Thankfully, Andrew doesn’t say the words I know we’re both thinking. If he did that in front of Gabe rightnow, I don’t know if I could forgive him.
In the lengthening silence between us, Gabe exhales a breath. “I’m going out to check the motion sensor on the parking lot floods.”
Andrew nods, waiting for him to leave before he speaks again. “Tell me something, Evie. If Gabe hadn’t responded to the shop last night because of the power outage, would you have told me you were working late and thought you heard someone trying to break in?”
“Break in? That’s an exaggeration.”
“We can’t be sure.” Andrew’s voice is stern. “The question is, would you have told me?”
“Probably not. Like I said, nothing happened, and I don’t want to give you any more reasons to worry—”
“I’m your brother, damn it,” he reminds me, his black brows furrowing over his flashing green eyes. “If you don’t want me to worry, you should’ve been born into a different family.”
As tight as we’ve always been, I know when my growly big brother is reaching the limits of his patience. I try not to push him past that line, but there are times—like now—when all we seem to do is cross swords.
His broad mouth flattens with his scowl. “Gabe told me you lost your purse the other day, along with your phone and wallet.”
“Of course, he told you.” I scoff, shaking my head. “I wish he hadn’t. It wasn’t his place to tell you that. And for the record, I didn’t lose anything. My purse was here in the shop the whole time.” A slight stretch of the facts, but I’m not feeling particularly charitable with them at the moment.
Andrew gives me an exasperated look. “You’re pushing yourself too much again, Evie. The boutique istaking off faster than anyone could’ve expected. I’m proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and I have no doubt this is only the beginning for you. But I don’t want to see you take on more than you can handle. I don’t want to see you burn out. And I’m saying that not only as your brother who loves you, but as your partner in this business.”
“I’m going to pay you back, Andrew.”
“Not the point.” He shakes his head. “I’m not worried about the money. This shop is yours.”
“No.” I lift my chin. “I owe you, and I’m going to pay you back as soon as possible.”
“Fuck the money.” He curses under his breath. “It’s always been my job to protect you. I failed you once. I won’t stand by and let it happen again.”
“No, Andrew. It’s never been your job.” Even though I know he’s coming from a place of love, his doubt scares me. I pull away from him, my pulse pounding in my ears. “I am not your problem to solve. And dammit, I’m not a child, either.”
The back door opens and Gabe steps back inside. There’s no masking the awkwardness of my argument with my brother, so I don’t even try. Leaving them both in my wake, I head into my office and close the door.
I work for several minutes in the solitude before a knock sounds. “Yes?”
I’m expecting one of my coworkers, or maybe my brother refusing to let go of a case he doesn’t yet consider closed. Instead, I glance up from my desk to find Gabe filling the space of the open doorway. “Beck was called away on other business, so I’m wrapping things up now and then I’ll be heading out. I took the liberty of programming a back door access code foryou.”
He steps in and places a sticky note with the four-digit number on my desk. “Okay. Thanks.”
“The panel controls the new electronic deadbolts,” he says, speaking in a calm, businesslike demeanor that only agitates me further. “As for the interior cameras and motion sensors I’ve recommended, those are on order and should be here soon. We’ll have an electrician come in next week to take a look at the utility room before we start implementing the new equipment and install the full security system.”
“Why are you telling me all of this? You report to my brother, right, Boy Scout?”
As intended, that irks him. I see the flare of irritation disrupt some of his maddening control. Scowling, he steps farther inside my office. I can’t help but notice he doesn’t ask for permission, just invades my space as if he belongs here. As if he knows I won’t turn him away.
“What’s going on, Evelyn? Have I done something to upset you?”
I lean back in my chair. I’m not sure I want to have this conversation, but for some reason having clarity means more to me than my dignity. “Last night. Why didn’t you mention that you knew about my modeling career?”
He shrugs. “It didn’t seem relevant to anything we discussed.”
I study him for a moment, looking for cracks. Looking for signs that he is anything other than what I see—a strong, stoic man. A man who’s comforting and sexy. Trustworthy.
“What else has my brother told you about me?” God, I hate how anxious my voice sounds. I dread thathe might have heard about the self-harm or the addictions, or about the months I spent in recovery from both, alternating between fighting to get better and wanting to die.
Gabe closes the door behind him and slowly shakes his head. “Beck didn’t say anything else. Only that he cares about you.”
“Was that before or after you told him I’m so incompetent and overworked that I lost my purse?”
