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Cold filled Gavin’s gut He’d known ht did his younger brother have to throw this shit in his face? He ht have started the relationship with Nikki with the best of intentions, but the ood sex

He’d never intended to marry her, never been in love with her He hadn’t even cared when she’d threatened to kill herself

Do what you have to, Nikki

His own cold words echoed in his brain All he needed to keep him away from Hannah was to think about the past He didn’t deserve another chance after Nikki’s demise And especially not after what had happened to…

Gavin didn’t dare finish the thought Instead, he turned to his brother, eager to strike back It was the only way to end his constant beating at Gavin’s well-built defenses "Hannah is a lovely girl, Slade I aotten between her legs If you want to , but she’s not for ine , but she wouldn’t last a minute with societyHannah, but e and kids?" He scoffed "I can’t possibly build a life with her" A little gasp from the doorway froze Gavin’s heart He turned, and Hannah stood in the hallway, Dex by her side She earing a robe that couldn’t quite conceal the gorgeous bounty of her breasts Dex’s ar her to hiht, Gavin couldn’t mistake his hard eyes and furious snarl

But Gavin couldn’t take it back, no matter how much it hurt to cause Hannah pain It was better this way They were all better off without him He could plainly see that if he didn’t end their hope now, they would never stop hounding hiht be cowardly, but heHannah than know the truth Perhaps one day, when they were older, they’d forgive hiive what he’d done to Nikki

"I ah his heart wrenched "I didn’t intend to hurt you"

Her lips tre emotion Pride obviously won because her chin ca I can hold reat wife You won’t find a woman ould have been a betterfor is someone to keep your social calendar and look pretty at coest you find another admin, Mr James"

God, he’d planted the knife in his own chest, but with her words, she’d just turned it But that was for the best, too

She turned her face up to Dex’s "I think I lost o to bed Could we do that?"

Dex didn’t hesitate He pulled her closer, his big ar her froo on Slade and I will be down in a minute" He kissed her forehead, and she walked down the hall, as regal as any princess She was right She would make a hell of a wife Now, he would never marry because the only woman he wanted was one he could never have

The instant Hannah walked around the corner, Dex turned on him His fists were balls of fury Slade stepped between theht provide some s with Hannah’s face haunting his dreams

"You’re a despicable son of a bitch," Dex snarled his way

"You’re surprised?" Gavin tossed back He felt like burning down everything So, uilt

"Shut up," Slade snapped at hiest brother’s chest to prevent a pending assault "Dex, he didn’tforto grate on Gavin No matter what he did or said, Slade si I said Hannah is fine, but e, and I can’t take a little country girl as irl who has a coood for you"

Dex paused His arht That disappointed Gavin

"Slade’s right You’re full of shit I know you love that wo?" Dex de he wanted was Dex checking into the past Slade would wait, never i fro

"I’ I’ve stated plainly that I don’t want a relationship with Hannah" Dex glared at him "You don’t want to e, right? Well then explain this to me, Gavin As Black Oak’s CEO, there isn’t a woman more involved in your life or your business than your secretary You’ve allowed Hannah to plan your parties, act as your hostess She’s always handled herself perfectly You’ve said it yourself So don’t give me this crap She’s practically been your wife in every way but one Now you find fault with her? There’s so on, and I intend to find out what it is Do you want to save me the trouble?"

"Fuck off, Dex And stay out of ed

Slade slapped a hand to Gavin’s chest to ward hilanced Dex’s way "Let’s go and take care of Hannah, brother Gavin has so clean because I think he’s definitely hiding so If he is, we’ll find it And there will be hell to pay"

In silent unison, Dex and Slade strode toward the bedroo

Gavin flipped off the lights again and slumped down into the nearest chair, coging into Nikki’s death He could handle rehashing it; he did that nearly every day in his head But he couldn’t handle their censure, their disgust, when they learned the truth Fuck, noto lose his brothers He’d already lost Hannah He wouldn’t have her cheery ser could he fool hi that someday he’d find a way to be with her

That dream was over

It was always over It was over theup the phone and left Nikki to die