Read Online What Might Have Been: Daniels Brother #4 (Daniels Brothers) by Sherri Hayes - Free Book Online

didn’t.
    “Abby?”
    She took a sip of her water and looked anywhere but at him. “I don’t know if it’s such a good idea for me to come to dinner with your family.”
    “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea? My family loves you. They always have.” It was true. When she’d stopped writing him, it had stung. She might not have been born into their family, but she was still part of it. She always would be.
    “I know.” Abby picked up her napkin and began folding over the corners. She still wouldn’t meet his gaze.
    “I don’t understand. Is it Chris? Are you worried about seeing him again?” He wasn’t sure how he would feel if her answer was yes. If she cared that much about Chris’ feelings then maybe she wasn’t completely over him.
    “It’s complicated.”
    “I’m listening.” He winked, hoping to put her at ease. His stomach was in knots waiting to see what she’d say, but he didn’t want her to know that.
    She continued to play with her napkin for several minutes. He was beginning to think she wasn’t going to answer, but then she looked up at him through her lashes. “Chris and I . . . we sort of left things unfinished, I guess you could say. I don’t know how he’d feel about me showing up unannounced like that.”
    “What do you mean by unfinished? ”
    “Trent I don’t—”
    Their server walked up to the table with a plate of wings and placed it in front of them. “Can I get you anything else right now?”
    “I think we’re good.” The last thing Trent wanted was for Abby to find some reason not to continue. He needed to know what this unfinished business was with his brother. Trent needed to know if he had any type of a chance with her.
    Alone once more, Trent picked up a wing and motioned for her to do the same. She grabbed one and twirled it between her fingers before taking a bite.
    “I’m sorry if I’m being pushy. I don’t mean to be.”
    “It’s okay.” She looked sad and he didn’t want that.
    He wiped the sauce from his fingers and reached across the table to place his hand over hers. “You’ve known me for a long time.”
    She nodded, but the melancholy look didn’t leave her features. He needed to chase it away.
    “You know when I want something, I tend to go after it. Even if it’s not the smartest thing to do.”
    The side of Abby’s mouth tipped up a little. “Like that frog.”
    Trent chuckled. It had been years since he’d thought about that. They’d been about ten. He’d caught sight of a huge frog and decided he had to catch it and bring it home. It had taken him over two hours and he’d ended up covered in mud up to his waist, but he’d done it. “Exactly like that.”
    A full smile bloomed on her face. He loved seeing her happy. He always had.
    “I need to tell you something.” It was time to put his cards on the table.
    She swallowed. “Okay.”
    “Back in high school, I had a huge crush on you.”
    She glanced down, a blush staining her cheeks.
    “I didn’t act on it back then because . . . well, because I was young and stupid. And then Chris made his move and you seemed happy with him, so I stepped aside.”
    “Very noble of you,” she mumbled so low he almost didn’t hear her.
    He ignored it and continued on. “If you tell me you still have feelings for my brother or someone else, I’ll back off, but I still feel that same pull toward you now that I did back then. The difference is that I’m not a confused kid anymore.”
    There was no way she could mistake his meaning. He turned her hand over and began tracing circles on the inside of her wrist.
    Abby stared back at him for what felt like forever. “I don’t still have feelings for Chris. I haven’t for a long time.”
    A feeling of relief washed over Trent. “Good.”
    She pulled her hand back. He could have forced the issue, but decided to let her go.
    “Am I coming on too strong?” he asked.
    Abby shook her head. “It’s not that.”
    “Then why did you pull