Talked. If it was only that easy. He closed his eyes and swallowed against the helpless rage burning in his gut.
“She’s on the edge, Van,” he said in a quiet voice. “I can’t push her that much closer. Right now the only thing she knows is that I love her. I can’t make her doubt that even for a moment.”
“Shit,” Donovan breathed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing to say. I made my bed and now I have to lie in it and hope to hell I don’t lose her after I got her back again.”
“Do you plan to say anything?”
Ethan shook his head. “No, and I’d prefer to keep it that way.”
“You’ll work it out.” There was worry in Donovan’s eyes and maybe a little doubt. It hit Ethan hard in the belly. “It’s obvious you love her.”
“I haven’t ever not loved her,” Ethan said quietly. “But I’m worried that when she gets her memory back, she’s going to realize she stopped loving me a long time ago.”
Donovan’s lips tightened into an adamant line. “No way I believe that. She loves you. I’d bet my life on it. Memory or no memory. That kind of love doesn’t just go away because you were a bastard.”
A harsh laugh cracked through Ethan’s lips. “Thanks. I think. I’m glad one of us is confident.”
“If there’s anything I can do ...”
Ethan nodded. “I know, man. And I appreciate it. More than you’ll ever know.”
He held out his fist and Donovan balled his own to knock it against Ethan’s.
“Good luck tomorrow,” Ethan said. “And be careful. Garrett’s about to have a kitten at the thought of you going alone.”
Donovan snorted. “He’s just pissed because he’s out of action. It’ll be good for him to have to sit and cool his heels. Man works too damn much. He’ll have an ulcer before he’s forty. If he lives that long.”
“Shi-it. Don’t tell Ma that. She’d henpeck him to death.”
Both men stopped and stared at each other in realization. Slow grins spread across their faces and they burst into laughter.
“Oh hell. Garrett’ll kill us for this, but it’ll be worth it,” Donovan chortled.
“You wanna tell her or should I?” Ethan asked as his shoulders shook.
Their mother on a mission was a scary sight to behold. Any hint that one of her chicks wasn’t as he should be would bring immediate action.
“Nah, I’ll tell her on my way out. It’ll distract her from the lecture she’s sure to give me.”
Ethan slapped Donovan on the back. It was good to be back among his brothers even when they annoyed the holy hell out of him. Already he felt better. Some of the heavy cloak of doom had lifted and he didn’t feel as weighed down by fear and anxiety.
“Be careful, okay? I want you back in one piece.”
Donovan rolled his eyes. “Okay, Mom.”
“Ethan?”
Both men turned at the soft voice floating from the back door. Rachel stood half-in, half-out, looking at them with a guarded expression. Ethan would have given anything to be able to remove the uncertainty in her beautiful eyes.
“Hey, sweetness,” Donovan said easily.
She smiled, and it chased away the shadows, brightening her eyes.
“Hi, Donovan. I heard you were leaving tomorrow. I hope you’ll be careful.”
“Always. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Did you need something, baby?” Ethan asked.
She frowned for a moment and tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth, as if searching her memory for what she’d come out for.
Then she raised her gaze again, her eyes lighting with recognition. “Nathan and Joe are about to leave. You should come in and say good-bye.”
Ethan and Donovan both headed toward the back door where Rachel stood. Ethan couldn’t resist dropping a kiss on her upturned lips. She smiled under his mouth and he ate it up, taking that smile as deep as he could. He lived for her smiles. He hadn’t enjoyed them in longer than he cared to remember.
She tucked her hand into his and they walked back into the living room, where Nathan and Joe were both being bear hugged by their dad.
“Hey, there y’all are,” Joe said as he looked up. “Thought maybe you and Van had flown the coop already.”
“If I thought Ma would let us get away with it ...” Ethan began.
Nathan snorted and promptly enfolded Ethan in a hug. They pounded each other on the back and hurled a few insults. Yep, life was good again.
“You be careful,” Ethan warned. “Get your ass back here in