So Not Meant To Be (Cane Brothers, #2)

by Meghan Quinn

As a true romantic who loves everything about love, I can’t help wondering if there’s a man out there who checks all the boxes of the perfect romcom hero.

Because, JP, if I wanted you, I would want to steal, consume, and savor every second I had with you.”

“But that’s not the case here.” I smile at him. “I can’t get away from you fast enough.” I am woman! Hear me roar! His nostrils flare. His jaw ticks.

“The only bullshit thing between us is that spiel you just laid out. Deny it all you want, but I know you want me. The quicker you accept that, the better you will feel.” Despite the heavy beat of my heart, I know it’s my time to turn my head, and when I do, our noses nearly touch. With all the bravado I can muster, I say, “The sooner you realize I’m out of your league . . . the better you will feel.”

He regularly waltzes into meetings smelling like last night’s perfume. He’s often distracted by his phone, and when I’ve looked over, there’s always been a different woman’s name on the screen. He’s flirty and clearly not someone interested in long-term anything. He teases about love, he jokes about forever, and he’s never serious. And that’s not what I want despite my initial attraction.

I’m looking for my soulmate, just like the soulmates on my semi-popular podcast. I want forever. JP Cane can believe what he wants, but if there’s one thing I know for sure in this romance desert that is my life, he and I are so not meant to be.

Of course she did. Not that I’m looking for forever, because I’m not. I’m just looking for a good time. I’ve had too much loss in my life to commit to anyone. Yeah, I’m that guy. Psychoanalyze me all you want, but it’s not going to change the fact that my fear of commitment is a real thing.

But I’ll say this—if anyone was going to change my mind about that, it would be Kelsey. She’s . . . hell, she’s all kinds of special.

I want to be worshipped. I want to be important in someone’s life. I want to be the person someone calls when they need advice or have big news . . . or just want to hear my voice. I want to be surprised with flowers at my apartment door. Whisked away to somewhere I’ve never been. Thought of nearly every second of every day because I consume someone’s thoughts. I want the real. The ugly. The pettiness that comes with relationships. The teasing. The arguments.

The love. The romance. I want it all. And sitting here, watching my sister experience exactly that, yes, it makes me jealous, but it also makes me realize that if I want all those things, I’m going to have to make them happen myself. I can’t sit back and wait. If I want love, I need to go find

“Why are you an ass?”

“Couldn’t you tell from the rundown Helix just gave us? Abandonment issues and false façades are high on that list for defense mechanisms. Doesn’t take a psychologist to figure that out, babe,” he says.

“I don’t pity you. There’s a difference. If I pitied you, then that would mean I have a low opinion of you, and that’s not the case. I just feel bad that you consider your evening ruined by my presence.”

“If this was a real date, I would’ve bent you over this table and spanked your ass for the way you’ve spoken to me.” My eyes widen. “Excuse me?” “You heard me.” He picks up my twenties and stuffs them into his pocket before pulling out two, one-hundred-dollar bills and dropping them on the table. There’s no way dinner cost that much. Not even close.

“That’s outrageous behavior. No one spanks women these days.” He stands from the table and buttons his suit jacket. “Clearly you haven’t been with the right men.”

I’m all about independence and women running the world, but there’s something to be said about breaking the glass ceiling during the day and coming home to a man who’ll do everything in his power to remind you exactly who you belong to.

And that’s an absolute gut punch. My feet stop moving, and my grip loosens on JP. “Head held high,” he whispers as he spins me around. “Don’t let him see you upset.” “But I am.” “I know.” JP’s mouth is now touching my ear as he speaks softly. “But give them a few more minutes and then I’ll get you out of here.”

But Edwin’s actions reflected something I’d almost expect JP to do. And yet, JP was the one who made sure I didn’t look foolish, the one who carried me around the dance floor,

and the one who made me forget, even if it was momentarily.

“Edwin is an idiot because he didn’t appreciate something other than the color of your dress. What he should’ve said the moment he saw you was how fucking breathtaking you look, how the yellow in your dress makes the gold in your eyes sparkle even brighter. He should’ve lifted your hand and pressed the lightest of kisses to your knuckles, just so he could claim you in front of everyone around him. His eyes never should have strayed from yours. And when he lowered your hand, he should’ve taken one more step closer to you, leaned inches from your ear, and said how intoxicatingly beautiful you smelled.”

There was no intention of taking her inside my house. There wasn’t even a thought of taking her to my bedroom. My only purpose at the end of the night was to make sure she understood how fucking beautiful she was. How I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off her and couldn’t fathom how stupid her date had been in leaving her, missing his one chance at having her. I wanted her to know that, in my eyes, her smile had outshone all the radiance of the room, and that she was easily the most captivating woman in there.

Because I don’t want to be around her. Because . . . shit, because I think I like her, and I don’t know how to navigate those feelings, feelings I’ve been suppressing for quite some time. And because she wants absolutely nothing to do with me, it makes navigating those feelings that much more difficult. She thinks of me as a player, a man who seeks his own pleasure, nothing more.

“Oh? Do you have a theory about why I’m still single?” He slowly nods while lowering his mug. “Trying too hard.” “How am I trying too hard?” “Because you’re always looking for the next date. Why not sit back and wait for something to happen? You never know, the person you’re meant to be with might be right in front of your face.”

“Maybe if you stop looking, it’ll find you.” Then he shrugs and says, “Plus, you’re hot. It’s not like you don’t arouse interest.”

“That doesn’t make sense, though. You’re not happy.” He shrugs. “Maybe that’s my life. Unhappy.” “That’s not fair to you.” “Well, Kelsey, sometimes life isn’t fair.” There’s the pessimist.

Because I want you to think I’m a good guy despite how I act. I want you to see that I like you, but am afraid to tell you because there’s a great possibility you will laugh in my face. I want you to give me a chance.

To date me . . .

When I first met Kelsey, I thought she was this hot, uptight organizer with a dream to fall in love. But I now realize that she had maintained her guarded, professional façade even when we were hanging out with Huxley and Lottie at their house. But slowly, as this night has unfolded, I’ve seen her relax more and more. She’s now talking to me with ice cream on her lips and fudge on the corner of her mouth. It’s . . . hell, it’s endearing.

I grip the doorway and look over my shoulder. “It’s Jonah Peter.”

What I would’ve given to tell her how I’ve been feeling about her, because, if anything, last night confirmed something for me. The night was perfect because I spent it with Kelsey. I

She wants a partner in this life, and unless I show her I can be that kind of man for her, I’m not sure she’ll ever give me a chance.

But I’m there. I can feel it. Last night, the night before . . . I can be the man she needs, and this morning, I plan on driving that home.

I don’t feel good in my own skin, like . . . I don’t belong here. Here I am chastising Kelsey for trying to be someone she’s not when I’m doing the same exact thing as her.

We’d have a tougher time winning bids on any more historic buildings. But that’s not that big of a deal in my opinion. But what about Kelsey? What kind of uphill battle will she have if Regis continues to undermine her? Why should I care? Because you do. Because you care about her.

Despite the fact that she’s on a date right now with another man, I still care about her. And that’s the reason I’m opening my car door, buttoning my tuxedo jacket, and temporarily wiping away the anger in the pit of my stomach, ready to be unleashed.

Because when

she called me Jonah last night, nothing had ever sounded more right. For a moment, I wasn’t just JP, one of the Cane brothers. I was Jonah. A man who likes a woman. A man who’s ready for change. Ready to start my own life . . . whatever that actually means.

Like a goddamn dagger to the heart. I’ve been friend-zoned. After everything we’ve been through, after last night, after the dates, I’m stuck right there, as her friend. Fuck.

He also said I was beautiful, and I’d be lying if I said that didn’t make me feel all warm inside. Because it did.

Yeah . . . and I really fucking liked it. Hell, I really like her. If anything, these last few days have shown me how much

care for this woman. Not sure what will happen, but I need to take a chance.

“I like you, Kelsey,” I say, just letting it all fly out. “I fucking like you, and I . . . I want to ask you out on a date, a real date.” Her mouth falls slightly open. “And I know this isn’t the best timing and that this is selfish of me because you’re about to go out on a date, but please, please don’t go out with him. Stay here, with me, be with me, give me a chance.”

All I’ve wanted is to fucking kiss you, to taste your lips, to make you mine. I’ve wanted this ever since I met you, from the first moment I laid eyes on you, Kelsey. I knew you were special. I knew you were someone I had to get to know, that I wanted to be around. And, sure, I didn’t go about it the right way in the beginning, but I’ve been trying. I’ve tried to tell you so many times. So many fucking times.” I push my hand through my hair. “Please, Kelsey, please just stay here with me, talk this out, give me a chance.”

“But . . . your date?” “I sent him home,” she whispers as her lips move over my mouth again. “I realized . . .” She kisses my cheek. “Very quickly . . .” She kisses my mouth. “That the pain I felt walking away from you . . .” She kisses my other cheek. “Brought me to my knees.” She lifts up and looks me in the eyes. “I think I’ve wanted you for a long time, and it took me walking away to confirm that.”

She brings her hands between us and slowly begins to unbutton my dress shirt, one button at a time. “It means that I’m yours. All yours.” “You’re not . . . you’re not leaving?” I still can’t believe it.

“No. I’m staying. I want . . . I want you to ask me out.” Fucking hell. I feel the sting of tears at the backs of my eyes. I’m not a goddamn crier, but for the life of me, I can’t stop the ugly emotions seizing me. Not sure the last time someone chose me . . . for me.

Wetting my lips, I stare into her eyes and say, “I want you as mine. All of you. Your beautiful mind, your insane organization, your sexy-as-fuck body, and your loving heart.”

“I’ve wanted you for so long,” I whisper as I bring my mouth to the column of her neck. “And not just for sex. This isn’t just sex for me.” I lift up so our eyes meet. “Do you hear me? This isn’t just sex for me.” “I know.” She brings my hand to her heart, pressing down so I can feel how hard it’s hammering. “This isn’t just sex for me either. Feel that? That’s what you do to me, you make my heart beat faster.”

“I’m so connected to you, JP. And I don’t want to scare you, but . . . I really like you, and I know deep down to my very core, that you have the potential to absolutely destroy me. There would be no recovering.” “I’ll never hurt you.” He kisses my head. “Never, baby.”

I say, “Lottie, I’m so infatuated with the man.” “Oh my God, I can tell. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy. The smile on your face, oh my God, Kelsey . . . it makes me so freaking full of joy.”