Headlines (Prime Time #3) - Ella Frank Page 0,32

vulnerable with him in ways I’d never been with anyone else. I’d already given him my heart, but now it was time to give him my soul.

“It’s easier to make someone leave than to be the one left behind.”

“That’s true, but you seem to be forgetting. I’m not the one who left. I’m the one standing here, begging you to stay.”

16

Xander

THE ABSOLUTE TRUST radiating from Sean was something I’d never seen from him before. But as he sat there at the edge of his bed, I could sense the enormity of the moment.

Here was a man who, for as long as I could remember, had held everyone in his life at arm’s length. Sure, he was always there for them, was a big brother in the sense that he gave his two little ones a hard time on every possible occasion. But Sean was an absolute professional when it came to hiding his feelings.

Hell, in these past few weeks, I’d learned more about Sean Bailey than I had in over three decades, and what I’d discovered had endeared him to me in ways I had never imagined possible.

Not only had Sean endured years of backhanded insults from a father who had more to be ashamed of than his son ever would or could, but he’d also had the horrible burden of informing his brothers of the secrets their father had been keeping.

This man standing in front of me was so used to being alone, so used to sacrificing himself to make those around him happy, that here he was trying to do it again. But he had another thing coming if he thought I was going to let him fall on his sword for anyone this time around.

Yes, we could’ve handled the way Bailey found out about us better. But did that mean we had to throw away what we’d found together in an attempt to make peace?

“I love you,” I said, and swept my thumb across the stubble on his cheek. “I appreciate what it is you thought you were doing by telling me we should end this. But my answer is no. I’m not letting you do it, Sean.”

Sean opened his mouth, about to argue his point, but I shook my head.

“No. I understand you think this is the only way to fix this. But you’re wrong.”

“But Bailey—”

“Has nothing to do with this decision.” I moved down to my knees between his and settled there. “This relationship is between you and me. Not Bailey. He’s happy and in love with Henri. Don’t you deserve something like that? Don’t I? We’re all adults here. Surely we can act like it.”

Sean’s jaw bunched under my palm, and he looked off over my shoulder. But I gently brought him back to face me.

“What do you want?”

Sean looked into my eyes with a desperate kind of longing, and I finally understood the reason he did it. Why he threw himself down to protect those around him. Because if he was about to send me away, I was willing to fall on that sword for just another hour in his arms.

“Sean? If you want me, then I’m right here ready to fight for this with you. But if you plan to end this for brotherly love, then make sure it’s your decision. Not someone else’s.”

Sean’s eyes shimmered as he drew me up between his legs, and my breath caught. His lips ghosted gently across mine, and as a tear escaped and rolled down my cheek, he brushed it away with his thumb.

“I’m not ending anything with you, anchorman. I love you.”

His lips at my temple made the tears fall a little faster.

“Hey, stop that. We’ll work this out. I promise.”

Sean stroked my back, and then I pulled away to look him in the eye. “If you ever do that to me again…”

Sean slowly smiled and shrugged. “What can I say? I’m an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot. You’re a strong, self-sacrificing man who thinks about everyone’s feelings, sometimes to the detriment of his own. But this time, Sean, I need you to think about what you want.”

“I’m looking at it.”

My smile was instant, and Sean took my hand and tugged me to my feet.

“Come back to bed,” he said as he scooted across the mattress and drew me down by his side.

I slipped my hands under the pillow.

“When did you become my favorite thing to look at?”

Damn, there went my heart. “About the same time you became a serious smooth talker.”

Sean traced his fingers