Free Silent Hearts (Hamilton Stables 3) by Melissa West

this?” Nick asked from the doorway, unwilling to enter the room, to enter whatever traitorous shit was going on there.
    “Nick . . .”
    “What the hell is this?”
    “Let’s discuss this outside,” Alex said, standing.
    “Let’s discuss it right here. Right now. What the hell is this?”
    Trip lifted his head. “You weren’t willing to hear William out, and we felt there was more to be discussed before he left town. So here we are.”
    “Meeting behind my back.”
    “We’re just discussing the offer.”
    Nick shook his head. “This isn’t your decision.”
    At that, Alex walked over. “It isn’t only yours either. We need to talk about this with open ears and truly consider the best course of action for the company and our employees. I don’t think you’re doing that right now, and if you stop to think about it, you’ll see I’m right.”
    “No, there’s nothing right about what you’re doing here. Nothing right at all.” Nick turned on his heels and stormed out, grateful that his brothers let him leave without a fight. Because right now he was too angry to have this conversation, too hurt, and he didn’t like the direction his thoughts were headed. He had no idea what he might say, and though his brothers deserved to hear his rage, he didn’t want to say something he couldn’t take back.
    Some words couldn’t be unsaid, but in that moment he was praying that some could.
    He needed Becca, and the last thing he wanted was to have started something with her that he couldn’t and wouldn’t finish. Besides, she wanted nothing more than friendship with him, so even if he’d said everything he was thinking, so what? It would mean nothing and do nothing other than destroy their friendship.
    Still, the expression on her face before she left flashed in his head, confusing him. It was like she was disappointed, like she had hoped he wanted her the way Zac and every other man on the planet wanted her.
    But what sense did that make? None; none at all.
    Jumping back in his car and slamming the door harder than he should, he took off, eager to get some distance away from his brothers so he could think. He told himself he was going to drive around for a while, clear his head, but he tended to head one place when he felt this lost, and before he’d even realized what he was doing, he found himself pulling down Becca’s road.
    The rain had let up to reveal clearer skies, and as he parked, he contemplated leaving without getting out of the car. She was clearly upset with him, and he wasn’t in a position to make anybody feel better about anything. So why was he there? Because he was a selfish asshole who needed her, and despite whether or not she wanted to see him, he’d come. Unannounced.
    He should leave, and he was tempted to, until he saw Becca’s form appear behind her screen door.
    Resolved that he couldn’t leave without saying something, he pushed out of his car and kept his head down as he started toward her. He couldn’t look up and see the hurt on her face, not yet, not when he was so close to hightailing it out of there, and she deserved for him to be better than that. She deserved the best version of him.
    Finally, he took the two steps up to her door and lifted his gaze at the same time she stepped outside. His eyes locked on hers, on the hurt there.
    “I thought you were supposed to go shopping?”
    “I no longer felt like it.”
    “Bec, I . . . I don’t know what to say.”
    She crossed her arms. “You said a lot already.”
    “I’m sorry about Zac.”
    The hurtful expression deepened. “That’s not what I want you to be sorry for.”
    Nick studied her, at the slight redness in her eyes. “Have you been crying?”
    “No.” She swiped under her eyes and then fidgeted with her T-shirt. “I just woke up.”
    “Just woke up?” He took a step closer. “You’re lying. You’ve been crying. But why?”
    She shook her head, her bottom lip trembling, and Nick wanted to cut out his