Falling For My Cousin's Fiance

Chapter 2

As my father pulled into the long driveway towards the house my thoughts flashed back to the dreadful day when my friendship with Brent Patterson had ended.How long had it been exactly?Three years?I could hardly believe it had been that long,it still felt like yesterday.There was still a lingering sense of sadness that may never end.

I stared at my reflection on the window of the BMW,anything to help forget about that day.

I had thick wavy brown hair,bright blue eyes that were a little too bright for my liking.Full lips that I wished could be just a little thinner.I didn't quite see myself as a beauty.Maybe I needed another distraction rather than staring at my reflection,if anything it was only making me more depressed.

"Are you sure Lois isn't here as yet?"I asked my mother when we exited the vehicle, taking a look around the driveway to ensure her car wasn't anywhere to be seen.

I always had to mentally prepare myself before I confronted my cousin,she didn't miss a single opportunity to insult me.

She sighed."Lois will be coming tomorrow for the engagement.Not today Belle.Stop acting so childish."

My father rested his hand on my shoulder like he always did when he sensed I was frustrated.

I forced a smile on my face as to reassure him that I was okay.While they went into the house I focused on trying to calm my racing heart.I was going to see Brent again.

"Belle!"

I spun around and my eyes widened.

"Rosella."I gasped.

I stood a distance away and stared at her for a moment.

My jaw dropped as I gazed at her in shock,she was huge.. I should of expected this considering she was pregnant and due in three weeks.

But my mind still took some time to wrap itself around the idea of my best friend having a baby soon.

"Are you just going to stand there and stare at me?"she asked.

I smiled and pulled her in for a hug gently."I missed you so much."I whispered stepping back to have a good look at her again.

She gave me a sad smile."I missed you also.I wish there was some way you could live here with me."she confessed."I must say though Belle,you get more beautiful each time we see each other."she added.

I blushed."Thank you."

Not that I believed her.She was my best friend,of course she would flatter me.

"Well why don't you come inside."she said smiling brightly.

I nodded."I just need to get my suitcase from the car."

"Oh--Wait,let Brent get that for you."she suggested.

My eyes widened.I wasn't ready to see Brent.

"That really isn't necessar--"she didn't even wait for me to finish.

"Brent get your lazy butt out here!"she shouted.

I cringed at the thought of seeing Brent again,it had been almost eight months since I had last seen him.I didn't want all those feelings I had put away to come back to haunt me now,especially not now when he was just one day away from getting engaged to my cousin.

The front door opened and he walked out without looking our way,he was too busy talking on his phone,my breath caught at the sight of him.

He looked incredible in his white vest that showed off his muscular chest.His gold cross chain lay perfectly against his chest, shining in the bright light.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from him,something I had grown accustomed to ever since I felt an attraction towards him.However for some reason it felt like the attraction had doubled since the last time I had seen him.

This wasn't good ...I thought these feelings were long gone.

You would think eight months would be enough to forget about someone you never had a romantic relationship with.

I watched as his muscles flexed when he reached over to run his hands through his hair,oh how I've longed to be the one running my hands through that chestnut hair.

And then he did that one thing that always seemed to make my knees weak,he smiled showing his perfect white teeth.

How lucky were the ones who actually got a smile from him.

I remembered the days where he used to smile like that at me,long gone were those days.

How could one guy be that good looking?

Rosella cleared her throat and I quickly looked away embarrassed.

I looked up again just in time to see his eyes focus on me,they widened a little for a split second before they turned cold,something I was already used to.

He immediately cut the call and walked over to us in slow deliberate steps.

His eyes didn't leave mines for even a second as he approached us.I tried not to be intimidated by his intense look but failed miserably.

Those damn green eyes,anyone could get lost in them.

He leaned back against the car placing his hands inside his pocket.

"What can I do for you?"he asked Rosella,not bothering to give me a single greeting.

Rosella looked like she wanted to hit him with anything she could get her hands on as she glared at him."I need you to place Belle's luggage in the guest room."she said resting her hands on her belly.

He quirked an eyebrow at her before turning those hpynotizing eyes on me."I'm sure she can carry her own suitcase.She has two hands."

I narrowed my eyes at him,crossing my arms over my chest.His eyes wandered to my chest for a split second before looking back at my face.

"I wasn't the one who called you here."I pointed out,making sure he knew that I didn't need or want his help for that matter.

He raised a single brow at me.Before he could say anything else I pulled my suitcase out the car and glared at him before rolling it pass him.

Was it just me or did the suitcase suddenly feel a lot heavier?

I passed the wrought iron double doors of the hallway.On my way I noticed mirrors,lamps,statues,designer tables,it seemed like they had added some valuable items to the house.It surely did add to it's beauty.

As my eyes fell on the spiral stairs in front of me,it suddenly looked never ending,was it always this long?I was supposed to get the suitcase all the way up there?

With a deep breath I took my first step and pulled the suitcase up behind me,I repeated the motion for the second step.However this time I pulled it on top of my feet.I winced,trying to get the heavy suitcase off.

Somewhere between getting the suitcase off and trying not to make a fool of myself I lost my balance.

I tried to grab unto the railing but missed,an involuntary cry was wrenched from my throat.

Before I could hit the floor however,two strong hands reached out and caught me in a firm grip.

I looked up and got lost in smoky dark green eyes that resembled the colour of the forest after it rained.Eyes that could make any girl's knee feel like jello with just one look.The same eyes that kept me awake each and every night.He was so close that his breath struck my lips in hot gusts.

"Damn it Belle."Brent hissed breaking whatever spell I was just under.

He shook his head as if a thought had just crossed his mind before letting go off me and putting as much space between us as he could.

I hadn't even realised that I was holding my breath.My pulse was racing and my mind was blank.

He reached around me for the suitcase,his body dragged against mines in the process.My entire body surged to life as though I had just been shocked.I stifled the moan that threatened to escape my lips.There was no use embarrassing myself again.

He didn't say another word,just took the suitcase in his hand and climbed the stairs two at a time.I watched him go,admiring him from afar.His waist was trim,shoulders broad and legs long.

With a soft sigh I finally started trailing behind.He reached the guest room a lot faster than I did.I watched as he set the suitcase down gently on the tiled floor.

He ran his hands through his hair before turning to me.I faltered when his stare became hard and cold.He moved forward,until he was standing very close,so close that I could feel his hot breath on my face.I tilted my head back to look him in the face.

"Lois will be here tomorrow morning,try not to say anything to upset her."he warned.

I gasped,the words went through me like vicious shards of glass.What kind of person did he see me as?

I narrowed my eyes in fury."You don't have the authority to tell me what to do Brent Patterson."I snapped."If you don't want me upsetting your girlfriend then how about you tell her to keep her mouth shut and not upset me first."

With that being said I turned on my heels and stormed out the room.

************************************

"Belle."Mrs. Patterson said gaining my attention."Is there any special guy in your life as yet?"she asked with a sweet smile.

I almost choked on the water I was drinking.That was the last question I would ever expect Rosella's mother to ask me.

Sitting at the dining table,with all eyes on me,I suddenly felt like my privacy was being invaded.

This was a question I preferred no one would ever ask.It was simply too embarrassing.

What was I to say?That not even a single guy held interest in me,that I was doomed to spend the rest of my life all alone in a small house locked up all by myself.That the one relationship I ever had only lasted a week because the guy turned out to be a complete lunatic?

Neither one of those options would sound good at the table right now.

I stole a glance at Brent at the opposite side of the table and regretted it immediately.

He was studying me closely,as though he was impatient to know what my reply would be.His stare was intense as he waited,along with everyone else. I reminded myself.

"I'll answer that question for her."Rosella cut in with a wink sent in my direction.

Oh oh,what was she going to say?