Dane placed his finger over her lips, cutting off her words. “You’re going to rest. That’s all you need to do right now. Nothing can be done about the resort or Ruiz right this minute. Just let me care for you.”
Tears continued to slide down her cheeks. Stella swatted at them. “I’m not weak,” she defended.
Dane framed her face with his hands and forced her attention on him. “Baby, I never thought you were. You just got the wind knocked out of you. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
Stella lifted one foot, then the other for him to remove her boots. When he straightened back up, Stella rested her head against his chest and inhaled that masculine, woodsy scent she’d come to associate with Dane.
“Why haven’t you left yet?” she muttered.
She thought he murmured something about “not being done” but she wasn’t sure and she was too tired to ask him to repeat it. All that mattered was that he was there and she knew he would stay for as long as she needed.
Fifteen
“I’ll wrap up a few things and then be right there,” Dane explained. “I’ve verbally secured the deal. I need to get back to the ranch and finalize the sale, then I’ll pack a bag.”
Ethan gripped the cell as he stood on the balcony of his penthouse resort room, overlooking the ocean. He glanced over his shoulder to the owner of the red bikini he’d met on the beach. She’d been in his bed since.
Harper. Her name was Harper and she had been filling his time and keeping him relaxed while he waited on Robert to get to the island. He hadn’t planned on finding the distraction, but there was no way in hell he was turning her down.
“Leave the flannels at home,” Ethan replied, turning his attention back to the view of the beach. “Do you even own swim trunks?”
“I’m not coming to work on my tan,” Dane growled. “We’re halfway to our goal. Do you think you can stay focused?”
Memories of the past few days and the curvy woman in his bed flashed through his mind in vivid detail.
“Oh, I’m focused.”
Dane let out a sigh. “I’m going to the ranch later today. I’ll text you when I’m on my way to Sunset Cove.”
Something in his brother’s tone had Ethan turning back to make sure the patio door was closed. He crossed the balcony and took a seat on the club chair.
“You don’t sound near as thrilled as I thought you’d be.”
“I finally have Mirage,” Dane muttered. “What more could I want?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”
The line went silent and Ethan waited. He stared out at the horizon as the sun started creeping up. A new day, and another step closer to finalizing their goals.
So why was Dane so...monotone?
“It’s the manager, isn’t it?” Ethan guessed. “Is there something going on there?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
Ethan clenched his teeth, but ultimately decided he was done being pushed aside.
“I’ve worried about you every single day since Mom died,” he stated. “You might have dealt with grief your own way, but I needed you. Damn it. Don’t push me out now.”
More silence and Ethan wondered if he’d gone too far, revealed too much. He was human and sometimes those emotions just came out. He wasn’t sorry he’d finally said something, but he was sorr
y that this conversation was over the phone.
“I’m not pushing you out,” Dane finally said. “Not on purpose anyway. I’m just... Let me get things wrapped up here. This isn’t all about the resorts. It’s about us.”
For the first time in nearly two decades, Ethan had a blossom of hope that he and Dane could get back to where they’d been before their world got ripped to shreds.
“I’ve got a room booked for you,” Ethan assured him. “See you soon. And, Dane? Great job getting your resort. Mom would be proud.”