Page 164 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

“There never is with you.”

Silence settled between them again.

Finally, Ambrose set his drink aside. “This is about the conversation you mentioned, isn’t it?”

Hector said nothing.

“Children,” Ambrose prompted.

Hector rubbed a hand across his jaw. “She deserves someone better.”

Ambrose blinked. “Better than you?”

“A man who has always wanted a family.”

Ambrose let out a disbelieving laugh. “My dear fellow, she married you.”

“I know.” Hector felt his frustration rise. Why couldn’t his friend leave him alone?

“So let me understand.” Ambrose folded his arms. “Your wife tells you she’d like children someday.”

“Eventually.”

“You tell her you’ve never really considered it.”

“Yes.” Hector did not see where this was going.

“And your solution...” Ambrose gestured broadly. “...is to avoid her for an entire week?”

“It seemed preferable.”

“To whom?”

Hector frowned. “I needed time.”

“To think?”

“Yes.”

Ambrose laughed once. “You’ve had thirty-six years to think.”

“I’ve spent many of those years raising Evan.”

“Exactly.”

Hector looked away. “I don’t know how to do anything else.”

“You don’t have to stop being his brother.”

Hector spoke softly, barely able to let the words out. “It feels as though I’d be replacing him.”

Ambrose’s expression softened. “No.”

“It does.”

“You aren’t replacing anyone.”

Hector was quiet. “I built my life around protecting him.”