Romancing the Bachelor (A Hamilton Family 2)

She didn’t want to leave anymore.

What she had with Eric was special, the type of thing that you only found once in a lifetime, and she didn’t want to walk away from it. That was why she hadn’t told him about the job. Deep down, she already knew she didn’t want to take it. She wanted to stay here.

With him.

He was a man who would never hold her successes against her, a man who she could trust to keep his word when he said something to her, and that was invaluable. But the main reason she didn’t want to leave him wasn’t logical at all. It was a matter of the heart.

Despite her promises, she’d gone and fallen in love with him. She’d planned on telling him that tonight, but then he didn’t show up.

Where was he? She paced back to the door again, opening it and searching the hallway as if she expected him to pop up and shout, ha-ha, I got you!

He didn’t.

Squinting toward the elevator, she spotted what looked like a wrapped bouquet of red roses with baby’s breath. Pretty generic, sure, but they were her favorite, and why would someone throw away a perfectly good bunch of flowers? She walked toward them, dread filling her heart as she got closer. As she reached out for them, the elevator doors opened, scaring her half to death.

She leaped back, pressing a hand to her heart, and gasped, taking it all in.

Shiny black shoes. Black pants. A light-green dress shirt that was halfway undone. A striped green and black tie that was pulled loosely around a muscular neck she would recognize anywhere. He was as breathtakingly handsome as always, but that wasn’t what took the breath out of her lungs. His cheeks were flushed, and he was being supported by another man because he couldn’t stand on his own. He stumbled forward a little bit, then came into the hallway, blinking like he didn’t know where the heck he was. A man was with him, one she recognized just as easily as Wyatt Hamilton, starting quarterback of the Saviors…and Eric’s brother.

He supported Eric’s weight, grunting when he almost hit the floor. “Jesus, man, stand straight.”

“I am,” Eric slurred, grinning slightly.

So that was why he hadn’t called her. He’d been out with his brother. Relief hit her, followed by amusement at how far gone he was. Apparently, he couldn’t keep up with the star athlete.

Clearing her throat, she prepared to introduce herself.

Wyatt looked up, locked eyes with her, and froze. He held a hand up, struggling to keep Eric upright. “I love fans, I do. Right now isn’t a good time, though. I have to help my brother. Next time, okay?”

“I don’t want your autograph. I want him.” She hesitated. “Is Eric okay?”

“You know him?” Wyatt asked in relief. “Thank God. I haven’t been to his place in years, and I don’t remember what number his apartment is. Is this even his floor?”

Eric looked at her, stiffening. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.”

Wyatt glanced at his brother, then her, understanding dawning. “You’re her?”

Wait. He’d told his brother about her?

If so, why was he looking at her like she was a monster, instead of the woman his brother was dating? Hesitating, she held her hand out. “Hi. I’m Shelby Jefferson. Nice to meet you.”

Wyatt stared at her hand for a second, then reached out and shook it. He let go immediately. “Yeah. Likewise. Anyway, his apartment?”

“It’s over here, but if you want you can put him in my apartment. I’ll take care of him.”

Wyatt hesitated. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. He’s pretty—”

“No.” Eric straightened, looking a heck of a lot soberer than he had moments before. “Absolutely not. Don’t put me in there, Wyatt.”

“I won’t,” Wyatt said, his voice softening.

Her heart twisted. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to be with you,” Eric said flatly, his jaw harder even than the way he looked at her. “Clearly.”

She reared back, pain piercing her chest.

His nostrils flared at her shocked silence, and he looked at her like she was nothing. Nobody. “Go home, Shelby.”