Page 38 of The Heart Remembers

“I get that,” I whisper, knowing I’d check on towels and toilet paper if Katie asked me. I’d do anything she asked of me.

“But now I’m strangely curious why a man I consider a brother is coming out of my niece’s bedroom at seven thirty in the morning. I’m assuming it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with towels or toilet paper.”

I sigh, leaning against the wall next to the door and tipping back my head.

“But if I wanted it to be?” I ask, knowing we need to cut the euphemisms. I lower my head to face him, meeting his glare as he looks ready to pummel me into next week for taking advantage of his niece. “What if I want to do anything this woman asks of me?”

“Answer me this first. What’s going on with my sister?”

“Not you, too,” I groan. “Nothing. Lys and I are friends. I love your sister like she’s my sister. Nothing is happening between us.”

“Just making sure.” He winks like he already knew the truth. “‘Faithful friends are hard to find.’”

Leon loves to quote Shakespeare, and he nods, accepting that Lys and I are friends.

“Saw that kiss the other night, though.”

“It was an accident,” I huff in exasperation. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell people. I would never disrespect her, you, or her marriage like that.”

“Tricia talked me off the ledge of bludgeoning you in your sleep.”

“Bludgeoning? More Shakespeare speak.” I laugh, but it’s bitter as he’s still glaring at me.

“Explain.” He nods at the door to my left.

“I wish I could.”

“Try.”

“I’m in love with her. I have been for a long time, just not in the same way as it is now.”

Leon’s brows lift. “I did not see that coming.” He pauses. “What makes now different?”

My face heats, and Leon steps up to me, crowding me into the wall. “You did not fucking fuck Katie in this house.”

I push at his shoulder, forcing him to give me space and warning him to step back. “I did not fuck her. I love her.”

Leon places both hands on his head, turns in a full circle, and comes back to face me. “This is not good. What about Derek?”

What does he mean it’s not good that I love Katie? And shit, I don’t feel it’s my place to explain Derek, but I have to defend myself. “They broke up, but Katie doesn’t want anyone to know until after the party.”

“The party,” Leon whispers. “Oh my God, the dang party.” His eyes shift away from me, and I wonder about the sudden concern etched in his face.

“What?”

Leon shakes his head side to side before scrubbing a hand down his face. “It’s going to be an interesting night.” His eyes latch onto mine, but I don’t know what he’s not saying.

“You’re both adults.” He nods at the door. “But I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“Do you think I’d sleep with her and walk away?”

“Don’t you have to? You live in freaking Florida.” Leon waves out a hand like I haven’t been thinking this through all morning. I don’t want to do a long-distance relationship. I want to be near Katie, but it seems presumptuous to move here after only one night. Then again, I consider how presumptuous Katie and I were last night, and I fight the inappropriate smile to match my memories.

“I’ll just have to figure something out,” I admit, but I’m not far off the mark. I’ve been considering, the what-ifs of moving here.

“What about AJ? Man, this isn’t like flitting all over the country to chase tail.”

“I’m not chasing tail.”