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Okay…maybe he was a realist, but he could use all the help he could get.
“Did you do it?” she asked excitedly. “I did. But you can’t tell. You can only tell me if your wish comes true.”
“I did,” he confirmed. “Did you?”
“Yes,” she answered quietly.
He wondered what she’d wished for, and he fervently hoped that someday he’d be able to tell her that his wish had been granted.
“Hope is getting married.” Jason Sutherland downed another slug of his drink, his voice full of despair. “What the hell? She went back to the same asshole she was with in Aspen. I thought I was giving her time to heal, and she went back to the bastard. All he wants is her money. Doesn’t she get that? Christ! I should have just pushed her harder after what happened between us at the holidays.”
Travis actually felt for the poor guy. He’d walked up to Tate’s house after putting Ally to bed because she was tired and had a mild headache, probably the result of the altitude. He’d have to head back soon and check on her. But he and Tate were currently wrapped up in trying to get the distraught Sutherland to calm the hell down.
Tate barely knew Sutherland, but he said sympathetically, “So what are you going to do? If you’ve been crazy for this woman for years, don’t you think it’s time to make your move?”
“It’s complicated. Her brother Grady is one of the East Coast Sinclairs. And one of my best friends. I’ve known Hope for years and none of the Sinclair brothers know I want to fuck their sister. Bad,” he answered unhappily. “We had one fucking incredible night together at the holidays…and then we had a disagreement. I was going to just bide my time, wait until she was ready. But I’m done waiting. I’m going after her. She’s not marrying this asshole.”
Tate whistled quietly. “The Sinclairs are a pretty powerful family. You sure you want to tangle with one of their own?”
Jason gave Tate a disgruntled look. “I want to do more than tangle with her.”
Travis couldn’t help but feel sorry for Sutherland. He’d been in the exact same boat with Ally when she was engaged to another man. “I’m sure your friends would rather see her with you than some guy who just wants to drain her bank account.”
“Honestly, it doesn’t matter what they think anymore. Hope is the only one who matters,” Jason confided angrily.
“You think she’s really in love with this guy?” Travis asked curiously, relating Ally’s situation to Hope’s, and it annoyed the hell out of him. Obviously, some loser was latching onto Hope Sinclair for her money, using her like Ally’s ex had used her.
“No. But Hope has a huge heart. She’s likely to fall for just about any sad story.”
Travis watched a slow smile form on Tate’s face, a smile he’d seen before, and it scared the shit out of him. Tate was forming a plan, and it was likely to be trouble.
“I have an idea,” Tate confirmed. “But it would be questionably illegal and pretty damn devious. How far are you willing to go to get this woman?”
Jason shrugged. “As far as I need to go. It doesn’t matter.”
“She could end up hating you,” Tate warned.
“Better than her being indifferent and marrying some other guy. Let’s hear it.”
Travis listened as Tate outlined a plan so outrageous that even he was surprised. The crazy thing was…it just might work. Tate was ex-military Special Forces, and he had balls of titanium sometimes in the crazy shit he was willing to do. But he was also an excellent strategic planner.
“You ready to take that kind of risk?” Tate asked Jason bluntly.
“Yeah. It would give me exactly what I want,” Jason answered in a dangerous tone.
That clenched it for Travis. Jason really was in love with this woman. Either that or he was as crazy as Tate.
“I’ll help you any way I can.” If the guy loved the woman that much, he’d do whatever he could to help Jason. God knew he could sympathize with his situation.
“I will need a favor,” Jason answered slowly.
“What is it?”
“I’m going to have to leave in the morning. And I’m scheduled for the auction. I can’t leave them hanging now. Can you take my place?”
Travis balked at the thought. “I can’t. I’m here with Ally.” He wouldn’t mind the humiliation to help Sutherland out, but he couldn’t do that to Ally, and he didn’t want to be with any other woman for an entire night except her.
“I’d be more than happy to entertain Ally for you,” Tate said wickedly.