Page 90 of Nothing to Win

“That’s a good rule.”

“Doesn’t matter what’s said, I’d do anything for my brothers.Any of them.Any minute.”From what she knew, Tripp would be there for anyone in need.“Even Brant.”

“You listen to each other.You care.”

“Breckenridges show up for each other.It’s just… the way it is.”

Nothing like the Sear family.Tough luck, that was her lot.Family was family.No, that wasn’t fair.She shouldn’t be so hasty.Her father’s olive branch could lead to change.It could be a sign of a different future.

“I think, maybe, my family are adjusting.”

“Yeah?”

Wishful thinking?

“I’ve got to give them a chance, right?”A slow blink was his only reaction.A man of few words or one afraid to laugh in her face.“You’d give your family a chance, wouldn’t you?”

“I’d never give up on my family.”

Except she sort of had by going to Brogan in the first place.“You’re an easy man to trust.”

And she might say too much with the liquor lubricating her words.

“Which means you want to say something else.”Tripp stayed loose.“You don’t have to hold back.I’ve got a perfect record of discretion.”

Most guys might sound like they were puffing themselves up.Not Tripp.His life didn’t change one way or the other regardless of what she revealed.

Sharing a couch, face-to-face, this felt like a last gasp, the final chance, the only opportunity to let it all out before she returned to the previous life of Gianna Sear.

“There was never any future,” she said.“With me and Brogan.”

“Because of the Jarrod for Gault deal?

Her mouth fell open.“No one was supposed to know about that.”

No apology or explanation.“I’m Tripp Breckenridge.”

That said it all.

“Yeah, but… Brogan told you?”

Her statement that there was no future could’ve been taken as them being a fling or keeping things casual, it wasn’t a prelude to revealing the truth.Turned out there was no need to be discreet about the whys and ifs, Tripp knew everything, somehow.

Still, if he knew, he knew.

That actually made this easier.“I didn’t go into it thinking… I don’t know what I was thinking, beyond helping Shanna.”

“That’s noble.”

“It became an excuse,” she admitted.“Brogan did the right thing, ending it if—we never talked about it, but he must’ve known…”

How could he know they were on a crash course when she hadn’t?Experience?Maybe he was just smarter than her.No, he was smarter, no question.If he didn’t feel anything for her, then he didn’t, and if he saw there was a chance of her catching feelings…

Smarter.All the way.

“It’s not always easy to let go.”

“I’m adjusting,” she said.“It’s harder than I want to admit.”