Page 106 of Capture My Heart

“They’re special.”

“They are, but that’s not what makes it work. They work at it. They communicate.” She set her coffee down and shot him the same look Mom used to. “Go talk to her, Trey.”

“Brie, stay out of my relationships.” He ran his hand through his hair.

“Well, someone has to be invested in your love life. You sure as hell aren’t.”

“What the fuck?” He pushed back from the table.

“No, you listen to me for once, big brother. I know you’ve had a few girlfriends, and I know they weren’t serious.”

“I was in a serious relationship. You don’t know—”

“Really? You mean Pamela? The woman who wanted to marry you and have your babies, but she couldn’t take the way you froze her out of your life.”

He reeled back. “I didn’t…”

“Oh, we talked. She loved you but you never fully let her in. And after your accident, you pushed her away.”

“Bullshit. I was shot and she broke it off.”

“She did, but not until you pushed and shoved, until you made it clear you didn’t have room for her in your life.”

Trey shook his head. His jaw ticked as he took in his sister’s words. He couldn’t know who he could trust after that night—sure as hell not his partner, not Pamela, and not even himself.

He’d just starting trusting his judgment again and look where that got him.

“You don’t understand. And the situation with Amy is different.”

“It is. Because you love her.”

Brie’s comment stopped him. She was young and had a romantic heart.

He started down the hall. It didn’t matter that she might be right. He couldn’t talk about this with her. Now or ever. “You can let yourself out.”

“Trey.” She stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Don’t hold Amy to ridiculous standards. Or me.”

Brie grabbed her purse and walked out.

Trey sunk to the chair. His head dropped to his hands. Had he pushed Pam away? If he was honest, yes. He didn’t love her and knew she was head over heels. And Amy?

He pushed up and paced. This was different. She was a suspect—okay, not anymore, but she lied to him. Coverup evidence—in a five-year-old closed case. Did any of it have a bearing on this case? Probably not but the lies.

Don’t hold Amy to ridiculous standards. Or me.

Sure, he had high standards for Brie but she reached them. Had she always? No.

He’d forgiven her. She was his sister, he loved her. But the question rattling around in her head. Did he love Amy?

The answer knocked against his ribs.

Now, what was he going to do about it?

Amy swung a leg over the edge of the bed and sat up. She was getting out of here today whether the doctor signed her release or not. Looking from the tube in her arm to her closet where her clothes were, Amy weighed her options.

The door slipped open, and Candi strolled in the hospital room. “I’m gone one day and you get yourself blown up. What the hell?”

“Hey, I thought you were heading back up north.”