Page 87 of Forbidden Love

“She went to college and got away from the family dynamics. She wasn’t the youngest anymore, the one who needed to be protected or coddled. She was her own person. Then she studied abroad and fell in love with the freedom.”

“We thought she didn’t want anything to do with the lodge,” Xander said, as if comparing everything he’d known to be true with what I’d said.

“Did you ask her? I realize she never said anything, but from her perspective, no one offered her a position when she majored in hotel management and hospitality.”

Oliver rubbed the back of his neck. “She worked for a five-star hotel in Paris. It was nothing like what we ran here. But I can see how she might have felt left out, slighted even. I feel awful that she didn’t feel like she fit in with us.”

It was partly her parents’ fault, too, for being so involved in the business that raising Kylie was more of an afterthought. “She was lonely.”

“I hate that she felt like that,” Xander said.

“You stopped any relationship before it could happen.” I wasn’t that upset about her brothers keeping her from assholes.

“That doesn’t excuse what you did. I asked you to protect her from guys like us.”

“Not exactly. You asked me to protect her, and I did. I’d do anything for her.” If I still had the chance.

Oliver raised a brow. “You really do love her.”

I nodded. “I realize that this might ruin our friendship going forward, but she’s the one who matters. She needs someone who will put her first, and that’s me—if she’ll still have me.” I’d let her walk away. I wouldn’t make that mistake again. I’d spend every day making her feel wanted and loved.

Xander met his brothers’ gazes, and they must have come to some understanding without saying it out loud because he faced me and said, “If you’re what she wants, then we’ll back off.”

Eli stepped forward. “But if you hurt her—”

“I already did that by not telling her that Xander asked me to watch out for her. I need to talk to her, to tell her how much she means to me because I haven’t.” I’d told her brothers I loved her before I told her. I hoped she’d forgive me for that and every other mistake I’d made in our relationship. I’d be a lucky man if she’d give me another chance.

“We never wanted Kylie to end up with one of our friends. We didn’t think any of the guys we hung out with were good enough. But that’s when we were kids—” Eli broke off and looked to his brothers for support.

“If you make her happy, then you’re good for her,” Xander finally admitted, and Oliver nodded.

“That means a lot.” I didn’t need their approval, but I wanted it, and I knew Kylie did too.

I made a move for the door, needing to get to Kylie. I’d already waited too long to seek her out.

Xander stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “I’m not saying we don’t have our eye on you.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

With one last measured look, I turned and walked away, confident I’d done all I could to mend things with Kylie’s brothers. Now I needed to make sure she was okay. There was a good possibility she wouldn’t forgive me for what Xander had asked me to do, and I failed to tell her.

I’d broken her trust. I needed to show her, from this point forward, we were a team. Her brothers didn’t get a say in our relationship. Not anymore.

* * *

Kylie’s rental car wasn’t in the driveway of her cabin. I knocked on the door, hoping she was there, but knowing in my heart she wasn’t. Would she have left and not told me?

I sat on the porch and ran a hand through my hair. Where could she be? Where did I start? I knew I needed to send her a message or even call her, but what if she didn’t answer? What if I was too late? What if I’d hurt her in a way we’d never recover from?

The satisfaction I’d gotten from speaking to her brothers this afternoon dissipated like water on a hot day.

The rumble of a truck over the stone lane lifted my hopes. I didn’t recognize the vehicle until the doors opened and Kylie’s parents got out.

I stood as they approached, aware that these people could be my future in-laws. If I was lucky.

Her mother’s face was full of sympathy. “She had a flight to catch.”

“She left,” I said, the words stunningly final.

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