Page 67 of Igniting Sparks

“You weren’t the only one. He’s a handful, but I think Ori has a good grip on him.”

“He’s wrapped around her little finger.”

“Fuck yes, he is, but don’t you dare say that to him. He’ll never admit it as truth.” Braden takes another sip of wine, offering me the bottle. “I’m jealous of him, though. Jealous of what they have.”

“Me, too.”

“You’re young, Mina. You should be out there living it up.”

I huff out a breath and jump to my feet as my anger careens into the red. “There’s that damn word again.Young.I’m twenty-five, Braden. Not twelve. I grew up in the dancing world, surrounded by regimented schedules and diet plans. I’ve been an adult my whole life.”

Braden stands and grips my hand with a gentle squeeze. “I didn’t mean it as an insult.”

But my temper is still blazing, and he’s going to hear everything I have to say.

Everything.

“But it is—because you use it as a barrier between us. Meanwhile, I’m more ready to settle down than you are.”

Braden rubs the back of his neck, his gaze fixed on the water. “Don’t know about that.”

“You know what I always wanted besides a career in dance? A family, a cute little house, and a little girl who twirled better than me.”

A smile tugs at Braden’s lips. “Hmm.”

I toss up my hands, shooting him an exasperated look. “What?”

“You’re unexpected. In the best way. And for your information, Ialwayswanted a family.”

What’s stopping you?

I almost ask the question aloud, but what if I don’t want to hear the answer? What if he says he hasn’t met the right woman yet?

What if he only thinks of me as a pretty, fun girl with a big future ahead of her? Someone to pal around with, but never take seriously, because I had the audacity to be born twelve years after him.

This is why I never chased love before. Love makes no damn sense. Or maybe I’m just the world’s lousiest player in this game.

Sadly, my heart doesn’t care what I think anymore. She’s all in, so long as Braden is my endgame.

Heart, you’re going to wind up smashed to bits, you know that?

Braden rests his forearms on a piling, fixing me with a stare. “Didn’t Leo want those things? You know, marriage? Kids?”

My jaw slackens at his direct question. Looks like we’re going to discuss my former partner, whether or not I want to. “Umm…”

“You didn’t think I’d notice how he looks at you? Trust me, he’s obvious about it. How long did you two date?”

“A couple of years.”

“I’m assuming he was your first?” Another swig of wine disappears from the bottle. “Not my business, but I’m asking, anyway.”

Now it’s my turn to swallow some liquid courage. Alcohol, don’t fail me now. “He was. That one awful time.”

“Hmm.” Braden paces the length of the dock, his shoes reverberating against the wood in measured steps. “Did you love him?”

It’s the strangest thing. Braden seems tense, talking about Leo and me, almost as if… he’s jealous.

But that can’t be, right?