And Brett felt his heart squeeze hard inside his chest.

He thought Dan had truly understood. Had he thought, all along, that Brett was really going to come work with him? Or was he just frustrated now that things weren’t going well? Because what Brett knew, what Dan had to know as well, though they’d never spoken of it, was that on the occasions when Brett went to work with Dan, between tournaments, or when he just needed a break from the tables…Dan’s ability to find folks who wanted to hire them tended to increase exponentially. Brett was well known throughout the world of poker, but nowhere was his fame as strong as it was in his own hometown. Word got out he was working with Dan, and well, folks liked to be associated with a winner. Some approached out of curiosity, but most just enjoyed whatever it was they got out of working with a recognizable “name.”

Brett had never minded that. Though he’d never openly promoted himself or their partnership that way, lending what celebrity he had, to help Dan land the higher-end, more lucrative clients was about the only way he could share his good fortune with his childhood friend.

But, as much as he wanted to do anything he could to help, he drew the line at giving up the dream to build his own future. Not when there were too many other ways he could help that didn’t require that kind of sacrifice. It hurt him to see his friend disappointed, and in trouble, but he was feeling a bit betrayed himself.

Maybe it was the time he’d taken, or the distance he’d finally put between himself and the only life he’d ever known, but he could see more clearly now that not only did Dan not seem to have really gotten that Brett’s path was not his best buddy’s path, but he almost seemed…well, a little pissed off that Brett was going to go his own way.

And yes, that hurt. It also pissed him off a little, too.

“I’m sorry. You know I will do anything to help you out.” Brett pushed on when the mutinous expression crossed Dan’s face. “And don’t go blowing up on me, you know I don’t see it the way you do.”

“I work for what I get. I make the right choices for my business, to keep it strong and growing. And that means not being an idiot and letting you walk away. That’s why I got on a plane. I’m not here for a handout, Brett. I will never take your money. But I will take your honest work, because it’s good for all of us.”

Brett blew out a long breath and swore silently, but he didn’t look away from his one and only true friend. Dan deserved at least that much. “It’s not good for me.” He hated the pain that flashed through his friend’s eyes, but was bolstered by the anger he saw there, too. “There are other ways for me to help that allow us both to live the lives we want. If you won’t let me help you financially, there are other things I can do that are in line with your work ethic. I’m not trying to insult your pride or your integrity. But I can help you, goddammit. So let me. I can finance projects; I can do marketing for you. I’m not coming back to work for you, but there are so many other ways I can drive business your way. All of which I want to do.”

Dan didn’t say anything, and the moment spun out until it felt pretty damn uncomfortable for both of them.

Dan was the one who finally broke the silence. “You know, I never thought you had a problem. With gambling, with cards. You were more like some kind of professor of the game or something. It was all math and numbers and angles. Probably why you did so well in school. And took to building houses as well as you did.”

“I don’t have a problem with gambling,” he said, confused by where Dan was going with this. What else was the guy he loved like a brother angry about?

“Well, see, I kind of have to wonder about that. You won’t come back and help out a friend. But you’ll bring the card game to you. In fact, you’re bringing it all the way across the goddamn country.”

“I’m not going back to the game.”

Dan snorted. “Could have fooled me.”

“This is a one-time thing. For charity.”

“Is that her name, then?”

Brett curled his fingers tightly inside his palms to keep from destroying anything else between them by planting his fist in Dan’s face. “I’m helping out a friend.” His gaze narrowed. “I’m like that.”

Dan did have the grace to look slightly abashed, but he was already too far gone to rein himself completely in. “Well, looks to me like you’ve traded a lifelong friend for one who can scratch a certain itch. No worries. You’re not the first one to get lead around by his-”

Brett stepped in closer, but didn’t touch him. “You’re going to want to think very hard about the words spouting out of your mouth right now. You, your dad, and Vanetta are the only family I’ve really had. It’s because of you that I even know the meaning of the word family. Of what it means to love.”

“Are you saying you think you’re in love with this woman? Jesus, Brett, you just got out here. She must be one amazing f-”

“She is amazing,” Brett said, using every bit of willpower he had to keep his voice level. “In every sense, she is exactly that. But you’re missing my point. I love you all, you, and Vanetta, everyone back home. And I will always do whatever I can to be there for you. You know that. But, beyond that, I want something different than you do. Our goals are different. If our friendship, our life history, means anything to you, then you’d want me to achieve those goals the same way I want you to achieve yours.”

“What the hell does that have to do with some chick you’re shacking up with?”

Brett might have snarled. “She’s one of mine, now, too. And I take care of what’s mine. But then, you should already know that.” Brett turned and stalked back toward his bike before he said or did anything else to further unravel a situation that had already gotten so far out of hand, he wasn’t entirely sure how they were going to patch it up. He felt blindsided. A not a little sick.

“Brett, wait.”

He paused, but he didn’t turn around.

“Look.” He heard Dan blow out a long, deep sigh. Then, “I’m sorry, okay? I-I guess I’m not used to anyone else mattering to you. No one else ever has.”

Brett turned to face him.

“Even you have to admit that’s a new side of you. You’ll have to cut me some slack for not getting it right off. But I do now.” His mouth curved just a little then, but he was shaking his head as it did. “I guess it’s only strange that it hasn’t happened sooner.”

“To be honest, I don’t know what this is. Or where it will go,” Brett said, putting voice to at least some of the thoughts that had been rattling through his mind all day. “I just know that I want the chance to find out. About Kirby. About myself. About what’s next. On all fronts.” He faced his friend squarely. “It would mean a great deal to me if you understood that. I mean really understood it.”

Dan held his gaze just as squarely. “I want to. That’s about the best I can give you, because I’ve never been where you’re standing. I just know where I’m standing. And what I see as the best possible future for us both. Your education, skill, your name, matched with my background, the history of my company, can take it to whole new heights. Your vision, the foundation I’ve built in the community. It can’t miss. You’re the one telling me to think bigger, see a better future. And when I do, that’s what I see. So, no, I don’t really understand. You say you want to build your own future, but you don’t even know what the hell it is. And now, out of nowhere, you want to just jump into some new life thousands of miles away, with a woman you’ve just met. I mean, come on, Brett. It would be odd if I wasn’t a bit mystified, and yes, pissed off, about that. It’s going to take some time, I guess, to get used to. I can try.”

“I can’t ask for more than that.” Then Brett was quiet for a moment, trying, as best he could, to hear what his friend was saying, to see it from Dan’s point of view. After all, fair was fair.