Brazen (Brazen #1)(64)

Pain glittered brightly in Seth’s eyes. His jaw worked up and down, and he seemed to struggle with what he wanted to say.

“I understand,” he said quietly. “But Zane, the ranch is your home.”

“It was Jaz’s too,” Zane said simply. “It’s been hers since we brought her here six years ago. I’ve never envisioned a future here that didn’t include her. I understand why she can’t be here, but I can’t live without her, so if that means leaving, then I’m prepared to do that.”

“How can you be so accepting of what she wants?” Seth asked in a strangled voice.

Zane looked him calmly in the eye. “I don’t know a lot about love or what it’s supposed to mean. I don’t know how it works for other people. I don’t really care. What I do know, is that I love her. And that means my love doesn’t come with a set of conditions. Does it bother me to know she loves you and probably always will? No. Because she loves me, too. I’m not threatened by that because I know she’d never do anything to hurt me. Could I share her with you? If my choices were having her whole and happy, sparkling and sharing her with you; or having a part of her, knowing she’d never completely shine and be whole but having her all to myself, then I wouldn’t even have to think about it. Because loving her means I want her happy. I want the best for her. I don’t ever want to have any part in making her sad.”

Seth looked stunned by all that Zane had said. Zane, however felt as though a great weight had lifted from him. Yeah, he was making the right decision.

“I’m going to pack,” he said softly, and he turned to walk away, anticipation tightening every muscle.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Seth stood outside Zane’s door listening to his brother throw his clothes into a suitcase. His family was crumbling around him, and only he had the power to stop it. He had to have the courage to take a chance.

It terrified him and gave him hope all at the same time. Could it really be as simple as trusting himself and trusting Jasmine? Could a relationship between the three of them work? No more guilt, no more angst, just an embracing of something different and yet so special?

He pushed the door open wider and stepped inside. Zane looked up and paused in the zipping of his suitcase.

“Tell me something, Zane. I need to know the truth. Are you really okay with the idea of sharing Jasmine…with me?”

Zane straightened his stance, his expression serious. “I won’t lie to you, man. In the beginning I was jealous. But it seemed natural that she’d love you, too. The only fear I’ve ever had is being the lower rung on the ladder. Assuming the role of the younger brother, not considered an equal. I love Jasmine just as much as you do, and I assume just as much responsibility for her and her happiness.”

Seth nodded. “I understand. I’d never want you to feel second best, not when it’s the fear I hold most. I realized something after Jasmine left.”

“Yeah, what’s that?” Zane asked, his voice cautious.

Seth let go of the door and shut it behind him. “I realized I wasn’t allowing myself to trust Jasmine. That the whole time she was telling me she loved me just as much as you, I didn’t believe her. And maybe, for this to work, I have to be willing to have faith in her. Believe in her.”

Zane nodded.

“It won’t be easy, and maybe that’ll be my fault, but I want to try, Zane. I don’t want to live without her. I don’t want you to leave here. I want to bring her home. To us.”

An expression of pure relief flooded Zane’s face. He sat down on the bed, his hands trembling. “Are you sure?”

“I’m not sure of anything but the fact that I love her and that we’re both miserable without her. There has to be a way to make this work, and I want to find it.”

Zane smiled then, and Seth realized that he hadn’t smiled since Jasmine had left. None of them had.

“Maybe you should go get packed,” Zane said, “because I plan to leave in the next thirty minutes.”

* * *

Jasmine was just finishing dinner with her brother and sister-in-law when the doorbell rang. Cody excused himself to go answer the door while she and Tara began clearing the table.

“I’m glad to see you eating better,” Tara said as she walked around Jasmine with a pile of plates.

“I’ve missed Cajun food,” she replied. “Carmen cooks some mean Tex-Mex and Mexican food, but I haven’t had Cajun food since Mama used to cook her etoufee.”

“I hope mine measures up,” Tara said with a grin.

“It was terrific.”

Both women looked up when Cody walked back into the kitchen, a smile on his face. He dropped a kiss on his wife’s lips then turned to Jasmine, eyes gleaming.

“There’s someone here to see you.”

Jasmine blinked in surprise.

“In the living room.”

She stared between her brother and Tara, who now wore a wide smile of her own.

“Go on,” Tara encouraged. “Cody can help me finish up.”

Jasmine turned and walked on stiff legs into the living room. When she saw both Zane and Seth standing there, her mouth fell open in shock.

“What are you doing here?” she whispered.

“We’ve come to take you home,” Seth said gruffly.