“She left this morning after I brought her back to my house. She needs time.”
“Well, you did go after her. Didn’t you?” He pulled two towels from a drawer, grabbing ice cubes and placing them in the first.
“I’m not good with that shit.”
“Did you call her?”
“She doesn’t want to hear from me.”
“You are a real jerk. Aren’t you?” he chortled. “What’s your problem, bro? It’s so obvious how you feel about this girl that I don’t need to know you to see that you’re in love with her.”
“I’m not…” I started to deny, but realized just by thinking about her my damn stomach was suddenly in knots.
His grin was usually the one I wanted to wipe off. He placed the ice near me, backing away as if I was going to hit him again. “You had a whirlwind romance and don’t deny it. I don’t need to be a genius to smell her all over you. Yet you couldn’t tell her how you really feel about her.”
“It wasn’t exactly the time after coming to her rescue when she was surrounded by piranhas chomping at the bit for blood and a goddamn story. Plus, she was treated like the bad guy when I was the one who set this bullshit up.”
“Did you tell her that?”
“I told the world that after punching one of the reporters who called her names. Fucking pissed me off to the point I almost—” I sensed his smile and stopped midsentence. “Yeah, I care about her.”
“You’re in love with her.” He leaned against the counter, placing an ice bag on his cheek while taking a sip of his drink. All the while staring at me.
“Fine. I do love her, but I don’t think it’s going to matter.”
“It won’t if you don’t tell her.”
Snorting, I swallowed a mouthful of booze as I thought about Vanessa and what she’d say. “She wouldn’t believe me. She’d think I was just snowing her, pretending I cared to use her.”
“Why would she think that?”
“Because even in the contract, I had it so I wasn’t required to pay her what I owed her. I know. Don’t say it.”
He coughed on purpose. “I was right. You used the stupid codicil our father taught you. You are one cold man, but here’s the thing. You met your match. You’re right that you can’t just tell her. You need to do something special. Not roses, for fuck’s sake. Women know you’ve done something wrong when you resort to roses.”
“Sounds like a man with experience.”
“You’re right. I am. Several times over. You need to think about what would make Vanessa happy, but don’t wait too long.”
“She won’t want me back.”
“How do you know if you don’t try? Huh?”
“Since when did you get so damn smart?”
“I’ve had a lot of time to think about relationships and how I’ve fucked up my life.”
I nodded and the quiet between us was peaceful for a change. “What do you want to do with your life, Carson? I know it’s not working for Elliot Enterprises.”
“You’re right. I was just trying to feel like I was important. Mostly in your life.”
“You are important, but you deserve to do something you want to do.”
“So do you.”
“I already am.”
He snorted and gave me a look. “Are you really? Can you look yourself in the mirror and tell me that you’re happy?”
