Page 66 of A Kiss at Midnight

“And do you like scaring women and children?”

“I’m not trying to scare Jewel.” I don’t like how this conversation is going. It’s not at all what I was expecting.

“Whether you’re trying to or not, you scared her. She’s already alone and desperate, so she certainly doesn’t need to be afraid too,” Tyler says. Some of his irritation seems to evaporate as he moves to the couch and sits.

This shames me more than I’ll ever admit. “I’m good to Jewel,” I say in my own defense.

“If she’s only with you out of desperation, that’s not being good to her, Blake. You have to earn someone’s love and trust, not demand it.”

“I don’t need her love or trust. I just need her.” I’m not willing to delve into my emotions... not even with myself, let alone with my brother. This isn’t going to turn into a bonding moment for the two of us where we can hug, sayI love you, man, and sing campfire songs.

“Don’t trap her if you don’t care. Help her, then let her go,” Tyler tells me. “Give her back her brother — you have the power to do it — and let them be free.”

“Things are complicated. I can’t let her go.”

“Then I’ll step in and help her,” Tyler says. “Nothing complicated about it.”

The threat comes as a total shock. I stare at my brother, wondering whether I’ve been wrong to think Tyler won’t mess with my woman. The look on his face isn’t love, though... it’s compassion and generosity. He came across a woman who needs protection, and he feels compelled to give it to her. It’s simply who Tyler is.

“This really isn’t your business, Tyler.”

Tyler’s about to say something, but his mouth closes, and he leans back, his brows wrinkled. He stares at me for so long it makes me shift in my seat, something that never happens.I’mthe one who makesothers blink, not the other way around.

“Do you love her, Blake?”

“No!” I practically shout this monosyllable before I calm myself. “No, I don’t love her. I just don’t want to let her go. I have my reasons.”

“And you’ll use a child to bribe her into staying with you, even when she can’t stand the sight of you?” Tyler asks. This hits below the belt.

“I promise you she wants me just as much as I want her.”

“That isn’t the impression I got from her today. She seems depressed, defeated, and out of options. Do you really want her to be with you because you’re her last resort?”

I sit back and think about my time with Jewel, and the month of agony without her. Yes, our time together has been relatively short, but during our time apart I thought of no other woman but her... something that’s never happened before.

“She and Iwillmarry, Tyler. It’s not as if that has to lock us together for life. But if I marry her, she’ll easily get custody of her brother... and I get her.” I try to infuse arrogance into my voice, but I’ve failed.

“You’re nothing but show right now — do you know that?” Tyler says, and then he laughs. His laugh gets beneath my skin far more than the lecture he’s giving me.

“What in the hell are you talking about, Tyler?”

“You won’t admit it — hard to believe — but it’s clear you care about her. Are you afraid of tellingmehow you feel, or are you afraid of tellingyourself?”

“I’m afraid of no one,” I snap.

“Why not date the woman properly instead of making her feel cheap?”

“Jewel’s the one who put herself in this situation,” I remind my brother. “Shecame tome.”

“You know perfectly well she had no choice. She’ll do anything for her brother, just as I’d do anything for you and Byron.”

“And I’ll doanythingto be with her.”

“What does that mean?” Tyler asks “You’ll do anything to have sex with her?”

“It’s more than sex. It’s something so powerful you can’t possibly comprehend it, little brother.”

“Just because it’s great sex doesn’t mean you have the right to take it when it’s not offered freely.”

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