“It’s not going to happen. I’m not good for anyone. I never will be again.” And he didn’t apologize for it. “As for the death wish, well…we all have to wish for something.” His brain finally caught on to the rest of her speech. “What did you mean, trouble between me and our brothers? What do they have to do with my ill-timed fascination with Ms. Glen?”
“You really don’t pay attention to anything, do you? Who do you think Callum was talking about bringing to the fundraiser? And why do you think Rory looked ready to take his head off? They both fancy her. Callum believes himself in love with the girl and he intends to make his move. If you tell them that you want her for yourself, I think they’ll back off. They love you.”
Oliver gripped the side of the desk, seething, his knuckles turning white. “He will not touch her. I’ll make sure of it.”
Rory would have to get in line to take Callum’s head off because if their middle brother laid one finger on Tori, Oliver would be more than happy to do the honors.
Without a backward glance at his sister, he strode out of the office, itching for a fight.
CHAPTER TWO
Rory managed to close the door to Oliver’s office with a quiet snick. He had to force himself not to slam the thing because he was so bloody angry. What did Callum think he was about? Had the bastard listened to a word he’d said last night? Or had he simply nodded his pretty-boy head and decided to do whatever he wanted, no matter the cost?
“Which direction did my brother go?” Rory asked Oliver’s fifty-something assistant.
Silently, he pleaded for the proper reply. The only good answer was to the west wing where Callum’s office was located.
“Mr. Thurston-Hughes went toward the east wing. He seemed in good spirits,” the woman said. “That’s nice to see after all the nasty business of late.”
Anger flashed through Rory’s system. Good spirits? Callum wouldn’t be after a thorough throttling. The prick was headed for Tori’s office. Callum might be six foot six inches and almost sixteen stone of pure-muscled imbecile, but Rory could hold his own in a fight.
“He won’t be for long,” he mumbled under his breath as he jogged down the hall to intercept Callum before he reached Tori. He couldn’t let his brother botch everything.
According to Claire, Oliver was following their lovely publicist around. That likely meant their eldest brother finally intended to do something about his obvious infatuation with her. If not, that meant Oliver was stalking her. While Rory wondered if his big brother had turned predator, he also had to believe the warm, giving sibling who had practically raised him still lurked inside, waiting for the right woman to free him.
Damn Yasmin. If she weren’t already dead, Rory would cheerfully murder the bitch himself.
And damn Tori for being so fucking lovable that she was going to break at least two Thurston-Hughes’s hearts. If he couldn’t have her himself, Rory intended to make damn sure she didn’t hurt Oliver. He’d been through enough.
He turned the corner and found Callum in front of the lifts, impatiently pressing the button that would take him down a level to Tori’s office. Thankfully, he was alone.
“You bastard.”
Callum turned, his jawline taut and stubborn. “I’m not talking about this any longer. Oliver won’t have her, so I intend to. That’s all that needs to be said.”
They’d been through this before. What would it take to get through his brother’s thick skull? “He can’t admit it yet, but I finally think he’s close. Damn it, Callum. I want her, too, but I want Ollie to live more. We have to step back and let him have his chance. We owe him that.”
“I know we do, but I’m not convinced he’ll pick himself up by the balls enough to take her. If that’s the case, I don’t owe him my happiness. Or hers. If he has his way, she’ll be alone forever.”
“You forget her fiancé.”
Callum flushed slightly. “What sort of man leaves her all alone in a foreign country? As far as I’m concerned, after six months he’s given up his rights to her. And Tori doesn’t seem to miss him. She might still wear that pitiful nothing of a ring, but I keep her company. I make sure she’s not alone at night.”
A red mist descended over Rory, shocking him with a fury that made his whole body shake. He’d heard some people talk about losing control when their anger took hold, but he’d never been that man. Callum’s words pushed him to the breaking point, and he fought to repress the crimson haze. “Exactly how are you keeping her company at night, brother?”
Callum raised his hands as if in surrender. “Not sexually. I haven’t touched her beyond a friendly hug.”
One of the things Rory loved about Torrance was her genuine, frequent affection. He’d loved his parents, but their open shows of fondness had been few and far between. Now he craved the way she hugged him when she thought he needed it. At first, he’d been put off by it. Now he wouldn’t let a day go by without her embrace. “Explain it to me then.”
“I call her. I sometimes convince her to let me buy her dinner so we can talk about the fundraiser, but we spend hours talking about all sorts of things. We click, she and I. I’ve never met anyone like her and I’m not willing to give her up because Oliver won’t pull his head from his sphincter.”
“He’s gun-shy. Can’t you see that? Don’t you think I feel the same way about her you do?”
“Then may the best man win.” He turned back to the lift doors and reached out to press the button to call the car again.
They weren’t done yet. He slapped his brother’s hand away and lunged in front of the doors. “No. We’re not playing it that way. We had an agreement.”
“That was months ago, and Oliver has shown no signs of coming out of his shell. I’m not certain he’ll ever be ready.” Callum’s eyes softened. “Rory, I know you feel terribly guilty that you introduced him to Yasmin. You think she got to him through you, but this mess isn’t your fault any more than it’s his. Yasmin is to blame and she’s dead. I’ll be honest, I don’t understand this desperate need he seems to have to punish himself for something that wasn’t his fault.”