he’d never been quite this heartfelt about the way he felt about Riley.
Yeah, it was pretty damn obvious that he adored her, and that she returned that affection.
Hell, maybe he’d figured I wouldn’t understand, and maybe a few months ago, I wouldn’t have comprehended how a man could feel that way.
But now…I did, and I knew it must have been agonizing for Seth when he’d found out that my father had repeatedly molested Riley as a child. “I think that she may have been waiting for you, too,” I said in a raw voice. “When she couldn’t tell a single soul about what my father did, she was finally able to tell you. I don’t know how in the hell you got her through something so painful that she’d had to bury it all those years, but I’m damn glad you did.”
Seth shrugged. “All I really did was love her, and tried to make her see that none of it was her fault. Even if she melts down, even when she seems fragile, at her core, Riley is a strong, incredibly intelligent woman. She figures it out. I’m pretty much just there for backup when she needs me.” He hesitated before he added, “I have a gut instinct that Taylor is the same way, even though I barely know her. Be there for her, Hudson. Let her cry on your shoulder when she needs it, but have faith that she’ll eventually work through it because she’s independent and courageous. And for God’s sake, don’t assume you know how she feels. You don’t—unless it comes directly from her mouth. When she tells you something, listen, and take it as the truth instead of overthinking everything.”
I wasn’t sure how I knew it, but I had absolutely no doubt in my mind that Seth had discerned the fact that Taylor had been a victim of sexual abuse while she was a captive. It was definitely something I never would have shared with him, or anyone for that matter, but it was probably a logical conclusion on his part since he did know that Taylor had been tormented in every other way during her imprisonment in Lania.
I sent him a cautious glance. “It’s too soon,” I rasped.
He looked back at me with an empathetic expression. “In your mind, maybe. But I think you need to let Taylor make that final decision. Look, you’re in one hell of a bad position right now. I get it. But don’t let your concern look like a rejection to her if you really want her. No woman on Earth wants to feel undesirable after something like that happens.”
I nodded sharply. “We talk. She knows I’m attracted to her, I guess I’m just…”
“Worried that she doesn’t feel the same way?” Seth guessed. “Dude, no offense, but I think I can safely say that, judging by the way she looks at you, deep gratitude isn’t what she’s thinking about.”
I chugged the last of my beer before I asked, “How in the hell did you ever get through all this? Taylor makes me completely insane, and I used to be a really rational man. I’m not the kind of guy who loses his shit over a woman. Never have, and never thought I would.”
Seth grinned. “The right woman will topple some of the toughest guys in the world. Personally, I feel sorry for the poor bastards who think they could never feel that way, and haven’t gotten as lucky as me.”
“It’s hard to feel fortuitous when your balls are turning blue,” I grumbled.
Seth chuckled at my misery before he said, “Uh-oh. It looks like Riley can’t wait another minute to have a little talk with Taylor alone.”
My eyes flew back to the spot where Jax had been having a discussion with Taylor moments ago. Maya and Jax were there eating ice cream—which Jax had probably asked the little girl to get for them so he could get a few minutes alone with Taylor.
I groaned as I saw two redheads strolling down toward the pier. “Do I need to rescue Taylor?” I asked Seth.
Seth shook his head as he rose from the lounger. “Nah. You’re safe. Riley seems to like Taylor. If she didn’t, you might have to worry. I’m grabbing another beer. I’m not up for volleyball right now. It’s too hot.”
“Bring me one. I think I need it,” I told Seth. “I don’t think I want to know what they’re talking about right now.”