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“Jesus, am I that transparent?” I asked.
“When it comes to women? Always,” he said with a flash of that grin that had melted many a woman’s heart. I chuckled and rolled my eyes.
“Let’s go for a walk,” I said.
We strolled through downtown Santa Barbara under the many streetlights, the sounds of other groups going out and drinking, chatting, and having a good time all around us. People made way for us wherever we went. We were about the same size and build, and people tended to naturally respect that.
“So, you remember Jeff’s sister, Jillian?” I asked as we walked, puffs of breath coming from my mouth in the winter air.
“Vaguely,” Rhett said, furrowing his eyebrow. “Kind of awkward girl, brunette? She’s doing brokering or something for Jeff now, right?”
“Right,” I said. “Well, half-right. She used to be like that. I never really noticed her either, but a while ago, she showed up in Ft. Lauderdale with Jeff to buy a yacht from me for him. I had no idea they were the buyers, so it totally took me off guard.”
“Okay,” he said, following along. “There some problem with the deal?”
“Yes and no,” I said. “I like her, Rhett. A lot.”
“What?” he said, raising an eyebrow at me. “Man, I know you like to get around, but Jeff’s sister-”
“It’s not like that,” I said, shaking my head. “I mean, I thought about it that way at first, but then I spent a little time with her, and…” I rubbed the back of my head, looking up at the stars a moment. “She’s something special, Rhett. Something really special.”
“Where’s the Bruin Kincaid I know and what have you done with him?” Rhett asked, looking genuinely concerned at the look on my face.
“I know, right?” I said with a dark chuckle. I shook my head. “I can’t get her out of my head. I even introduced her to Emma, and they got along great.”
“Shit, man.”
“But then there’s Jeff,” I said, frowning. “I mean, I know what I need to do, what I want to do, but it sounds like if I do it, I’m burning my bridges with him.”
“And what do you want to do?”
“I want to marry her,” I said, stopping and turning to face Rhett, who looked at me as if I’d just told him I was a werewolf. Hell, even I was surprised that the words came from my mouth, but once they were out, I felt euphoria run through me. It felt good to say it. Damn good. “I love her, and I’m going to make her my wife.”
It was a short and simple statement, and Rhett just stared at me for a long time.
“Shit,” he responded finally, “I mean, it sounds like your mind’s made up then, but seriously, if the real Bruin gets back, tell him the new Bruin is ruining his reputation,” he added with a boyish grin. I punched him in the arm and shook my head, laughing along with him. “Seriously though, Bruin, if that’s how you feel, I’m happy for you.”
“It is,” I said, feeling better about it every time I said it, beaming. “And it feels damn good.”
“So, what are you going to do about Jeff?” he asked.
“I know what I’m going to do,” I said with a frown. “I’m going to be honest about it. I think Jill feels the same way about me, and if Jeff can’t get over that, then…” I paused. “Then he’s not the man I’ve always thought he is. That’ll be on him.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought this through.” Rhett crossed his arms and nodded at me.
“More than you know.” I laughed. “Guess I just need some other asshole my size to try it out on before I get into a fistfight with Jeff.”
“Anytime, bro,” Rhett said. “Give me a heads up if you’re serious about the fighting part, though, I don’t want to get blood on this particular shirt.”
“Jackass,” I said, punching him in the arm again. “Come on, let’s grab a drink. I could use an Old Fashioned to wash down the sake.”
That, and I needed a drink to settle down the rush I was feeling in my head from admitting it to myself.
I was in love.
And Jillian was going to be mine.
24
