyes narrowing. “Oh, no! You just want to administer a little payback. ”

“I would never,” he let out a sardonic chuckle, raising and lowering his eyebrows. The smile on his lips was anything but friendly as he tapped his index finger on his chin. “Remind me again just what it was you needed antibiotics to clear up.”

“You are such an ass!” Jayna hissed.

“Oh, that’s too bad. Looks like Lance Romance is already taken.” Derek pointed toward a table where a pretty woman sat. The paramedic walked straight toward her, dropping a kiss on her lips before pulling out a chair.

Jayna frowned as she followed his stare. Greta Cochrane had already sunk her claws into him. Damn, that had been quick.

“Who is she?” Jessica asked.

“A nurse I work with,” Jayna sighed. “She’s a new hire as well. And nice.” Maybe not that nice. Jayna had liked her, but that was before the woman swooped in and stole the most handsome and eligible man in town. Yet another man off limits. The dating pool in Blythe Landing was drying up before her eyes.

“Let me get this straight. Jayna, the man-eater has ethics? You won’t steal a man from a friend or a co-worker?” Derek leaned forward, sneering at her.

She flipped him the bird and scooped a slice of pizza off the center tray. “I’ll wait until she’s finished with him. Then he’s all mine! Until I’m finished with him.”

Derek leaned forward, pointing his index finger at her again. “It’s disgusting the way you treat men.”

Jayna dropped the pizza slice on a plate and lunged forward. She grabbed his finger and squeezed hard. “Look down at your hand, Mr. Perfect. Three fingers are pointing right back at you,” her voice raised in anger. “You treat women the same way I do men. But it’s okay because you’re a guy?”

He yanked his finger free, scowling. There was nothing that she hated more than this double standard. Was it her fault that every guy she went out with bored her to tears? She was not going to lead them on or waste her time. And to be brought to task for it by the biggest womanizer himself had her seeing red.

Derek’s eyes narrowed. She narrowed her eyes as well, not breaking his intense stare. It was a standoff. Granted, he was ‘Dare Brennan’; risk-taker, no dare too stupid or dangerous for him to resist. But she was Jayna Sutton, a woman who never backed down from a fight or a staring contest.

Jovanny loudly cleared his throat. The tension between them was palpable. They were not only making each other uncomfortable, but the entire table. Still, there was no way she was going to let the big jerk think he had won.

“Okay, kids,” Kylie imitated her mother, “play nice!”

“Oh, I always play nice,” Derek stated, smiling at his sister before turning that lopsided grin back on Jayna.

Jayna sucked in a breath, sitting back in her chair. She imagined what would happen to the cocky grin if she smashed her fist into his chin. It took all her willpower to stop herself from finding out. Instead, she listed all the reasons she shouldn’t; it would ruin her manicure, possibly injure her hand, and he was Kylie’s brother. It would be assault. But damn, it would feel good!

Forcing her attention off him, she turned her eyes on her long-time friend. Kylie had been acting strangely for a while now. Jayna could attribute some of Kylie’s odd mood to learning that her brother was alive. But there was something more. For a woman newly engaged, and to a movie star, no less, she didn’t appear happy. Why was that?

Observing relationships of people around her was one of Jayna’s favorite pastimes. Scrutinize was probably the more accurate word. She was always looking for proof that her jaded beliefs about love were wrong. So far, all she’d found was reassurance that she was correct; forever was a lie. Knights in shining armor were a fallacy, exclusive to the fairytale realm. Remaining single was a smart choice.

Her gaze shifted back to Derek. If he had one redeeming quality, it was that he didn’t pretend to be a good guy. He didn’t bother hiding his flaws from the world. Probably because he had so many flaws.