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“I’m not here to see you.” It was the only thing he could think of to say to her.
She snorted. “Iknowthat. What are you doing with Constance?”
His head reared back. “What do you mean?”
Brielle took one step toward him, and he compensated by backing up. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. “What is it, James? You and I couldn’t make it work so now you’re trying to date my sister?”
Her words were like a splash of ice-cold water. A small bark of laughter escaped his lips. “I’m not trying todateher. Is that what you think? Why? Are you jealous?”
It was her turn to look taken aback. “What?No. She’s my sister, and I’m not going to let you mess with her just because you can’t date me.”
A huge wall came up around him, protecting his heart from the implications of her words. He shoved his hands in his pockets and frowned at her. “Just because we couldn’t make it work doesn’t mean I’m still pining over you.” That was a huge lie. And if she could read his mind, she would’ve put him in his place.
James swallowed hard and stepped toward her, rolling back his shoulders to stand a little taller. “Constance is a bright woman. She has a real interest in taking care of injured animals. She’d make an excellent veterinarian, and I want to help her get there.”
Brielle’s suspicions faltered. Her gaze swept over him and she relaxed somewhat, her arms dropping to her sides. “You realize my dad isn’t going to go for that, right?”
“Why not? I’m sure even he could see the perks of having a vet in the family.”
“Sure. But I can tell you right now he’s not ready to relinquish the control he has on our lives.”
James rolled his eyes. “That again? Honestly, I’m beginning to think that you are just making all that up. Admit it, you didn’t want us to get serious so you refused to tell anyone about us. I would wager that if I had done what I thought was right and told your father we were serious, he would have given us his blessing.”
“You don’t know anything,” she sneered. “My father’s rules were the only thing keeping him from falling apart after my mother passed away.”
“If that’s true, then he’s using it as an excuse. Your mother passed over ten years ago.”
She gasped.
Shoot. He hadn’t meant to say that. He really should have just kept his mouth shut.
Brielle’s eyes flashed with fury and her voice lowered to a menacing hiss. “Stay away from my sister.”
“I told you. I’m not trying to date her.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“What isthatsupposed to mean?”
She snorted. “Why don’t you tell me?”
James had a hard time not gaping at her. Their conversation had taken such an unexpected turn he didn’t know what to say. Was she implying that he was interested in Constance? She appeared to have a similar mindset as Shane. What was it with people trying to get him to move on by dating someone new?
Constance was pretty. Her soft smile and bright countenance had definitely captured his attention. But he hadn’t considered her a possibility as a rebound in that sense. His offering to help her had been purely to keep himself busy. In no way had he thought about her romantically.
Wait a minute.
James blinked. “Are you suggesting that Constance might have feelings for me?”
Brielle threw her hands into the air. “I’m not having this conversation with you. Just do what I say and stay away from her.” She turned to head inside, then stopped. “And keep our past relationship a secret.”
It was instinct. James reached out and touched her shoulder, causing her to spring away from him. He nearly forgot what he was going to ask her, but then he forced everything from his mind and set a steady gaze on her. “Why is it so important that no one knows?”
She snorted. “I don’t care if anyone knows. I just don’t wantConstanceto know.”
“Why?”
Brielle rolled her eyes. “You’re smart. You can connect the dots. Goodbye, James.”
