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“He didn’t. And they offered him the moon.”
My heart drops slightly. “Was it because of me? Because he knew I was taking the scholarship to Wyoming, and he didn’t want to be in competition with me anymore?”
He shrugs. “You’d have to ask him. He would’ve done great in Wyoming. But if you want my take, I also think he had his sights set on things other than football. He’s always wanted to be a lawyer, so he chose to head to a bigger city to make that happen. He ended up on a partnership track at a major Denver law firm but gave it up to come work in Snow Creek, take his mother’s place as city attorney.”
I nod once more. I’ve heard the story. “So they’re close?”
“From what I can see, Donny is closer to Aunt Jade than any of her other three children, including the two that actually came from her body. She and Donny have that mother-son thing going. He’s such a mama’s boy.” Dave chuckles.
“Callie says the same thing. I hope it doesn’t cause a problem in their marriage.”
Dave shakes his head. “No. I’ve watched Donny go through women since he entered puberty, and I’ve never seen him as devoted to someone as he is to Callie.”
I grit my teeth slightly. “He damned well better be.”
“He is. And Brock is the same with Rory. Honestly, Donny and Brock are the best men I know, Jesse. Your sisters are lucky.”
I pause for a moment, considering his words. Once I got over the fact that my sisters were both in love with Steel men, I did think they were lucky. But the reason I thought they were lucky is because they’ll soon have access to the Steel fortune, and neither will ever want for anything again. My sisters are awesome people, and they deserve that.
It never dawned on me that they might be getting good men in the bargain as well.
“You don’t agree?” Dave asks.
“Why would you say that?”
He smirks. “Just the look on your face.”
I draw a breath, take another sip of my drink. “I was just thinking about something.”
“Anything you want to share?”
“Not really. But I will ask you one thing.”
“Shoot,” he says.
“I’ve watched two of my sisters fall for Steels, and I think my youngest one may be well on her way. Do you have feelings for her?”
“Fuck…” He downs the rest of his cognac.
“That’s not a real good sign, Simpson.”
“No. I mean, it’s not a sign at all.” He taps his fingers on the empty glass and looks away. “I didn’t come here looking for love. I didn’t come here looking to sleep with your sister. I came here looking for a fucking vacation. A break from it all. And of course having sex with a gorgeous woman always makes a vacation better.”
This time I’m holding the lowball glass with white knuckles. “And…?”
He presses his lips together. “And…I’m still not looking for love. But I’ll admit that tonight’s events have me thinking about things.”
“And is Maddie one of those things?”
“To be honest, yeah. Your sister’s beautiful. All three of them are, but Maddie has a…warmth.”
“You don’t think my other two sisters are warm people?”
He rolls his eyes. “For Christ’s sake, Pike. That’s not what I mean, and you know it. All three of your sisters are beautiful, smart, and talented. But I’ve always seen something in Maddie. Something I’m not sure others see.”
“And what is that?” I say through my clenched jaw.
“She’s a little quieter than the other two. Quieter than my foursome of cousins who she’s always hanging out with. She’s the most like Angie, so I was surprised that she and Brianna came on this trip together.”
