“I’m going to swing by in a little while. Do you need anything?”
What he needed was for his parents to forget the name Emma. His brother wouldn’t be able to help with that, even if he tried.
“I don’t need anything, but tell me what in the hell you and Cici told Mom and Dad about Emma. They are all over me about her.”
After a couple of beats of silence, his brother broke into full-blown laughter.
“What’s so funny? What did you say?” Cap asked.
A tinge of anger sifted through him at the thought that his brother would say anything about his relationships or women to their parents, since he knew how much Mom rode him about settling down.
“I didn’t have to say anything. You said enough while working your way out of the anesthesia.”
Fear gripped his spine. What had he divulged? And why the hell hadn’t Hunter informed him? Brothers were supposed to unite, protect and save each other, weren’t they?
Cap drew in a long breath and let it out, then he braced himself for what was to come.
“What did I say?”
“It wasn’t too bad, but enough to let everyone know how much you care for Emma. You asked about her a few times and mumbled a lot about how worried you were. When you got a little more coherent, you asked me to look after her if something happened to you. For the record, I promised I would. I’m that kind of brother, you know,” Hunter said with a laugh.
“Dammit.”
His brother laughed again. “Then you know the conversation we all had when you fully woke. I’m pretty sure Mom started planning your wedding in her head.”
“Shit.”
“Cap, why is this so bad?”
“I take it none of you read the letter Emma left for me.”
“I can’t believe you’d even think we would.”
Like Dad had been, his brother was offended.
“She’s confused and needs time to sort things out. She specifically asked me to not come after her, and she blames herself for my getting hurt. Also, she apologized for dragging me right back into the dangerous, law enforcement life I left.”
He intentionally held back on the love part and had to work hard to keep emotion out of his tone.
“So, she’s worried about you?”
“I guess.”
“And nowhere in that letter did she mention anything about love?”
Cap swallowed audibly.
“So, she did,” his brother stated with a hint of enthusiasm.
His non-answer answered the question.
“Since you’re older than me, you’re supposed to be wiser, but you need to let me help you out here…go get her.”
“I’m not cleared for driving.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“I’ll be ready.”
