“Jake didn’t have anything new?” David asked.
“No, sir.” Brandon turned half the steaks while Robert took care of the other half. His mom had brought salads, and Rachel had made some ahead, so as soon as the meat was cooked, supper would be served.
“He told Rachel that, once he learned anything, she’d be the first to know.” He shot a look at Robert. “One of the hardest things, ever, knowing there’s nothing I can do, nothing Trace can do, except rely on this safety net y’all have in place, here.”
“Kind of puts paid to the whole ‘I am a mighty Dom in control of everything’ vibe, doesn’t it?”
David’s observation was spot-on.
“Yeah, and for those of us, like Brandon and me, who were born control freaks, it’s hell.” Robert said.
It struck Brandon then that he and Trace, together, were very much a pair of Doms in the mold of Robert and David. David and Trace were both more laid back, more able to let things go far easier than he or Robert ever could.
“We’ll eat in about five minutes,” Brandon said.
“The table’s set, and while you bring in the meat, we’ll set out the rest.” Rachel’s voice sounded relaxed, and looking at her, Brandon knew she was comfortable with the impromptu dinner party.
He didn’t know just how comfortable until David and Trace cleared the plates and brought over the plate of brownies and cookies they’d gotten from the freezer.
Rachel looked over at her daughter. “Libby? That meeting I had with Jake and Adam, before we came over here, is something I need to tell you about.”
Libby’s expression went from relaxed to guarded in a heartbeat. She met her mother’s gaze and nodded. “All right.”
“It appears that your father is looking for us.”
Brandon knew Rachel’s word choice had been deliberate. She hadn’t said Buck was looking for her but the two of them together. She’d told them that she hadn’t really been open with Libby about the man and his reactions to having a daughter. Her reasoning was sound. Buck Cosgrove never should have been a father, as far as Brandon was concerned. His attitude toward being the father of a girl had nothing whatsoever to do with Libby. That was a symptom of Cosgrove’s failings, pure and simple.
“Why? Is he looking to cause you trouble?”
Rachel opened her mouth then closed it again. Brandon flicked a look at Trace. He’d caught the significance of Libby’s words, too.
“I don’t know, honey,” Rachel said. “Jake said he’s got the detective agency looking into it, to try and figure out what’s going on. He said as soon as he hears, he’ll let us know.”
“I’m not going to live with him, not ever!”
He looked at Libby, with her chin jutted out just a tad and the light of battle in her eyes. Hell, we’re going to have to beat off the line of boys that are going to come sniffing around, all too soon.
“That is absolutely up to you and more than fine with me,” Rachel said. “No one can make you, either.”
“Promise?”
“We promise.” Brandon spoke the words without hesitation. “And by we, I mean not only Trace and I but every man at this table.”
“And most of the ones in Lusty,” Robert said.
“Okay, good, then. April is really cool. She’ll figure out what that person wants.”
“I hope so. I just didn’t want you not to know what was going on.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She turned her attention to Colleen, who appeared to be trying to figure out what was going on by looking at each adult in turn.
“Come on, half-pint. Let’s go play with your dolls.”
“Yes!” Colleen jumped down from her booster seat and practically ran to Libby. The two left the kitchen, and Brandon didn’t even blink about her not having asked permission.
He figured after all she’d been through, a little pass on manners, especially after the shock her mother had needed to give her, was fine.
“Sweetheart? Don’t frown. I know what you’re thinking.” Trace reached over and squeezed her hand. “You didn’t do or say anything to cause her to have those feelings of enmity toward the man.”
“You haven’t,” Brandon agreed. “I’d say the man’s absence from her life did that, all by itself.”
“She’s clever,” Robert said, “and she’s got a loving heart. Those qualities I’ve known since we met a few months ago. But now I see she’s got a healthy sense of personal boundaries, too.”
Brandon grinned. There was only praise at this table for their daughter. And in that instant, he understood that already, in his heart, Libby was indeed his daughter.
* * * *
Now that a big-ass payday was in sight, Buck found it easier to put up with the boss’s bullshit. Amazing how easy it was to say “yes, sir” when you knew the day was close when you could say “fuck you,” instead. Once he’d put his mind to finding his ex, things had gone a hell of a lot better than he’d imagined.
A week after Rudi had told him about Rachel’s windfall, he’d been stewing over his beer, sitting at the bar in his usual haunt. How the hell was he going to find her? Rudi’s ex sure as hell wouldn’t give him the time of day, so he couldn’t ask her. Fucking bitches always stick together.
“You’re looking even more miserable than usual.” Felix’s comment as he set a fresh beer in front of Buck made him look up.
“Oh, yeah? You’d look miserable, too, if your ex was rolling in a lottery win and keeping it all to herself.”
“If I was stupid enough to get married, I’d deserve it,” Felix said. “What did she do, tell you to go get fucked? Because, I gotta tell you, depending on when that win happened and how long you were married, you might be able to sue her ass in court.”
“I just might, if I knew
