Page 107 of The Rebel

The room turned quiet.

“Do her brothers know about you and Rowan?” Macon asked.

“Nah.” I took out my phone and set it on the table. “There was no reason to tell them anything since once I found out who she was”—I whistled out some air—“I pushed her as far away as I could.”

“Don’t tell me that’s what you’re still doing,” Jo said softly.

I looked at my cousin and said nothing.

“Because by the way you were gazing at her, it certainly appeared like something was happening between you two,” Jo continued.

Brady pushed back his chair, but didn’t get up. “Wait. Is Jo right? Are you fucking dating her?”

“I’m figuring shit out.” My eyes left his to glance at each of their faces. “Do any of you have a problem with that?”

“Yeah, me.” My oldest brother was wearing such a scowl. “I don’t know how I feel about it.”

My hand left the armrest, and my arms crossed over my chest. “You can feel whatever you want. But it’s not going to change how I feel about her.”

“You’re honestly telling me you really like her?” Brady pushed.

I wouldn’t be able to take this moment back. Once the words were spoken, I couldn’t edit them.

But I knew the way I’d been feeling lately; the fucking monster that had been digging into my chest had everything to do with wanting to be with her and feeling like I couldn’t.

With that came anger. The lack of patience that was even worse than normal. A grumpiness that roared every time she was in my presence.

And then the night at the bar, everything changed.

She instantly brought a calm through my body.

She grounded me.

She made me consider opening the door when I’d done everything I could to keep it locked.

Fuck, I’d even gone as far as almost knocking on it.

Right before my hand touched down on the wood, I questioned if I could make it work. If I could settle the situation in my head because of the war between our families.

I didn’t know if I could.

That was why I’d walked away from her room. Forced myself to get in the elevator and go downstairs.

But while we were in the bar and she stood between my legs with her hands on my shoulders, I’d realized something important.

It didn’t fucking matter.

What mattered was us.

“Yes,” I replied. “I’m telling you that I really like her.”

“How do you think her brothers are going to react?” Jo asked carefully. “I’m worried that Rhett is going to try to eat you up and spit out your bones.”

“Cooper’s fucked because that’s exactly what Rhett’s going to do,” Brady offered.

I shrugged. “Let him try.”

Brady reached up and gripped the top of his chair. “That’s all you’re going to say? Our families somehow, someway have tobe civil enough that we can run a business together. And you’re about to light all the shit on fire.”

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