“It’s okay that it is.”
She won’t look at me.
“Chloe. I was just talking to a guest.”
“I saw the way you were talking.” She swipes at her face and then curses.
Shit. She’s crying.
As subtly as I can, I move her to the side of the huge stone hearth, where hopefully no one will see us talking. If my brothers think I did something to upset her…well, I can’t even deal with that right now. Chloe is my only priority.
“Hey.” Once I’m sure we can’t be seen, I tip her chin up with two fingers. “Look at me, kitten.”
Maybe it’s the use of her nickname, but she finally looks at me with big, hopeful eyes. Now is the moment. I need to tell my girl exactly what the last few days have meant to me. Whatshemeans to me.
I lean in and stroke the side of her cheek, brushing a stray tear away. “The last few days with you were…”
A flash of movement catches my eye, and I see Jaxon walk through the front doors.
Shit.
I promised my brothers I wouldn’t mess with Chloe.
But she’s right here and…fuck.
I take a step back. “They were incredible.” It’s the truth, but it’s still a total cop-out. There’s so much more I want to tell her. That Ineedto tell her.
But I can feel Jaxon watching me, and the last thing I need is a fight or an interruption. When I tell Chloe exactly how I’m feeling about her, it’s going to be special and she’s going to know exactly how much I mean it.
I’m not going to let Jaxon—or anyone—else ruin it. Which is why I need to get her alone.
“Ryder, I?—”
Jaxon clearing his throat interrupts us.
I take another step back, putting distance between us. “How’s the article coming, Chloe?” I ask when my brother is within hearing distance. “That’s the most important thing now, isn’t it?”
Fuck. I’m such an ass. It kills me that I’m hurting her. She needs to hear how I feel about her, and how meeting her has turned me upside down in ways I never could have imagined. How I don’t want her to leave. How I need her to stay with me in Rock Creek and have my babies while she writes her novels, or articles or whatever it is that makes her happy. Because her happiness is the only thing that matters.
My girl needs to hear all those things.
And I need to tell them to her.
But I can’t. Not with Jaxon here. Not like this.
She looks stunned for a moment, and I can see the hurt in her eyes, but she recovers quickly. “It’s…well, I’m behind. I need to finish it tonight.” She waves in the direction of the dining room. “I don’t think I’m going to have time to eat.”
“Nonsense.” More than anything, I want to reach for my girl and pull her into my arms. “I’ll have dinner brought up to you. Go work. I don’t want to keep you any longer.”
Chloe looks between Jaxon and me.
For a minute, I think she might say something.
But then, with a sad shake of her head, she says, “Right. That’s what I should do. Thanks.” And she’s gone.
I wait until she’s completely out of view, before I turn.
“Not one word.” I hold my finger up to Jaxon but don’t meet his gaze as I push past him and head into the kitchen to put a feast together for my girl.
