Redeemed by Love - Chapter Two

Brandon

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I take a pull of my beer and nearly choke as Jessica Miller enters the room. I don’t know what I was thinking. Of course she’d be here. It is her sister’s engagement party.

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What I didn’t expect was my heart to pick up pace, or the lump that suddenly formed in my throat. She’s absolutely gorgeous and looks like a pinup goddess from the fifties. She would have given Marilyn Monroe a run for her money.

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She has on a halter style red dress with white polka-dots and what looks like a black satin belt and trim along her ample cleavage. My eyes skim down her curvy body to see red high heels.

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“Fuck,” I growl under my breath.

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I didn’t need to be having this kind of reaction to Jessica. Glancing around the room, I notice most of the men watching her, too. I don’t blame them. She’s fucking gorgeous. The last time I saw her was back in highschool. Every time she came home since then, she did her best to avoid me. I had no one to blame but myself for that.

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During our senior year of high school, I did something that hurt her and I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me, although maybe it doesn’t matter.

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A man comes up from behind her and places his hands on her hips. He leans in, kissing her neck as if claiming her. I clench my one free fist into a ball. Why did I feel so protective of her? The guy she’s with puts his arm around her and pulls her closer to him as he looks around the room. I don’t know what he’s trying to do, but he has an arrogant look about him and I don’t like it one bit.

 

I know I shouldn’t be staring, but I can’t help it. One, she’s absolutely stunning and two, my gut is telling that guy is bad news. Most of the time I don’t listen to my gut, but ‌this time I do. He sees me watching, and he leans in, whispers something to her, and her eyes dart up, looking right into mine.

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Her eyes go wide and I don’t know if it’s shock in seeing me, or fear. I try to assess the look, not that I know anything about reading people. I’m not a police officer like Josh, but I’ve been best friends with him for a few years now and I’d like to think I’ve picked up on a few things. Is that fear I see in her eyes? I sure hope not. I swear if that guy hurts her in any way—.

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“Hey man,” Josh says, bumping me in the shoulder. “You alright?”

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“Yeah, I’m good. I just haven’t seen her in years.” I nod my head towards Jessica. 

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“Oh? Did you have a thing with her back then?”

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“Not really. It’s a long story.”

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Josh raises a brow in question. I laugh. “I’ll tell you about it sometime. Just not tonight. This night is about you and Sam. Congrats again, man, you got a good one there.”

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Josh looks over at Sam sitting on the couch with his mom. His face lights up and as happy as I am for my best friend, I’m a little jealous, if I’m being honest. I have a good life. My job is secure, being the only florist in town keeps me busy.

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The only thing missing in it is someone to call mine. I wasn’t looking for anyone, but when Josh met Sam and I saw how happy she made him, a part of me wanted that, too. Ok yes, it’s not ideal that I live above the flower shop but it’s only me so I don’t mind.

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Once I find a woman who I want to spend my time with and eventually marry, I’ll look for a house of my own. Until then, I’m happy where I am. 

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“She’s the rowdy one of the bunch, isn’t she?” Josh asks, pulling me out of my thoughts about the future. 

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“Yes, she always has been. I’m not surprised she turned out to be a party planner. She loved to party. Well, she did back then.”

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“Sam is going to have her plan the wedding. You’re going to be okay working with her on the flowers and stuff, right?”

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Shit. I forgot she was going to be coming back to plan the wedding and with me doing the flowers and being the Best Man; I’m going to have to see her… a lot. If I remember correctly, Josh mentioned Sam’s going to ask Jess to be the Maid of honour, which means seeing her even more.

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Good thing it’s still a month away until the planning starts. It should give me enough time to reign in whatever this is I’m feeling for Jessica Miller.

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Thank you for reading a sneak peek of Redeemed by Love Book 2 in the Sunset Creek series.

I hope you enjoyed it and I can't wait to get this book out to you! Coming this fall (fingers crossed)

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