I don’t know what it is about this girl, but she’s fucking amazing. In every way. She knew we needed Sentinel quiet. Rather than coddle him and baby talk him like most owners do when their dogs are upset, she put her emotions on the back burner and got him quiet.

Now, she’s telling me she loves me. That she’s crazy for telling me and risking screwing things up. That I need to let her decide for herself what she wants. That I need to be honest with myself about what I want.

But it’s not that easy.

“Where were you running to?” I ask and she stops talking as surprise overtakes her features.

Her brows come together over an adorable wrinkle in her forehead and she scrunches up her face a little. “Don’t you mean what am I running from?” she asks, her voice confused.

I shake my head. “You’ll tell me that when you’re ready. Or you won’t. But I’m not interested in where you came from, but where you’re going.”

To my surprise, her eyes begin to tear up a little. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me,” She says, and I feel a bit bad for her. The world has been so unkind to this girl.

“Why don’t we have some lunch?” I say as she nods. I scoop up Sentinel and set him on his feet. We head out of the office and toward home, my heart feeling lighter than it did before Sentinel forced us to work together.

He walks next to us, his tongue lolling out as he looks up at his owner with adoration. I feel like it’s the same look I’ve been giving her. Once we’re back in the house, all I can think about is where we’d left off to help Sentinel.

She’d been so sweet, bending to my will, melting under my kiss, bucking into my touch. I see her cheeks flame red and know she’s thinking about it too. We’re quiet as I start prepping lunch.

A knock at the door makes me groan internally. Who the hell would be bothering us right now?

“Want me to answer it?” Victoria asks quietly and I nod.

“Sure. I’m not expecting anyone.” But I have a feeling I know who it is.

But Victoria is feeling silly. “I did. I invited only fifty of my closest friends. Hope you don’t mind.” She heads out of the room toward the front door and I can’t resist shouting at her.

“I know you don’t have friends.”

“Jerk!” She shouts back as she opens the front door. “Oh, hi,” I hear her say in surprise and the voice that greets her is unmistakable.

“Victoria!” Emma says and I turn in time to see the woman I loved hugging the woman I love. It’s an odd feeling, knowing that Em no longer fills that spot in my heart. She’ll always keep a piece of it, perhaps, but she’s no longer the one my sun rises and sets with.

Over Victoria’s shoulder, Emma glare at me. I smile and wave. Until Kieran steps over the threshold. Instantly, I stop and stalk toward him. I don’t want that bastard in my home. He’s not welcome here.

I see Emma silently begging me to stop, but I push past her. And Victoria’s fingers link with mine. She gives a little tug and I look down at her. Her eyes lock on mine and I see her silent request. She wants me to play nice.

I guess I will. This once.

And she seems to know it. Her lips curve into a beautiful smile and she turns to Kieran, who’s watching both of us very closely. I want to tell him he’s here on her grace, so he better keep it in line, but I don’t bother.

“I was getting lunch together. Are you hungry?” I ask my brother. He elevates his chin a bit as if realizing this is the first time I’ve acknowledged him since we fought at Emma’s house and I told him what I really thought of him.

“Yes,” he says, his blue eyes locked on mine. And I see hope there. Hope that we can fix things, that we can be brothers in more than name once more.

I’m not there. But I’ll refrain from poisoning him.

I head back into the kitchen as Victoria and Emma talk about the mare. “Where’s Olivia?” I ask Kieran. I’m curious how my niece is doing. He follows me as the women walk into the living room.

“At a friend’s house,” he tells me, his eyes sparkling.

“So what’s up with you two?” He asks, and I shake my head. Victoria’s off limits for now. I have to tell her how I feel before I tell anyone else. I owe her that.

But, as Kieran stares at me, I know he knows. “Man,” he says, leaning back on the counter, “Once it happens, you’re just along for the ride, trust me. Fight all you want, but you’re screwed.” He flashes me an easy grin and I realize I missed him. We were close growing up. All three of us brothers.

And while I’ll never forgive Kieran, I can admit – to myself – that maybe he only did what he thought was right. As fucked up as it was, he was only working on his flawed perspective. And that’s the downfall of life; we’re all only doing the best we can with the limited information presented to us.

“So how are things with you and Emma?” I ask, finally able to think about it without being angry at him for ripping her away from me.

Kieran smiles. “We’ve got news,” he says softly and I arch an eyebrow at him. “I’m not supposed to tell,” he says, but I see his eyes dancing with excitement. “But brother’s honor,” He says, taking me back to us as children, sharing secrets we were told not to tell. This was how he’d told me the first time he kissed Jenny, how Sandy let him get a hand under her shirt, how he admitted he’d gone all the way with Laura.

Now, he’s just as giddy about whatever adult news he’s got, and I’m remembering a time when we trusted each other. When we’d loved each other.

“Brother’s honor,” I say softly and his grin widens.

“We’re pregnant!”