“So.” His older brother clapped him on the back. “Addy defied her uncle and came back here to work this case. Interesting.”
Wyatt shot him a look. Jason had questioned Addy during dinner. How were things in Huntsville? Was she engaged or married? Divorced? Any kids? What were her thoughts on the Prescott case? His older brother might not be a cop but that didn’t stop him from utilizing less than polite interrogation tactics.
“I think you’ve asked enough questions for tonight,” Wyatt commented, a clear warning in his tone. “This isn’t your boardroom.”
Jason shook his head, probably the same way he did when he was about to chastise his top executives at Chem Corp. “It’s been nearly a decade, buddy. And you’re still obviously hung up on her. What’re yougoing to do when she leaves again? You going to follow her this time? Go rushing after her wherever she runs?”
Wyatt went nose to nose with his brother. “I don’t want to hear your—”
Thomas, the youngest, pushed the two apart. “This is not the time.” He glanced toward the kitchen. “It’s Christmas Eve, for Christ’s sake. Can’t you two stop the bickering for one night?”
The Henderson patriarch joined the huddle. “Listen to your brother, gentlemen.” He looked from Jason to Wyatt. “This has gone on too long as it is.” His gaze settled on Jason. “Wyatt has enough on his mind right now without you getting into his personal business.”
“Yes, sir,” Jason acquiesced. He bopped Wyatt on the shoulder with the side of his fist. “I should learn to keep my mouth shut where certain subjects,” he sent a look at the women in the kitchen, “are concerned. I just worry about you, that’s all. You know I do.”
Wyatt released his frustrations on a big breath. “I guess that’s what big brothers are for.” A pain in the ass.
Thomas lifted his mug of spiced cider. “To family,” he offered.
“Hear, hear,” his father agreed, clinking his mug against his youngest son’s.
Jason and Wyatt did the same.
It was Christmas Eve. And for the first time in a very long time, he was spending it with Addy.
What’re you going to do when she leaves again?
His brother’s admonition echoed inside Wyatt.
Wyatt would simply do what he’d been doing for nine years.
Miss her.
10:37 p.m.
“Jason doesn’t like me very much, does he?”
Wyatt slowed for the turn into the Shady Oaks parking lot. “What makes you say that?” He damned sure wasn’t going to volunteer any information. But Addy was no fool. She’d sensed Jason’s disdain.
A good kick in the ass was what his older brother needed. This—Addy—was none of his business.
“Oh, I don’t know.” She reached under the seat for her weapon, then for the door as he parked in front of her room. “Maybe it was the way he glared at me for most of the evening. Or the heated looks he sent your way every time you said a word to me.”
Damn it. She’d noticed more than he’d suspected. “Jason’s just—”
Addy climbed out before he could finish the statement. Wyatt shut off the engine and caught up with her at the door to her room.
“You know how older brothers are,” Wyatt commented, playing off the whole notion as if it were no big deal.
She shoved the key into the lock, then looked at him. “No. Actually I don’t.”
Addy didn’t have any brothers of her own, but she had male cousins. “You know what I mean.”
“I know what I felt.” She twisted the key, then the knob. “G’night, Wyatt.”
“We should talk, Addy.” This was enough with dancing all around the past.
She sighed. “You keep saying that but,” she countered, “there’s nothing to talk about. It’s been a long time.” Addy looked at him then, really looked. “There’s nothing to say. Too much water has gone under the bridge. It’s all irrelevant at this point.”