Wyatt’s fingers tightened on his own glass, his knuckles going white underneath the skin. “The only option I’ll kick your ass for is the one where you use her for sex. The rest is old news to me. I know more about you and her than you do.”
Obviously not.
If he did, then he would see that Brett wanted her more than he would have ever thought possible—which was why he wouldn’t touch her. He couldn’t be her person. Not in the way she deserved. She deserved more. “There is no me and her.”
“Exactly.” Wyatt leaned back and crossed his ankles. The position screamed relaxation, yet it didn’t fool Brett. The feral energy radiating off Wyatt was tangible, and he had a sinking suspicion he knew what the opposing team felt like out on the football field on Sundays. “But you kissed her, and then what? Told her you didn’t like it? Lied?”
“Honestly?” Brett asked, staring at the other man without flinching. “I don’t see how it’s any of your damn business what I said.”
Wyatt sat forward, his eyes blazing. “Do you have a death wish, little boy?”
Brett snorted, since he had a few inches and more muscles on the other man. “I think you need your vision checked. I’m not little anymore.”
“You’ll always be a small, dorky boy to me.”
Brett said nothing to that.
“You need to figure your shit out, or I’ll figure it out for you.”
He sagged back against the chair. “You clearly don’t want me near her.”
“You’re right, I don’t,” Wyatt admitted. “Your childhood screwed you up, and I worry your issues might be transferred to my sister.”
“Fuck you.”
“Are you denying it?”
He wanted to. He really did. But he wasn’t a liar, and they both knew how dead he was on the inside. It was why they were having this conversation in the first place.
So he said nothing at all.
Wyatt snorted. “That’s what I thought. So, bottom line before I go to bed and leave you alone? If you hurt her, you’re a dead man.”
Brett curled his hands into fists. “Thanks for the warning.”
“But if you could make her happy…?” Wyatt stood and headed for the door, calling out over his shoulder. “Well, I guess I’d let you be.”
That was the real kicker, though.
He didn’t think he could.
Chapter Seven
The next evening, Anna sat down in the garden, letting out a sigh of relief. The morning and afternoon had passed remarkably slowly, and thankfully without incident. Wyatt had been by her side every second of the day so far, and Brett stayed as far away from her as physically possible while in the same room, so it was kind of like old times.
She dodged her shadow when the dancing began by saying she needed to attend to woman problems. That always sent Wyatt running, and this time was no different. In truth, the only woman problem she had was her annoying, overbearing brother following her around, but he didn’t need to know that. He’d practically lit up in excitement at the thought that she was off-limits, so to speak.
It wasn’t actually her time of the month, but that didn’t matter.
As long as he thought it, she would have some freedom.
She swung her legs lightly under the bench, enjoying the solitude while it lasted. Couples laughed and danced in the living room, some of them passing by the French doors to her left. Her parents had cleared out the large room to make way for dancing, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the festivities tonight. A fast-paced song she didn’t recognize played, and it drifted out the open windows into the garden.
Closing her eyes, she let out a long sigh.
No matter what was happening in her life, she always managed to grab a hold of at least a thin sliver of happiness in the garden. She always found her equilibrium.
“I keep running into you out here,” Brett said, making her eyelids shoot up. He stood behind the large rosebush on the outskirts of the garden, watching her with a serious expression in his eyes. “Do you ever stay inside?”
Her traitorous heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice. “Do you?”
“Not really. I like being outside better.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and took a step closer. He looked so vulnerable and uncertain. “I feel more at home with the trees and the stars. I hate crowds.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Of course you do.” He gave her a small smile, watching her from under his hooded lids. She wanted to look away because it hurt to look at him and know she could never have him, but she didn’t. She refused to show any weakness. “It’s almost time for the bachelor party. Are you girls going out to be crazy, too?”