“That goes without saying,” she quipped with a smirk. “Just spit it out already.”
“I talked to Loyal earlier.”
The mention of his older brother brought forth a frown and muttered, “Explains the shitty blue shades.”
“After he finishes his current audit project with our uncle’s company in Texas, he’s moving back to Colorado. Probably in time for Christmas.”
With one hand on the counter, she braced her other on her hip. Her long, brunette curls slipped over her shoulder as she tipped her head to the right. “And I care about this why?”
He went for levity to try to ease the tension. “Well, for one, I know you have a thing for him, and two—”
“I do not have a thing for your jackass brother.”
“Sure you do,” he teased, waggling a finger in front of her face. “You’re not the only one who can intuit things.”
She batted his hand away and glared at him. “The only thing I have for Loyal is an in
tense desire to never see him again.”
Asher cringed as he ran his finger along the seam of his cup. “That might be a little difficult.”
Suspicion deepened her frown. “Why?”
“I told him he could use the second floor apartment.”
“This second floor apartment?” She jabbed a finger toward the ceiling.
“Do you know of any others I own?”
Un-amused by his light joke, she huffed out a breath as her shoulders slumped. “But why in the world would he stay here? Why not with you, or your parents? Or a hotel, for that matter?”
Asher scoffed as he slid off the counter. “He’s not going to move back home at thirty-one, Rox. And my mom would be hurt if he stayed in a hotel.”
“Fine. Then tell him to buy his own place. It’s not like he can’t afford it.”
“He will. This would only be temporary—if he even uses it at all. I just wanted to give you advance warning that it could happen. You know, in like six months. Maybe.”
She made another annoyed face, then all of a sudden her eyes widened and relief filled her expression. “This is it.”
“What?”
“This is the weird vibe from the party. I thought it was from your parents, but it was because of Loyal.” Just saying his name brought back her frown. “God, he really is a jackass.”
“You so want him,” he teased.
Her fist slammed into his bicep. “Shut. Up.”
“Ow.” He rubbed his still sore shoulder—plus, she packed a wallop.
“I mean it, Asher. There better not be another word about it out of your mouth. Ever.”
He’d been joking, but she sounded angry. Or maybe upset was the better word. He raised his left hand while using his right to draw an X over his heart in a promise of silence. Her fierce glare before she walked away had him wondering if she was protesting too much.
The joy that sparked when Loyal told him he was moving home made him realize how much he’d missed having him around the past four years. There had been a twinge of anxiety when he thought of the hostility between his brother and his best friend, but now he was left wondering if the hate Rox seemed to harbor for Loyal was hiding something else?
That worried him more than their animosity. Rox’s capacity for love would make whoever won her over a very lucky man. He wanted her to find the happiness she deserved, but Loyal was more likely to break her heart than cherish it.
Speaking of which, how would Honor handle his heart? She hadn’t used the argument about them being neighbors since their first kiss. In fact, she hadn’t used any argument against them having a relationship since their first kiss, and tomorrow they’d go to dinner and hopefully more. Would she someday admit what they had could last, or was he leaving himself wide open for a world of hurt?