Bedding the Wrong Brother(57)

Melina sat down on the bed next to Grace, only to fall backward and stare at the ceiling. “Believe me, the sex isn't far from my mind. But where do you get he's in love with me?”

“He asked you to go to Reno with him before Max called,” Grace pointed out.

Biting her lip, she sat up. “You really think he's in love with me?”

“Yes,” Lucy said.

“Definitely,” agreed Grace.

“Then why wouldn't he just say so?” Melina asked softly.

“Why haven't you told him that you love him?” Lucy countered.

Wide-eyed, Melina stared at her. “Because I'm afraid.”

“Of what? He's not going to reject you. The guy bought you a rocking bikini in France, for God's sake!”

“I'm afraid he'll walk away anyway,” she insisted.

Lucy opened her mouth to respond, but it was Grace who countered, “No, you're not, Melina. You're afraid he'll walk away and ask you to come with him. And you're not sure you love him enough to do it.”

Melina and Lucy stared at her. Lucy turned to Melina. “Is that true?”

“No. I mean…” Melina closed her eyes and forced herself to look deep within herself for the answer. She opened her eyes and glared at Grace. “God, I hate it when you do that.”

Lucy dropped onto the bed beside her. “I'm confused.”

“Well, so am I,” Melina snapped. Standing, she paced the small area between her bed and her dresser. “Grace is right. When we're together, I can't imagine being without him. But when we're apart, I can't imagine fitting into his world. I'm not even sure I want to. Sure, it sounds exciting, but I'm a homebody at heart. I'd like to travel more, but only if I have a home to come back to. Someplace to raise my children and make memories. I know now that Rhys wants some version of that, too, but I just can't see myself on the road or on the sea, hanging out in the shadows and waiting for him to finish one performance after another.”

“So all this time, it hasn't been about whether you could satisfy him or whether he could love you,” Lucy said. “You're saying that even if those things are golden, you're still not sure it'll work out?”

“Those things were definitely real fears, but even without them, yes. I guess I am saying that.”

For the first time Melina could remember, Lucy didn't seem to know what to say.

That was so not okay.

“So what do I do?” Melina cried.

Grace knelt in front of her and took her hands in hers. “You're already doing it, sweetie. You're leaving your world and venturing into his. No speculating about what it's like anymore. No wondering whether you'll like it. One way or another, you're going to find out the answer to that pop quiz. Being with him would require you to change your whole life. If you decide you don't want to do that, then he's not the guy for you. So what? Maybe Jamie is.”

“Please.” Lucy rolled her eyes. “She just got through saying she wasn't settling for passionless sex again. Professor Jamie Whitcomb isn't the type to inspire passion in any woman. He's too damn arrogant and uptight for his own good.”

Melina studied her friend, forgetting her own troubles for a second. “Where's all this hostility coming from? I thought you barely knew Jamie.”

“Oh, I know him all right.”

When she didn't elaborate, Melina turned to Grace.

“Turns out the dean wants Lucy's department represented at the conference tomorrow, as well,” Grace explained. “Since Jamie's coordinating it...”

Melina gasped. Holy shit. The conference. She gripped Grace's hands. “The conference. I'm supposed to speak with Jamie. He's depending on me.”

Lucy waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, please. Like anyone'll miss you.” She didn't miss Melina's glare. “You know what I mean. You've got a PowerPoint presentation set up, right? Either Jamie can pick up the slack or someone else can.”

“You,” Melina said at the same time she thought it.

Looking at her like she was crazy, Lucy laughed and held out her hand. “Excuse me? I don't think so. I have to attend the conference—against my will, I might add—in order to network at the reception. But I wasn't planning on attending any of the presentations beforehand.”

“You can do my presentation with your hands tied behind your back. You're a quick study, and you have no problem speaking in public.”