Home Tears

“Everything.”

“I’ll tell you everything.”

Dani saw who else was in the Grill then. Jake. Kate. Aiden. She ignored all of them, and walked away. Just outside, she stopped short because Boone and another man were studying her Mustang.

She said, “It’s mine.”

She guessed this was Boone’s brother. They looked similar. Both were tall and lean with the elder Quandry outweighing the Boone by twenty pounds. Those pounds had been lost in mourning, and Dani stood there, plain as day, as the catalyst for that weight loss. An emotion flickered in Boone before he masked it and straightened stiffly. He slid his hands into his custom-made suit pants. His brother arched an eyebrow, raking Dani up and down.

He held out his hand. “Drew Quandry.” He gestured to her car. “You got a nice vehicle. A classic.”

“I’m aware.” She was tense, ready for another fight, for another onslaught of emotion that never seemed to stay away for very long.

“Drew,” Boone spoke up.

Dani tensed again at his wary voice.

Drew turned and frowned in surprise at his little brother. “What?”

Boone sighed. “This is Dani.”

Drew jerked back to her, new comprehension in his eyes.

“This is my ex-fiancé.”

“Oh.” Drew reared back. He raked his brother with worried eyes, then turned to Dani. Sudden suspicion, and anger sparked there.

“I haven’t told anyone else.” Boone spoke to his brother, but he watched Dani. “I don’t know what you’ve said…” He trailed off, letting her answer.

She did. “Two people.”

Drew Quandry was silent. He watched the two exes a moment before saying, “You broke my little brother’s heart.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re sleeping with our enemy.”

A lump formed in her throat. She heard his condescension. “I don’t know how that’s any of your business.” Dani made sure she was looking right at Drew when she spoke. It was Boone’s business, but not his brother’s. “And with all due respect, your brother’s relationship is with me and him. Not you. And you don’t know a thing about me except that I left your brother.”

“You walked out on him when he was celebrating your engagement.” Drew narrowed his eyes. “I know that, too. And I know that you’re the reason my brother’s half the man he used to be.”

“Drew!”

Dani studied Boone. “Is that true?” she asked softly. “Are you half the man you used to be because of me?”

Boone closed his eyes. He ran a weary hand over his jaw. “I don’t want to do this here. Not with my brother here. You’ve got something going on. I can tell. What’s happened, Dani?”

Dani flinched. Of all the people to ask, it was him.

Kate called out Dani’s name at that moment, with Jake right behind her.

He was beaming, and he clasped Boone on the shoulder. “I didn’t know you were out here.” He nodded to Boone’s brother. “You must be Mitch’s older brother?”

Boone gestured toward him. “This is Jake, he invited us to a poker tournament Friday night.”

“Oh, yes!” Drew held his hand out for a handshake. “Jake Cairns, you’re the deputy who’s engaged to Julia O’Hara.” Drew slid a sideways glance underneath his eyelids to Dani. “Susan was impressed with how you carry yourself. She said you were a good man to have on the team.” He seemed to remember. “Oh, sorry. I should explain. Susan’s my fiancée. She and our father are flying in Friday. Mitch and I won’t be able to make the poker tournament.”

Dani tucked that information away. Jonah would probably want to know, if he didn’t already.

Jake nodded, like it made sense, like he had friends flying to Craigstown every day. “Family before pleasure. That’s what I always say.”

Kate’s mouth opened an inch. She gazed dumbfounded at Jake. She turned to Dani, but she shook her head. Dani was giving her a silent command to let it go. Kate got the message, but she gave Jake another incredulous look. Her eyebrows were arched high.

Drew caught the look between Kate and Dani, but held his hand out again to Jake. “Not to cut it short, but we should be heading out. It was a pleasure to meet all of you.”

He shook Jake’s hand, then turned and left. Boone glanced back, looking at Dani briefly before the two got in an SUV.

“Yeah.” Kate held out her hand and pretended to shake an invisible hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, too, Mr. Drew Billionaire and Gorgeous Quandry. A huge pleasure.” She let out a sigh, her hand resting on her hip. “Man. They’re always taken. That Mitch guy’s taken, too. I’ve seen the red bombshell on his hip around town.” She looked at Jake. “You’re friends with them?”

Jake was studying Dani. “What? Oh, yeah. Uh.” He scratched behind his head. “Julia is. Her and Jenny hit it off yesterday at a tea party.”

Kate snorted. “A tea party? Are you kidding me? You’re going to marry someone who attends high tea at noon?”

“It wasn’t at noon, and, I guess.” He asked Dani, “You okay?”

Kate cursed under her breath, whirling around. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry. That’s why we came out before we were distracted by Mr. Hoity Toity here and his new golfing buddies.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder at Jake. Then softened her tone. “We heard what you asked Mae. Is that true?” ns class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">