He stumbled over theedge of the Persian carpet, laughing as he hobbled to the nearest chair withouthis crutches.
"You shouldn't betrying to walk like that," Russ hurried to grab his arm.
Cade brushed him awayand stood tall. "Leave me alone, Doctor. I know what I'm doing." Hegrinned and turned around, before letting himself fall backwards into the largecomfy armchair. "See, I didn't spill a drop." He raised the bottle tohis lips and took a deep drink of the honey gold liquid, ignoring the looks hegot from his siblings.
Kate took a chairopposite, her gaze blank as she watched him. Man, she's hot and damned if Iwon't have her in my bed before I go back to the city. She wants me, Iknow it. He figured by now she knew how to play the game. She'd make himsweat first but she'd give in eventually and he couldn't wait to have her bodyunderneath him naked and panting.
Cade toasted hersilently, grinning when she turned away.
"I have somethingto tell you all, actually a couple of things." Rooney stood in front ofthe fire and twisted her hands. She glanced around them all before lockinggazes with Tory. He smiled and nodded his head.
Cade dipped his fingerin the glass, toying with the ice cubes until they tinkled noisily against thefine crystal. "On with it, for goodness sake, Rooney."
"You all know whyI left home. What you don't know is what happened next." She licked herlips and gave a wobbly smile. "I had no idea when I left here I waspregnant." She held up her hand as Essie tried to stand up. "No,please let me get this out." She wiped her hands down the sides of herskirt before looking up again. "When Tory called to tell me Mum had died,I was in hospital giving birth to my daughter. That’s why I never came back. Icouldn't. It's something I've wanted to do ever since but there has always beensomething going on. I went to university and got my veterinary degree with atoddler at my feet."
Cade watched how Toryreached his hand out and clasped hers. "Anyway, I was going to buy thebusiness I’m working at but they sold unexpectedly and now all this hashappened. Earlier today I inspected the old practice on Putty Road and put inan offer. It's a dump and needs a hell of a lot of work, but it's all I canafford. If they accept my offer, my daughter and I will be home nextweek."
"Well, well,well." Cade sat forward in his chair, resting his whiskey bottle on hisgood leg. "I knew something like this would happen. The way you and thatboy disappeared down to the barn all the time…our sweet little sisterwasn't so sweet at all."
"Get a grip, Cade.Stop being such an arsehole," Kate spat at him. "Rooney, is thereanything I can do for you? You just have to ask." She stood up, walkedover to Rooney and wrapped her arms around her.
"Thanks, Kate. I'msorry I didn't tell any of you but it was easier not to at the time."
Essie glanced at herbefore joining the huddle. "Oh, child! I wish you’d come home. I could’vehelped out with the little one."
"Yeah well, that’sprobably what will happen now, so don't go getting your knickers in a twist,Essie. We all have to come home, so you’ll have your fill of us."Cade lifted the bottle to his lips taking a noisy slurp.
Cade leaned back in thechair and shook his head. "Sorry to take the sparkle off yourannouncement, little sister, but has anyone bothered to think about what I wantto do? I mean, Russ here had to run out of town because his trophy wife didn'twant to stay with him and his job was going nowhere. You need to find a homefor yourself and your child, but what about me?" He put his bottle on thetable beside him, ignoring the disgusted look from Essie. "Has anyone eventhought about what would happen if I decided not to come back home? Ihave a fucking career, for God's sake, and I like it." He ran hishand through his hair. "I don't want to come back here and fester away inthe bloody country—not yet anyway."
Rooney turned on him,and Cade blanched at the venom in her gaze. "Why is it always about you,Cade? Ever since you were a little boy, you had to be the one in the front.First to have everything, first to get the attention. Russ and I took a backseat to you and your goals, so don't you think it's about time you thoughtabout what we want just for once?"
"Honey, let it gofor now. Talk to him when he isn't drinking." Russ tried to get her toback down.
"No. I'm sick ofeveryone giving him what he wants. It was all ‘Cade this’ and ‘Cade that’. Cademust play football because he is good at it. That’s what Cade wants. I'mso damned sick of it. I want a home for my child and a business of my own. NowI have a chance to get it, and I won't let him stand in my way."
"Since when have Ihad it all my way?" Cade pulled himself to his feet ready to do battlewith his sister. "I've worked for everything I have, and don't you forgetit. For some reason you all think being a sports star is all glamour. Well letme tell you, it isn't. I have to work my arse off every day to stay in shapeand train, to say nothing of the promotional crap that gets thrown at us."Cade held onto the edge of his chair to stop from toppling over. The whiskeyplayed havoc with his balance. "You were always Father’s little girl,Rooney. Why the hell do you think he took it so damned hard when he caught youwith your pants down? You disappointed him, that's why." He laughedbitterly. "You
