Page 52 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

I didn’t wait for him to offer. I hugged my brother and closed my eyes.

“Sis, what’s going on?”

“It’s just been a long night, and I wanted to see my big brother,” I lied with a wide smile.

“Uh…huh.” He pulled back and studied me.

Nathaniel glanced between Goran and me as if hoping one of us would tell him the truth.

“I’m serious. Dad has gone full caveman, and I don’t want to go home tonight.”

Or ever.

“Can I stay here for a night or two?”

“Sure. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. Savannah’s still trying to get the kids to bed, but she should be out soon. Cutter’s been wound like an eight-day clock all day, and Chloe has decided she wants to be a rockstar and wail to the gods.”

I smiled wide as Nathaniel talked about my niece and nephew. He had changed so much since having children, but in the best way possible.

“I guess this means I don’t need to meet you later,” Nathaniel sait to Goran. “Just as well, the shipment I’ve been expecting is late. We can talk about that later. Either of you want a drink?”

“Nothing for me,” I said.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” Goran said. Nathaniel turned back toward the counter.

Goran stepped up beside me, his shoulder softly brushing mine as we walked deeper into the pretty kitchen. I forced myself to ignore the contact, but all I wanted to do was lean into him.

Nathaniel poured Goran two fingers and set the glass down. His eyes questioned everything, but he didn’t ask. No pressure. Just an open door. I appreciated it more than I could ever put into words.

“Thanks for letting me stay.”

I pulled out my phone and was shocked not to find twenty messages waiting for me. Slipping off my heels, I let them dangle from my fingers as I walked to the large window overlooking the beach. It was the same view Goran had at his place, but Nathaniel didn’t have the private cove.

“You sure you’re okay, sis? I’m happy to kill anyone you want. My quota of dead bodies has gone down since the kids, so this gives me an excuse, and I’m all in.”

I flashed him a million-dollar smile. “See, this is why you’re my favorite brother.”

“Don’t tell Titus that.” Nathaniel laughed.

“Seriously, I’m always okay,” I said, aiming for cool and unaffected. “Just a lot on my mind with the upcoming Pan Am qualifier. And the ballet tonight sucked. That guy Dad wants me to marry is an arrogant jerk. No, thank you.”

Nathaniel didn’t smile back. He didn’t need to see bruises to know something was wrong. He cataloged what wasn’t being said and filed it away for later.

I licked my lips. “Mind if I crash? I’m pretty beat, actually.”

“Not at all. You know where the spare room is.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll ask Savannah to leave you some pajamas.”

Walking up to my brother, his onyx eyes were so dark tonight that he could have played the part of a demon. The only problem was that his heart was too kind. Rising onto my toes, I kissed his cheek and squeezed his arm.

“I owe you,” I whispered, then walked down the hall. I paused once I was out of sight. I hoped Goran would talk to Nathaniel tonight.

“Can we talk tomorrow,” Goran asked. “There are a few things we need to discuss.”

My ears perked, and I leaned toward their voices.