going to find, or what I might need to do for my brother. If I’m worried about you, I won’t be able to focus on him. I’ll call you later.” And he rushed out.
* * *
“Do you promise?” she asked the empty space where he’d been.
That was helpful. Stunned at what she’d learned and what was going on in Keith’s life, Brenda left the wine bar and walked home. The cool evening chilled her. She hadn’t thought to take a jacket because usually, when she was with Keith, she felt warm. Hot. Not tonight. With a shiver, she realized they might be over. They might never see each other again, might never again make love. When she shivered again, she admitted to herself it wasn’t from the outside temperature.
Keith was pushing her out of his life with both hands. Should she fight for him or do what any rational person would and give up?
The possibility that his brother might be seriously hurt added a dash of guilt to her swirling emotions. Here she was, selfishly obsessing over her own problems when Ryan might even be dead. She didn’t know which hospital he’d gone to. She’d phone around to see what she could learn. And then what? If she found where he was, she’d go there and wait for Keith? Maybe she really was turning into a stalker…
* * *
As Keith drove to the hospital, he mentally reviewed where he was. For the first time in his life, he didn’t know if he felt angry, sad or just frustrated. Maybe a combination of all three? Not that he ever wanted to spend much time or energy examining his feelings, but damn. A few days ago, he’d finally caught up with Ryan, who’d been a mess already before his accident. They’d never been close and Ryan didn’t seem up to start any brotherly bonding. Keith was sorry about that, both because he’d always regretted not having any close family ties and because he wanted to see if he and Ryan had much in common. Maybe Ryan’s problems were not a warning beacon for his relationships. Maybe they were.
And what about Taylor? If only someone less hot had brought him the business opportunity. Taylor definitely wanted more than a strictly business relationship. In the past he’d have jumped at the chance. Now— He hated seeing what he was doing to Brenda. He never wanted to hurt her, but what happened this past week seemed to prove he’d been right previously to avoid commitment. Brenda had always been there for him to go back to. No matter how long he stayed away. Those days were over.
No way they could ever go back to the way things had been. If he backed away from their being a couple now, he’d lose her. I can’t lose her now.
Once in the hospital, he was relieved to find out Ryan awake and lucid, though uncomfortable as heck in a hospital bed. “What happened?” Keith asked his brother.
“That crazy Mara Lynn rear ended my car—on purpose,” Ryan barked. “No seat belt. I banged my head and now the doctor’s checking me for a damn concussion.”
“She slammed into your car on purpose?” Keith sat down in the chair. “Are you sure?”
“I sure know what friggin’ car she drives. Thank God the kids weren’t with me at the time. Said it was an accident. Said she didn’t know it was me.” He muttered some less than polite words.
“Did you tell the police?”
“They came out to the scene and talked to her. Woman’s a lunatic.”
“Ryan, that sounds dangerous. You need to protect yourself.”
“Aah, now that she messed up my car and me, she’s got it out of her system. Besides, there’s a police report. She’s not stupid. She won’t try anything else.”
“I’m sorry, buddy. Anything I can do?”
Ryan looked at him with more kindness and caring than had ever passed between them before. “When I get out of here, let’s catch up. I’m sorry I shut you out when you got in touch.”
“I’d like to catch up. Don’t worry about old stuff.”
Keith left Ryan’s room feeling more optimistic than when he’d arrived. He looked
* * *
“Do you promise?” she asked the empty space where he’d been.
That was helpful. Stunned at what she’d learned and what was going on in Keith’s life, Brenda left the wine bar and walked home. The cool evening chilled her. She hadn’t thought to take a jacket because usually, when she was with Keith, she felt warm. Hot. Not tonight. With a shiver, she realized they might be over. They might never see each other again, might never again make love. When she shivered again, she admitted to herself it wasn’t from the outside temperature.
Keith was pushing her out of his life with both hands. Should she fight for him or do what any rational person would and give up?
The possibility that his brother might be seriously hurt added a dash of guilt to her swirling emotions. Here she was, selfishly obsessing over her own problems when Ryan might even be dead. She didn’t know which hospital he’d gone to. She’d phone around to see what she could learn. And then what? If she found where he was, she’d go there and wait for Keith? Maybe she really was turning into a stalker…
* * *
As Keith drove to the hospital, he mentally reviewed where he was. For the first time in his life, he didn’t know if he felt angry, sad or just frustrated. Maybe a combination of all three? Not that he ever wanted to spend much time or energy examining his feelings, but damn. A few days ago, he’d finally caught up with Ryan, who’d been a mess already before his accident. They’d never been close and Ryan didn’t seem up to start any brotherly bonding. Keith was sorry about that, both because he’d always regretted not having any close family ties and because he wanted to see if he and Ryan had much in common. Maybe Ryan’s problems were not a warning beacon for his relationships. Maybe they were.
And what about Taylor? If only someone less hot had brought him the business opportunity. Taylor definitely wanted more than a strictly business relationship. In the past he’d have jumped at the chance. Now— He hated seeing what he was doing to Brenda. He never wanted to hurt her, but what happened this past week seemed to prove he’d been right previously to avoid commitment. Brenda had always been there for him to go back to. No matter how long he stayed away. Those days were over.
No way they could ever go back to the way things had been. If he backed away from their being a couple now, he’d lose her. I can’t lose her now.
Once in the hospital, he was relieved to find out Ryan awake and lucid, though uncomfortable as heck in a hospital bed. “What happened?” Keith asked his brother.
“That crazy Mara Lynn rear ended my car—on purpose,” Ryan barked. “No seat belt. I banged my head and now the doctor’s checking me for a damn concussion.”
“She slammed into your car on purpose?” Keith sat down in the chair. “Are you sure?”
“I sure know what friggin’ car she drives. Thank God the kids weren’t with me at the time. Said it was an accident. Said she didn’t know it was me.” He muttered some less than polite words.
“Did you tell the police?”
“They came out to the scene and talked to her. Woman’s a lunatic.”
“Ryan, that sounds dangerous. You need to protect yourself.”
“Aah, now that she messed up my car and me, she’s got it out of her system. Besides, there’s a police report. She’s not stupid. She won’t try anything else.”
“I’m sorry, buddy. Anything I can do?”
Ryan looked at him with more kindness and caring than had ever passed between them before. “When I get out of here, let’s catch up. I’m sorry I shut you out when you got in touch.”
“I’d like to catch up. Don’t worry about old stuff.”
Keith left Ryan’s room feeling more optimistic than when he’d arrived. He looked
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