More Than Hate You (More Than Words)

“He’s fooling himself.”

“Absolutely. He so badly wants Shane to be a good man that he’s trying to talk himself into it. No amount of me saying otherwise makes a damn bit of difference. I think he’s convinced I’m trying to usurp Shane to gain power by talking trash.”

“The hell you are.” And I’ll prove it soon.

“Or that I’m jealous and trying to tear him down to get ahead.” She shrugs. “Whatever.”

She acts like this doesn’t matter to her, but I’m not buying it. Sloan can be tough as nails, but she has feelings, and they run deep. I know it hurts her every day to work for the man who fathered her but refuses to even notice her, no matter what a stellar job she’s done.

I set down my fork and take her hand. “You’re amazing, and he doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

“Yeah? Then again, you’re comparing me to Shane. That bar isn’t very high,” she quips and tries to pull free.

I hold her tighter. “Don’t push me away with snark. I mean what I said. You’re head-and-shoulders better than ninety-nine percent of people I’ve worked with. Your dedication and drive are admirable. I really respect that.” Then I sigh. “And you’re better offspring than I am. I can’t even tell you the last time I called my mother. Christmas, maybe? You try your best every day to earn your father’s notice. I’ve been so absent as a son, I think my mother finally gave up on me. My sisters, too.”

It’s been well over two years since I went back home, and the only reason anyone in my family knows I’ve moved to Maui is because I included them in a mass email with friends and acquaintances, advising everyone of my new address.

“I’d give anything to have family like yours. No one else has my back.”

She’s right, and I’m vaguely ashamed that I’ve allowed myself to drift so far from the people who should matter most to me. “Do you want your own family someday?”

Sloan swallows and washes her chicken down with a sip of Cab. “You mean have kids?”

“And a husband, yeah.”

“Eventually. I haven’t thought about it too much.”

I frown. “Because you want to be more established in your career first?”

“No. I can juggle. I just haven’t dated anyone I thought was worth marrying.”

“Fair enough.” I know from experience the dating pool can be really shallow.

“What about you? Why isn’t there a Mrs. Shaw already?”

“It’s complicated. Let’s just say I fell for someone once and it didn’t end well.”

“I’m sorry.”

I snap my gaze from my plate to her face, but there’s no snark. She means that. “Thanks. It sucked.”

“Where is she now?”

“Dead. Car accident.” I toss back half my wine.

Empathy softens her shocked expression. “That must have been rough.”

“One of the worst days of my life.”

Finally, she squeezes my hand back. “We didn’t meet under the best circumstances. We’re rivals. But I’m sorry you went through something so tragic.”

“I appreciate that, but it’s in the past. I’ve come to terms with it.”

“Do you want to do the whole wife-and-kids thing someday?”

“Absolutely. Soon.” I smooth my thumb across her knuckles.

With an uncomfortable clearing of her throat, she pulls away and stands. “Well, good luck. I’m going to be a horrible hostess and leave you with the dishes so I can go to bed. Pillows and blankets are in the hall closet. Help yourself. Good night.”