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“It? What are you talking about? If something’s wrong with Shayla I want to know,” Micah said in a raised voice. He and Shayla were close in age, and since she was the only Donahue sister, they all felt protective of her.
Caleb locked gazes with him. “You need to tread carefully with this one, Micah. It’s about her heart.”
Micah felt all of his senses heightening. He drew himself up to his full six-foot-tall height. “Her heart? Who is he? Who broke baby girl’s heart?”
Caleb let out a sigh. “Rafferty.”
Micah began to sputter. “Rafferty? What are you talking about? Has something been going on between the two of them?” Micah’s heart began to hammer like a drumbeat inside his chest at the possibility that his best friend had taken advantage somehow of his sister.
No way! It must be a misunderstanding. Rafferty was a stand-up guy. He would never go down that path with Shayla. That would be a serious violation of the friendship code.
“No, they haven’t been seeing each other. But Shayla…she’s in love with him. And she has been for a very long time. This engagement is killing her.”
Micah held on to his side table. Suddenly, his knees felt weak. Shayla was in love with Rafferty? “S-since when? Rafferty is practically an honorary member of our family. He’s been around us since we were little kids. How long has she had feelings for him?”
Caleb shrugged. “I don’t know exactly, but she really seems to be in love with him. She’s been pining away for him for some time. And now with his engagement to Pamela, she’s hurting something awful.”
Micah ran his hand over his face and let out a ragged sigh. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
Caleb placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I think she thought you were too close to the situation since you and Rafferty are best friends. She really doesn’t want him to know!”
“This must be killing her! No wonder she bailed on helping,” Micah said, wishing Shayla was in front of him so he could wrap her up in his protective arms. Shayla was their princess. She had seven brothers who would protect her against anything in this world, but not a single one of them could protect her from loving someone who loved another. He knew it must feel like a dagger in his sister’s heart.
“It’s better for her to be a hundred miles away from here and the party.” He shrugged. “Raff won’t even notice she’s not here. He’s so in love with Pamela he can barely see straight.” Caleb scrunched up his face.
“What’s with that look?” Micah asked, narrowing his gaze as he studied his brother.
“What look?” Caleb asked with an innocent expression etched on his face.
Micah let out a laugh. “Don’t try to confuse me. You had a look on your face when you mentioned Pamela. What gives? Don’t you like her?” Micah was practically holding his breath waiting for Caleb’s response.
Caleb shook his head. A sheepish expression crept over his face. “There’s something not quite right there. I can’t put my finger on it but she doesn’t come across as genuine. Maybe it boils down to the fact that she doesn’t seem to love him the way he loves her.”
Micah slammed his palm down on the table. “You’re right, Caleb. Rafferty is all moon-eyed over her while she can barely muster a smile in his direction. She has this air about her of disinterest.”
“Well, he’s asked her to be his wife, Micah. We have to respect that,” Caleb said mournfully.
The entire Donahue clan was crazy about Rafferty. Each of them cared deeply about his future. Micah knew it would crush his best friend if things didn’t work out with Pamela.
“We do have to respect Rafferty’s relationship,” Micah agreed. “But I need to tell you something, Caleb. It’s a pretty sensitive subject.”
“Okay, shoot. You know that you can tell me anything. I’ve got your back. Always.”
Micah let out the breath he’d been holding. It was as if a huge weight had suddenly been lifted off his shoulders. Having Caleb show up at his house was heaven sent. He was so blessed to have siblings he could trust and confide in.
“It’s about Pamela.”
Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Tell me.”
Micah continued. “There have been a few occasions where she acted suggestively toward me. At first I wasn’t sure if I was imagining things or not. I mean…why would she do that when she’s Rafferty’s girl? He’s crazy about her. That guy treats her like a queen. But she’s done things when we’ve been alone in the same room together that really alarmed me.”
“Anything physical?” Caleb asked.
Micah could tell his brother was waiting with bated breath for his response. Caleb knew Rafferty’s future was hanging in the balance. He cared about him just like the other members of the Donahue family. Rafferty was one of their own.
Micah shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. Saying it out loud to someone made it real. For months now this stuff had been weighing on him. “Yes, a bit,” he confessed. “She’s leaned in toward me a few times like she wanted to kiss me. Brushed up against me. And I know that might not sound like much, but it’s the way she looks at me while doing it and the comments she’s made.”
Caleb let out a low whistle. “This isn’t good. I know you well enough to know you’re not exaggerating. You and Rafferty’s friendship means the world to you, so if anything, you’ve probably made allowances for her.”
