Page 183 of The Silver Fox Brother

"That's a lie!" Winter's voice cracks.

"Every single attempt he's made to get back together, I have told him to leave me alone."

I hold her gaze.

"But you didn't answer the question."

She stares at me.

"Do you still love him?" I ask.

"No," Winter says.

But she hesitated. Just for a second. Just long enough for doubt to creep in. I turn back to the window.

"Then why didn't you call me? Text me? After Naples, nothing."

"You didn't call me either!" Winter fires back.

"I was giving you space." I turn to face her again.

"I thought you needed time to process whatever the hell happened between us. Then I find out you're entertaining his proposal at some charity gala."

"I wasn't entertaining anything!" Winter's voice rises, frustration bleeding through every word.

"He ambushed me in public! Got down on one knee in front of hundreds of people with cameras everywhere. I had no idea it was coming."

Silence settles between us. The air feels heavy, charged with everything we're not saying.

I step away from the window and move closer to her.

"What do you want from me, Winter?"

Her breath catches. "I want to know what Naples meant to you. Because it meant something to me."

"Did it?" I ask, my voice low.

"Or was it just a break from my brother? A distraction from your relationship falling apart?"

Winter flinches like I've slapped her.

"How can you say that?"

"Because you haven't said what you feel," I say, stepping even closer. "And I need to know if you're still in love with Rowan."

"I'm not in love with Rowan," Winter says, her voice trembling.

"I haven't been for a long time."

"Then what are you doing?" I demand.

"Why are you here?"

Winter's eyes fill with tears and her voice breaks when she speaks.

"Because I'm falling in love with you and I don't know what to do about it."

The words hit me like a punch to the chest. I close the distance between us in two strides and pull her into my arms. Our mouths crash together in a kiss that's desperate and consuming. Her hands come up to my neck,pulling me closer, and I wrap my arms around her waist like I'm afraid she'll disappear if I let go.