Page 8 of Dante
"If you weren't my sister, I would propose right now." He put the bags on the neat and tidy counter. "I picked up some things you did not include. Fruits, milk..." He took a step back when she turned and lanced him with a look that bored holes.
"I'm surprised you had time to go to the store. What with the busy day you had."
"If you mean the paperwork, then yes, it was a bitch. But hey, anything for my sis, right?"
"Michael called."
He figured it was in his best interest to start putting away the groceries.
"Yeah?" He took out the milk and opened the fridge door. "What did he want?"
"To complain to me about you barging to his place of work and issuing threats."
"It was the parking lot. The guy is a lying piece of crap."
"Caleb!"
"What?" He slammed the fridge door shut and whirled to face her. "I had to confront him."
Putting the spoon she had been using to stir the sauce, she propped her fists on her hips, eyes blazing.
"You promised to leave him alone."
"I promised no such thing." Shoving the canned tomato sauce into the pantry, he shoved his hands inside the bag and grabbed things at random. "The son of a bitch was waltzing out with his new squeeze. Like it was business as usual."
"I don't care." Ignoring the painful clutch in her heart, Courtney turned to start on the salad. "He made his position clear enough. And it was humiliating for my brother to confront him. It makes me look pathetic."
"He knocked you up and just moved on."
The crack in her heart widened. Taking it out on the Romaine, she sliced quickly and avoided his eyes.
"I'm aware. I'm the one in the situation."
He paused in the act of putting away the grapes and stared at her. Whenever her voice took that icy note, he knew she was trying to cover up intense hurt.
"Court..." The slamming down of the knife had him jolting.
He was about to cross to her, when she anticipated his move and held up a hand. The tears glittering in her beautiful eyes had his heart simply squeezing inside his chest.
His sister was not one to use tears. Not even when they had endured countless atrocities at that awful group home, she had been brave and determined to shed no tears. Seeing the look of vulnerability destroyed him.
"I don't need you fighting my battles for me. I am a grown ass woman who made the mistake of hooking up with an asshole, a spineless jerk. I have accepted it. I need my brother to support me, not to..." She waved a hand. "To be a fricking knight in shining armor and riding off on a white horse to save the damsel in distress. I will get through this. I will have my baby and ride out the storm."
She resumed cutting vegetables, blinking back the tears. And stiffened when he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Let go."
"No." Brushing back her short, cropped hair, he kissed the top of her head. "I am an ass. An effing moron and not worthy to be called your brother." He grinned when she sniffed, her shoulders relaxing.
"You got that right."
He turned her to face him. Lifting a hand, he whisked the tear trickling down her cheek.
"I'm sorry. I was so bent on being the big brother, that I did not think."
"Okay, fine." She moved into his arms and closed her eyes. "Fine. We're going to be fine."
"Oh, count on it."
