“That she’d pick you over me?”
“I’ve known her longer.”
“What you mean to say is that you’velovedher longer.”
Rafe’s eyebrow twitched—as though to say,of course.
Well, Holt had news for him.
“As far as her heart’s concerned, I loved her first. From the moment I saw her, I’ve been there, Rafe. I didn’t push her away and pretend not to have feelings for her.”
“I never claimed to be perfect,” Rafe snapped. “I don’t deserve her.”
Holt shook his head. “If I thought that was merely you feeling sorry for yourself, Iwouldpunch you in the face. Goddammit. If I had to guess, you ask for absolutely nothing and expect even less. Can’t you just accept that there are people who love you?”
“You mean Bailey?”
“Not only her, Rafe. Your brother loves you. I figure your brother-in-law also loves you.”
Rafe’s eyes narrowed.
“And me,” Holt snarled. “You need me to say it, I’ll say it. I love you. Does that make you feel any fucking better because it does nothing for me? I know you don’t feel the same, goddammit. But it’s out there now. I. Fucking. Love. You.”
“That’s not even possible,” Rafe countered, standing tall and crossing his arms over his chest. “One night? You don’t love someone after one fuckin’ night.”
“One night?” Holt barked a laugh. “You think I fell in love with you the night I fucked you? Jesus, you’re dense.”
“Fuck you.”
“It was all the days and nights that led up to that, Rafe.” Holt stepped forward. “We had an entire summer together. Maybe we didn’t fuck like rabbits all that time, but sex doesn’t equate to love. I didn’t fall in love with you because I enjoyed fucking you.”
Holt could tell he’d surprised Rafe with that statement. He moved closer, not stopping until they were toe to toe.
“But I did enjoy fucking you,” he whispered. “And you can pretend all day long, but I know you enjoyed it, too.”
Rafe’s gaze shifted away from his face, but Holt wasn’t letting him ignore him this time.
He gripped Rafe’s jaw, not surprised when Rafe attempted to jerk away. But Holt held firm, keeping him there.
“It was incredible. I haven’t been with a man since then,” he admitted.
Rafe’s eyes snapped to his face.
“It’s true,” Holt said softly. “I’ve relived that night again and again in my head, but I’ve never tried to recreate it. I knew it would be pointless. It’s you I want, Rafe. You and Bailey … if I can have both of you, my life’ll be complete.”
“Both of us?” Rafe’s incredulity practically dripped from the words.
Holt nodded.
Rafe jerked back. “Are you fuckin’ serious?”
Damn right, he was. And he wasn’t ashamed to admit it.
“As a goddamn heart attack.”
***
Rafe couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
