Page 439 of His Virgin Romance Series

“Perhaps I am,” Gregory nodded. “But you’re being foolish. In any case, if I am to believe your version of the story, which is that you’re only trying to protect Brie—”

“I am,” I insisted.

“Then you leave me no choice but to point out that Brie is her own person,” Gregory said. “She’s not a child; she’s a twenty-four-year-old woman, and you do her a disservice by treating her like an infant.”

“I’m—”

“Maybe you should let her make her own decisions?”

I stared at him for a moment. “I know you, Gregory,” I said, with narrowed eyes. “You can be a real charmer, especially when it comes to women. Brie might think she can handle it, but what happens when you cast her aside for some other girl?”

“You think so little of me?”

“I’ve seen it happen.”

“And, you’ve never done the same thing before?” he asked pointedly.

“I… That’s different,” I said weakly.

“Why?” he demanded.

I shook my head and turned my back on Gregory in favor of the view. But what I was really seeing was Brie’s face. “I don’t want you hurting her.”

“What makes you think I’m going to?”

“Men don’t change.”

“Is that your observation?” he asked. “Or is that your fear?”

“I’m not in love with Brie,” I said, more emphatically than was probably necessary. “But I do care about her. It’s the whole reason I wanted her to come down here and relax. She’s going through a rough time, and she doesn’t need anything or anyone clouding her head further.”

Gregory stared at me carefully for a long moment. “Okay,” he said.

“Okay?”

“I’ll back off,” he said.

“Just like that?” I asked in disbelief.

“Just like that,” he nodded. “Based on your reaction, this means a lot to you. I don’t want to lose a friend and a business partner over a woman, even a woman as wonderful as Brie.”

“Oh… Well… Thanks, Gregory,” I said uncertainly.

“Can I ask you a question, though?”

I pursed my lips and nodded.

“Brie is going to meet someone one day,” he pointed out. “She’s not the kind of woman who’s likely to stay single long. So what’s your game plan? Follow Brie around her entire life and chase off every man who shows any interest in her?”

I bit my lip, but I couldn’t find the right words to answer him. Gregory seemed to sense that he wasn’t going to get anything more out of me. He stood up, and his expression was knowing, but unsympathetic.

“If you do have any interest in Brie, act fast, Seth. She’s not going to be around forever, and once you’ve lost her… You’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.”

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