Page 6 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

“Duncan, it is,” she says, her eyes sparkling.

Every feeling I’ve stuffed in deep, dark places concerning the woman standing twenty feet away rushes over me like a tidal wave. Tightness grips my chest, and I struggle to breathe.

I’m drowning in emotions I’ve worked years to rein in. Emotions I so carefully crafted and skillfully built only to have them break through the levee.

Or so I had thought.

A hand squeezes mine, and I look down to find Scarlett’s hazel eyes smiling up at mine. The storm immediately calms, and the tension drains from my body.

“Did you remember my surprise?” She asks, beaming at me. She knows I always keep my word, and the trust reflected in her face has my heart expanding.

My lips curve into a lopsided grin, and I place my thumb on her cheek. “Of course I did. It’s waiting for you at Mile High Mutts Rescue.”

“Oh, are we going to see Ryder?” She bounces up and down, and a soft chuckle falls from my lips.

“We’ll have to see when we get there,” I tell her. “But your surprise is something else.”

“Tell me, tell me!” She squeals, clapping her hands. Then, she uses the tone that usually breaks me, “Please.”

I throw my head back and laugh, only to hear a gasp come from across the room. My gaze snaps to Ava’s, and my mouth goes dry from the look in her eyes. In an instant, the look is gone, and she pushes herself from the door frame and heads over to the refrigerator.

Pulling my eyes from Ava’s back, I glance down to Scarlett, who patiently awaits my response. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

“Uncle Duncan,” Scarlett whines, the corner of her lips pulling down. I press my lips together to keep the grin from breaking through. “You know I hate waiting.”

“And you know I hate being called Uncle ‘Dunky’.” The little imp lowers her head to her shoulder, puts a hand on her hip, and has the audacity to grin so big I’m not sure how her face doesn’t crack.

“I know.” She shrugs. “I just like seeing your expression.”

A chuckle comes from the other end of the room, and it takes everything in me not to look at its source. I give my goddaughter a scowl that would make any one of my teammates take cover, only to have her smile get bigger. “I’ll remember that later, Red.”

“What do the two of you do at the rescue?” Ava asks.

Is that hesitation in her voice? I glance toward her to see her focused on ripping at the corner of the water bottle label.

“Take some of the dogs for walks; make sure they have fresh water and food,” Scarlett responds. “One day, I even got to watch a training class where the dogs were doing agility. It was sooooo cool!”

Ava's eyes land on Scarlett, a warm smile resting on her face as she listens to her talk about a few of our adventures at Mile High Mutts Rescue.

I let my gaze roam over her face, taking her in. She’s as beautiful as ever, but I can’t help but notice the slight darkness under her eyes. An urge to wrap my arms around her comes over me. As if feeling my thoughts, her eyes slide over to mine.

My stomach tightens. I clench my jaw and narrow my eyes. The smile on Ava’s face dims just a tiny bit, and guilt floods me at the thought of hurting her. But I need to get these feelings under control. Ava will never return the feelings I had. And if I’m not careful I’ll fall in love with her all over again.

My heart and soul can’t take that pain again.

“I love you.” The words fell from my mouth without hesitation or thought. For the first time, other than on the ice, I was utterly lost in the moment and saying exactly how I felt.

Ava’s smile dropped, and a confused expression filled her eyes. “Duncan. I’m sure you—”

“I always have.” I place a hand on her cheek and forge ahead. “I know I’m younger and David’s brother, but I feel like there’s always been a—”

The tips of her fingers gently covered my mouth to stop the flow of words falling. The look in her eyes had my stomach tied into knots.

Pity. So much pity.

A car door closing pulls my attention back, and I reach over and gently tug on Scarlett’s braid. “Are you ready to get going?”

“Yes!” Scarlett runs toward the front door, yelling over her shoulder. “See you later, Aunt Ava!”

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