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53
The cowboy moved a pace closer to Hannah and set his hand on her shoulder.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think the bastard was going to lean down and kiss her.
But before his lips got anywhere near hers, I’d fly off this fucking stool and demolish his mouth.
“Wouldn’t you agree with me, Jenner?”
“Yes,” Jenner said, laughing. “I’m in full agreement.”
I turned toward the guys. “What are you talking about?”
Walter lifted his tumbler off the table and held it against his chest. “You.”
“What about me?”
Walter laughed. “Kids these days. They think us old folks are so out of the loop, except we see everything.” He nodded toward Jenner. “That one was no different, you know. He thought I was clueless, thought I had no idea what was happening between him and my daughter.”
Jenner sighed. “Turns out, what happens in Vegas doesn’t really stay in Vegas, especially if you’re sleeping in one of Walter’s hotels.” He smiled. “But, you know, us kids-as you call us-aren’t so blind either, Walter.”
Walter’s brows rose. “Oh yeah? How so?”
Jenner wrapped his hand around his drink. “You think we can’t see what’s happening between you and Gloria.”
“I’m lost,” I admitted.
Jenner looked at me. “Brett’s mother is Gloria Young. My parents represented her in her divorce. The second the ink dried, Gloria and Walter started spending a lot of time together.”
“Merely speculation,” Walter said. “We’re just friends.”
“Bullshit,” Jenner bit back. “According to Jo, she’s never seen you happier since Gloria’s divorce became final.”
Walter tipped his head at me. “A coincidence of timing. Nothing more.”
Jenner shrugged. “Maybe. But isn’t it ironic that Gloria found someone to run her bakery in Miami and now divides her time between LA and Park City, but hasn’t rented or purchased a home in either location? So, that makes me wonder, where is she staying when she’s in those cities, Walter?” Jenner addressed me and said, “I need to mention that Gloria has now opened a bakery in LA in addition to the one she has in Walter’s Park City hotel.”
Walter smiled and glanced at his hands. “Well, looks like you have things all figured out, don’t you?”
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
Walter was quiet, finally saying, “All right, all right. I’ll admit, things are moving along quite nicely between us.” He paused. “But this conversation is about Declan, not me.”
Fuck.
I had hoped things weren’t going to circle back. The two of them had been on such a roll.
“No, no, we’re not discussing me.” I stretched my arms out above my head. “And no disrespect to you, Walter, but you have it all wrong.”
“Are you sure about that?” Jenner asked.
I ground my teeth together. “Yes.”
“Then, why does it look like you’re about to pummel the cowboy Hannah’s talking to right now?” Walter asked.
My jaw unclenched as I turned toward her, grinding right back together when I saw that the cowboy hadn’t removed his hand from her shoulder.
“You have something you want to tell me?” Jenner said.
My stare returned to him. “No.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Fuck me.
“Listen …” I had to force myself not to look at Hannah, so I didn’t give off any more signs. But as I stared at Jenner, his expression was demanding the truth. As my friend, did he deserve that? As my boss, was I thinking like a fucking fool? “Goddamn it … I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, son. It’s clear as day.” Walter gripped my arm. “Women are the best things that have ever happened to us, wouldn’t you agree?”
I didn’t dare nod my head.
Jenner crossed his arms over his chest. “Has something happened between you and Hannah?”
The second Walter’s hand left my arm, my fingers went to my hair, running through both sides. “Jesus Christ, how did this get turned on me?” I lifted the glass up to my lips, realizing there was nothing in there but ice. “I’m done with this conversation.”
“Oh, no,” Jenner said, “we’re only just beginning.”
I released a long, deep breath. “What do you want me to say, Jenner?”
“How about you start with the truth?”
My head dropped, his gaze far too strong. But if I was going to come clean, he deserved to be looked in the eyes, so I glanced up and said, “Yes, things have happened between us, but”-my hand went up as his eyes widened-“in my defense, I didn’t know she was your cousin at the time. I didn’t know she was a Dalton until she walked into my office the day she became my intern. Why do you think I was so persistent in trying to reassign her?” I waited for Jenner to respond, and when he didn’t, I added, “Your brother warned me, more or less telling me to stay the fuck away from her. I’m trying, man. I’m fucking trying.”
Had I really been trying?
Hell, I didn’t know.
“Which brother?” Jenner asked.
What kind of question was that?
“Does it matter?”
“Yes, Declan, it matters.”
“It was Dominick. Why?”
His stare shifted to Hannah before he replied, “She’s the closest to Ford. If he were the one who had warned you, I would look at this a little differently.”
Now, I knew Ford’s opinion was the strongest of the three. I wondered if she had confided in him about what had happened between us. Ford had given me no indication that he knew anything, but would he?
This was all getting in my head far too much.
“Differently how?” I asked.
His head tipped back and forth like a pendulum. “Dominick takes the fatherly approach. I’m not surprised he warned your ass. But Ford’s approach is more like the best-friend role, and you know girls and their best friends and how much weight they hold.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“Let me see if I have this straight.” I licked my lips, craving another drink. “You’re saying if Ford didn’t approve, then you’d agree with Dominick, and you’d want me to back off?”
“Basically.”
“Fuck, I’m not a dog, Jenner.”
His brows rose. “You’re not?”
I looked at Walter, and he laughed. “So, I might have a reputation when it comes to women but …” My thoughts were all over the place. I needed to reel this in, stay neutral, and not let a single emotion escape. “I respect you three far too much to play her.”
But, goddamn it, isn’t that what I’ve been doing?