Release!: A Walker Brothers Novel (The Walker Brothers #1)(12)

Oh, God. My stomach knotted at the thought that Trace could be dead instead of so very much alive. I gaped at him, still able to feel his vitality and energy vibrating through the bedroom. I could also feel his tension. “It bothers you that you weren’t on that plane. You feel guilty.”

Trace didn’t show his hand with his expression, but I was close enough to see a look of pain flash briefly in his eyes.

“I don’t wish myself dead,” he snapped. “But the fact that it should have been me did cross my mind.”

He was so responsible, so damned ready to take on the entire world. “It wouldn’t have made a difference.”

His fists clenched and he shot me an irritated stare. “How do I know that? Maybe I could have gotten Dane out of the wreckage quicker, maybe I could have prevented the surgeries he’s had, so damn many that I’ve lost count.”

My heart bled for the man who thought he could prevent all the hurts in the world. I’d learned that I had to pick my battles. He obviously hadn’t. “And maybe you’d be dead. Maybe you would have blocked people from getting him out. Everybody else on the plane died that day, including the pilot. Do you think you’re invincible?” I shot back at him, trying to make him see what was most likely true: whether he’d been on that plane or not wouldn’t have changed the outcome.

His lips twitched, probably because of my annoyed tone, but I wasn’t certain.

“So you think my dead body would have gotten him dead, too?”

I shrugged. “It might have gotten in the way.”

“Comforting thought.” His tone was sarcastic, but there was a trace of amusement there, too.

Not wanting to think about him not being alive, I prompted, “Go on.”

Trace released a low, resigned sigh. “Dane has been through a lot, emotionally and physically. He’s recently started dating a woman who I’m well acquainted with. She’s seeing him to get back at me, and she’s hoping I’ll take her back. I ended our association over a year ago because she wasn’t satisfied with just me. She was bed hopping with every wealthy man in Colorado.”


“Stupid woman,” I said without thinking. But really, why would any female need another man when she had Trace Walker. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you were faithful to her.”

He grinned at me, and my heart melted. He nodded and said, “I was. I wasn’t ready to make a big commitment, but we had dated long enough that she finally talked me into a monogamous relationship. Too bad she meant only on my side.”

“You still love her?” My palms were sweaty and my heart started to hammer. I wasn’t quite sure I wanted his answer.

“I never said I loved her. I just said we were supposed to be exclusive. I don’t love, Eva. I satisfy a physical need with the women I see.”

It was pretty obvious that he did much more than that. Oh, he might not have ever been in love, but the way he cared about his brother told me he was capable. “So you need me as a decoy?”

“I need you to keep her away from me. Dane would be devastated if he knew all that Britney wanted were the things his money can buy her, and she’s getting back at me.”

“Maybe she really does care now. Maybe things have changed,” I said, hopeful that Britney may have had an epiphany. How could any woman be so heartless to use brother against brother, especially one who had suffered like Dane?

“She called me just a few weeks ago, telling me that she was hoping to win me back at Christmas. She hasn’t changed.” His voice was flat and hopeless. “I want Dane to dump her. She’s a viper. But not because she was making moves on me. I don’t want him to resent me, or to know that I f*cked her first.”

I hated that thought, the idea that Trace had done the horizontal mambo with any female. Unfortunately, I was pretty sure he’d done a lot of bedroom dancing.

“I’ll do my best,” I promised him. “But you’re going to have to help me. Pretend that you care.”

“I won’t have to pretend, Eva. If I didn’t want you to have a better life, I wouldn’t have chosen you. I could have found someone else, but you were just too damn perfect. You’re very beautiful.”

He was wrong. I was a loser in a gorgeous dress. “I feel like Cinderella,” I mumbled before I could stop myself. The room was silent for a minute before I added, “What are we doing here together if they aren’t coming until Christmas? Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.”

“I’m well aware of that. I thought I’d take you out for dinner. The time won’t be wasted. I can get you through our pre-employment process and fill you in on details.”

“I’ll cook. I want to,” I said eagerly. It had been years since I’d participated in a Thanksgiving dinner.

His eyes stared at me, penetrating me with an intense gaze. “You actually want to cook?”

“Your kitchen is amazing. And yes, I love to cook. I just haven’t had a chance in a very long time.” I’d never had the money. Lately, I hadn’t had a scrap of food in my apartment. “Do you have the supplies?”

He frowned. “Probably not. And I gave my staff time off now until next Monday. But I can call my assistant here.”

I held up a hand. “No. Don’t you have a car?”