Chapter 23
Dallas helped Trent load the dishwasher and then motioned toward the fridge. “Mind if I have another beer?”
“By all means.”
“Want one?”
“I still have the one from dinner.”
“It’ll be flat by now. You could have a real beer. She’s not here.”
“Considering the mood I’m in, I wouldn’t stop with one and I want to be sober when she gets back.”
“Suit yourself. Which one is yours? There’s two in here with the cap mashed back on. Which never works, by the way. You need those little silicone stoppers.”
“I never saw the point. I don’t drink half a beer and save the rest.”
“Me, either. You put these in here, is yours on the right or the left?”
“I don’t remember. Just pick one.”
Dallas gave him a look. “That was fast.”
“What?”
“Sharing each other’s spit.” He grabbed one of the opened beers, closed the fridge door with his shoulder and nudged the cap into the trash can with his thumb. “Four days ago you barely knew who she was.” He handed over the beer.
“A lot can happen in four days.” He led the way back into the living room.
“Apparently.”
“Thanks for keeping track of the fire.” Trent flopped down on the sofa. The fire crackled and popped, two fresh logs perched on top of the three already engulfed in flames.
“It’s what I do.” His brother sprawled at the other end. “Okay, the truth, bro. Do you really believe she’s pregnant?”
“Yes.” He took a long swallow of the beer, which was, as Dallas had predicted, flat. He grimaced and took another swallow.
“Look at me and tell me you believe she’s PG.”
He grinned. How many times had his big brother confronted him like this over the years? Hundreds. He’d convinced himself he could tell when Trent was pulling a fast one. Sometimes he could. Mostly he couldn’t. “Think I’m lying?”
“More likely stretching the truth. It’s always possible she is, and she’s dead certain of it, so you’re willing to go along. At least, that’s my theory.”
“Good theory.” Trent shifted his position and stared directly at Dallas. “She’s pregnant, bro. It’s the perfect time according to her cycle and guys are more potent in the morning, so logically we had an excellent chance of success.”
“Then why not go with possibly instead of declaring it’s a done deal?”
“Because I felt it happen.”
He rolled his eyes. “Sure you did.” He took a swig of his beer.
“This is none of my business, but since we’re on the subject, are you and Angie trying?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because based on that eye roll, I don’t think you are.”
“Okay, we’re not, smartass. Not yet, anyway. What’s your point?”
“Once you ditch the condoms, you’ll know what I’m talking about. What you’re experiencing now may seem great, but it’s like holding hands with a work glove on.”
Dallas’s eyes went wide. “Well, thanks for that. Now I’m jealous as hell. And ready to get into the game.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Economics. We want to make sure Handywomen continues to run smoothly. Angie’s in no hurry to have a baby and as Jodie gets older, Kendall can take on more duties. When the time comes, Cheyenne and I will stop working the same shift so we can trade off childcare.”
“That makes a lot of sense. It sure would lighten the load for Angie and Kendall. I’m surprised you haven’t done it already.”
“We haven’t because we enjoy working together and Angie says there’s no rush. But after your work glove comment I’m thinking I’d rather skip the pleasure of working with Cheyenne and start making babies.”
“I’m telling you, bro, it’ll change your life. You won’t want to go back.”
“That good, huh?”
“That good.”
“No wonder you can’t take your eyes off her. Do I understand correctly that the two of you are supposed to shift gears and just be buddies, now?”
“That’s the way she had it figured from the beginning. Once we made a kid, that part of the relationship ended.”
“Where’d she get that nutty idea?”
“She thought that’s the way Desiree had worked her program. Turns out she was wrong. Her mom told her Desiree had a passionate affair with each of those guys.”
“That’s what you talked about on the porch?”
“Yep.” He drained the bottle.
“Will she change her mind, then?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Angie poked her head out right when we’d made it to that critical point in the conversation.”
“Bet you loved that interruption.”
“Actually, I’m glad she did it. Gives me a chance to think when I’m not swimming in testosterone.”
“What’s there to think about? You just convinced me it’s the best time a guy could ever hope for.”
“Which is great for someone like you, but not so great for someone like me.”
“You mean someone who will never in this lifetime walk down the aisle again?”
“Exactly.”
“Want my opinion?”
He smiled. “Do I have a choice?”
“Not really. I’m your big brother and giving advice is in my job description.” He pushed himself off the sofa. “First I need another beer.” He grabbed Trent’s empty. “Want me to bring you that other flat one?”
“Sure. I don’t want her to have to drink it.”
“I’m so glad you said that. It supports what I’m about to suggest.” He glanced at the fire. “You might want to throw on another log.”
“I thought you were in charge of that.”
“I am, but I have enough to do with fetching beer and delivering pearls of wisdom. I’m delegating the job to you.”
Trent put two logs on the fire instead of one. No telling how soon Angie and Brittany would be back and he wanted it going while he served the warmed up meal.
For some reason Dallas had mellowed toward a concept he’d soundly rejected yesterday morning. Only yesterday? His emotions had been on a wild ride since then, and it wasn’t over yet.
He replaced the fireplace screen.
“Here’s your other flat beer.” Dallas came in and handed it to him. “I considered pouring it out and getting you a good one, but I didn’t.”
“Thanks. It’s fine.” He took a sip to prove it.
“How’d Brit like the swing?”
He blinked. “What about the advice?”
“I’m getting to it. Did she sit on the swing?”
“She did. She liked it, likes swings in general. Thanks for helping me hang it last week.”
“You’re welcome. Why’d you buy it?”
“Because I like swings. Why in God’s name are we discussing them?”
“Because a single guy who never intends to settle down with a woman has very little reason to buy one. How many times since you bought it have you sat in it?”
“None, but I’ve been busy. I?—”
“Do you really think you’re going to sit out there by your lonesome, swinging away? Can you picture that?”
“I could take a nap on it.”
“Have you tried stretching out on that thing? There’s no way you could get comfortable enough to take a nap.”
“So I bought it because it looks nice. A wicker swing looks good on a porch. Can we move on?”
“Absolutely, right after I make my point that it’s a cozy couples swing, perfect for cuddling with someone you care about.”
“So what?”
“So you say you’re finished with romance, reject the myth of happily ever after, but you buy that swing. I call bullshit.”
“It’s just a swing, dammit!”
“It’s evidence. And I have more. You’re knocking yourself out to please Brit. You bought her unleaded beer, made a big salad, leaped to handle the situation when she couldn’t eat and volunteered to keep her company with warmed up spaghetti. Oh, and you grabbed a blanket so she wouldn’t catch a chill.”
“Mom and Dad taught us to?—”
“Be considerate? Buddy, you’re way past considerate. You’re in laying your coat over a mud puddle territory. And you’re loving it. Don’t tell me you don’t enjoy taking care of her because it’s clear you do.”
Trent stared at him, speechless. Finally he came up with a plausible reason for his behavior. “She’s pregnant with my kid. Our kid.”
“That’s not it. I recognize what I’m seeing, bro. I do stuff like that for Angie all the time and she’s not pregnant. I do it because I’m crazy about her and it’s fun to think of ways to make her happy and more comfortable. She does the same for me.”
He glanced away and focused on the flames dancing behind the screen. “You’re right. It is fun. For the first couple of years, I loved being married to Cheryl. But then?—”
“She was a con artist, bro. No substance. She was good at faking it, though. None of us saw through her until it was too late.”
“Least of all me. And thanks to her, weddings are my worst nightmare.”
“Even mine?”
Trent met his gaze. “Especially yours. I didn’t know Angie. You could have been headed for the same kind of misery I’d dealt with.”
“You hid it well.”
“Had to. You were counting on me.”
“And now?”
“I’m cautiously optimistic.”
“Why?”
“Because of this family. They’re like ours, only bigger. They treat each other well.”
“You do remember what I told you we went through with her brothers, right?”
“Of course I remember. And Angie handled it in a very classy way. That story was what convinced me she’s not likely to stab you in the back.”
“I can safely say she’s not. And for what it’s worth, neither is Brit.”
He nodded in agreement. “If I thought she would, I’d never have agreed to the baby plan.” He took another swallow of the beer. “This really tastes terrible when it goes flat.”
“But you’ll drink it because you don’t want Brit drinking it or feeling guilty because it went down the drain. And you won’t pour it down the drain because you’re not willing to lie to her, even about something small.”
“That about sums it up.” He guzzled the rest and glanced at his brother. “Was there some advice buried in that long, drawn-out commentary? Because if there was, I missed it.”
“No, but here it comes. It took a lot of cojones for Brit to consider this plan. She’s a gutsy lady.”
“You’re not telling me anything I don’t know.”
“I’m married to a gutsy lady and here’s the first piece of advice. She won’t admire you if you let her be in charge all the time. Take the reins once in a while.”
He nodded. He’d done that this morning, with spectacular results. “That’s good advice.”
“I don’t know what to tell you about this platonic friendship agreement you made with her. What were you thinking?”
Trent opened his mouth.
“Never mind. You were temporarily insane. But judging from what I’ve seen tonight, that plan is on its way out. If it is, just go with it.”
“I don’t know what it is.”
“From where I stand, bro, it looks a lot like a second chance. Now go get some cards. I’ll let you beat me at gin rummy.”