Page 43 of My Wild Mountain Man

“Yeah.”

“Okay…” he said slowly. “What about Rave?”

“I want you to know that I’m in love with her,” I stated. My body immediately braced, completely expecting Onyx to toss his body across the table and deck me.

But he didn’t.

He simply stared at me with that unreadable gaze.

“And?”

“And I’m going to start seeing her.”

“You are?” he asked. “Just like that? You don’t give a shit that she’s my sister?” His tone grew harsher by the syllable.

“I do. That’s why I’m talking to you before it goes any further. You’re like a brother to me, Onyx. Closer to you than my own family. I respect you.”

“But not enough to let her go?” I cleared my throat.

“No. I can’t do anything that means letting her go.”

“What if I say I don’t wanna do this with you anymore? The business or being friends or both?”

“Well, you two can buy me out, and I’ll figure something out and hope with time, you can figure out a way to at least be amicable since you’re going to see me at family events and one day be the uncle to the kids we bring into the world.”

“Kids?” Austin coughed, but neither of us looked at him.

“You’d put it all on the line for my sister?” I nodded. Without blinking an eye or hesitating, I responded honestly. When he stood. Austin and I automatically joined him.

Me waiting for the punch or shove I knew was coming my way and Austin probably ready in case he needed to pull us apart. He stepped closer, then suddenly, his expression changed.

“Good,” he muttered with a shit-eating grin. For a moment, my brain couldn’t process what was happening.

“Good?” I repeated. He laughed, leaning in capturing me in a hug.

“Fucking finally.” He patted me on the back. “It took you a moment to fucking make a move, dumbass. But glad you did.” He pulled away, and both Austin and I looked at him like he had just grown three heads.

“What?”

“You two think I don’t pay attention?”

“What the fuck?” Austin whispered under his breath.

”The way this one“—he pointed at me—“gets all googly eyed whenever Rave comes in? How she’s been trying to avoid talking to you, but anytime she doesn’t think any one is paying attention, she’s looking at you like…”

“Like what?” I frowned.

“Like you’re all she needs for the world to makes sense. I won’t bullshit you. When she came back, and I noticed you two talking before the New Year’s party, it kinda ticked me off. She’s young and has always had a little crush on you, even when she was a kid. Part of me thought she’d get over it. But when she started to look at you like that? I worried for a whole other reason.”

“What?” Austin took the word out of my mouth.

“That this dumbass wouldn’t take a chance. Why do you think I suggested you get a hair cut from her or you take her hiking?” Suddenly, my shoulders sagged, and I chuckled.

Hell, the three of us did.

But then Onyx turned serious, his attention solely set on me. “If you hurt her—“ he started to say, but I cut him off.

“I’d kick myself in the balls. You know I wouldn’t risk our friendship if she didn’t mean something to me. She’s it for me, Onyx.”

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