I don’t speak a single word. There’s nothing for me to defend here and I’m sure as hell not going to apologize for what he just saw. Instead, I stand there, waiting for him to connect the dots. It takes less than thirty seconds for him to speak.
“You’re in love with her,” he finally says, his voice low as he tilts his head to the side.
There’s no sense in lying to him.
I roll my lips between my teeth, bobbing my head. “I am.”
He falls silent, his jaw flexing slightly. He blows out a breath. “For how long?”
My throat bobs and I swallow hard. “For a while.”
He inhales deeply. “This isn’t just a…” He waves his hand, releasing the breath. “A moment or a phase or something, is it?”
“No,” I admit, shaking my head. “It’s not.”
His eyes fall to the floor for a second. “You know, you could have told me,” he says softly, his eyes flashing back to mine.“When you took her to dinner, you could have told me there was more behind it.”
“There wasn’t at that time,” I admit, my voice low. “I didn’t want to say anything to you until I knew she was ready for this. Until I knew she was ready for something more with me.”
He stares at me for a moment, studying me before he finally nods. His movements are slower and he lets out another breath. “I’m not mad,” he admits. “I’m honestly not even surprised by it.”
I blink twice. “You’re not?” This isn’t the reaction I expected.
“No,” he says, shaking his head as he pushes away from the counter. “I see the way you look at her. You’re the only guy I would trust with her. You’re not stupid enough to mess her up.” He pauses. “Or that little girl.”
Emotion catches in my throat and I force it away. “I don’t wanna screw any of this up.” I pause, swallowing over the lump. “I’m letting Ella lead. I’m letting her decide how far she wants to take things and how quickly.”
Wyatt’s eyes search mine. “You haven’t told her, have you?”
My heart pounds in my chest. “No, not yet.”
“Don’t wait too long,” he says, giving me one last searching look. He closes the distance between us, clasping his hand around my bicep. “You never know how much time you have.”
There’s a heaviness in his tone and I know he’s thinking about their parents.
“I plan on telling her when she’s ready to hear it.”
Wyatt slowly nods. “Good. I trust you to do right by her, and by Chloe.” The corners of his mouth twitch. “You have my blessing.”
“Thanks, Wy.”
“Sure,” he says, releasing my bicep before slapping it. “Just know, I’ll burn your ranch to the ground if you break her heart.”
He lets out a chuckle and I laugh along with him, but I don’t miss the darkness in his eyes. Wyatt means it. Those two are the only real family he has left and even though he doesn’t live close by anymore, he’ll still protect Ella and Chloe in whatever way he has to.
Wyatt leaves without another word, heading into the dining room to Ella and Chloe. I follow after him and Ella’s gaze immediately flashes to mine.
I give her a smile, a gentle tip of my chin, and watch as her expression visibility relaxes.
She has nothing to worry about, just like her brother…
CHAPTER THIRTY
ELLA
Cole and I stand on the front porch, waving to my brother as he climbs into his truck for his journey home. Cole’s hand lingers against my lower back and I revel in the way he feels here with me.
In a way, he’s still the same kind and gentle boy I remember growing up, but in other ways, he’s different. He’s grown into an admirable man. Strong and solid, loyal and dedicated.
