‘But you signed it and you don’t want her to go.’
‘I didn’t say that.’ Sam took another sip of his beer. He’d known it would be a mistake to come out with his brothers straight after his altercation with Ruby, but they hadn’t exactly given him a choice. After he’d stormed out of Ruby’s office he’d found both brothers at the bank of lifts, waiting for him. Having just flown down from Brisbane, Dante had met with Tino and they’d descended on Sam with the express purpose of taking him for a drink. He’d told them that he wasn’t fit company for anyone right now and that had sealed his fate. Of course they had wanted to know why.
Now he was in the same pub that he’d met Ruby in two years ago, propping up the bar and forced to fill his brothers in on what had happened, and so far they weren’t happy with the abridged version.
‘Didn’t have to say it,’ Dante said, lobbing a peanut into his mouth. ‘You wouldn’t be upset at signing it if you’d wanted to.’
‘Thanks for the analysis, Dr Freud. Can we move on now?’ Sam could feel himself getting more and more riled by his thickheaded older brothers, and if they weren’t careful he’d bite.
‘Dante’s right,’ Tino put in. ‘If you wanted to sign it, you’d be fine with it.’
‘Do either of you idiots realise how close I am to taking this conversation outside? With the both of you?’
‘Could be fun,’ Dante said. ‘Like old times.’
‘We could mess up his pretty face,’ Tino agreed.
‘Look who’s talking, Boy Racer,’ Sam muttered, calling Tino by Miller’s pet name for him.
‘Trying to get personal, junior?’ Tino laughed.
‘Trying to get you to shut up,’ Sam griped.
‘Oh, man,’ Tino said softly. ‘You’re in trouble, aren’t you?’
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ Sam said testily.
‘Neither do I,’ Dante drawled.
‘He’s in love.’
‘In love?’ Dante looked aghast. ‘Not possible.’
‘He’s also still here,’ Sam grumbled. ‘And I’m not in love.’ Why give his brothers more ammunition than they already had? ‘I’m annoyed that I’m losing a good lawyer. One of the best in the firm to a place...to a place that’s about as exciting as having your nails done.’
‘Most women enjoy having their nails done,’ Dante pointed out.
‘Shut up, D.’ Sam growled darkly. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about. The fact is why would she want to go anywhere else when everything she needs is right here?’
‘Hell.’ Dante gave Tino a look. ‘I think you’re right.’
‘Dammit, you two. I already feel enough of a fool without either of you rubbing my face in it.’
Tino and Dante stared at him without speaking and he knew that both of them had the patience to wait him out. Well, Dante did; Tino’s patience depended on his mood.
Finally Sam sighed. ‘Okay, I’m in love with her. There. Happy? Can we move on now?’
‘Sure,’ Dante said, offering him a sympathetic grimace. ‘I’d want to move on too if it were me.’
Only Sam realised that he wasn’t ready to move on after all. ‘You know, the stupid thing is that before this happened I was going to call you,’ he told Tino. ‘Ask you for advice.’
‘You were going to call Tino for advice?’ Dante’s expression was almost comical. ‘I know more about women than he ever will.’
‘Knowing more women than I do doesn’t mean that you know more about them,’ Tino corrected. ‘What did you want to know?’
‘Doesn’t matter now.’ Sam raised his glass to his lips, only to find it empty. ‘The moment’s passed. For good.’
Dante signalled the bartender. ‘Another round. Or two. I have a feeling we’re going to need a lot more alcohol to get through this.’
‘Of course it matters,’ Tino said. ‘You need a plan to win her back.’
‘Or another beer.’ Dante pushed a fresh glass in front of him. ‘Here, have this one.’