“Oh, come on. You worked your whole life for it. I’m sure it took a lot of your family’s resources to get you there. And then…two weeks before you were going to see it through, it was taken from you. That would leave a deep impression. It would make you never want to care so deeply about anything again. Or anyone.”

He didn’t miss the look she sent him. “And now we’re talking about Vanessa?”

“Well, she’s trying really hard to make you love her.”

“Whatever she’s doing, it’s not about love.”

“She’s trying to get you there.”

He scrubbed his face with his hands. “I’m not holding back because I’m afraid of being disappointed. That’s just not where we are.” Yet?

Could he see having more with Vanessa?

“But maybe there’s scar tissue that’s blocking you from letting someone in, you know?”

“Maybe I’m not attracted to her the way I am to you.”

“You’re attracted to me?” She drew up her knees and cupped her hands under her cheek again. “Tell me more.”

He smiled. She was a cute drunk.

She nudged him. “But, for real, are you? I want to know.”

“Ah, come on. Don’t let your ex get into your head like that. He didn’t cheat because you’re not sexy enough.”

“He said he doesn’t see me like that. That he doesn’t fantasize about taking me up against the wall. Did you ever take someone up against the wall?”

“Of course.”

She gave this big, dramatic sigh. “That must be exciting.”

“Fucking’s actually more fun in a bed. There’s more room to play. Just saying.”

“You know that woman who was riding the bull like it was a stripper pole?”

“Are you talking about Gigi Cavanaugh?”

“See, you even know her name.”

“I know her name because I grew up with her.”

“And because of her thing with Skylar’s cousin?”

“She told you about that?” Sky’s cousin used Calamity as a sanctuary away from the public eye, so it was an unspoken deal not to talk about him. Sky’s a loyal person. She wouldn’t have revealed his identity to someone she just met.

She nodded. “Why? Is it some secret?”

Granted, a princess from St. Christophe wouldn’t recognize an American ball player’s name, but Brodie wasn’t going to say a damn word. I’m not going to be the guy who outs him.

With wide eyes and a big grin, she hiked up on an elbow. “It is. What’s the secret? Are they stepsiblings? Is Gigi raising the child she never told him about? Come on, I told you mine.” She nudged him. “Spill it. I won’t tell a soul.”