I’ll Be There by Samantha Chase Page B

hell went on here or why, but what you did to Gabriella was not cool. She was a complete mess.”
    â€œOh yeah? Well, she’s obviously recovered, since she strutted right over to your camp to work—and travel—with you.”
    Ethan laughed out loud.
    â€œWhat? What’s so damn funny?”
    â€œWhat did you expect her to do? Do you realize what could have potentially happened here?” Ethan didn’t wait for an answer. “She could have filed all kinds of harassment charges against you and the company! Now, I’m not saying I offered her the position to keep her quiet. Definitely not. Gabriella is freaking fantastic at her job. One in a damn million. I know it. You know it. I’d be an idiot not to keep her on.”
    â€œAnd travel?” Zach sneered.
    â€œWhy are you fixating so much on the traveling?”
    â€œYou’re engaged to my sister! You have no right taking Gabriella with you anywhere. Especially alone!”
    Ethan laughed even harder.
    â€œDammit, I’m serious! You should not be traveling alone with Gabriella, and I cannot believe Summer would agree to it.”
    â€œSummer and I came up with this plan together .” Putting his beer down, Ethan leaned forward, instantly sobering. “Let me ask you something—did anything ever happen between you and Gabriella on any business trip?”
    A muscle ticked in Zach’s jaw. “No.”
    â€œThen what is this all about? And you can’t say it’s about your sister because it’s more than that.”
    â€œNever mind,” Zach grumbled.
    â€œIf you can’t talk to me, Zach, who can you talk to? I’m your best friend and it’s obvious there is so much more going on here. Come on. We’ve always told each other everything.”
    â€œOh really? Did you tell me everything about you and my sister?”
    â€œTouché,” Ethan said and saluted Zach with his beer bottle. “All I’m saying is sometimes it helps to talk about our feelings.”
    Zach rolled his eyes. “Geez, do you want to braid my hair while we talk about it?”
    Ethan chuckled. “If that’s what it takes.”
    â€œWhat do you want from me, Ethan? Seriously, what the hell else do you want from me?”
    â€œThe truth would be nice.” When Zach stayed silent, Ethan figured he’d better go big or go home. “Why are you fighting with her? Really? Hell, why are you fighting what you feel for her? It’s been…years, for crying out loud. Why haven’t you told her how you feel?”
    â€œWhat the hell are you talking about?”
    Now it was Ethan’s turn to sigh. “Remember when we were sophomores in high school and you had a thing for Lisa McCay?”
    A slow smile crossed Zach’s face. “Head cheerleader? Wore short skirts year-round?”
    â€œYeah. Her. Do you also remember how long you waited before asking her out?”
    â€œSix months.”
    Ethan laughed. “You thought nobody knew. You dated other girls and you ignored her, but you couldn’t hide it from me. You used to watch that girl all the damn time. And you do the same thing with Gabriella. Since day one. Even when you’re bitching at her for something completely ridiculous, you watch her. Hell, you practically drool. What’s the holdup?”
    â€œYou don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    â€œSo enlighten me.”
    For a minute, Zach looked like he was going to refuse, but then…it all just spilled out. His attraction to her, the conversation he overheard from their employees years ago, and then…Gabriella’s family and what she had said to him.
    â€œSo…that’s why you went a little crazy around the office and got rid of anything even remotely fun?”
    Zach scowled, which Ethan took as confirmation.
    â€œAnd that’s when things changed between you and Gabriella.”
    Zach