Page 41 of The Wrong Husband
We stare at each other.
My brother’s features grow soft. “I know, you can take care of yourself. But that doesn’t mean I can stop worrying about you, despite the fact you’ve always known what you wanted. Hell, when I returned from being in the Marines and floundered around, trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, I was jealous of you."
"Of me?" I gape.
"Of how focused you were. How you were intent on becoming a doctor, and on your own steam. I wished I had half as much of an idea of where I was headed."
My older brother has always been so confident. When he joined the Royal Marines, my admiration for him escalated. A decade later, when he took early retirement, I know he struggled with fitting back into civilian life. I was surprised when he decided to open a restaurant, but I figured he’d discovered a passion for food. He made it look so easy when his restaurant was a success. He captured the popular imagination in no time. I didn’t realize how difficult this journey must have been for him.
I fight against the empathy that overwhelms me.
"Are you telling me this in the hope I’ll forgive you for your overbearing, overprotective, getting him”—I jerk my thumb in Connor’s direction—“to watch over me, bullshit.”
I scowl at him.
"I needed space. Surely, I’m allowed that?”
"Of course, you are. But you can’t blame us for wanting to make sure you were okay. Especially since, none of us could get through to you."
"Yeah." I hunch my shoulders. He’s making good points. And it was I who didn’t keep in touch with anyone. The fact that my family noticed I had dropped out of sight? It reinforces the fact that I’m not alone.
Emotions squeeze my chest and must show on my face, for James’ features soften.
"Hey, I didn’t mean for you to get upset. And if you felt like your privacy was infringed upon, I take responsibility for that." He goes down on his haunches in front of me. "Either way, it brought you to my restaurant, so it was worth it. Again, I'm sorry, Sis, if I overstepped, butyou!”He rises to his full height and rounds on Connor. "Is this what you meant when you said you were going to reveal yourself? Because this doesn't look like the end of a mission, it looks like a date. With my little sister. What the hell?"
“Wait, what? You messaged him?” I turn on Connor.
“When I realized I was planning to ask you out for dinner, I reached out to James and told him I was going to tell you everything.” He says this without taking his gaze off of James’ face. "Why don’t you take a seat, James. I think there’s something we need to tell you."
Ooh, here it comes. This is going to be good. I lean back and prepare to watch how Connor’s going to handle this one.
James’ nostrils flare.
"We?" He looks from Connor to me, then back to Connor. “What do you meanwe?”Not sure what he sees on our faces, but his jaw tightens.
My brother was always perceptive. It’s what saved his life in the Marines, and he hasn’t lost any of that ability to read the room.
A nerve pops at his temple. "No fucking way," he growls.
"Why don’t you sit down?" Connor’s voice is unperturbed. He kicks out a chair.
James ignores it. "What the fuck are you up to, Davenport?"
"I just asked your sister to marry me."
For the second time in the last half an hour, I’m struck speechless. This man… Will he never cease to amaze me? Also, it’s stupid of him to tell James that. I count back from ten, nine, eight, seven—my brother reaches forward and grabs Connor by his collar.
"I told you to keep an eye on her, arsehole. You took advantage of my trust."
"Actually, I didn’t. Nothing’s happened between us. In fact, take this as my way of asking you for permission to court your sister."
"Court?" James blinks.
Permission? What the hell? Who is this guy?
"It’s like going on a date, but with the intention of finding a life partner?" Connor drawls.
"You’re looking to marry my sister?" James snaps.
