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I glared at him. “I told you there’s more to it than that.”
“And I gave you a simple solution, whatever the reason. Think for just a second. How are you going to feel a few years down the line if she’s with someone else? And youaregoing to see it. Torie and Savannah will be best friends for the rest of their lives. In your eyes, no one will ever treat her well enough or be good enough for her. The only way you’re going to guarantee her happiness is to marry her yourself. Because fuck knows you’ll always treat her like the most important person in your life.”
I cringed at the thought of another guy being by Vanna’s side. Wyatt was right. No one would ever treat her well enough for me. Most certainly not an asshole like…Bradley.
My blood boiled every fucking time I thought about how that asshole had hurt her.
“Don’t start thinking you’re better than any of those other guys,” Wyatt warned. “You’re hurting her right now, and she’s the best damn thing that ever happened to you.”
“What in the hell would you do?” I asked bitterly.
He shot me a self-righteous grin. “I really wouldn’t know. I’m never going to put myself in that situation. It’s easier that way.”
Egotistical asshole!
Maybe he thought that right now. I’d been confident I’d never fall for a woman like Hudson, Jax, and Cooper had, too.
“Then how in the hell do you think you’re qualified to give me any advice at all?” I asked furiously.
He dropped the pen back onto the table and leaned forward. “Because I know you, Chase. First, you thought you’d never find a woman who would accept you, scars and all. Now you’re trying to find a way to dump that woman you’ve always wanted just because you’re terrified of the way you love her. Doing that would be an enormous mistake. I think you want Vanna more than you want to give yourself some kind of relief from those conflicting emotions. You just haven’t realized that yet. You can protect her better than any man I know if she needs protection. You’re definitely not short of the resources. You’ve already taken measures to ensure her safety, like giving her Axel. She’s never going to be completely safe out in this crazy world we live in, Chase. But she’s safer with you than without you. What if something happens like her previous kidnapping, and you aren’t there to save her? What happens then? Christ! You’re obsessed with her happiness and her security. I have a hard time believing anyone else will be just as protective.”
“She saved herself from getting her throat slit,” I choked out, my voice rough and raw.
Wyatt’s eyes widened. “No, she didnot.She helped you by being a woman who thinks on her feet, but she went unconscious from those actions. Do you think she would have survived if you hadn’t been there? Have you totally lost it?”
I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “I don’t know. I can’t think straight.”
“You have definitely lost it,” he verified. “And you better snap out of it before you fuck up so badly that the situation can’t ever be fixed.”
“Inevermeant to hurt her,” I mumbled.
“Of course you didn’t,” Wyatt rumbled. “You’re temporarily insane because you’re in love and probably haven’t told her that yet. Since you’ve been completely unhinged for the last two weeks, you probably haven’t given her the opportunity to tell you that, either.”
I nodded. “You’re right. I haven’t told her yet.”
“Then do it,” Wyatt demanded. “I’d like the old Chase back again, please. Although I very much doubt you’ll ever be the same. But at least you won’t be a moron that screws something up because he thinks it’s for the greater good or some such ridiculously altruistic notion.”
“Vanna is everything to me. I just want her to be happy,” I said fiercely.
“No offense, brother, but that is not obviously apparent at the moment. You’re acting like you’re demented,” he drawled. “I’m a little worried about Vanna’s safety now. Maybe I should pack up her stuff and have her come stay with me. I think I like her more than you do right now.”
I sent him an enraged glare as I asked hoarsely, “Are you trying to piss me off?”
“If that’s what it takes to make you see some sense, then maybe I am.”
“I love her,” I professed vehemently.
“Then act like it,” he insisted. “You’re never going to succeed at pushing her away completely, and you can’t keep on like this. Either decide that you’re going to love her forever, marry her, and treat her like a queen, or let her go for good. I’ve always considered Savannah family because she’s so close to Torie. I feel that way now more than ever because of everything she did for Torie after her kidnapping. She’s like the sister Torie never had, and I do not like to seeanyof my family hurting.”
Hell, Iwouldlove Vanna forever, no matter what happened. That was inevitable, and if I really was hurting her, I hated myself forthat,too.
“I’ll figure it out,” I grumbled.
“Good. I’m glad this whole fear and self-loathing episode is resolved. Now let’s look at this contract you didn’t read earlier this afternoon,” Wyatt grunted like the whole ugly conversation we’d just had never even happened.
Chase
Iwas doing rounds with a punching bag later that evening when Vanna walked into the gym.
