Page 137 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

Blane stared at her, his jaw working.

After a few moments, she shrugged. “We can leave it there if you want. I just thought, since we were having a heart-to-heart…”

He let out a short laugh. “Damn, Brookie. You’re good.”

“I like to think so.” She settled back against the sofa, pleased with herself. “Glad you can finally see it.”

“I can.” He hesitated. “And to answer your question honestly, even though I really don’t want to…”

Her smile softened.

“Yeah. I think you’re right. I told Bea about you. Told her about my fucked-up reasoning for not coming home and being a real family with you.”

Brooke scowled at him immediately. “Hey. Don’t say that. We are a real family. You and me. Always have been, always will be. It might not look like everyone else’s family, but don’t ever say we weren’t one.”

He smiled. “Okay. Sorry.”

“And stop apologizing. It’s weird.”

That made him laugh out loud.

Brooke planted a hand on her hip. “That does it. You’re talking about feelings, apologizing, smiling, laughing. I don’t need to ask anything else.”

His smile faded. He wasn’t about to help her.

She stared at him for a beat. “Oh my God, Blane. Please tell me you know.”

“Know what?”

“That you’re in love with her.”

Hearing the words from outside his own head for the first time seemed to loosen something in his chest.

Brooke was watching him with wide eyes.

He wasn’t going to deny it. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I am.”

Her whole face lit up.

“Not much I can do about it, though.”

“What the hell do you mean, there’s not much you can do about it? Get Cash to lend you the jet and go back and get her.”

Blane almost laughed.

“Why not? She might be English, but I’m sure she could get used to Montana. I’ll help her settle in, and there’s Shelley and Harper and all the other women. All your friends are with really great women now. They’d welcome Bea. She could—” She stopped. “What? What did I say wrong?”

He shook his head. “She spent most of her life married to a man who put his wants and needs ahead of hers. She moved to Crete because it’s the first time she’s ever had the chance to live where she wants, because she wants to be there.”

“But you love her, and I’m guessing she loves you too.”

“I think she does.”

“Then maybe she’d want to come.”

“That’s the problem, Brookie.” He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I think if I asked her, she would.”

Brooke frowned.