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The two of us had fallen into a pleasant routine, even after we’d spent that memorable week together.
I’d gone back to my office, and Vanna had spent her time writing her piece after our week together. She’d spent the rest of her recovery time writing her story about the Darien Gap that she thought no one was ever going to read or publish.
She’d taken over the responsibility of planning dinner during that time because she was home.
I was pretty sure I’d never been so eager to leave the office on time to get home for dinner.
We ate, drank our wine on the patio, played an occasional game of chess or watched movies neither one of us had gotten a chance to see after dinner every night.
Things hadn’t changed much since she’d gone back to work at the studio.
Whoever got home first started dinner.
On the weekends, we still played. Either with family or on our own, but we never forgot how to drop work for a time and just enjoy life.
“How about you tell her that you’re crazy about her?” Wyatt suggested gruffly. “That should work.”
“She doesn’t feel that way about me,” I snapped. “We’re close. As close as two people can be without sleeping together. But she still thinks of me as an honorary big brother, Wyatt. Afriend.”
Fuck!I was starting to hate that word.
“Bullshit,” he answered firmly. “I was at that impromptu barbeque that Torie threw last weekend. I saw it. Hudson, Jax, and Cooper saw it. You two might as well be sleeping together judging by the longing in Savannah’s eyes. There’s a hell of a lot more than friendship there, brother. I think you’re the only one whodoesn’tsee it. And you know it has to be punchingmein the face for me to recognize it. I’m not exactly intuitive when it comes to romance.”
I smirked. “Some woman is going to come along some day and knock you on your ass. Then you won’t be so damn cynical anymore.”
He shot me a doubtful look. “Almost forty. Hasn’t happened yet. I’m not exactly holding my breath. I’m not cut out for long-term relationships, and I’m happy that way. If I had to walk around with a despondent expression like yours because I was crazy about someone, I’d probably want to kill myself. I’ll skip that kind of misery, thanks.”
Sometimes I really preferred it when Wyatt was quiet instead of being a sarcastic asshole. “Then why are you pushing me to confess how I feel to Vanna?”
He raised a brow. “Because you’re pathetically depressed that she’s leaving and I don’t like to see you or Torie unhappy. Just marry the woman and get it over with. Torie seems perfectly content in her wedded state of bliss.”
“You can’t just fix everything that easily, Wyatt,” I rumbled. “These are human emotions we’re talking about. I know you have a few of them underneath all that bullshit.”
“It was a perfectly good solution,” he replied. “You’re crazy about her. She’s crazy about you. You’ve already done the trial run of living together, so you know the two of you can cohabitate without making each other insane. What else is there to know?”
I shot him an irritated look. “It’s not that easy when you’re crazy about someone who doesn’t feel the same way. Yes, I admit, Vanna is fond of me. But that’s where it stops.”
“Has being in love affected your intellect, too?” Wyatt asked drily. “Lookat the woman once in a while. She doesn’t want it to stop. When it comes to you, I’d say she’s more than willing to take things to the next level. I have to wonder if it’s really her slamming on the brakes, or if it’s you.”
“She hasn’t said a word—”
“Have you?” Wyatt interrupted. “She’s been through a lot, Chase. She’s scarred. No doubt she’s still trying to get her head together, even though she seems okay.”
“I don’t give a shit if she’s scarred. She’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Fuck! Do you really think I’m that superficial, especially after what happened to me?” I asked him, my body almost shaking with anger.
“Not at all,” he said as he shook his head slowly. “I think I made the point I wanted to make. You’re right. Vanna is beautiful inside and out. She always has been. You’d be damn lucky to have her.”
I slammed my fist down on the desk. “I can’t have her. That’s the whole point.”
“You probably could if you’d get out of our own way, little brother,” Wyatt said pointedly. “And you’re sure as hell not going to know until you ask.”
I looked at him, feeling desperately cornered as I confessed, “I’m not sure if I can. She’s not like any other woman I’ve ever known, Wyatt.”
“No,” he agreed. “She isn’t. She’s better. As Dad used to say, anything worth having is worth the risk.”
“Yeah, well, he never mentioned how badly it will rip your guts out if you have to go through the rejection. Sometimes it might be easier just to not take that risk.”
Wyatt glared at me as he said, “Now that’s total bullshit. You’ve never been a quitter in your entire life, Chase. Don’t start now. If you want Vanna to stay, find a way. I’ve never seen you this damn happy with a woman.”
