Free Burn Out by Cheryl Douglas Page A

himself up enough about
the mistakes that cost him the most important relationship in his life.
“Suddenly you’re an expert on relationships? Hell, Bri is the first real
relationship you’ve ever had.”
    “Yeah, but I’ve
learned a lot in the last little while, bein’ with Bri, and you can be damn
sure I’d never neglect or ignore her the way you did with your woman.”
    “Don’t start,”
Evan said, feeling that familiar twinge of guilt that plagued him whenever he
thought about the boyfriend he should have been… the man Erika deserved.
    “You left her home
alone night after night or dragged her out to parties when she wanted time
alone with you. You told me yourself that you’d leave before she woke up and
get home after she’d already gone to bed most nights. You told me yourself you
stopped makin’ love to her ‘cause you were so damn tired…”
    Evan winced when
he thought about how many weeks would pass without the physical intimacy they
used to share. He always told her he would make it up to her on the weekend,
but those days were all about attending the required parties, being seen at the
right events…
    “Hell, she used to
beg you to take a vacation or even just go away for the weekend, and you’d
always tell her you couldn’t get away. Do you know how that must have made her
feel, to know she mattered so little to you?”
    “Why’re you doin’
this?” Evan asked, his voice cracking with regret. “You don’t think I’ve told
myself a thousand times what a stupid S.O.B. I am? You’re supposed to be my
brother, to have my back…”
    “That’s what I’m
tryin’ to do, man,” he said, leaning forward. “If I were the one makin’ these
dumbass mistakes with Bri, I’d count on you to slap me upside the head and tell
me to get my act together before I lose the best thing that ever happened to
me.” Ryan linked his hands behind his head. “I hate like hell that I was too
selfish to see what you were doin’ to that girl before it was too late. I
should’ve been there. I should’ve been the brother you’ve always been to me.”
    Evan shook his
head. “The blame for this falls squarely on my shoulders, Ry. I was hell-bent
on doin’ things my way, provin’ to the world that I was every bit as good as
the old man, but you know what? I’m not, and I’m okay with that.”
    “Like hell you’re
not,” Ryan said, rolling his eyes. “We made more last quarter than we have at
any other time in our history.”
    “Yeah, but Dad was
more than just a business man. He was a father, husband, friend, and he earned
those titles. He didn’t let us grow up without him just ‘cause he had a
business to run. Hell, he and Mom are as in love now as ever. How do you think
they’ve made it work for so many years?”
    “Yeah, I guess
you’re right.”
    “Mom said
somethin’ at Jimmy’s the other night I can’t get out of my head.”
    “What’s that?”
    “She told me that
Dad always put her and his family first, no matter what.” He sighed. “Why
couldn’t I have done that… put the woman I love first? If I had, we’d still be
together.”
    Ryan tapped his
watch. “We’ll be boardin’ that jet soon. You’ll have seven days in paradise to
convince Erika you’re not the same man she walked out on.” He got to his feet.
“You know I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
    “Thanks, Ry.” He
looked his brother in the eye. “Hey, you grew up while I wasn’t lookin’.”
    Ryan chuckled. “I
know, it’s amazin’ what the love of a good woman will do for you.”
    Erika raced up to
the steps to her friends’ boutique. She was twenty minutes late for their final
dress fitting, and judging by the parking lot, the rest of the bridal party was
already there waiting on her.
    “There she is,”
Alisa said, raising a glass of champagne. “Girl, we thought you’d never get
here.”
    “I’m so sorry,”
Erika said, a little breathless. It reminded her that she really needed