Only a Millionaire (The Sinclairs #6.5)(14)

“Fuck! How in the hell do you know what I fantasize about?” Xander was getting on my nerves.

“Been there myself, remember? Once you have that kind of connection with the right woman, you can’t let her go. Not that I’m all that sure I could have let go of Sam even without that connection, but having sex with Brooke obviously changed things for you.”

I grunted. “So now you’re the love doctor? Just because you were lucky enough to get Sam to marry you?”

“It wasn’t luck,” he explained. “She loves me.”

“I’m not sure I understand why,” I answered, feeling surly. “You’re irritating as hell.”

Xander grinned. “You know you love getting my advice.”

I gave him a dirty look, and then focused on putting coffee into my body as soon as possible. I gulped the rest of the mug, and then stood up to get another one.

“It’s just physical,” I told him, wishing I hadn’t mentioned that I had slept with Brooke. Xander could be relentless when he wanted to be.

“If you had said that a year ago, I would have told you that nothing else existed except the physical. But I have Sam now, and I know all about wanting more. Take your shot, Liam, or you’re going to regret it. You’ll always wonder what could have been.”

“Shit! Don’t you think I know that? I want to think she’d be happier staying here, but her entire life is in California.”

Xander got up and stood directly in front of me when I turned around with another mug of coffee. “Look, man. In all seriousness, I don’t want to see you fuck up your life. I’ve seen the way you are with Brooke. I can tell she feels the same way. I don’t know what the deal is with the boyfriend, but she cares about you. You need to make her want to stay, because your life is going to suck without her.”

“I don’t want her to stay because I’m somehow coercing her to live in Maine.” What I really wanted was for Brooke to stay because she wanted to be here . . . with me.

“You’re here. She does want to stay. I can tell that she feels the same way that you do. Sometimes it’s easier to see the obvious as an outsider. If you’re personally involved, you can’t see shit. Your head is up your ass.”

I put my coffee down on the counter and crossed my arms in front of me. “So what do you suggest I do, Doctor?”

One love affair gone right and he thought he was an expert? Although I did have to admit that I hoped his view from the outside looking in was accurate.

“Let her know how you feel. She’s probably experiencing the same things you are at the moment. The thing she wants the most is you. Let her know that you want her.”

“I’ve already gotten laid,” I admitted irritably.

Xander raised his eyebrows. “Then maybe you should do it again. Maybe you wouldn’t be so damn cranky.”

“I don’t want anybody but Brooke,” I reluctantly confessed. “I haven’t for a long time, and I’ve never felt the same way about any other woman before . . . ever.”

No other female could catch my interest. I was too obsessed with my employee, and had been since the day I met her for the first time. Since Brooke had arrived, I hadn’t even considered dating anybody else. I was too preoccupied with her.

Xander shrugged. “Then you better make damn sure you get her. Take her out on a real date, make her understand that you’re serious. You do want a relationship with her, right?”

I had never really considered what I wanted. Brooke had always been unattainable for me, so I didn’t spend my time thinking about it. “Yeah, I do,” I finally said in a low voice. “Since I’ve never seen her as anything except off-limits, I don’t think I’ve thought much about that.”

“Jesus, Liam, you’re a nice guy, but I’m starting to question your reasoning ability.”

“I don’t have many rational thoughts when Brooke is around.”

“I noticed,” Xander shot back. “And I get it. She screws with your head. Been there. But she’s not doing it on purpose. Brooke is probably unsure of what the hell you want from her. One day she’s off-limits, and the next day you have sex with her. Look, I think she’d be lucky to have a guy like you. You’re generally a smart guy—right now being an exception. I know you’d be faithful. You make a damn good living, and my wife thinks you’re good looking. I wouldn’t know, since I don’t swing that direction, but you do have a former rock star as a best friend. That has to win you some points,” he finished jokingly.

I shot Xander an impatient stare. “You were just as fucked up as I am, and you know it.”

“Probably more,” Xander conceded.

I held up a hand. I didn’t want to get into Xander’s personal life now that he had his head on straight. “I’m torn between leaving her alone so that she can go home, and trying to convince her that she needs me in her life.”

“Think about how you’d feel if you never saw her again. You’ll make up your mind pretty damn quickly. Your time is limited here, Liam.”

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “You’re right. There’s no damn way I can let her go without a fight.”

Xander headed for the door. “Now keep that thought, and don’t think about anything else. I’ve seen how damn stubborn you can be when you want to be.”