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“He specifically requested my date not be you,” he told her just in case there was any doubt in her mind about where her brother’s intentions had been. Will knew his history, and he couldn’t blame his friend for wanting him to stay away from his sister. If he’d had a sister, he wouldn’t want her with a man like him either. Not after Laura and how he’d broken her heart, basically killed her.
“He told me that, too.” She curved her full lips into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, hinting that she forced her pleasantness. “I was hoping I could ask a favor.”
“A favor?”
Standing across from him, she looked calm, but the heightened color in her cheeks told another story.
“I love my brother very much.” She toyed with the zipper again. “With medical school, I haven’t been able to spend as much time with him as I would have liked over the past few years. In the process I hadn’t realized how cut off he was.”
“Cut off?” Jared wasn’t sure he was following her train of thought.
“Socially.”
He didn’t like where this particular train was headed.
“Uh-uh. I don’t like where you’re going with this and will have no part in it.”
She frowned. “But you’ve not heard what I wanted to say.”
“I don’t need to. You want me to set Will up with a date.”
“Yes. Sort of.” She sounded surprised. Did she think he couldn’t see the thoughts so plainly broadcast in those gorgeous eyes?
“Will’s a big boy. If he wants a date, he’ll bring his own.”
Chelsea scowled. “Tell me, was my brother dating before I arrived in Madison? Is it my fault he’s home every night?”
Jared thought back, pulling forward a few faces, although none in recent months. But Jared didn’t keep tabs on Will’s social life. Besides, Will never seemed to stick with the same woman long. Jared understood that.
“He dated.”
Chelsea didn’t look impressed. “Uh-uh. When?”
Jared scowled. “What do I look like? His social secretary?”
Chelsea’s eyes pinned him where he stood. “So you don’t really know if he was dating or not? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No, I don’t.” But he did know he didn’t like the current conversation.
A worried look played on her face. “I don’t think he was. I think he’s either ready to fall in love or already has.”
Maybe he should be grateful he’d been an only child.
“You’re insane.”
“You’re just now figuring that out?” Her plump lips twitched. “Most people notice that about me right away.”
He shook his head at how easily she joked about herself. But something in her voice told a bigger story, hinting at hurt beneath the flippant façade. Hinting that perhaps she believed things she shouldn’t.
“Look.” He started over, wondering why he wanted to peel away the layers and see the real Chelsea. Why he cared if her pretty smile hid a great deal of pain. Why she made him so nervous. “Your brother is a grown man and more than capable of knowing what he wants and doesn’t want. If he’s met someone, that’s his business. You should stay out of his affairs.”
Her smile fading, Chelsea crossed her arms and glared at him. “My brother is my business.”
“Like warning me off from you was his business?”
Her gaze narrowed, and he could tell he’d caught her off guard, that he’d made her stop and think about what she’d said. Will should appreciate his efforts.
“He shouldn’t have done that because there’s nothing between us.” She was lying and they both knew it. Whether either of them welcomed the heat, sparks exploded whenever they were near. “Besides,” she continued, “that’s different.”
