Page 62 of Tristan’s Temptation

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

Adam stilled, his beer halfway to his mouth.

Tristan sucked in a deep breath and pulled a small box from his pocket. He tossed it in his brother’s direction. Adam scrambled to catch it—amazingly not spilling a drop of beer. Shooting his brother a curious look, he opened it. He stared at the ring.

“Dude. Are you proposing to me?”

“Never mind.” Tristan leaned over to take the ring back but Adam held it out of reach.

“Never mind, my ass! What the hell is this? You bought a ring? Tristan, you’re not even seeing anyone.”

“That’s what I wanted to tell you.” He scrubbed at the pulse throbbing in his temple. It didn’t help. “I’ve been…seeing someone. And I’m in love with her.”

“What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me?” Outrage and bemusement warred in Adam’s eyes.

Tristan had to look away. “I couldn’t tell you.”

“Why the fuck not?” Adam’s nostrils flared and he sucked in an enormous breath. “Oh. Oh. Oh hell. You’ve been dating someone from the office!”

Tristan wanted to crawl into a little ball.

“Oh hell. After everything you put me through with Kat? After all that talk about your stupid little rule?”

“I know. I know. It is a stupid rule.”

“And now you just…” Adam stilled. He went a little pale around the lips. “It’s not Shannon, is it?”

Tristan blew out a breath and flopped back on the sofa. He pulled a pillow in front of him and mashed it against his chest. “Of course it’s Shannon.”

Silence hummed between them. “Tristan…” Adam’s tone was funny, strangled maybe, as though he wanted to say something but couldn’t. Or wouldn’t.

“What?”

“Shannon’s…” Still strangled. Still clipped.

“Shannon’s what?”

Adam wiped a palm over his face. “Nothing. Shannon’s great. Just great.” He tossed the ring back. “Have you told her?”

“Told her what?”

“That you love her, idiot.”

“No.”

“You should tell her.”

Tristan dropped his chin to his chest. “She’s gone AWOL.”

“You have to find her. You have to tell her before…”

“Before what?”

Adam’s lips moved but no sound came out. Then he said, “I don’t know. Before it’s too late?”

“I will. I mean, I plan to. When I see her. If I see her.”

“You better fucking figure out a way to see her.”