Page 80 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

“Jesus, Dylan.”

“I know, man.” Dylan said before his brother could say anything else. “I fucked up. Big time.”

“No.” Hunter’s voice was close to a ragged breath. “You didn’t. I think I’m already halfway in love with Annie.”

Dylan’s heart stopped. Froze for a second in his chest and started again with a massive thump. “You are?”

“And I’ve been feeling like a right prick for stealing your girl.”

Halfway in love… Hunter’s halfway in love?

Dylan burst out laughing. He couldn’t help it. For the last five days he’d been fighting every bloody male urge and desire in his body and over on the other side of the world, his brother had been experiencing the same damn guilt.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes. Being a twin sometimes sucked the big one. And sometimes it was just plain scary.

“Damn,” he said into the phone. “Didn’t expectthat. Sorta figured you’d chew my arse off and tell me to get my shit together and hop on the next plane.”

“I think you should stay in New York,” Hunter answered, the earlier tension to his voice gone. “See what’s what with this new girl. Give it a chance. She could be your soul mate.”

Dylan straightened on the toilet seat. “Is this the same brother who told me to get my head out of my arse? Told me flying to New York was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life?”

“One and the same. You can kickmyarse for being a self-righteous prick when you get home.”

Dylan slumped forward again, elbows on his knees. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

Home. That bloody word again.

He sighed. “Deal.”

A soft knock sounded on the door. “Dylan? I just wanted to…I mean…is everything okay?”

Dylan raised his head and studied the closed bathroom door, imagining the woman waiting for him on the other side.

Home. What a complicated bloody notion. His mum had always said home was where the heart was, but what did it mean if his heart was in two places?

His heart was with Monet. He couldn’t deny that anymore. But it was also at Farpoint Creek. Not with Annie—he knew that for a fact now. But with Farpoint. With the cattle station his great-great-great-grandfather had started. With the land and the endless Outback sky. With Australia.

He rubbed at his eyes and then dragged his hand down his face. “I need to go,” he said. “Give Mum and Annie my love.”

“Will do.”

Dylan disconnected before Hunter could say another word. Knowing his brother, he’d ask him what he was planning to do.

It was a question he had no answer for. Not a bloody one.

* * *

Dylan closed his eyes, slumped backward in the armchair and groaned; a long, drawn-out sound that vibrated from his throat to the pit of his stomach.

He’d never been so sated.

“That,” came Monet’s voice from across the low coffee table, “was the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten.”

Dylan cocked open an eye, grinned at her and then closed it again. “Ta muchly. Mum was pretty adamant Hunter and I learn how to cook. Having said that, Hunter still burns water.”

Monet’s answering laugh made his groin tighten. He’d never be immune to the effect her laugh had on his body.

“You love your family a lot, don’t you?”