A Wish For Love (Gates-Cameron 2)

She opened the bedroom door, stepped through it, then stopped with a muffled shriek when a tall, dark figure suddenly loomed in front of her. She was just about to make a screaming dash for safety when she recognized the intruder.

“Bran?” she asked hoarsely. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

He blinked, looking almost as startled by her entry as she had been at finding him there. He recovered immediately, his dark face taking on that carefully reserved expression she remembered so well, despite the very brief time she’d spent with him. “I’m sorry if I frightened you.”

“You scared the hell out of me,” she replied bluntly. “You’re lucky I didn’t call the cops.”

“You probably should have,” he commented. “You’re lucky I’m not the dangerous type.”

She eyed him uncertainly, thinking of the open bedroom door behind her and wondering how long it would take her. to make it to the lock on the other side. “How do I know that you aren’t dangerous?” she asked.

“I suppose you can’t know for certain,” he conceded. “You have only my word that I have no intention of harming you.”

She felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth. “Oh, that makes me feel so much better. I suppose a true criminal would tell me right away that he had nefarious purposes.”

“An honest one would,” Bran agreed solemnly.

She laughed. And then abruptly sobered when she realized that he still hadn’t answered her questions. “What are you doing here?” she asked again.

“I, er, wanted to talk to you. About Anna,” he added.

If he’d hoped to distract her from her doubts about his reasons for being in her cottage, he succeeded.

“Anna?” she asked, staring at him in surprise. “My sister-in-law?”

He nodded. “She and I grew up together. I understand she’s away on vacation, but I was hoping you could tell me if she’s well. And happy.”

Bailey suddenly realized exactly what it was about Bran that had seemed so familiar to her when she’d first met him. He looked like Anna. So much so that he could easily be…

“You’re her brother, aren’t you?” she blurted out, covering her cheeks with her hands. “I should have realized it before. The resemblance between you and Anna is uncanny.”

“You think so?” he murmured.

“Anna mentioned she had a brother,” Bailey commented, seeing no need to add that she’d been eavesdropping at the time. “I got the impression that the two of you are estranged, and that she’s very unhappy about it. She was hoping you would try to contact her soon. You are her brother, aren’t you?”

He ran his thumb along the line of his jaw. She wondered why he always seemed to weigh his words so carefully, even in response to the simplest question.

Finally, he nodded. “I’m her brother.”

Bailey immediately got defensive, remembering the rest of the overheard conversation between Anna and Dean. “What have you got against my brother? Dean is a wonderful, loving, kindhearted man. Your sister is lucky to be married to him!”

“I’m sure she is.”

Bailey frowned. “You mean, you didn’t oppose their marriage?”

“On the contrary. I urged my sister to do whatever would make her happy.”

“Then why did Dean say that Anna was forced to choose between him and you?”

“Perhaps he simply meant that her loyalties naturally shifted to her husband when she married.”

Bailey eyed him skeptically. “I don’t think so.”

“Then I really don’t know.”

“Maybe I’ll ask him when he calls to check in. I’m sure Anna will be delighted when I tell her you’re here.”

He frowned. “I’d rather you didn’t mention seeing me. Not just yet.”