Buried [Completed]

Chapter five

Jamie couldn't believe her brother had come to town without telling her. And that he'd turned his back on her at the bar. She'd been too hurt to run after him and Kyle had agreed it would be better to just let him go. Presumably Dougal was here for her wedding... so why sneak into town without so much as an email or a phone call?

Jamie pushed off with her feet against the wooden porch floor, sending the two-seater swing flying. The wind was cold tonight, but she didn't care. She couldn't feel the chilly air, only the hurt, and yes- the anger. Damn it, what was Dougal's problem?

He had such a chip on his shoulder and she had no idea what had put it there. Yes, they'd had a hard life when they were kids. Their mother had struggled, both with money and with men. But she had loved them, and done her best. She'd certainly deserved, at the minimum, to have her son show up for her funeral. But Dougal- who was always quick to offer to fly them to New York for a visit, not seeming to understand, or care, how out of place they felt in that huge city- couldn't lower himself to return to Twisted Cedars to see his mom put to rest.

"Honey?" Kyle came out the front door holding two mugs of coffee.

"You okay?" His thoughtfulness touched her.

"Not really," she said. Kyle sank onto the seat next to her.

"I wonder where he's staying."

"Probably at the Ocean View," Kyle guessed. Jamie took a sip of her coffee.

"I hope he behaves himself at our wedding."

"I'm still kind of surprised he showed up. You know I'm not his favorite person."

"I don't get that. You used to be such close friends."

"I guess."

"So what happened? Did you guys have a falling out?"

"No. Not really." Kyle sounded uncomfortable. There was something he wasn't telling her.

"What is it?"

"Look, I don't want to say anything against your brother. At one time we were friends. But as the years went by, he stopped acting like one. He resented my family's money. He resented the football scholarships I was offered. And he especially resented the fact that Daisy preferred me over him."

She wished she could believe her brother was a better man than that, but what Kyle said was ringing true.

"I never knew my brother liked Daisy."

"He'd hardly tell his little sister, would he?"

Poor Dougal. But unrequited love was no excuse for his behavior. Or for resenting Kyle, just because he had the things that Dougal wanted.

"Well, you may not be high on my brother's list anymore, but you're my favorite person." She leaned toward the man she intended to marry, felt his arm settle heavily around her shoulders.

"You're sure about that?" He had to be teasing. 

One thing Kyle did not lack was self-confidence. Anyway, he'd have to be a fool not to realize the appeal he had to the opposite sex.

"One hundred percent sure." She kissed the corner of his mouth, teasing him until he set down his coffee and gave her his full attention.

The kiss, deep, warm, and thrilling, soon had her blood moving briskly through her body.