Page 9 of The Best Friend's Billionaire Brother
“No. Not from you.” She stopped and glared at him. “Leave me alone.”
“I said I was sorry, and I meant it. I’m…what do I need to say to make you believe me?” She had seemed angry with him since the moment she saw him at the airport, and he had only made it worse. Why had she cared that he had picked her up and that he was there and not at the rodeo?
Gabby looked away. “You’ve never snapped at me like that.”
“I know, and I shouldn’t have. You were asking an innocent question, and I bit your head off. It’s not you; it’s me. I’m…” He set his hands on his hips and swore under his breath. “I’m...lost lately. I am sorry, Gabby. You’re one of my oldest friends, and I never should have spoken to you like that.”
“Friend,” he thought he heard her mutter. She grumbled something else he couldn’t make out and began fighting with her luggage again.
He pushed her hand aside, took the handle, and began walking up the stairs. “I’m helping whether you want me to or not.”
She stomped up after him, her boots clacking on the wood. “Give me my luggage.”
“No. I said I was sorry, and now I’m being a gentleman and helping.” He didn’t even bother to slow down. When they got to the top of the landing, she tried to take the handle, and he jerked it away. “I’ve got it.”
Her lips pinched together, and her little nose scrunched up. Man, she was cute when she was mad. Had she always been so cute? “I can get it from here.”
“Do you know what room you’re staying in?” Bear had told Wyatt that morning before he left to get Gabby that her room was the last room on the left. Wyatt had initially taken the first room on the right, but now he was going to move into the room right across from her just so he could bug her.
Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her chin. “No, but I can figure it out. Thank you.”
“You have always been so stubborn.”
In a split second, she snaked her hand out and pinched his stomach so hard he nearly yelped. “You take that back. I’m not the stubborn one. You are.”
Wyatt rubbed his stomach. “Ouch. That wasn’t fair.”
“No,” she said, taking the handle of her luggage and smiling. “But you let go of my luggage.”
Oh, that did it. He took her by the waist, threw her over his shoulder, and didn’t stop walking until he reached her room. He plopped her on the bed and without a single word went back for her luggage. When he returned, judging by the murderous look she was giving him and the way she was standing with legs apart and hands clenched at her sides, she was going to strangle him.
She crossed the room and pointed her finger at him. “If you ever, and I mean ever, do that to me again, I will—”
He leaned in, narrowing his eyes, and she stopped short. “You’ll what?”
Her eyebrows drew in further. “I don’t know, but I’ll think of something that will make you regret it.”
Even mad as a hornet, she was breathtaking. She’d always been feisty, not taking junk from anyone. Memories played in his mind of when they were younger. It didn’t matter how big the other person was, if Gabby saw them picking on someone smaller than them, she’d tear them up. Most of the time, she’d have them running home crying, and she hadn’t even hit them.
A smile spread on Wyatt’s lips. “I know how you get. You were being difficult, and I had to do something.”
She shook her head. “You didn’t have to do that.”
No, but it worked. He pulled her into a hug. “I’m glad you’re home, Gabby. I’ve missed you.”
She pushed against him at first, but he squeezed tighter. Slowly, she thawed and hugged him back. “I’ve missed you too,” she whispered.
The longer the hug continued, the weirder it got. It felt so right to have her in his arms. She fit more perfect than anyone ever had. He leaned back, and his heart jackhammered. More than just fitting perfect, shewasperfect. Soft bronze skin, dark eyes, and round cheeks. And was that honeysuckle perfume she was wearing? Whatever it was only enhanced her essence, making his nerves tingle.
What was he doing? The nails ran down the chalkboard so slow and loud in his mind that he nearly covered his ears. He dropped his arms and stepped back. “Uh, well, I, uh, I’m sorry for earlier.”
“I know.” Her rosy lips stretched into a soft smile. “What room are you staying in?”
His head said,First room on the right, but his wires crossed the message, and he replied, “Across the hall.” He blinked. That wasn’t true. Why did he say that? They’d made up now, and he didn’t need to get back at her. “I mean—” But he wanted to be across the hall. It meant he’d open his door and possibly see her each day she was home. He liked that idea even more than coming clean.
“Mean what?”
“Oh, just that I guess I need to let you get settled.”
