THREE DAYS GO BY and I don't hear a word from Danny, but then she doesn't hear from me either. I've replayed each second of what happened over and over. My brain knew something wasn't right, but my cock didn't care. Spending the night with women got easier as they learned my rules. It's always been a one-time thing, and Danny gave that back to me in spades.

I got my rocks off, but I feel completely unsatisfied. I can only wonder how many women felt the same way after a night with the great Van Stelson. I'm not so great anymore. Hell, I probably never was. Part of me is angry, even knowing I don't have a right to be. I care about Danny. I've never felt this before. And now she's fucked me and dumped me. I keep staring at her name on my phone and think about calling her.

I'm sure that's exactly how some of the women I've slept with felt. Now I've learned another lesson the hard way and I don't like it. I've never left a woman needy; well, at least not since the first few times I had sex. I learned quickly to watch a woman's face and pay attention to the signals of her body so she has a good time. It took about a year before I learned to give them a mind-blowing time. That's what Danny gave me.

It's Thursday and my usual day off from the office, but I'm here working. Danny's team is playing the championship match on The Slam's field. I agreed weeks ago to help Joel out. It's an extra bonus that The Slash is playing.

We donated our field to the rugby cause, and we're paying for employees to take tickets and handle other tasks around the stadium. I'm helping at the ticket booth, and don't get a break until the match is fifteen minutes in. I head to the back of the lobby, go down the stairs, and walk into the stadium through the lower level. The Slash has the ball and they're charging downfield. I check the scoreboard. We're ahead by three. I walk up the outside stairs to a side section of seats that doesn't have anyone in it. The stadium is hopping, but mostly in the center sections. I've never understood it, because the women play as hard-hitting as the men, and every seat should be filled. Danny fucking rocks, and she's worth watching all by herself.

I'm pathetic.

I take a seat by myself because I really don't want to speak to anyone. My eyes zero in on Danny and I watch her every move. You can't tell that she was hurt in last week's game. She's running, tossing, taking hits, and, within five minutes, she scores a try. The kick is good and our girls move farther ahead. Slash fans, dressed in hometown red or sporting some ridiculous costume, are on their feet. I stay hunched over in my jacket and watch.

It's a cold day and many of the fans have red blankets. Danny makes a great tackle, and I can't help a slight grin as those blankets leave laps and start shaking around as the fans take to their feet again. Danny is like me and my brothershe leaves blood on the field. She gives a hundred and ten percent. She's been right in front of me for over a year and I refused to see it.

Why am I putting myself through this torture? I've lost the girl again. This time it's worse than with Cami. This time I should have had a chance.

The Slash win, and the fans are stomping their feet and clapping for over ten minutes. I stay and watch the team receive their trophy and Danny receive most valuable player. I don't go to the tavern afterward. I head home and try to sleep. I close my eyes, and all I see is Danny on her knees, giving me what for. What I fucking deserved. And what I want again and again.

Danny loves you and you've never noticed.

Estella's words haunt me, though I no longer believe them. That's how I fall asleep- Estella's voice saying Danny loves me.

***

The next day, I drive out to my brother's. The Slam office is closed and I need some man time. Joel has a good head on his shoulders. He got the girl, and just maybe he can help me fix my fucked-up life.

The weather turns nasty the closer I get to his lakefront property. I notice right away that his truck isn't out front. Cami's car and Joel's vintage Corvette reside in the garage. They most likely took the truck because of the weather. I should have called first. I know where they hide the key, so I decide to wait inside for an hour to see if they show up. Again, I could call, but I'm not sure what I'll say. I need to have this conversation man to man.

I locate the key and open the front door. Soft music plays on the stereo, and Cami comes around the corner and jumps almost a foot.

"What the hell, Van? You scared me to death."

I bite back a smile. "Sorry, I thought you and Joel took the truck. I was trying to get inside before the rain hits."

"Joel's in town at the hardware store."

Dexter is about fifteen miles away, and has the one and only decent hardware store for miles. I'm sure Joel took the back roads or we would have passed each other. "Where's the princess?"

"Sleeping."

"Oh, okay. Well, I'll head back home. Tell Joel I came by." I still have my fingers on the door handle, though I pulled it in against the weather. I open it wide enough so I can head back to the Rover.

Cami's voice stops me. "I don't think so, Van. You and I need to talk about what happened before I fell in love with your brother."

Where the fuck was this coming from? It's the last thing I need right now. "Not a good idea, Cami. My brother and I already had that discussion."

"Don't worry, Van. I'm not going to give you a black eye. I just want to get it out in the open and move past it. I'm embarrassed every time I think about what you and I did."

I take a deep breath. I have this coming. It's long overdue. I just need to take my ass-kicking and get it over with. I close the door and step back into the foyer.

"Come on, I'll make some tea." Cami walks out of the room and heads to the kitchen.

I need something a hell of a lot stronger than tea. "Make mine a beer," I call as Cami walks into the kitchen. Her hips sway, and it does nothing for me. I've always appreciated a nice ass and boobs, but now there's only one set I want to watch, and those don't sway or bounce. I follow my sister-in-law like the sad puppy I am.