Page 67 of Billionaire Unforgettable: Tanner

“Fine,” I finally conceded. “But I’m here if you ever want to talk about it.”

He swallowed the last of his burger before he replied, “There’s nothing to talk about. I think we need to get your love life straightened out before anyone worries about the one I’ll never have. What’s your plan with Hannah? I care about her, and I don’t want to see you mess up this second chance.”

“I won’t,” I assured him.

“What would you do if she started to date someone else?” he asked. “It’s not like she’s not free to do that right now. You’re treating her like one of your buddies, and you haven’t spoken up about exactly what you want.”

I ground my teeth and tamped down the urge to throttle my younger brother.

He was trying to get to me.

And it was working.

“That. Won’t. Happen.”

Devon shrugged. “It could. Hannah is a beautiful, talented woman. Everyone in Crytal Fork adores her now. Hell, she just did a free makeover and haircut for Lisa Thompson a few days ago because Lisa was sick for a while. I heard through the gossip channels that Lisa wants to fix Hannah up with her single brother now.”

“Not. Happening,” I growled.

Devon raised a brow. “You think not? There’s a gorgeous single woman in town, and the single guys are noticing her, Tanner. You know how things are here. The whole town wants to play matchmaker when they see a single woman that they accept as one of their own.”

“I don’t see Hannah accepting a date with Marvin Thompson,” I said tersely. “Or anyone else in this town for that matter.”

I had nothing against Marvin or any of the single guys in Crystal Fork, but Hannah was fucking mine. Any single guy in this town would have to be crazy to touch a woman who was already mine.

“What?” Devon said with irritating innocence. “Do you think everyone knows that you want Hannah? Sure, there’s speculation because everyone in Crystal Fork loves to speculate, but nobody really knows, and you two act like you’re just friends.”

The thought of some man asking her out and actually laying a hand on Hannah made my blood pressure spike.

I slammed my fist down on the table. “I’d destroy the first man who lays a hand on her,” I said in a guttural voice.

Devon sent me a satisfied grin. “Now you sound more like the older brother I know.”

“Are you trying to piss me off?” I asked gruffly.

He shook his head. “No. I’m trying to get you to shake off your fear of losing Hannah and make you realize that you can’t lose someone who’s not yours…yet. Make your move, bro, or somebody else might beat you to it. Crystal Fork might have given up on hooking us up, but they’re going to try to find a match for Hannah. And you know the matchmakers can be relentless. Hannah doesn’t have to agree to the date. The busybodies will make sure she’s in the right place at the right time to ‘run into’ whoever they’re trying to set her up with. They’ve done it a million time to both of us in the past.”

Fuck!He was right. This town had written the Remington brothers off as hopeless a long time ago, but I knew the way those matchmakers operated. I’d been manipulated into having dinner with more daughters, nieces, and friends than I could count in the past.

And Hannah was too damn nice to leave an awkward situation.

“I hear you,” I acknowledged. “I’ll warn her in case she’s forgotten how persistent the matchmakers in this town can be.”

Everyone had started to accept Hannah as one of their own, and they’d hound her until they found a ‘nice guy’ for her.

Devon nodded. “I’d definitely warn her, and make your intentions known, even if it has to be subtle for now. I know how important Hannah is to you, Tanner. Let everyone else know, especially her. You’re not going to scare her off.”

I cocked a brow. “How do you know that?”

“Hannah doesn’t scare that easily, and she feels the same way you do,” he stated simply. “I think you’re both just afraid to be the first one to admit it.”

“I’m not afraid to tell her how I feel,” I argued. “I’m just not sure she’s ready to hear it. I basically left the ball in her court, and I’m not sure where she stands right at the moment.”

“You’ll never know until you try,” Devon reminded me. “I’m not saying you have to marry her tomorrow, but put yourself out of your misery and tell her the truth. Tell her you’re losing it. This whole friendship and business partner thing is making you half crazy.”

“Is it really that obvious?” I asked reluctantly.

Devon pushed his empty plate away and picked up his water. “Probably not to everyone, but you’re my brother. I know you, and I make it my business to make sure that you’re happy. I know you’re happy having Hannah back in your life, but I know your frustration when I see it, and I hate that for you. Especially when I know it could be easily resolved. Just rip the Band-Aid off and do it, Tanner. It’s not going to get any easier. The uncertainty of this situation is killing you.”

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