Page 58 of Flirting With Forever
What did that mean, send someone else? Send who? And why did that frighten her so much? What was going on?
Gage straightened to his full height and sent the other man a quelling glare. “Her father can send whoever he likes, but if she doesn’t want to go with you, she’s not going anywhere.”
“That sounds like your cue to leave there, bud,” Wolfe called out. “I’d do it.”
Yeah, Sloane’s brother really didn’t like that.
Wolfe put the Wrangler in Reverse and backed up a bit so Noah could slide out of the driveway. Then, he parked and cut the engine as though just waiting for some popcorn—or a reason to hop out and join a fray.
Gage silently welcomed the neighborly kindness.
“Fine, I’ll go,” Noah said, holding Sloane’s gaze but unmoving. “But remember I warned you. You’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”
Just when he thought Sloane couldn’t get any more tense or rigid, she locked up even more. Was she even breathing? Her response was so physical; Gage took a step to go after Noah Harrington to find out exactly what he meant by the statement.
“Gage, no. Please. Just let him go.”
The growl that emerged came from deep within him as he watched Noah Harrington strut to that sleek car of his like he had all the time in the world, despite the threat he’d just issued his sister.
He opened the door, gave one last look at Sloane and then chuckled and saluted Wolfe before climbing behind the wheel.
Gage knew without a doubt that wouldn’t be the last time they’d see Noah or the rest of Sloane’s family, though.
The powerful vehicle roared to life, but instead of putting on a show and squealing tires, Harrington eased out with the driver’s side window down, a fake smile on his face as he stared at them and pulled away.
Sloane extracted herself and turned, moving quickly down the hallway to her room while Gage raised a hand and lifted his chin in thanks to Wolfe.
He closed the door and locked it as Wolfe’s 392 rumbled to life with a purr.
Gage breathed deep as he closed the door and locked it, taking a moment more to rein in his anger and gather the shreds of his remaining patience before heading to Sloane’s room.
The door was shut. And if he had to guess, locked.
Gage lifted his hand and took a note from Noah, knocking softly instead of pounding his fist on the door the way he wanted to do. “I know you don’t want to talk about this, but I am not going anywhere until we do. Open up, and let’s get it over with.”
“I have nothing to say.”
Her words were muffled by the paneled door, one he was ready to take off the hinges because it separated him from the most frustrating woman he’d ever met in his life. “Nothing. Really? Well, I have plenty to say, and you need to hear it. Open up, Sloane.”
“Why am I only Sloane when you’re mad?”
Her question pulled a smile from his lips despite his upset. “You’re Sloane other times too. But Merida is reserved for special occasions. Now open the door, or I’ll bust the lock and make us both angrier doing it.”
She huffed and grumbled on the other side, and the adorable sounds almost made him release some of his anger. She was upset with her brother’s appearance. Obviously. He had to remember that whatever was going on, she was processing it, too. Her family life was complicated. She’d said that from the beginning.
And as of today, he’d witnessed it for himself. The next few moments—next steps—were important and had to be handled with care.
“Leave me alone, Gage. Please.”
“Yeah, not happening. We’re talking about this right now, and I’d rather not do it through a door. You want to think of a plan or vent or whatever, I’m in. But we do this together.”
“Gage—”
“Together, Sloane.”
He heard more huffs and mutters, and then finally stomping footsteps approached the door before she unlocked it and yanked it open. “You need to?—”
He shoved his way in enough to bend, put a shoulder in her belly and lift her, shrieking and gasping, to carefully back into the hall.
