Chapter 134

**Brandon's POV**

I heard Sean's sports car pull up outside my Hamptons estate well past the time June should have been home.Opening the door before June could use her key. I found Sean behind hner with that insufferable grin, while June looked exhausted in her formal dress.

"You're late," I said, stepping aside to let them in.

June leaned up, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. "Sorry. It's been... quite an evening."

I felt myself soften involuntarily at her touch.

"You two catch up," she said, slipping off her heels. "I'll go grab Sean some water!"

The moment June disappeared into the kitchen, Sean sprawled across my sofa,propping his feet on the coffee table like he owned the place. I stood nearby, watching with mounting irritation.

I kicked his feet off the table with enough force to make him wince.

"Sit properly," I said, keeping my voice deliberately calm.

Sean straightened immediately, rubbing his shin. "Jesus, Brandon. A simple 'please'would've worked."

June returned with water, handing it-to Sean before settling into an armchair.

一

"Brandon," Sean continued, expression growing mischievous, "you missed quite the show after you left. I got to witness something truly entertaining."

I raised an eyebrow, instantly aler. "Is that so?"

"Oh yeah," Sean grinned. "You might want to keep a closer eye on your wife. She just got confessed to right in front of me. Some guy actually had the balls to ask her out while I was standing right there!"

A cold fury settled in my chest. "Who?" I demanded, my mind already cataloging ways to destroy whoever had dared approach June.

"Don't listen to Sean." June interjected quickly. "It was just a college classmate. Seriously, it was nothing."

"Hmm," I responded, studying her face carefully.

"I need to discuss something with Sean," I said, making a swift decision."

Why don't you go upstairs andget some rest?"

"Are you sure?" June asked.

"Go ahead," I insisted. "I won't be long."

After she left, I turned to Sean, dropping all pretense of civility.

"Her classmate?" I demanded. "Which one?"

"I knew you wouldn't be able to play it cool!" Sean leaned back, entirely too comfortable. "Remember that alumni reunion? The one where your wife got bitten by a snake? Well, this guy played the hero, sucking the venom out like some dramatic movie scene."

"What did he say to June?" I pressed.

"Nothing much, really," Sean admitted. "Based on what I saw, your wife had absolutely no interest in him. The real problem now is my cousin Jesse."

"Jesse Turner has no interest in June," I stated flatly.

"True, he doesn't," Sean confirmed. "But my aunt Daisy owes your mother-in-law a favor. You know what Elizabeth is like. Now that she's found a connection to the Sullivan family, she definitely won't back down easily.Your wife is going to have a tough time ahead. Though honestly,my cousin isn't a bad option. I have to give them credit for good taste!"

His flippant remark pushed me to the edge of my patience. My glare must have been effective because Sean's bravado faltered visibly.

"Whoa, why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" I replied coolly. "We still have you, don't we? From now on,you'll continue playing your role as Michael Sullivan."

Sean's eyes widened in alarm. "Hey, wait! Brandon, I only agreed to help this one time! You can't expect me to keep doing this. She's your wife-.aren't you concerned about having me around her?"

"I trust you," I stated simply. "You'll cooperate with me on this."

"I consider you guys like brothers," Sean protested. "You can't do this to me!"

"I know you'll help," I said, rising. "It's getting late. You should go."

After showing a still-grumbling Sean out, I headed to my study.The blueprint spread across my desk provided a welcome distraction from thoughts of men pursuing my wife.

I lost track of time until a soft voice interrupted my concentration.

"Still up?"

I looked up to find June standing in the doorway, wearing one of my t-shirts. Her hair was damp from the shower, and she looked impossibly soft.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" I asked, my work instantly forgotten.

"Couldn't sleep without you," she admitted. "What are you working on so late?"

"Manhattan West Side development project," I replied, gesturing to the blueprints. "The bidding starts next month. Just getting prepared."

As she moved closer, I pushed my chair back and reached for her.

"Come here," I said, pulling her onto my lap.

She yelped in surprise. "What are you doing? Don't you have work to finish?"

"Almost done," I murmured, tightening my arms around her. "Couldn't sleep?"

June shook her head. "I feel weirdly energized. Probably because I've been so lazy lately, just hanging around the house all day."

"Is that so?" I asked, brushing my lips against hers. "It has nothing to do with tonight?"

"Tonight?" she echoed, confused.

I felt my eyes narrow. "Sean mentioned a certain classmate of yours. The one who confessed."

Understanding dawned in her eyes, and her lips curved into a grin. "Brandon Stark, are you jealous?"

"Jealous?" I scoffed, tightening my grip on her. "Of course not.Why would I be jealous?"

"Mmhmm," she hummed, clearly not believing me. "You're absolutely not jealous."

"Exactly," I agreed, maintaining my serious expression. "I'm not jealous at all."

She leaned forward, pressing her lips to mine in a kiss that quickly deepened. I felt desire surge through me as my hand moved to cup the back of her neck.

"You're mine," I murmured against her lips. "Why would I need to be jealous?"

"You don't," she assured me, threading her fingers through my hair. "You have absolutely no reason to be jealous. Because apart from you. I couldn't possibly like anyone else."

"That's better," I replied. "But don't think sweet talk will let you off the hook. What's the deal with this guy?"

I noticed her mind wandering and pinched her side playfully, making her squirm.

"Ow! Why are you pinching me?" she protested.

"What are you thinking about?" I demanded. "You're with me but thinking about another man?"

"What? No!" she exclaimed. "I'm not thinking about anyone else!"

"Good," I said, relaxing slightly. "Because you shouldn't be."

June rolled her eyes. "Why would I think about anyone else when I have the perfect man right in front of me? Wait, I get it now. You're insecure!The great Brandon Stark, feeling threatened by a random college classmate!

"Insecure? Me?" I felt my eyebrow arch dangerously.

"It's okay to admit it," she teased. "But really, Brandon, you're like the most eligible bachelor in New York-well, former bachelor now. Ónly a complete idiot would pass up being with you for someone else."

"No," I conceded, lips quirking upward. "You're not an idiot. That's why you ended up with me." My expression sobered. "But that doesn't mean I can stop annoying people from pursuing you. You didn't see how many people were looking at you today. I didn't like it."

June laughed softly. "What people? Nobody was looking at me. All eyes were on you! Not just women staring at you, but men too. If anyone should be feeling insecure,it's me."

I slid my hands to her hips, securing her more firmly on my lap.

"Brandon," she whispered, pressing a light kiss to the corner of my mouth.

"You know what? You look really cute when you're jealous."