Page 28 of Hung Up on the Hacker

“I see.” Holt’s expression locked down, and Cash didn’t know what to do with that. He’d have been more comfortable with a beat down or shouting than this stoicism.

He found himself babbling to fill the silence, like some kind of untrained civilian. “Look, man, I love you. You’re the closest thing I’ve got to a brother. But I love her more, and if it comes down to her or you, I’m choosing her. If you need to hit me, I understand. But it won’t change anything. I’ll still be in love with her.”

His brother of the heart sucked in a breath. They both knew the weight of what Cash was saying.

“Is she in love with you?”

She hadn’t said the words, but her actions had told him in countless other ways. “God, I hope so, or that ring I bought is going to collect a lot of dust.”

The stoic mask cracked, more shock bleeding through. “You already bought a ring?”

“Yeah.” Because he didn’t think Holt was going to sucker punch him, Cash pulled the box from his pocket and flipped it open. The ruby solitaire was set in platinum and flanked by a row of small diamonds on both sides. It was strong and beautiful. Bold. Like her.

Holt scrubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “Shit. You’re serious.”

“As a heart attack.”

Cash put the ring away and shifted on the balls of his feet, opening himself wide to whatever blow was coming.

When Holt just laid a hand on his shoulder, he flinched. “I’m not going to hit you.”

“Shallow grave, then?”

He huffed a laugh. “Not that either. You’re one of the best men I know. She’d be lucky to have you. And God knows, you two know each other well enough. You’ll be good for each other.”

Cash couldn’t have heard him right. But Holt just continued to stare at him with level blue eyes.

“You’re… okay with this?”

“I mean… it’s a little weird. But you’re both grown adults. That five-year age difference hardly matters now. You have the right to make your own choices. I’m not gonna complain that two of my favorite people chose each other.”

Cash swayed a little as the starch went out of his knees. He wasn’t going to lose his brother. They hadn’t destroyed their little family by getting romantically involved. None of it was going to be the big upset either of them was worried about. Cash just hoped that remained true if and when Holt found out about the pregnancy.

Holt pulled him in for a back-thumping hug and grinned. “So, when are you gonna give her the ring?”

The moment Hadley woke to find the room empty, she knew. Cash had gone to talk to her brother. Alone.

Shit!

This wasn’t what they’d discussed, but evidently, after today, he’d deemed a solo confrontation worth the risk.

Scrambling out of bed, she fought through the dregs of a coma-level nap to find her jeans. She’d go after him. Maybe she could still get there in time to minimize the damage. She nearly took a header into the desk as she hopped her way into her jeans. Shoes. Where the hell were her shoes? She scanned the floor, certain she’d kicked them off by the bed. At last, she found them tucked neatly under the luggage rack, no doubt placed there by Mr. Neat himself before he went to face execution. Hadley dove for them, dragging one bootie on. The other was in her hand when the door opened.

“Cash!”

Abandoning the other shoe, she flew to him, checking him over for injuries, searching for bruises or blood.

One corner of his mouth kicked up as he wrapped his arms around her. “Hi. I’m happy to see you, too.”

His short, dark beard rasped against her palms when she framed his face. “You’re not hurt.” Her brain was busy trying to catch up to what her eyes were telling her.

“I’m not.”

With a long, slow exhale, she slumped against him. “I thought you went to talk to Holt.”

“Oh, no—I did. I told him about us.”

“And you’re still walking?”

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