No. If she could read minds, then she would know exactly how he felt about her. More than likely, it was his sudden silence that had clued her in.
But after spending the day with her family and trying his best to tamp down the envy he’d felt at the genuine love and togetherness they exuded, Griffin couldn’t help but think about his own family. Maybe talking about it would help alleviate the ache that had been plaguing him for so long.
“My brother and I had a falling out a few years ago,” he said. His mouth twisted in a grim frown. “Actually, it’s been more like six years.”
“Six years?” Indina pushed herself up on her elbows. “Is he your only brother?”
He nodded. “My only sibling.”
“My brothers get on my last nerve, but I can’t imagine not talking to them for six years.”
“We’ve talked,” he said. “But only the barest minimum—as in we’ve said hello the couple of times we’ve seen each other. We’ve both conveniently missed the last few holidays at my parents’.”
Indina was quiet for a few moments. In a gentle voice, she asked, “What happened?”
The significance of her concern wasn’t lost on him. This was new territory for them. In all the months they’d been sleeping together, she’d never shown much regard for his life outside of work. Just this small indication that she cared enough to want to know more gave Griffin hope. He decided to put it all out there. Maybe if he opened up to her, she would reciprocate.
“It started with my ex-wife, Jacqueline,” he said. “Before she was my wife, she was my brother’s girlfriend.”
Indina’s eyes widened. “You married your brother’s girlfriend?”
“It’s not as if I stole her from him or anything. Garland and Jackie had broken up long before she and I started dating.”
Indina shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. She was still off-limits. At least that would have been the case with my brothers.”
“Garland’s reason for being upset had nothing to do with me moving in on his old territory or anything like that. He was upset because I didn’t listen when he tried to steer me away from her. Jackie had cheated on him with another guy, and Garland warned me that she would do the same to me.”
“But you didn’t listen.”
Griffin shook his head.
“So, did she?” Indina asked.
He nodded. “Yeah, she did.”
There was a lot more Griffin could have divulged, but the thought of trudging through the mire of his toxic marriage made him nauseous.
“So, your brother was right to warn you,” Indina murmured.
“He was. But I’m just too damn stubborn to admit it.” He snorted. Then he shook his head. “I hate how much this has hurt our family, especially my parents. They’ve both pleaded with us to mend fences, but I just don’t see it happening.”
Indina stared at him for a moment before she pushed herself up and leaned back against the headboard. “For someone as smart as you are, I can’t believe you could be such an idiot,” she said. “Do you realize how ridiculous it is for both you and your brother to allow someone who isn’t even in your life anymore—someone who hurt you both—to continue hurting you? Don’t you realize how much power that gives your ex-wife? You’re giving her the power to hurt your entire family. She doesn’t deserve that.”
Griffin exhaled a frustrated breath. He knew Indina was right. He’d said the same thing to himself more than once.
But he was also a stubborn son of a bitch. So was Garland.
“For years I’ve told myself that this is just the way it is,” Griffin muttered.
“But it doesn’t have to be this way.”
He had to clear his throat before he finally said, “I know.” Griffin felt physically ill as he finally came to terms with what he’d allowed to happen to his family. “I have no idea what’s happening in my niece and nephew’s lives. I’ve missed school plays and Little League games. I send birthday gifts, but other than those two Christmases that my mom guilted me into attending, I haven’t had anything to do with my niece or nephew for four long years, and that kills me.”
“That’s tragic, Griffin.”
“It is. And I don’t want to live this way anymore.” He looked into her eyes. “You know what made the difference? Being surrounded by your family. I’ve been so damn jealous of all of you since I boarded this ship. But I realize now that I don’t have to be. I have my own family. All I have to do is stop being a jackass and reach out to my brother.”
“Yes, you do,” Indina said.
She trailed her thumb over his jaw before cupping his chin in her delicate fingers. Griffin closed his eyes and gloried in how amazing it felt to have her touch him like this. As if he meant more to her than just a good lay. As if she cared for him.
Didn’t these last few minutes show just that? She cared about the state of his relationship with his family. She cared enough to see that he was hurting and want to fix it.
This was all he needed. This one small indication that she felt just the barest concern was enough. He could build on this. He could show her they were worth taking a risk.
“I can promise you that your family misses you more than you know,” Indina continued. “My family drives me absolutely bananas at times, but I would not give them up for anything in the world. They mean everything to me.”
“I can understand why,” Griffin said. “They’re pretty awesome.”
She smiled. “The Holmes clan is growing on you, huh?”
“Yes, they are.” He looked her straight in the eyes. “Especially a certain Holmes.”
He wanted to kiss her mouth. God, did he want that.
But if she rejected him right now it might literally kill him. Instead, Griffin tugged the sheet from her breasts, leaned forward
