Romancing the Bachelor (A Hamilton Family 2)

He bit back a second denial.

It would only sound forced.

But what if Brett was right? What if Eric loved Shelby? He’d never been a believer in that emotion, but he’d never thought he would want to be in a relationship, either, let alone a long-distance one. Clearing his throat, he forced his thoughts back to Brett’s problem. It was safer. “Ask my sister to marry you. Stop waiting for the perfect moment—make it perfect instead.”

“When are you going to ask Shelby to be your long-distance girlfriend?”

“Probably during sex, since I’m not very romantic and she’ll be blinded by pleasure.” Eric frowned. “Which is something you don’t do with my sister, so come up with your own plan.”

Brett rolled his eyes. “Sure we don’t. I just braid her hair and watch movies with her.”

“Exactly.” He walked backward into the revolving door. “Just do it.”

“I will,” Brett said, raising a hand. “Thanks, man.”

As Eric walked toward the elevators, he thought about what Brett had said. Was he right? Was this feeling he had for Shelby, this warm, good, fuzzy feeling in his heart, love?

Was he even capable of that type of emotion?

He’d told himself he wouldn’t let himself fall for her, but what if he’d fallen for her in that elevator, the second she told him she didn’t like him, and he’d never gotten back up.

Maybe there was no way he could.

The doors opened, and he stepped into the elevator, ignoring the urge to run. He could run, but it wouldn’t change anything. He’d fallen for Shelby Jefferson, and nothing would change that. Besides, he wasn’t a runner. He was a fucking fighter, and he’d fight for what they had.

She had to feel it, too.

This couldn’t be one-sided.

The doors opened, and he walked toward her apartment. As he neared, he saw her door was

cracked and slowed his steps. She didn’t know he was coming by, since he had been expecting to work until eight, so why had she left it open? As he got closer, he heard two voices.

Shelby’s…and a man’s.

He froze, one foot in midair.

“So you’d be leaving on the fifth, correct?” the man asked. “For…Texas?”

The fifth? That was less than a week away.

What the fuck?

“Yes,” Shelby answered. “Is that too soon? I found out I’d be leaving two weeks ago, but I kind of put off calling for a mover until the last minute.”

“It shouldn’t be a problem. We had a cancellation.”

She’d known she was leaving for two weeks, and she hadn’t even told him?

“Great. What time would you guys show up to pack it all?” she asked.

“First thing in the morning.” A small silence, and then: “How many bedrooms?”

“Just the one.”

The man made an approving sound. “So two people live here?”

“No. Just me.”