Page 47 of One Wild Wedding Weekend

“About whether I want to buy Lieberman and Dunn, for one. As CEO, I could walk away whenever I wanted to. But if I’m the owner...” He trailed off, fearing he sounded like a spoiled prick.

John reached in the cooler, grabbed a beer and handed it over. “Deep breaths, buddy. No one can make you do anything. You took this job as an act of love. That doesn’t mean it has to tie you up forever. It’s not too late for med school.”

Tristan snorted. “Yeah. It kinda is. Who would even let me in? I’d be forty before I was done. No, it’s not that. I made my peace years ago with not becoming a doctor. I’m good at what I do. It may not be rocket science or saving the world, but it’s the life I’ve chosen.”

“Then what’s the problem?” John frowned, staring at his brother as if trying to solve a puzzle. Slowly, his gaze sharpened. “This is about Daley, isn’t it?”

Tristan hunched his shoulders, kicking a life jacket that had spilled out of the locker. “Maybe.”

John stood and eased the throttle into gear, backing them away from shore. The steady drift could be treacherous. Best to stay in deep water.

Then he grabbed a bag of chips and opened it. “I’m guessing there’s more to this relationship than you’ve let on to me and Tabby. Right?”

Tristan didn’t like discussing Daley behind her back. It seemed disloyal. But John was his brother, and he trusted him. “You could say that. But it’s not a relationship. We’ve both agreed we aren’t interested in anything permanent.”

“Apparently, the sex is incredible. Otherwise, you’d never be in such a tizzy.”

“I’m not in a tizzy,” Tristan grumbled. His brother knew how to push his buttons. “The problem is, Harold complicated things when he brought Daley’s ad agency under the L&D umbrella. Right now, I can keep my distance. But if I’m the owner of the company, the dynamics get uncomfortable.”

“Do you have feelings for her?” John asked quietly.

Tristan suddenly realized the limitations of a boat. Nowhere to pace. “No. Yes. I don’t know.” He ran his hands through his sweat-dampened hair. “She doesn’t trust men very much. So I don’t know how often she’s dated—even though she’s six years older than your new wife.”

“Tabby says Daley has a habit of picking jerks.”

“Ouch,” Tristan muttered, his pride stung.

“She wasn’t talking about you.” He paused, his brow furrowed. “At least I don’t think so. I never told her about the wedding tryst.”

“Listen to you...using fancy words like tryst.”

John wasn’t bothered by his brother’s sarcasm. “Maybe Daley told her the truth. I leaned on her to do that very thing.”

“Then I imagine she did. Those two women are close.”

“Closer than close. Sometimes I think they have some weird twin-like connection. It’s uncanny.”

The sun hung low on the horizon. Soon, they would have to head for the dock. The fish weren’t biting.

Tristan knew this was his chance. He cleared his throat. “If I start something with her and it goes south, work isn’t the only problem. You and Tabby could get caught in the middle. And honestly, I don’t know how good I’d be as a boyfriend.”

John’s gaze seemed to see through Tristan. Painfully. “Why would you say that? I think you’re a decent chap.” He grinned, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

“I’m used to going my own way,” Tristan said. “I’m stubborn. I’m probably selfish. And hell, John, I don’t know how to do any of that romantic stuff women like.”

“That doesn’t explain why you’ve never slept alone unless you want to. You’re a hunk, Tristan. Even I can see that. You give off this aura of danger and bad-boy vibes. I don’t know if you do it on purpose, but it seems to work.”

Tristan sank down on the cushioned bench and dropped his head in his hands. “I’m so screwed. And FYI, you’re not helping.”

“What do you want me to say? I don’t know what Daley sees in you. I don’t even know if she has any interest in you aside from your body. But damn, man, take a shot if you want to. As soon as Harold gives you the all-clear, tell Daley the truth. Surely the two of you can come up with ground rules for the office.”

Tristan nodded slowly. “I guess.” He thought back to earlier this week when Daley showed up at his house. Had her gesture been motivated by simple kindness, or was she as drawn to him as he was to her?

Maybe neither of them had wanted or expected this. Maybe it was nothing but sex. But Tristan had to find out.

He frowned suddenly. “Wait a minute. I thought you wanted me to stay away from her. You were afraid of upsetting your wife.”

John shrugged. “So sue me. I changed my mind. Any woman who can tie you up in knots is a woman who might be a keeper. Tabby and I have talked about your situation. She basically told me to mind my own business because Daley is a mature, sensible woman who can make her own decisions.”

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