Forever Winter

“Not happening. Cory is my—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” he snaps. “He’s not your fiancé anymore.”

“I was going to say ‘best friend.’” I roll my eyes and pull my sweater on over my head. Even when on edge, Robert still ogles me while I get dressed. Once again I want to be annoyed with him, but I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit it made me feel sexy. I’m not used to that feeling. It’s never been something I’ve tried to pull off. Half the time my clothes are covered in paint. I’m always in yoga pants and sweaters except when I have to work. I will not miss the uniform from the diner if what Robert said was true. I clench my thighs together thinking about the possessive tone he’d told me that in.

“Angel,” Robert growls, making me flush because I know he can tell I just got turned on. He reads me easily for the short time we have truly known each other. It makes me think it’s because we were meant to be.

“Sorry.”

He holds his hand out for me to take. I slip mine into his as he guides me from the room. I think Cory is going to be outside, but he’s not. It’s not until we are downstairs and walk into Robert’s office that I see him pacing back and forth. His head snaps up as we enter.

“In the trash? Really?” He’s holding the ring box he gave me. By ‘giving it to me,’ I mean he left it on the kitchen counter the day after he talked about us getting married in name only.

“I didn’t throw it away,” I tell him. I try and take a step towards him, but Robert pulls me back to his side. I wouldn’t throw the ring away. I would give it back to him. Heck, I tried to give it back already.

“I know you didn’t throw it away.” His eyes cut to Robert, who shrugs. He doesn’t care that he threw the ring out or that he clearly went through my stuff.

“The only ring she’ll wear will be mine.” He says it so casually. I jerk my head over to look at him. Sure we talked about living together but not marriage. Maybe he’s talking about the future—hypotheticals and what ifs.

Cory is speechless for a moment. Seconds tick by and I wonder if I should say something, but I don’t want to get in the middle of two brothers.

“It was you. That night. The man who took advantage of her,” he finally says, putting things together.

I open my mouth to defend Robert. He didn’t take advantage of me. I was more than willing that night, but Robert beats me to it.

“I didn’t take advantage of her. I took what was mine. Unlike you, brother. You had her for years and didn’t claim her. I only needed to see her to know she belongs to be.” My eyes water at his sweet words. “I don’t want this to come between us. I love her and I’m not giving her back to you. I think in time you’ll see you didn’t love her as you should have or you would have had her married and tied to you long ago.”

Cory brings his hand to his face and rubs his eyes. “Did I fall asleep at the wheel? Am I really in a coma right now?” he mutters. He turns around for a moment, giving us his back while shaking his head. He turns back around to look at us.

“I didn’t know he was your brother,” I admit. I don’t want Cory to think I misled him in some way.

“Doesn’t matter,” Robert growls.

Cory actually cocks a half smile. “This why you’ve been a bigger asshole then normal for the last four months?” Cory asks him. “I’d been wondering what the hell you hired a PI for. You lost her that night, didn’t you?” he laughs. “When mom made you go to the hospital.”

“It’s not fucking funny.” Robert takes a step towards Cory, letting me go and stepping in front of me. I grab him by the arm.

“It kinda is, seeing as if you talked to me a little more I could have told you where she was,” Cory tosses back.

“You’d just hand her over to me? Not even fight for your fiancée?” I can’t tell if this pisses Robert off or not. I peek around him. Cory is full-on smiling.

“Cause you’d fight for her?”

“What I’m doing right now,” Robert throws back instantly.

“She is mine, too, Bo.” Robert tries to rush Cory. I pull on his arm, shouting his name. He stops and looks down at me.

“Angel. You can’t be getting worked up. Maybe you should go back to our room while my brother and I get this straightened out.” His voice completely changes when he addresses me. He even reaches up and cups my face.