Page 60 of All of You

“She asked me, I agreed to it. She wasn’t messing with me.” I did my best to keep the defensive edge to my voice smoothed out.

“But that’s just it. You weren’t paid, and you got nothing but time with her. I know why, too. She’s magnetic, she’s charismatic, she’s basically walking, singing, guitar-strumming catnip for any red-blooded person with eyes who likes women.” He was sitting straight up now, his jaw firm.

“So in your mind, your famous Country-singing cousin was preying on poor little old soldier Ben and his masculine urges?”

Erin bit her lip to hide a smile, which earned her a glare from me. She was staying out of this, but clearly enjoying the volleys.

“Not quite that simplistic, but basically? Yes.”

“I’m fine.”

“I see that you are. I also heard you say you’re really together. Tell me what that means.”

He had his executive officer voice on, the one that had bossed the entire battalion around for a year. He’d moved out of that position, but God help him, he couldn’t resist using it when he was demanding information from me. And like a good underling, I responded to it.

“We realized we liked each other as more than friends. We decided we’d bag the agreement and just enjoy dating.”

It was simple enough, and if he’d been so concerned that I was getting used, he should be happy about his.

He scowled and clenched his jaw. “That easy, huh?”

“Just tell me what your problem is, all right? I can’t read your mind, and I don’t know why you’re pissed at me other than for dating your cousin, but you’re not really the type to get all falsely protective of a woman who makes her own choices, so I’m not sure where this is going.”

Flint stood, so I did too. We faced each other, nearly eye to eye except for the four inches he had on me. It was as close to eye-to-eye as we got.

“I’m not worried about Whit.”

That crashing humiliation I’d been lucky enough to avoid lately came rushing in. “Don’t.”

Flint shook his head, and Erin ducked back into the kitchen silently. “I’m not implying anything here. I’m just worried about you. Dating someone like Whit isn’t simple. It’s a huge deal, and it’s particularly big for someone who’s been single and celibate for over a year.”

I swallowed and folded my arms across my chest. “I get that it’s a big deal. I never would have thought I had a chance if it hadn’t happened the way it did—her, like you said, basically using me, though I was a willing participant. It was a chance to say yes to something that seemed a little like an adventure. I haven’t had much of that in a long time.”

We watched each other, those kind eyes staring back at me and making me wonder what I was missing.

He pulled in a slow breath, let it out. “I get it. I do. And I love my cousin—maybe more than anyone else in my family but my mother. But I’m concerned this tour created a false sense of intimacy. I’m worried you’re going through a lot—yes, still—and it’s a bad bet to date someone whose life is constantly the subject of gossip. I don’t want you sucked in, and I don’t want you hurt.”

Part of me loved him for being my big brother, my mentor, my dear friend. Another part of me wanted to kick his shins and run out the back door without a word.

“I’m not breakable.”

Flint scoffed. “Of course you are. Everyone is.”

“I mean about this. I like her, she likes me, we’re dating. I know tabloids are going to talk. I’m not worried she’s going to cheat on me, and I’m not going to get the news about our relationship from the Internet. If I get confused, I’ll talk to her.”

“You seem to have it all worked out.” He pressed his lips together.

“Whit’s great. I’d be an idiot not to see where this goes.”

That was true, but his concern, his pushing about this, made me pause. I wouldn’t think about it now, wouldn’t question myself or her now, but he was someone I listened to, and I’d have to let myself listen later, by myself, when I could hear.

“She is great. As are you. I hope you don’t lose sight of that,” he said, those gray-green eyes looking at me, impressing me with the thoughts.

“Thanks.”

“And the other thing…” he said as he walked to the kitchen.

“Go on, get it out.”

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