Page 13 of Twice Shy

“I said, I’m not interested.” Luca backed up further, his expression suddenly stormy. “I’m not doing this. I’m sorry.”

And with that, he turned and stalked across the dew-damp grass, swiping angrily at a low hanging branch as he disappeared through a stand of trees and out onto the clifftop beyond.

Ollie didn’t follow, couldn’t move from the spot. He felt rooted in the damp grass, unable to drag air into his paralyzed lungs. He hadn’t been expecting open-armed acceptance, he wasn’t that naïve, but the raw anger on Luca’s face shocked him. Luca was horrified.

So was that it? After months of anticipation, was it over just like that?

The hell it was. Ollie refused to accept it was over. This was just a…a setback. He realized, then, how stupid he’d been to just spring this on Luca. He should have given him more warning, emailed him first or something. But that didn’t mean it wasover.

Ollie sucked in a shuddering breath, forced his tense muscles to relax, his fisted fingers to unfurl. Luca needed time, that was all. He needed time to get used to the idea that he had a brother. And that meant Ollie needed to back the hell off and give him space.

Today had been a mistake, but it wasn’t the end. And at least he’d broken the ice; Luca knew he existed. Ollie just needed to convince him he wanted a brother and two young nephews in his life.

How hard could that be?

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