Maverick flung a hand in his direction. “Youdon’t know anything about her.”
“Doyou?”
“Yes, I do. I just spent a month with her at the relocation training.”
“Then what’s her story? Why would she hop on a private jet with a couple of guys she doesn’t know from Adam?”
Maverick scratched his neck and squinted into the sky. “I’ll admit, she’s a tough nut to crack, but I’m getting somewhere with her, and I don’t want anyone to mess it up.”
The comment rubbed Richard all wrong. He stiffened, tilted his head until Maverick met his gaze. “You’re trying to stake a claim on this woman when you havenoright to.”
“Idohave a right to,” he hissed, his cheeks blotching red. “I’mthe one that brought her here, remember? Lord knows it’ll be a lot harder to make things work with someone who has no idea what we’re even doing here. I can’t go around telling everyone about our past.”
“You can’t go around tellinganyoneabout our past,” Richard corrected.
“All I know is that the more patient I am, the better shot I’m going to have. And I have been thekingof patience with her, I swear.”
“Well, I’m sure she’s worth it, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to like you back.”
Maverick shook his head, face pinched in disgust. “Man, you really are a piece of work, aren’t you? You always think you’re so much better than everyone.”
“No, but Idothink I’m the only one around here who’s in control of themselves. You guys are going to run around telling one woman after the next about our whole life history and one day you’re going to get us all killed.”
“You’re in the exact same boat as all of us. So what—you’re just planning to never tell your future wife about your past? That’s nuts.”
“I’m not planning to get married at all, actually. Somebody has to limit our liability.”
“With Ava thereisno liability,” Maverick said.
A suppressed longing stirred deep in Richard’s gut. How right Maverick was. Ava already knew their story, and oh, how Richard wanted to latch onto that tidbit and…and what? Pursue the woman his younger brother had obviously fallen head over heels for?
“You like her,” Maverick accused.
Richard’s chest flared hot with guilt. The heat threatened to climb up his neck and expose him with the same blotchy redness on Maverick’s face.
“Are we done here?” he spat, shooting a look at the engine before them. “There’s not really an issue with the truck, is there?”
Maverick’s eyes narrowed. “You like her. I knew it. And you think you can get her over me, don’t you?”
Hell yes, he did. “I just got done telling you I don’t plan to pursue anyone.”
“You think you’re better for her than me.”
“I’m done here.” Richard spun on one heel and set his sight on the house before him.
“Promise me,” Maverick blurted, desperation clinging to his tone.
Richard stopped mid-stride. His eyes clenched closed as his heart raced into a mean and achy beat.
“Promise me that you’re not going to try and take Ava from me.”
“This is ridiculous,” he muttered without bothering to look back.
“It would beridiculousif you refused to say it.”
He pinched his lips closed as memories of Maverick’s past girlfriends ran through his mind. He shouldn’t poke the bear, Richard knew it, but the irritation churning in his chest grew stronger. And it felt a whole lot better than the guilt.
“I can’t help but think back on the way you went through women back in the day.” Richard spun back to face him. “Or should I say…chicks?”
