Whispered Promises by Brenda Jackson

studying him, and a sinking feeling swept over her. She’d given up a man most women would have given their right arm for.
    â€œI think you should go lie down for a while, Caitlin,” Dex said in a gentle voice when he stood before her.
    She met his dark eyes. “There’re people still here. I can’t just leave them, Dex.”
    â€œYes, you can. I’m sure everyone will understand.”
    â€œBut what about Jordan? She’ll be home anytime now, and I need to straighten this place up after everyone—”
    â€œAll you need to do is to take care of yourself. You can begin by going upstairs to rest. Don’t worry about Jordan or this house, I’ll take care of everything.”
    Rather than argue, Caitlin relented. He was right. She was tired. The funeral service had taken its toll on her. She felt depleted of strength, logical thoughts and resistance. “Are you sure? I feel like I’ll be deserting you.”
    Something flickered through his expression. “You won’t be…deserting me.”
    Though spoken softly, his words carried a definite barb. Although he hadn’t made a comeback to her statement, Caitlin knew he was probably thinking deserting him was something she was pretty good at.
    â€œGo ahead and get some rest, Caitlin.”
    She turned and started up the stairs.
    It was two hours later before Caitlin returned from her nap. She had showered and changed into a pullover white blouse and a matching flowing gauze-cotton skirt.
    â€œYou’re beautiful as ever, Caitlin, and I still think you married the wrong brother,” Clayton Madaris said.
    A smile touched her lips as she met Clayton’s gaze. All the guests had gone and the living room was as neat as a pin. Clayton and Dex had removed their jackets and were sitting lazily in chairs sipping drinks. They stood when she entered the room.
    She studied Clayton’s handsome face. Like Dex, he had nut-brown colored skin, but where Dex’s eyes were charcoal-gray, Clayton’s were a deep rich brown.
    She had wondered what Clayton’s attitude would be toward her, and had been slightly nervous when he’d arrived the day before. To her surprise, he had greeted her like an old friend. It didn’t take long for her to discover Clayton Madaris was the same witty and utterly charming man she’d met four years ago. She had felt comfortable with him immediately.
    Smiling at Clayton’s offhand comment about her marrying the wrong brother, she walked over to him and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. When they had met four years ago at Whispering Pines, Clayton had tried coming on to her. She had later found out his actions had been to make Dex jealous. Dex, who had been ignoring her up to the day Clayton had arrived, suddenly began showing interest in her.
    â€œI happen to think she married the right one, Clayton,” Dex said, glaring at his brother.
    Clayton chuckled, pulling Caitlin close to his side. His eyes were brimming with devilishment. “If you hadn’t come to your senses when you did, you may have been the one who ended up as her brother-in-law. I would’ve been her husband. Does that thought bother you, Dex?”
    Caitlin’s heart lurched at Clayton’s question. She wondered why he was baiting his brother. She also wondered how Dex would answer the question, if he responded at all. She was surprised when he did.
    â€œYeah, Clayton. The thought of Caitlin with any other man bothers me.”
    Caitlin took a deep breath, not sure how she should take Dex’s response. The set of his jaw was stern and the slant of his eyes was hard, dispassionate, almost angry. She was frozen in place under his forceful gaze.
    She jumped when she heard a door close upstairs. Turning around, she realized Clayton had left them alone. She turned back to Dex. “Why did Clayton leave?”
    Dex shrugged. “Just ignore him. Clayton’s into playing games