Page 34 of Seduced By the Mountain Man

"No. But let's do it anyway."

I clicked the call button. Tyler answered on the second ring, my brother’s familiar face filling the screen. He was in his Denver apartment, still wearing his work clothes, looking tired but pleased.

"Hey, Dee! This is a nice surprise. How was your girls' trip? I want to hear all about—" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he registered Jace in the shared screen. "Jace? What are you... are you guys calling me together?"

"Hi, Tyler," Jace said, his voice steady despite the tension I could see in his shoulders. "We need to talk to you about something."

Tyler's expression shifted from confusion to understanding to something that might have been amusement. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "This should be interesting. Go ahead."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. All those speeches I'd rehearsed disappeared into thin air.

"We're together," Jace said simply when my silence stretched too long. "Delaney and I. We're in love, and we wanted you to hear it from us."

Tyler was quiet for a long moment, his gaze moving between our faces. "How long?"

"It's complicated," I managed to find my voice. "But really, since Jackson Hole. At Shannon’s wedding."

"Ah." Tyler nodded slowly. "I wondered about that."

"You wondered?" I squeaked.

"Dee, you disappeared from the reception for three hours, and Jace left the next morning looking like he'd been hit by a truck. Plus, you both got really weird whenever I mentioned the other one's name." Tyler's lips twitched. "I'm not blind."

Jace and I exchanged glances. "You knew?" Jace asked.

"I suspected. I wasn't sure until right now, seeing you both so terrified to tell me." Tyler shook his head, grinning. "Did you really think I'd be angry?"

"Yes," I said at the same time Jace said, "Maybe."

Tyler laughed. "Look, you're both adults. You're also two of my favorite people in the world. If you can make each other happy, then I'm happy. It's not like I get a vote in who either of you date."

"Really?" I felt tears pricking my eyes. "You're not upset? You don't think it's weird?"

"Weird? Maybe a little. But good weird." Tyler's expression softened. "Dee, I know you've been miserable for months. And Jace, you've been carrying a torch for my sister for years."

"Years?" I turned to stare at Jace, who had the grace to look embarrassed.

"You weren't exactly subtle," Tyler told him. "The way you'd light up whenever she came home from college, how you always found excuses to be around when she was visiting. I just figured you'd never act on it because of our friendship."

"I almost didn't," Jace admitted. "I was terrified of losing you."

"You're not going to lose me," Tyler said firmly. "You're my brother, man. That doesn't change. Although," he paused, grinning wickedly, "if you hurt my sister, I will bury you somewhere in the mountains where they'll never find the body."

"Tyler!" I protested, but I was laughing.

"I'm kidding. Mostly." Tyler's expression grew serious. "But I mean it about wanting you both to be happy. You're good for each other. I can see it in your faces right now."

I wiped at my eyes, overwhelmed with relief. "I love you, big brother."

"Love you too, pest. Both of you." Tyler paused. "So what happens now? Long distance relationship?"

"Actually," I said, glancing at Jace, "that's the other thing. My boss confirmed that I have the option to work remotely—even out of state." I took a deep breath. "I'm thinking of spending the rest of the summer at Hope Peak. Working from Montana for a while."

Tyler's eyebrows rose. "That's a big change for you."

"Maybe it's time for a big change," I said, surprising myself with how certain I sounded. "I've been playing it safe for so long, I forgot what it felt like to take a real risk."

"Well," Tyler grinned, "if you're going to take a risk, might as well make it a good one. When do you leave?"

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