“Let me work on her. If the right guy stands in front of her for long enough, it’ll be hard for her to miss him.”
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AMANDA WALKED THE short distance across campus to the high ropes course. She still couldn’t quite believe Becca asked her to meet her there. She loved that her sister was so willing to attack her fear of heights head on. It was the way Becca went after everything—direct without artifice. It’s part of what made her such a great attorney. She’d never had trouble facing a challenge.
Faced with her sister’s love of clothes, shoes, and all shades of pink, people tended to underestimate her, but it was at their peril. Becca was a shark. Smart, fierce, and ruthless. She dominated the courtroom and looked good doing it. Amanda would have felt more guilt about pushing her sister out of her comfort zone with her fear of heights, if she hadn’t been so sure she’d conquer it with the same style and grace she did with every challenge.
She would have felt more guilt if her sister wasn’t currently flinging herself into Michael’s willing arms.
Amanda hadn’t realized the muscle-bound gym rat would be there. She assumed she and Becca would be working on getting her comfortable with the course together—just the two of them. Her sister looked comfortable, all right. Comfortably snuggled up against Michael’s substantial chest. Amanda’s stomach twisted at the sight, which was stupid. Neither of them were in a relationship.If Becca wanted to date Michael, who was she to have an opinion about it?
Aside from him not being her type, Becca usually dated guys with careers as high power as hers. At first glance Michael didn’t fit the bill, but he owned a successful business and that didn’t happen without drive. Still, she was seeing Ethan. They were happy together. Who her sister chose to spend time with was none of her business.
And, she thought, reaching the bottom of the course where her sister was wrapped in Michael’s strong arms,Becca seemed to think he fit.
“I did it!” Becca pulled away from Michael and hurried to hug her. “I made it through the first obstacle and I hardly cried at all.”
Amanda folded her sister in her arms. Regardless of what she was or wasn’t feeling, she was proud of her.
“That’s awesome.” She gave her another squeeze before letting go and taking a step back. “I didn’t know you were going to start without me.” She deliberately left off the bit about Michael being there. He was the coach. Of course he was there.
“I wanted to see if I could do it on my own,” she said, looking determined. “Well, with Michael’s help.”
“She did great. Barely a whimper.” Michael watched her sister with what could only be described as affection and Amanda shoved down the jealousy clawing its way to the surface of her mind.
He helped her sister do something she hadn’t been able to do before. That was a good thing. She had no reason to be anything but happy for her sister. It was her fault Becca was in this position in the first place.
For a few moments, they stood around smiling awkwardly and Amanda wondered what she was doing there. If Becca didn’t need her help—and clearly she didn’t—then she was just some sort of third wheel. She debated begging off and leaving the two of them alone, but something kept her from walking away. Maybe it was the way Michael’s eyes crinkled around the edge when he smiled or the warmth in his expression. Maybe it was her irrational feeling that no matter what was going on between her and Ethan, she didn’t like the idea of Michael with anyone else.Even if that someone was her sister.
The last thought made her feel like a bitch, but she knew her feelings too well to try to lie to herself. It didn’t mean she had to act on any of it, but pretending the feelings didn’t exist didn’t serve anyone.
“Come on,” said Becca, grabbing each of them by an arm and wedging herself between them. “I’m starving. Let’s go eat. We’re supposed to carb load, right?” She looked up at Michael, her expression so earnest, he laughed.
Definitely being a bitch. She couldn’t stand in the way of her sister’s happiness.
“Not exactly,” said Michael. “But you do need to refuel.” He glanced over Becca’s head and winked at her.
“I should probably take off,” she said. Her emotions were all over the place. The last thing she wanted to do was inflict her inner turmoil on anyone else. Hell, she’d rather not have to deal with it herself.
“Don’t be silly.” Never loosening her grip on Amanda’s arm, Becca picked up the pace across the field to the parking lot. “We’ve got to go over the training schedule. I’m going to need both of you, if I’m going to make it through this damn thing. And I need French fries.”
“I’ll drive,” said Becca, motioning for them to get in.
Michael’s truck was parked next to her sister’s Fiat. It shouldn’t make a difference to her that they hadn’t driven to the course together, but it did.
“Are you sure?” If she got into the car with the two of them, she’d be stuck. There would be no bailing if things got uncomfortable and she needed an out.
Becca gave her a look that left no room for disagreement and Amanda gave in, climbing into the backseat. Looking at the back of their heads amplified her third wheel feelings but at the moment, there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. Once they pulled out onto the main road, Michael shifted sideways in his seat, shifting his gaze between the two of them.
“You would have been proud of her. She handled the Burma Bridge like a champ.”
“Liar. I cried like a little girl,” said Becca, keeping her gaze on the road.
“I doubt it,” said Amanda. “You hardly ever cried like a girl even when you were one.”
“There were definitely whimpers,” said Becca, winking at her in the rearview mirror. “But I did it and I’m proud of myself. I wasn’t sure I could. Thanks for coercing me into this thing.”
Amanda leaned forward to give her sister’s shoulder a squeeze. “You can thank me after we make it through the endurance relay.”
