Page 97 of Nothing to No One

“Now that it is? Will he fix it?” The long, lingering silence wasn’t too encouraging. Even if Magnus wanted to fix it, how could he? How could they? “Are you sorry we left? We can go back to—”

“I’m done making choices solely in Roman’s best interests. He’s made his position clear.”

“He’s your brother and I’ll support you in anything. Don’t feel like you have to do this for me. You’re a package deal, I knew that from the start… almost the start.”

His scowl cut to her. “Regrets already?”

“No! I just…” She licked her lips, hugging her bags closer to her body. “I want to keep you, beau. I don’t want you resenting me for busting—”

“Roman’s the only one I resent. This isn’t your doing, it’s his. Things are going to change. It’s up to him if he wants to adapt or cut ties.”

She believed him. As her gaze tracked to the road he concentrated on, it sunk in. They’d broken ranks. Fled with each other. Prioritized their relationship. She’d told Roxie she wasn’t enough to change things between the brothers. That she wasn’t enough for Struan to… He was taking control of his life, hisdestiny, and asking her to be a part of whatever his future may be.

Leaning over, she stroked his powerful arm. He caught her hand to bring it to his lips. Together. They were actually together.

He kept hold of her until they got to her street and pulled up at the sidewalk.

“Stay there.”

In her seat? He hurried around the hood and opened her door for her. This wasn’t a driver doing his job. This guy wanted to take care of her, respect her.

What she wanted to do was kiss him. There on the street probably wasn’t a great idea. Not until they figured this out. When they did, would they really belong to each other?

After he looped her bags onto his shoulder, she accepted his proffered hand and kept hold when he opened the back door to grab his bag too. Anyone could see them. So far all she saw were regular people, no photographers or reporters, but what did she know? Maybe they had stealth mode.

Going inside, they went upstairs. She hadn’t been here for a—Struan had never been here. This man was used to a certain lifestyle. A level of luxury she couldn’t provide.

Trepidation crept in. “My place isn’t much,” she said, turning the key in the lock.

Struan reached around her to swing the door open and, with a hand on her waist, guided her inside.

“Roxie’s place is so much nicer and if Tripp’s there—”

The bags hit the floor and he whirled her around to catch her face in both hands. The pressure of his unexpected kiss flashed lights in her closed eyes until the pressure ebbed.

“You live here?” His question vibrated her sensitive mouth. She nodded, head still in his cradling hands. “We together?” Another nod. “Then I live here too.” That certaintycurled her dopey lips. “We’ll worry about money and where we want to be long-term later. Right now, we’re safe, that’s what counts.” Lowering his voice to a growl, he kissed her again. “And our place has a bed, doesn’t it?”

On a purr, she threaded their fingers together and guided him across the open plan living room kitchen through the opposite door… to the bedroom.

“It sure does.”

THIRTY-FOUR

MOST OF THEIR LIFE together, alone together, was spent in bed. And she would never take a second for granted.

Lying facing his profile, she scrutinized the features the world thought they knew. They didn’t. No one did. If anyone thought Struan resembled his brother, they were beyond wrong.

“You can never belong to me,” he murmured.

They’d been snoozing a while, not really sleeping, just relaxing in comforting silence.

“What?”

Even her voice was deeper, sleepier, if only they could live in that moment forever.

“You said you could never belong to me,” he said, shifting his head to meet her eye. “‘Cause the world thinks you’re with him.”

“When did I say—that first day?” In the foyer, she remembered. “It was nothing, I was hurt that you wanted me to be his.”

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