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  She was stubborn, and there was a piece of her that refused to be under his shadow, under his control, a piece that refused to be handled by him. It was a fine line he had to walk to manage her and get her to see things his way while somehow thinking it had been her idea. Other times, though, she figured it out and was quick to set him straight. Maybe that was what he loved about her so much: She was a strong-minded woman who wouldn’t bend to his will.

  “Hey, you, where’s your wife?” Chase asked, looking around the dining room, where plates were stacked on the table for a dinner that was now being prepped. Vic could smell garlic and herbs. This private patio was one of his favorite spots to decompress for a moment before dinner.

  “In my office, on the phone, taking care of some business she insists can’t wait.”

  Chase smiled, and his expression was humorous. “Thought for sure you’d have her resting or propped somewhere with her feet up.”

  Vic wondered what kind of look was on his face, because Chase shrugged. “You don’t know her very well,” Vic said. It took a lot of maneuvering to ease Fiona into anything, and at times he’d had to resort to convincing her on her back, when she was more willing to see things his way. Sometimes it worked, others it didn’t. “She tests me at times, but I’ve learned that if I tell her to do something, she’ll do the opposite. She’s not compliant, never was.” But she was the only woman he could ever love. She’d ruined him for anyone else. He didn’t want anyone else. “And Rose, how is she? This thing with her ex and that idiot brother of ours is quite the fucked-up mess,” he added, but at the same time he wanted to take it back. Luc was a brother he could never understand, could never relate to, but he was his brother and he loved him.

  “Rose is fine. She’ll be fine. None of this is on Luc, anyway.” Chase had a tone that could be admonishing at times, as if he were scolding.

  “I know that. Shouldn’t have said it like that. Just that Luc seems to be consistently neck deep in drama and problems,” Vic added and then wondered whether he’d always seen his brother that way.

  “Really, you mean like the drama and problems you created when you treated women like they were nothing but toys to satisfy you? You had a dark side. I knew, I saw, I heard—until Fiona. And Aaron, with how fucked up he is, has been since losing his girl the way he did, then taking up a career where he’s been trying to kill himself for years…”

  He was really on a roll. Vic couldn’t stare down at Chase because they were the same height, only Vic had another twenty pounds of pure muscle on him. “And you,” Vic said, interrupting, “who aren’t happy unless you’re fixing everyone and all their problems?”

  That shut Chase down, as he almost snarled at him. “You’re an asshole. You fight dirty when you’re cornered.”

  “Just saying, as you pointed out, we’re all fucked up. Quite the family, aren’t we?” He took in John, who was walking with a book across the back yard to where the hammock stretched between two oak trees. His son, his boy, was so thoughtful and fun and kind, and he’d had no hand in raising any of him. Maybe he wouldn’t be the amazing kid he was now if Vic had been in his life, raising him since he was a baby. Then there was Billy Jo following him, the messed-up kid Chase was adopting, the girl he understood better than he did his own son.

  “She really likes John,” Chase said, standing beside him, looking out the window. John was on the hammock, lying down, the book in the air, and Billy Jo was now standing beside him, watching him. Vic could see her smart mouth moving, and then John got off the hammock, mad, irritated, and walked away. Billy Jo shrugged and hopped onto the hammock, her feet dangling, swinging back and forth.

  “Seems like she enjoys pushing his buttons more,” Vic said.

  “I’ll talk to her, get her to ease up.”

  Vic took in his brother again. “Tell you what. Why don’t you leave them be and let them fix their own problems?” Vic didn’t miss the stillness that came over Chase and the second or two of quiet.

  He shook his head. “No, she needs to learn not to push. I’ll handle it. Relationships are still something she’s learning. Kind of like you and Luc and this distance that’s been between you.”

  “Oh, good God, here we go. Seriously, Chase, I got him out here. His stuff is arriving in the next few days. I’ve given him a place. I have a job waiting for him so he can get his life together. There’s no distance. Luc just needs to get over whatever rut he’s found himself stuck in. I’m helping.”

  Chase was shaking his head. “You’re not helping; you’re telling, demanding, insisting. He just needs time to get on his feet.”

  “This coming from the man who’s coddled Luc from day one. Wasn’t it you who said he needs a fresh start? And don’t tell me you didn’t put together a list of job possibilities for him, new directions.”

  Chase said nothing this time as the tension around them seemed to kick up a bit, brother against brother. This could end up with one of them mad at the other for a moment or two, but then Chase was never one to let him walk away. Rather, he was the glue that held them all together.

  “I just want Luc to be happy,” Chase said. “I wonder at times whether he’s ever been. I know he struggled when he came out. He was worried when he told Dad, who handled it so well.”

  Vic didn’t miss the sarcasm, which wasn’t Chase. Vic couldn’t remember that, but then, their dad wasn’t exactly the type of guy who’d win father of the year. Maybe the confusion was in his expression.

  “He lost it but then apologized and asked Luc if he was sure,” Chase said.

  Vic stared at Chase. He hadn’t been there, off doing something he couldn’t remember now. Whatever it was, it had been all about him, not his family. “Dad really said that?”

  Chase shrugged. “He wasn’t convinced, or maybe he thought it was a choice people made. I wonder at times whether he’s ever understood that’s who Luc is. He was born that way. Aaron never gave a shit. It was as if he always knew, and it never made a difference to him. I just see all the shit he’s had to fight, when to tell people, when to keep his mouth shut, all the doors that have been slammed in his face.”

  He continued to watch Chase and take in what he was saying. They’d never talked about Luc being gay. It was what it was, as far as he was concerned.

  “And you?” Chase said. “How do you feel? You’re the wild card. We don’t know, or Luc doesn’t, whether the fact that he’s gay makes you uncomfortable.”

  Vic stared out the window at Billy Jo, who was wearing capris and a green flowered tank, rolling around on the grass. He didn’t look Chase’s way. “Luc doesn’t make me uncomfortable. Why would you say that? Him being gay… I’m not homophobic, Chase.”

  “Really? Maybe you should take a long look in the mirror. We all have something, so maybe you need to ask yourself what it is about Luc that makes you uneasy. The way I see it, there is something. It may not be as simple as homophobia. Yes, it’s a horrible word, but as far as Luc is concerned, he believes it’s because he’s gay that you hold him at such a distance.”

  Vic didn’t turn around. He didn’t watch as Chase walked away, because he couldn’t believe his brother thought he didn’t accept him for what he was. It had never been about that.

  It had always been that Luc was the one brother Vic felt he had failed.

  Chapter 12

  “It’s only a couple days and then we’re going home. The cat will be fine. He has a cat door, food, water. He’ll survive.” Rose was walking down the carpeted staircase to the large foyer. It was all dark wood, with expensive furnishings and stunning artwork on the walls. She allowed her hand to trace the intricate design in the varnished wood of the thick bannister. It was old and had such history. She could feel it about the house.

  “But John doesn’t like me. We should go home tomorrow,” Billy Jo said as she strode barefoot, grass stains coating her toes. She should get her to wash her feet, at least, before dinner in the fancy dining room.

  “No, you
need to stop bugging him,” Rose said. “He spent how many hours playing video games with you, and then you just kept pushing and pushing. He’s got things to do, studying for finals. The school year is almost over. He can’t give you any more time, so leave him be.”

  Vic came walking around the corner, glasses perched on the top of his head, papers in his hand as if he’d been reading. She didn’t know he wore glasses to read. He looked up at her and then Billy Jo as they reached the bottom step. He still made her nervous. She couldn’t explain what it was about him, but he was so different from Chase, like light and dark.

  “You two need anything?” he asked. “I think Nora said dinner was ready, so we’re just waiting for Luc to get back.” He was giving all his attention to Billy Jo, and she was throwing him some major attitude that screamed she wouldn’t give away anything for nothing. Then he smiled as if he’d figured her out. “Chase said you’re starting school. He’s had a tutor coming out for you.” He glanced back to Rose as if she could add anything.

  What could she say? Chase wasn’t letting Billy Jo sit back and do nothing. She had to go to school, get an education, and he’d found an amazing tutor, a retired teacher who had a lot of attitude and could dish it right back at Billy Jo.

  “So? It’s boring,” she added. She was in a mood.

  “Maybe so, but finish school and then you’ve got options for a future.” He gestured toward her as he leaned against the bannister. “John’s just finishing up studying for a final he’s got coming up. After dinner, you two can watch a movie. There’s a theater with a big screen next to the gym.”

  Rose wondered where that was in the house, not that she’d had a chance to see even half of it.

  “A small media room I had put in,” Vic said. “Nothing too outlandish.” He extended his arm as Billy Jo stepped down, and he slid it around her shoulder, walking with her into the living room, asking about her cat, which Rose couldn’t believe Vic would have found even remotely interesting. Maybe he did have a way with her?

  The front door opened, and she spotted Luc. Julian was behind him. For a minute, she felt her throat drop to her feet from the shock. What the hell was he doing, bringing him back here? Vic must have said something to Billy Jo, because she wandered off into the other room. Rose was frozen, looking at the door, unable to explain her irrational fear of Travis’s brother. Maybe someone knew, as Luc was walking toward her.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” he said. “I…asked Julian if he wanted to join us for dinner. If it’s a problem, we can go.”

  “Rose, I’d never want to upset you,” Julian said as he stepped up behind Luc. He was tall, dark, and handsome. The brother-in-law she’d only ever seen with a woman on his arm was now with a man.

  “It’s fine, of course. Sorry…” She was stuttering and sounding like an idiot.

  Vic was watching her and then Luc, and she wondered what he was going to say. Then Chase stepped out of the living room. His gaze connected first with her and then Luc.

  “Hey, guys, what’s up?” he said as he stepped into the fray.

  She only heard part of the introduction, Luc and Julian talking, Chase and then Vic shaking his hand. She stood beside the bannister, gripping it as if her life depended on it.

  “You okay?” Chase was beside her, touching her. She hadn’t heard him walk over, and she looked up to see Luc and Julian watching her.

  “Of course, sorry,” she said again. It was polite, and she wondered about a lot of things, about everything, though she didn’t know what to ask first.

  “I just want to clear the air first and hope you’ll all understand, especially you, Rose,” Luc said. “Julian is not his brother…”

  Julian rested his hand on Luc’s arm, stopping him before stepping in front of him. It was caring, a closeness that was only ever seen between couples. “There are a lot of things I’m not sure of, but Luc and I being together isn’t one of them. When you find that one person who rocks your world, you have to take a chance. I guess living the way I have for so long and so many years, having to pretend I’m someone I’m not, as I told Luc, it changed me. That was why I called him. I’m not doing that anymore. I’m gay, and Luc makes me happy. We’re…” He actually smiled and turned it into a soft laugh, a nervous one she’d never heard before from Julian, not like this. “I’ve asked Luc to move in with me,” he said.

  Rose took in the glow from Luc and the way Chase walked over, pulled his brother in and hugged him.

  Vic just crossed his arms and took them both in, Luc and Julian, as if assessing the situation. “Move in means where?” Vic asked. It sounded as if Luc were a child, like something a parent would ask.

  “Seriously, Vic?” Luc said. Okay, so he’d picked up on Vic’s tone. However, she was sure Julian was still in Houston, or was it Fort Worth? It was Texas, anyway, which was not likely the best fit for them.

  “Lubbock,” Julian said.

  Luc frowned. “When did you move there? I thought you were in Fort Worth?”

  Rose took in the exchange and moved to Chase as his arm slipped around her, pulling her closer.

  “The Bible Belt’s probably not a great place to be, guys,” Vic said. “How about moving here? I was just talking to Luc about working for me.”

  Luc gave him a look she thought said, “Not this again!”

  “Things have changed,” Luc said. “People are more accepting. I’m sure you’re over worrying. Besides, Julian has a great job. I’ll find something there.”

  “Why settle when I could give you something…” Vic started.

  Luc was already walking into the living room, and Vic followed him. Julian just watched the exchange as they walked away.

  “Chase, give us a minute, okay?” Rose said. She ran her hand up and down Chase’s arm. He said nothing else as he looked over to Julian. He must have understood, as he nodded and then followed his brothers into the living room.

  Julian closed the distance between them. “I called my brother,” he said.

  Maybe her alarm showed on her face. Her hand snaked up her chest and throat.

  “He signed the papers. He won’t hurt you.” He gestured toward her gently.

  “Does he know where I am?” she said, realizing she had lived in fear for so long.

  He was shaking his head. “That’s not his business. He didn’t ask. I’m sorry I didn’t know. I wish…” He looked up, and she wondered what it was when he glanced back at her. “I’d like to think I could have helped you. I’m sorry, though. Chase seems nice. Is he?”

  She could see his back where he was standing with his brothers, his role and their odd relationship. “The best,” she said. “You sure about Texas? What about your family? You tell them the truth about you? It won’t go well with Travis, his future.”

  Julian just looked at her, his expression even, schooled, so much like his brother at times. “I will. I am what am. You know, I can’t leave my home yet. People know me there. I have a great job, a business I run. The laws have changed. Luc wants a family,” he added, and she wasn’t sure what she saw there. “Kids… It may not be that easy. Laws have changed in our favor, but some minds haven’t. We’ll see. If it doesn’t work there, there’s always California—or here.” He looked around.

  “Hey, you two, dinner’s ready,” Luc called out.

  Julian touched her arm, and she moved into the living room, where Fiona was sitting perched in a chair, her feet on a stool and Vic standing over her protectively.

  Chapter 13

  “So Chase and Julian have teamed up with the kids to play video games,” Vic said as he strode into the quiet empty living room, where Luc had spent the last hour trying to make sense of his life.

  He said nothing, and Vic just stood there, staring down at him where he sat with his feet up, holding a square-cut tumbler of vodka he’d helped himself to from the bar. He swirled the liquid and wondered whether Vic would add something about him drinking or maybe how he should be feeling.

 
; “You sure about this?” Vic said.

  He flicked his gaze back over to his brother, who hadn’t moved but was standing across from him, still staring down at him with what was perhaps unease.

  “Yup.” He tipped the glass back and swallowed. The burn was welcome.

  “Why don’t I believe you?” Vic had moved closer. From his expression, Luc had no fucking idea what his brother was thinking.

  “Does it matter if you do?” Now he was being an asshole. The problem was that he didn’t know where he stood with Vic. He was such a hard-ass, and Luc never had been able to read him. Aaron, yeah, all twisted and fucked up and always there in a second. Chase was the mother hen, whose phone calls always started with “Any problems? How’s dating, your job, and anything else I need to know?” It had always been years between the times he heard from Vic, months and months. He had never reached out until now.

  “Hey, I care,” Vic said. “I may not show it, but Texas… Think about it. I can give you a job here, something good, and it’s not pity, Luc. I know you think it is.” Vic was beginning to sound as if he were pleading a case, and the best argument would win.

  “So I’m a prize, or what is this, Vic? I’m pretty sure with Chase and Rose, even Aaron and Brittany, you’d never try to get them to walk away from the one they love. The only difference between us is that I’m into men, not women. It’s not a choice. It’s who I am, and I love that guy. He wants a chance to have something with me—and yes, marriage. We won the fight, the right to be happy. You may not like it, you don’t have to like it, but you have to respect my right to choose who I want to be with.”

  Vic had gone stone cold, and he wasn’t sure what he was thinking. Maybe he’d ask him to leave or say, “Have a happy life. So long.”

  “Of course you do,” Vic said. “How could you think any of this has anything to do with you being gay? It doesn’t even come into the equation, and sorry, maybe I’m being kind of a hard-ass, kind of a jerk about things, but I don’t mean to be. It’s just that I left all of you. Chase was okay, he’ll always be okay, and Aaron…you’re wrong there. He worries me, still does, but I’ve watched him from a distance. You, I never figured out what’s with you, because you were gone, doing your thing. You had a job with the airlines, with that guy…” He was looking awkward, and this was getting really uncomfortable.