Their Haunted Nights by Allyson Jeleyne

Author:Allyson Jeleyne
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2017-05-14T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Helen squeezed into the rear seat between the Neill brothers, while Angelica perched upon her husband’s lap. It was an intimate, comfortable scene. Yet, watching Brody and Angelica laugh, tease, and flirt with one another was somewhat bittersweet. Helen missed having a husband of her own. She even felt a twinge of jealousy for the young woman’s pregnancy. In another life, she would have wanted those things for herself.

Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw the same pained look flash across Marcus’ face. Was he, too, envious of his brother’s perfect life? Did her lover pray for a wife, a home, and children of his own? If so, Helen felt infinitely sorry for him.

They’d both been dealt a lonely existence—perhaps that was the fate of those who placed duty and responsibility over selfish desire. No one could have everything. Sacrifices must be made when placing the well-being of others before one’s own.

Helen leaned against Marcus’ side, resting her head on his shoulder. Tonight, at least, they weren’t alone. Tonight, they had each other.

He bent to kiss her temple. “Sleepy?”

“No. Simply cozy.”

Beside her, Brody laughed. “I’ll say!”

Angelica tilted her head, asking, “What are they doing?”

“Mooning at each other, mostly.”

Marcus groaned. “If you embarrass me in front of Helen, I shall never forgive you.”

“It’s all right, Markie. It’s only us. And we certainly can’t throw stones…” He pressed his hands to his wife’s enormous belly. Helen blushed, wondering if the pregnancy had preceded the wedding.

Angelica covered his hands with her own. “I do hope we haven’t scared you off.”

“Not yet,” she said, regaining her composure. “Thankfully, I’m made of sterner stuff. It will take more than a little ribbing.”

“Good! I like you immensely, Helen. You seem just the sort of girl for our Markie.”

Marcus shifted in his seat. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.”

“Oh, please. If he hasn’t told you how special you are, he’s doing a poor job of things,” Angelica said. “Truth is, you’re the first woman he has bothered to introduce in—oh, how long, Brody?”

“Forever,” the younger Neill brother said. “Markie has never brought a girl ‘round.”

“You see? That proves it!”

“Helen knows,” Marcus argued. “Believe it or not, she and I discuss how we’re feeling, rather than leaving it up to others to decipher for us.”

Both Brody and Angelica seemed to shrink back. She understood that Marcus was only being protective—trying to shield her from any embarrassment two eager matchmakers might cause—but there was no reason to offend anyone in the process.

Like most siblings, the Neills enjoyed teasing, bantering, and bickering back and forth. Helen imagined them as lanky, russet-haired children, racing and wrestling, and competing against one another in just about everything. They’d grown up to have a comfortable, close-knit relationship, but the brotherly antics had clearly carried over into adulthood.

“It’s all right,” she told him. “I’m glad they like me, and I’m glad you like me, too. No need to fuss.”

He nodded, giving her a knowing smile. “I told you they would.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.