That was what bothered him. Not that he’d been a part of the family for so long, but that Reilly probably didn’t understand his reason for putting the brakes on. He needed her to understand. Which was why he was here. He wanted to explain, to ensure she didn’t hate him. He wanted her. There was no denying that. But it felt like crossing a line, and he didn’t want to be that guy. He didn’t want to take advantage of the sweetest woman he’d ever known. He hoped if he explained it that way, they could move past this and still be friends.
As he pulled up to the barn, he frowned. Donovan was here? Why? Had Reilly called him? Was she that pissed at Brady that she would call her brother to … to what? Give him grief over Brady’s decision?
Shit.
He parked behind Donovan’s truck and considered turning around and going home. The last thing he wanted was to get into an argument over right and wrong with those two. He’d witnessed a few of their knock-down drag-outs over the years, and simply put, he would prefer to be anywhere else when those two got into a shouting match.
“Fuck me,” he grumbled as he turned off the SUV.
If those two were arguing because of him, it was his responsibility to set them straight.
He opened his door and got out, closing the door as he glanced at the land that backed up to a quiet neighborhood. It wasn’t always quiet. In fact, it had become one of the more popular areas in town, the section of town where the younger Millennials of Coyote Ridge were congregating as they plotted to take over the world. At least, that was the running joke because some of those youngsters were stepping up to the plate where the town was concerned.
Brady grinned. At what point had he considered anyone a youngster? When had he gotten that fucking old? He wasn’t quite forty. Not for another year. It wasn’t like he was over the hill or some shit.
Taking a deep breath, he headed up the porch to the house, bypassing the enormous inflatable snowman and the tiny wire reindeer beside it. The large porch had been decked out for the holidays, draped in garland and lights. There was even a small Christmas tree with colorful twinkling lights. On either side of it were rocking chairs where he imagined Reilly and Tate sat when they were drinking coffee or maybe at night with a glass of wine. He could picture them there. Those two certainly were a pair.
That gave him pause. Damn near all her life, Reilly and Tate had been … well, for lack of a better word, they’d been together. Not romantically, he knew, but inseparable all the same. What would happen if he did want a relationship with her? Would he have to fight Tate for her time? Brady was too old to do that.
He wasn’t looking for some long, drawn-out relationship. He wanted a woman he could spend the rest of his life with, and since he wasn’t getting any younger, the next woman he brought to his bed, he intended to keep there for eternity. That was the reason he’d avoided dating for the past couple of years. Yeah, he’d dated a few women during that time, but no one who’d held his interest long enough to make it past a first date. He wasn’t opposed to it. Not in the least, but he didn’t look forward to it either. Getting to know someone over dinner and drinks, finding out whether they had anything in common or were even compatible, sounded worse than spending his nights alone.
With Reilly, he wouldn’t have to worry about that. He knew everything there was to know about her. And vice versa. Mostly. But Reilly was only twenty-three. She was too young to settle down, right? Brady didn’t even know how she felt about marriage or kids. Did she want either? Both? When?
Before ringing the doorbell, he glanced at his watch to ensure it wasn’t too late to be dropping by. It wasn’t quite ten, so he figured it was still socially acceptable. As for whether Reilly would want to see him or not … that was something else entirely.
Brady pressed the button on the fancy doorbell with the camera in it and took several steps back, waiting patiently. He had to wonder whether Reilly was inside watching him on her phone.
He was about to press it again when the door opened and Reilly appeared. Her dark hair was in a messy pile on top of her head, her face scrubbed clean, and a pair of headphones curled around her neck as though she’d taken them off to deal with him. She was no longer wearing the dick-hardening skirt and boots. What shewaswearing wasn’t much better. A pair of cotton shorts, an oversized sweatshirt that hung off one shoulder, and slippers that looked very much like the boots she had on earlier.
Christ Almighty. The woman was going to give him a heart attack.
“What?” she asked, holding the door as she stared back at him.
“Can we talk?”
Her eyebrows lifted slowly. “I’m pretty sure you said everything you needed to say earlier.”
“Come on, Reilly.”
She glanced back into the house. “It’s not a good time.”
“I know Donovan’s here. If you two are arguing—”
Reilly huffed a laugh. “You think my brother’s here for me?” She tapped the headphones. “Oh, no. He’s here enjoyin’ himself with mybest friend.”
Brady frowned as he tried to process what she was saying. Donovan and Tate? Since when?
“You don’t see me gettin’ all butthurt over that, do you?” she snapped. “But hey. I’m evolved. I believe people should be allowed to make their own decisions.” She gripped the door and stepped back. “I’ll see you around, Brady.”
Before she could shut the door in his face, he put his hand on the wood. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him.
He couldn’t walk away from her. He should have. That was a given. But he couldn’t.
From somewhere in the house, Brady heard a loud grunt followed by laughter. Donovan’s laughter.
Jesus.
Reilly rolled her eyes and reached for her headphones. “If you don’t mind, I need to drown out the sound or—”
