Page 8 of The Best Friend's Billionaire Brother
He’d wanted all the same things she wanted. A simple life with the love of her life and kids running around. Small-town life.
But he’d always wanted those things with someone else. And that little piece of knowledge was what she needed to remember this weekend, especially if she was to keep her feet on the ground.
On occasion, one of them would break the silence by pointing out animals or something interesting. Other than that, it was just a long stretch of highway until they got closer to Caprock Canyon.
Gabby could feel the change in elevation. The way the air seemed to grow cooler. This part of the Panhandle felt like its own little world. It was hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. It snowed more in Caprock Canyon than just about anywhere around.
It wasn’t until Wyatt was turning off the main road that it hit her. “I can’t believe Bear did it. He actually bought the place.”
Laughing, Wyatt nodded. “Well, I believe it, but, yeah, I know what you mean. None of us ever expected to win all that money.”
She turned to him. “Have you done anything with it?” There literally was no telling with Wyatt. Of the four brothers, he was the most spontaneous.
“I haven’t touched a single cent. We had the money deposited in one account initially. You know, so we could all pitch in to pay off family stuff. Once we had that done, then we split it. I didn’t want the excitement of winning to cloud my judgment and for me to do something stupid with it, so there it still sits.”
Gabby narrowed her eyes. She knew by the way he said it that he was holding something back. “And?”
“And what?”
“What else?”
“What makes you think there’s something else?” He shot her a glare.
She cocked an eyebrow. “I’ve known you all my life. I just know.”
“Can we just drop it?” His lips curled as he said it. “I hate talking about it.”
Gabby leaned back, moving as close to the door as she could. He’d never snapped at her like that. Never. “Okay,” she whispered.
A wall of uncomfortable silence fell between them, and the few miles from the road to the ranch house felt like forever.
As soon as the truck pulled to a stop, Wyatt turned to her. “Gabby, I’m—”
She threw the door open and jumped out. “I guess my time away hasn’t changed things as much as I thought.” She slammed the door then yanked open the back door and grabbed her luggage, ignoring the biting cold that hit her face.
Wyatt got out of the truck and came around the bed. “Really, Gabby, I’m sorry.”
“Just…” What was there to say? He needed to leave her alone. Seeing him brought back so many feelings and emotions, and as much as she wanted to deny it, there was still thatsomethingWyatt had that was pulling her to him.
He reached for her luggage, but she jerked it away. “I’ve been on my own and alone long enough. I don’t need help.” She pulled on the handle of the suitcase, the wheels digging into the dirt. “Why can’t he just…leave me alone,” she whispered to herself.
Why did he have to be in town in the first place? And why couldn’t the torch she had for him ever die? What was wrong with her? She’d never considered herself a glutton for punishment. The second she saw him in the airport, she should have marched her happy self to the ticket counter and gone back to Charleston.
Now she was stuck with a man she couldn’t have…and, by golly, didn’t want. Maybe if she repeated that phrase enough times, she wouldn’t actually want him anymore.
Chapter 4
Wyatt swore under his breath and kicked one of the tires on the truck. When he’d agreed to pick up Gabby, he hadn’t expected to pick up a beautiful woman. The last image he had of her from before she’d left for South Carolina was of a fresh-faced college sophomore, but now she was replaced by the gorgeous woman who’d just stomped into the house. The only thing seemingly unchanged was her favorite color, red.
Wow. The little girl he’d always considered a sister wasn’t giving him brotherly feelings at all. When she’d stepped close to him to look at his scar, he’d just taken a deep breath. It had been the worst—or best—timing. He couldn’t quite decide. Gabby’s perfume had smelled incredible. And her lips? When did they get so…luscious? Dang, when did she get so beautiful?
He quickly followed Gabby into the house and paused a second, watching her fight to get up the stairs with her luggage. Man, oh, man, Gabby definitely wasn’t a little kid anymore. The deep red blouse paired with dark wash jeans showed off her figure. Her long dark hair fell past her shoulders and curled up at the ends.
He took a deep breath, shaking away the strange reaction. Yanking off his hat, he sighed and hung it on a hook by the door. He crossed the foyer and reached for the handle. “Let me help you with that.”
She popped his hand. “I can get it.”
“Clearly, you can’t, or you would have already. It’s heavy. Just admit you need help.”
