That probably would never change, even if he never really saw her anymore.

“I’ve missed you. I wish you came back sometimes.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Are you really busy?”

“Yes,” he said, his voice soft. “Why would I lie about that?”

She let out a little puff of air. “I don’t know. Maybe this place brings back bad memories. Memories of…you know.”

“No. I don’t. It’s just a town, like any other.”

Her eyes caught on to his and didn’t let go, but then she shrugged and headed down the hallway. “If you say so.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, he followed her, shoving his hands into his pockets. When Anna stopped and knocked on a door, he stepped back to wait. The door opened, and a pretty brunette with green eyes stood there smiling. She looked at Anna first, then closed in on Brett. She stared at him for a few seconds, and then her eyes lit up. “Oh, you must be Brett!”

“I am.” He held his hand out, but she ignored it and hugged him close. “Oof.”

He’d have to get used to hugging again.

Life as a recluse CEO didn’t really allow for such things.

The brunette stepped back, still smiling. “I’m Nina, and I’m so happy to meet you. You’re cute. The way Chris talked about you as a kid, I was expecting…”

“A scrawny nerd?” he supplied helpfully.

She pointed at him. “Kind of, yes!”

He laughed, not sure what to say to that, because he had been a scrawny nerd.

She looked him up and down. “And then, on the opposite side of the spectrum, when Anna described you, I thought for sure she was exaggerating because she had that big crush—”

“Is that Chris calling you, Brett?” Anna interrupted, her cheeks red. “I think I hear him.”

Nina rolled her eyes. “That man…”

“I think I heard him, too,” Brett said. He smiled at Nina and took a backward step. “It was lovely meeting you,” he said to the bride before turning to Anna. She was doing it again. Staring at him like he was a king. And for the first time ever, he kind of liked it. Fuck me. Forcing his smile to remain in place, he added, “And, as always, it was great seeing you again, Twinkletoes.”

Her cheeks flushed pink. “I’ll see you at dinner. I think we’re seated next to each other.”

Close. Together. The whole time.

Shit.

“Great. That’s…great,” he said, still smiling.

And then he did what any sensible man would do when faced with unknown and unwanted feelings for his best friend’s little sister.

He got the fuck outta there.

Chapter Two

Later that night, Anna stood by her chair, staring at the place card next to hers. Earlier in the day, she’d made sure to put Brett next to her for dinner, but on second thought…maybe she shouldn’t have been quite so enthusiastic to be near him again. Heck, earlier when he had squeezed her hand, he’d pulled away like she was contaminated and looked at her like she’d drooled on her chin or something.

She glowered down at the place card. Craaaapppp. Why had she thought drawing a perfect little heart in the upper left corner of the card was a good idea? With that there, how was she supposed to sit next to him throughout dinner and act like she didn’t know he knew she was half in love with him? Maybe it wasn’t too late to switch his seat…after she gave him a new card minus a heart. She reached for his card, but as soon as her fingers closed around it, she sensed him behind her.

Son of a…

“Whatcha doing?” he asked.

“Nothing.” She hugged the piece of paper close to her chest and turned to face him. “Why?”

“You’re hiding something.” He pointed at her hand. “What is it?”

Damn him and his eagle eyes. “Your…uh…place card.” She forced a smile. “It’s…uh…spelled wrong. Totally wrong.”

Smooth, Anna. Real smooth.

He raised a brow. “‘Brett Ross’ is spelled wrong?”

Why couldn’t he have a harder name to spell? “Yep. Mom’s been really stressed out with all this wedding stuff.” She sent a silent apology to her mother for making her the scapegoat. “I’ll get rid of it. She’d feel horrible about the error.”

Brett held out his hand. “Oh. Okay. Just give it to me, then. I’ll shove it in my pocket so she doesn’t see.”

“No. I have it. It’s fine.” She stepped back from him even more, but her back hit the chair. She had nowhere else to go. “I’ll hide it in my pocket.”

Tags: Diane Alberts A Hamilton Family Billionaire Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net