The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 61 - sixty one

Chapter Sixty-One

Alicia’s POV

When I woke in the morning, the house was still quiet. Most of the family wouldn’t be up for another hour at least. But Pa Wood was always an early riser, and I’d gotten into the habit of making him his morning tea.

I went to the kitchen and prepared it the way he liked. Strong, with just a touch of honey as usual. Carried it upstairs on a small tray toward his study.

The door was slightly open. I could hear voices inside. Pa Wood and someone else.

Malachi.

I stopped just outside, debating whether to come back later. But Pa Wood must have heard my footsteps.

"Come in, Alicia," he called out.

I pushed the door open. Malachi was sitting in the chair across from Pa Wood’s desk. They had papers spread out between them. Business matters, probably.

"I brought your tea," I said, walking over to set it on the desk.

"Thank you, my dear. You always remember."

I smiled and turned to leave, but Malachi’s voice stopped me.

"I’d like some too. If it’s not too much trouble."

I looked at him. He was watching me with that intense gaze that always made my stomach flip.

"Of course. I’ll go make another cup."

"No need," Pa Wood said. "Just use mine. I can wait a few minutes."

Before I could protest, he’d pushed his cup toward Malachi. I stood there awkwardly, not sure what to do.

"Sit down, Alicia," Pa Wood said, gesturing to the other chair. "Keep us company for a moment."

I sat, folding my hands in my lap.

Pa Wood took a sip of his tea and smiled at me. "You make excellent tea. Better than anyone else in this house."

"Thank you."

"Malachi, you should find yourself a woman like Alicia here," Pa Wood said, looking at his grandson. "Someone thoughtful. Someone who takes care of the small things."

My cheeks heated. I kept my eyes down, focusing on my hands.

"You’re getting old," Pa Wood continued. "You need your own family. A wife. Children."

"I’m not that old, grandfather."

"Most men your age are already settled down."

Malachi’s eyes were on me. I could feel them. That steady, burning gaze that made it hard to breathe.

"Maybe I will soon," Malachi said.

For a moment, I wondered what would have happened if I’d married Malachi instead of Travis. Would we be happy? Would we have a real home instead of this cold mansion? Maybe a kid or two running around, filling the space with laughter.

The thought made me smile despite myself. A small, wistful smile I couldn’t quite hide.

"Do you have someone in mind?" Pa Wood asked, leaning forward with interest.

"I do," Malachi said. "There’s a girl in my heart."

Pa Wood laughed, delighted. "Really? Well, this is news. Who is she?"

"Someone I’ve been watching for a while."

My heart stuttered. Was he talking about me? Or was there actually someone else?

"The woman will soon be mine," Malachi continued, his eyes never leaving my face. "When the time is right, I’ll need your blessing, grandfather."

"Of course, of course. Any woman you choose, I’ll support it."

I felt jealousy rise up in my chest. Sharp and bitter. I hated not knowing if he meant me or if there was actually some other woman he’d been planning a future with.

"She’s very lucky then," I said, my voice coming out more tense than I intended. "Whoever she is."

Malachi only smiled. That small, knowing smile that made me want to shake him.

Pa Wood finished his tea and set the cup down. "Alicia, I need to ask you a favor."

"Of course."

"My dog needs to go to the vet for a check-up. Would you be able to take him today?"

Pa Wood’s dog was a golden retriever named Charlie. He was the descendant of his late wife’s dog, and Pa Wood cherished him more than anything. He treated that dog like it was his own child.

"I’d be happy to," I said.

"Excellent. The appointment is at ten."

"I’ll drive her," Malachi offered immediately.

Pa Wood looked pleased. "Good, good. Charlie likes you."

An hour later, we were in Malachi’s car. Charlie was in the back seat, panting happily and looking out the window. I sat in the passenger seat, watching the city go by.

"Why were you blushing back in the study?" Malachi asked suddenly.

I felt my cheeks heat again. "I wasn’t blushing."

"Yes, you were. When grandfather was talking about me finding a wife."

"I was just in a good mood. Don’t read into it."

"Liar."

I ignored him and looked out the window. We were passing by a park. Couples walking hand in hand. Sitting on benches. Sharing ice cream. Living normal, happy lives.

My eyes lingered on them. I wished I could experience love like that. A simple walk in the park. Maybe a date later at some casual restaurant. Then going home together and spending the night whispering sweet nothings to each other.

Simple. Normal. Real.

"What are you thinking about?" Malachi asked.

"Nothing."

I lied.

We arrived at the vet’s office. The doctor was a friendly older man who knew Charlie well. He examined the dog thoroughly while we waited in the small room.

"He’s in perfect health," the doctor said finally. "Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it."

"That’s good to hear," I said.

We thanked him and left. I expected us to head straight back to the mansion, but when we got to the car, Malachi said something to Maurice. The driver nodded and took Charlie from Malachi’s arms.

"What’s happening?" I asked as Maurice put Charlie in another car.

"Walk with me," Malachi said.

"What?"

He held out his hand. "Come on."

I stared at his hand. At the park entrance just a few feet away. At the couples still walking around enjoying their morning.

Had he noticed me staring earlier? Had he seen the longing on my face?

I took his hand. His fingers closed around mine, warm and secure.

We walked into the park together. Hand in hand like a real couple. Like two people who belonged together.

It felt surreal. Wrong and right at the same time.

We walked in silence for a while. Just following the path. Watching other people. Existing in this small bubble where nothing else mattered.

"We could come every day if you wanted," Malachi said quietly. "Just like this."

The offer was tempting. So tempting. To have this small piece of normalcy. This pretend life where we were just two people who cared about each other.

But I couldn’t. I couldn’t get too involved in what we had. Couldn’t let myself believe this was real or could ever be permanent.

"I don’t think that’s a good idea," I said. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Why not?"

"Because this isn’t real, Malachi. Whatever this is between us, it can’t last."

"Why can’t it?"

"You know why. I’m married to your brother."

He stopped walking. Turned to face me. His hand was still holding mine.

"What if I told you I don’t care about any of that?"

"Then I’d say you’re not thinking clearly."

"Or maybe I’m thinking clearly for the first time in my life."

I pulled my hand away. "Don’t say things like that."

"Why? Because it scares you?"

"Because it’s not true."

"How do you know what’s true for me?"

I didn’t have an answer for that. Didn’t know how to explain that I was terrified of believing him. Terrified of letting myself hope for something that could never be.

"Can we just walk?" I asked. "Without talking about this?"

He studied my face for a long moment. Then nodded. "Okay."

There was awkward silence. It was eating me up.

"Why are you so tall?"

I asked, wanting to ease the tension.

"Isn’t it a good thing?"

He smiled at me. For a while, I got lost in his eyes. So magnetic.

Embarrassed, I looked away.

His finger reached out and raised my chin. I was pulled back into the pool in his eyes.

I stepped back. We were outside, and I had to be careful. "How is that a good thing?"

Unexpectedly, he grabbed me by my wrist and hugged me. His hold was warm. His cologne passed through my nostrils, intoxicating every thought. I wanted to stay in his embrace forever. If only it were possible.

His hand pressed my head slightly against his chest where I could hear the steady beating of his heart. It was drumming in my ears.

"Everytime you hug me, you get to feel my heartbeat. A heart that beats only for you, little bird."

My eyes widened as heat rushed up to my cheeks.

Then something embarrassing happened. My stomach rumbled. I hadn’t eaten all day.

Malachi released me from his hold.

"Let’s get you something to eat, hungry bird."

After a while, we circled back to where Maurice was waiting with the car. Charlie barked happily when he saw us.

The drive back to the mansion was quiet. I looked out the window, watching the city blur past.

"Alicia," Malachi said as we pulled up to the house.

"Yeah?"

"That woman I mentioned to grandfather. The one in my heart."

My chest tightened. "What about her?"

"Don’t you want to know who she is?"