really thought about it. Is there any particular reason why you would have wanted to see him?”
Knowing she was revealing too much by questioning her brother, she shook her head. “No reason.”
She got ready to leave for their dinner, but Will lingered.
“Look, sis, you should know that Jared…” He glanced around the room as if he’d find whatever word he searched for. “Well, he’s got a bit of a reputation.”
Ah, here came another brotherly warning. She’d known she’d said too much. “A reputation?”
“As a ladies’ man.”
She could remind her brother about his own reputation, but opted to hold her tongue, especially as she hadn’t seen much to warrant that reputation since she’d moved to Madison. “And?”
“You shouldn’t get any thoughts about him.”
“Thoughts?” She blinked innocently, although she knew exactly what he meant.
“Non-professional ones, because in the long run you’d end up getting hurt. He’s never gotten over Laura.”
Chelsea sighed with great exaggeration. “This is unnecessary, Will. I’m going to dinner with all the providers I work with, including you. Not on a date with Jared.”
“Yes, but you’re a beautiful woman and he’s…” An irritated look came over his face.
“He’s what?” she prompted, trying not to let her brother’s offhand compliment sidetrack her from the real issue.
“Not blind,” he ground out.
“Are you saying you think Jared might find me attractive?”
God, she hoped so. How pathetic was that when, even if he did, a relationship between them would never work?
“Not if he wants to live.” Will smacked his fist into the palm of his other hand with emphasis.
Enough of the theatrics. She couldn’t have her brother going all macho on his best friend. “Will,” she said softly, “there’s nothing for you to be concerned about.”
“I’ll be concerned when you’re eighty when someone as jaded as Jared is involved.”
She met her brother’s stern expression and resisted the urge to hug him for loving her so much.
Will raked his fingers through his dark hair. “Don’t get me wrong. He’s my friend, a brilliant doctor, and we’re lucky to have him, but he goes through women like a proctologist goes through rubber gloves.”
“Eww.” Chelsea scowled at her brother’s analogy. “Bad comparison.”
“But true.” His jaw tightened. “Jared has only had one use for women since Laura died. I saw how you looked at him this morning, and I don’t want to see you hurt, Chels.”
He’d seen that look? No wonder he was issuing warnings.
“Will…” She sought the right words to tell her brother how much she loved and appreciated him, but wanted him to butt out when it came to her love life. Or lack of one, in this instance. “I’m twenty-eight years old and can decide for myself whether or not someone is worth the risk of getting hurt. Believe it or not, I’m not totally inexperienced,” she said.
“Give me a name.” Will’s teeth gritted, his fists clenched at his sides, and she believed he really would go and fight for her honor.
Chelsea laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Will’s outrage was so adorable. “You can’t go around bloodying every guy who finds me attractive.”
“Wanna bet?”
She snickered in a very unlady-like way. “Lighten up. I’d like to marry and have kids someday.”
Jared’s babies. She closed her eyes and pictured blue-eyed, black-haired imps who called her mommy. Oh, what a fantasy.
“Just so long as you don’t actually want Jared.”
Had he read her mind?
“Even discounting the little-sister factor,” he continued, “which is huge by the way, think how difficult a crash and burn between the two of you would make things at the office.”
A nervous flutter gurgled in her belly, but she refused to acknowledge the warning. She gave him a smile meant to be light, but her attempt came out as forced. “I guess it’s a good thing we’re only going out for dinner as a group of coworkers, then.”
“You’re making fun of this, but I’m serious, Chels. Jared is a good guy, but Laura’s death messed up his head. He’s not been close to anyone since.”
After ten years of carrying Jared in her heart and knowing she’d never have him, Will’s warning fell flat.
Picking up her purse, she gave her brother a bright smile. “I’m going to dinner with my new coworkers. No big deal. Coming?”
After all, there was no reason for Will to get so worked up when, other than that brief moment this morning, Jared had looked as if he’d rather have his nails ripped off than have to spend five minutes in her company.
The recall of the cold look he’d given her earlier sent shivers racing down her spine. What had happened to cause his expression to go from burning hot to freezing cold?
Then she knew.
Will must have seen Jared’s look, too, felt the sparks, and done what he’d just attempted to do with her.
Only Jared would have seen Will’s warning as a sign that Chelsea was still interested in him, that she still wanted him.
He probably really was afraid she was going to corner him and jump his bones. Great.
No wonder he’d gone from hot to cold.
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