Page 40 of The Wrong Husband

"Don’t look so pissed off. It’s a fine thing you did. A commendable thing. After all, I did the same."

"You did?"

He nods. "I also had a fierce need to make it on my own. So, I made sure I got scholarships to put myself through university on my own merit."

"Scholarships, huh?" I scan his features. He’s so good-looking, it’s easier to believe he isn’t so intelligent.

Again, he reads me correctly. A smirk twists those beautiful lips. "Never judge a man by his looks."

My flush deepens. "I wasn’t. I didn’t think that because you're so handsome you don’t have brains."

His grin widens. "You think I’m handsome?"

Not again.I see what he’s doing and decide to play along. "Is that all you took away from our conversation?" I roll my eyes.

"Also, that I know you better than you give me credit for."

I toss my head. "We’ve barely met a couple of times. You don’t know me, at all."

"That’s where you have it wrong. As you pointed out, I’ve been watching you for almost a month and filling in the blanks, so I’ve formed a very detailed profile of you in my mind."

I’m still not sure how I feel about that. He may not have broken any legal rules… But I have mixed feelings about him getting to know so much about me, while I wasn’t even aware of his existence.

“You profiled me?” I ask slowly.

“It’s what I do when I’m on a surveillance job.”

"And he’s, no doubt, told you already that I’m the one who asked him to follow you.” My brother’s voice interrupts him, and I find him standing next to the table.When did he get here?"I hope you’ll forgive me for that. I was worried about you."

I tear my gaze away from Connor’s face with difficulty.

My brother looks contrite as he bows his head slightly. His hair is longer than when I last saw him, underscoring how six months have gone by since we last saw each other. But to hire someone to tail me? That's beyond the pale.

"What on earth is wrong with you?” I fight to keep my voice low so as not to draw attention. "Who does this kind of thing? Are you insane?"

“I was worried about you, Phe. You didn’t call, didn’t reply to my messages. You completely dropped out of sight.” He drags his fingers through his hair.

"I’ve gone months without calling you in the past.”

“Not like this. I haven’t heard a peep out of you in six months.”

“I’ve been on my own since I turned eighteen. I don't need to check in with you like you're my warden."

I narrow my eyes at my brother, and his shoulder slump even more.

"I can, and do, take care of myself, James. This was way out of line."

“I didn’t mean to upset you, I only have your best interests at heart,” he says softly.

I can see the apology in his eyes and the lingering worry. Damn, he really was trying to make sure I was okay. Some of the anger in my chest fades.

"You could have come by the hospital. You know where I work.”

He firms his lips. “And you’d have been so pissed off about my checking up on you, that you’d have stopped talking to me completely.”

He’s right. But I shove that aside.

“I’m even more pissed off that you asked your best friend to watch over me.” I wave my hand in the hair. "Who does that?”