A Reputation For Revenge(64)

Bree stared at her. Then, bursting into tears, she pulled Josie into her arms, hugging her tightly.

“You’ll be a wonderful mother,” she choked out, wiping her eyes. “You’re the strongest person I know. You’ve always been so fearless. You’ve never been afraid of anything.”#p#分页标题#e#

“Me?” Josie cried.

Bree gave a laugh, shaking her head as she smiled through her tears. “The stunts you used to pull. Snowboarding in Alaska. While I was hesitating over the safest way, or worrying about the risks, you’d just fly straight past me, head-first. And that’s how you love.” She looked at Josie. “You’re still in love with him, aren’t you?”

Josie’s lips parted. Then, wordlessly, she nodded.

“Are you going to tell him? About the baby?”

“Should I?”

With a rueful little smile, Bree shook her head. “That’s a choice that only you can make.” She paused. “Because you’re right, Josie. You’re all grown up.”

Josie hugged her sister tight, then pulled away, wiping her eyes. “I do love him. But he doesn’t love me. I know now that he’s never going to come for me. I’ll never see him again.”

“I don’t know about that.” There was a strange expression on Bree’s face as she looked at a point above her ear.

Frowning, Josie turned around.

And saw Kasimir standing behind her, just outside the dark gazebo, in the warm Hawaiian night.

* * *

Kasimir’s heart was thudding in his throat.

Josie’s big brown eyes looked up at him in shock, as if she thought she was dreaming. She was chewing her pink bottom lip in an adorable way, wearing a simple pink cotton bridesmaid’s dress, with her soft brown hair hanging in waves over her bare, tanned shoulders.

So beautiful. So incredibly beautiful. Seeing her face, breathing the same air, almost close enough to touch—Kasimir felt alive again for the first time since she’d left him. Especially when he saw she was still wearing her wedding ring.

Kasimir ran his thumb over his own gold wedding band. He’d never taken it off. It had become a part of him.

And so had she.

When he’d burst into the wedding reception, he’d immediately looked for Josie. Instead, he’d seen his brother standing near the bar. It had taken all of Kasimir’s courage to tap him on the shoulder.

Still laughing at a friend’s joke, Vladimir had turned around. The smile dropped from his face. “Kasimir,” he whispered. “I didn’t expect you.”

“Then you shouldn’t have sent me an invitation.”

“No—that’s not what I meant. I—”

“It’s all right. I know what you meant. And until a few hours ago, I didn’t know I was coming either.” Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, Kasimir pulled out the contract. He pushed it into his brother’s hand. “I can’t take this. I don’t want it.”

His brother stared down at the signed contract now in his hand. “Why not?” he said faintly.

Kasimir blinked fast. “The truth is, I never really cared about taking over your company.”

His brother snorted. “You gave a damned good impression.”

Kasimir tilted his head and gave a low chuckle. “All right. Maybe I did want it. But what I wanted even more,” he said in a low voice, swallowing against the ache in his throat, “was to have my brother back.” He lifted his eyes. “I’ve missed you. I don’t want to run your company. But...” He paused. “A merger... We could run Xendzov Mining and Southern Cross together. As partners.”

Vladimir stared at him. “Partners?”

“We’d have the second-largest mining company in the world. With your assets in the northern hemisphere, and mine in the southern.... We could dominate. Win. Together.”

Vladimir blinked, his eyes dazed. “You’d give me a second chance? You’d trust me with your company? After the way I betrayed you?”

Kasimir gave him a crooked smile. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re brothers. But no more big-brother-little-brother stuff. From now on, we’re equals.” He tilted his head, quirking a dark eyebrow. “What do you say?” Nervously, Kasimir held out his hand. “Will you be my business partner? Will you be my brother again?”

Vladimir stared at him for a long moment. Then he pushed his hand aside roughly.

Kasimir sucked in his breath.

His brother suddenly pulled him against his chest in a bear hug. His voice was muffled. “I’ve missed you. What do I say? Hell, yes. To all of it.”