The grin returned, quick, dashing, confident. “Alex, if there’s one thing I know, it’s what a woman feels about me. But if you don’t want to go with that, why don’t you just ask her?”

“I have. She didn’t deny it.”

“To spite you,” Bennett said with instant comprehension. “It would be just like her—and I’d also guess it had something to do with the way you asked.”

Alexander remembered the way he had approached her, with cutting accusations and anger. No, she hadn’t denied it, but had let him dance on his own hot coals. He couldn’t damn her for that.

Alexander studied his brother again and saw that his feelings were no longer his alone. In youth they had shared a great deal, secrets, complaints, jokes. Alexander could only thank God they wouldn’t share the same woman.

“How could you not want her?”

Bennett leaned back again and looked at his brother. Someone had finally pierced the impenetrable, shaken the unshakable. “I did. The first time I saw her, I thought she was the most delectable creature I’d ever met.” At Alexander’s narrowed look, Bennett chuckled. “Don’t challenge me to a duel yet. Besides, if you challenge, I pick the weapons. I’m a better shot than you are.”

“Why is it you seem to find this so amusing?”

“Because I love you.” It was said with the simplicity of truth. “It isn’t often enough that those who love you see you act human, Alex. If I didn’t enjoy seeing Prince Perfect falter a bit, I wouldn’t be human. I’d say this round of jealousy’s been good for you.”

The childhood nickname didn’t irk him so much as the reference to jealousy. “I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in months.”

“Enormously good for you.” Bennett picked a rose from a vase at his elbow, thinking it would complement Doreen’s skin. “But to get you off this pin you’re stuck on, I was attracted to Eve, and I like to think it was mutual. Then before anything could be done about it, I was flat on my back in the hospital. She came in every day.”

“I remember.”