TWENTY-FIVE
IN THE BACK of the car, she shifted to face him. “What has that got to do with anything?”
He shrugged off one side of his jacket to plant her hand on his shoulder. “You feel that? It’s not nothing.”
“No,” Alice said, optimistic again, almost joyous in her pride. “It is not, you’re right. The boys will do it.”
“What boys?”
Darroch leaned in. “There are sixteen of us.”
“You don’t mean… No, I couldn’t—you couldn’t…” After a glance at the Breckenridge parents, she edged closer to Darroch. Her chin dipped as her volume lowered. “You’re billionaires, you don’t… you know…”
“What?” he asked, straight-faced and without discretion. “Work for a living? Look out for the people we care about? Get our hands dirty?”
“My boys have built homes in Africa and South America, and assisted with disaster relief in many conditions.”
For charity, sure. Is that what she was? Charity?
“What if one of you got hurt?” she asked.
“Oh.” Alice waved away that concern. “We’ve donated millions of dollars to most of the hospitals in this city.”
Benedict concurred. “We can afford excellent medical care. And take your pick of the Breckenridge trucks too.”
Astounded, she blinked, dazed by Darroch’s gaze. “You would really…”
“Never had a boyfriend offer to do you a favor? If we didn’t have money in the bank, would you expect me to help?”
“No! Never! I would never expect anyone to—”
“Your previous partner wouldn’t have helped?” Alice asked, perplexed.
“Jeremy?” That was a laugh. “God, no. He would never offer to pay for anything or give it away for free. He said it’s how the rich get rich, being frugal.”
Maybe that was too—she shouldn’t have said that. Wrong audience.
Darroch raised her eyes to his. “Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the Breckenridges are doing okay for dimes, and frugal doesn’t figure in our house. We can be pretty generous, if you give us the chance.”
His smile warmed hers. Physical help would make the world of difference, but that wasn’t the reason sentimentality bloomed in her chest.
“You actually care,” she whispered.
Had anyone ever…? So openly…? She couldn’t get used to this, if she started to believe being part of their family was an option… Imagine being accepted, supported…
“Yep, me and my fifteen brothers.”
She hadn’t met them all, but they cared about each other. That was enough for Darroch, for any Breckenridge. They took their support of each other for granted, because, she’d bet, it hadn’t failed them yet.
“At least three of your brothers are minors and four are in college.”
“Okay, so I have eight brothers,” Darroch said. “And BKS is nothing but muscle.”
That last part was for his nodding mother. “Acre will help.”
“He never turns down a chance to sweat,” Darroch said.
“Is all the furniture yours? In your apartment?”
“Not all of—”
“Would you trust Darroch with a key? Give him the authority to take care of the logistics?”
While she went to work and let the move happen in the background? She would leave for work from one place and go home to another, not a jot of effort required on her part.
“Of course I trust him, but it would be unfair to—”
“This is what real boyfriends do,” he said, kissing her hand again. “Authentic, regular boyfriends, not weirdos like Jeremy the Germ.” She pursed her lips to contain her laugh. “You want me to come with you while you sign the new lease tomorrow? Make sure this guy isn’t giving you a bum deal?”
Alice sighed. “All I teach them and they still think men are better negotiators. They forget how many hours I spent negotiating them into socks and snowsuits, never mind how many deals were struck over the consumption of green beans.”
Adorable. She could imagine little Darroch and Caber resisting the constriction of socks each morning before school. And how many times had they tried to persuade their mother they could brave the cold without outerwear in their haste to get the best spot for snowball fights?
All those kids and all that land, growing up in such potential must’ve fired their imaginations. No wonder they were confident and bold, the Breckenridge men had been given room to bloom their whole lives.
“Cherry?”
“Don’t you have work?” she asked. “I could never ask you to—”
“You’re not asking me, I want to,” he said. “Dad’s getting the hang of running the place without me. We need to take the training wheels off sometime.”
None of them could ignore that quip, especially when Benedict’s deadpan eyes rose from his phone screen.
Alice laughed and leaned against her husband. “What do you think, my love, can you cope without Darroch at work tomorrow and Tuesday?”
“I can cope without him all week. For the rest of his life, in fact, if he wants to find himself alternative employment.”
Darroch kissed her head. “Don’t worry, baby, we’ll be okay. I’ve got a trust fund.”
“Underwritten by Brecken,” Benedict said.
“You give that guy too much responsibility.”
“You think I wanted to be the one wrangling the lot of you?” Benedict asked. “Your brother deserves a raise.”
“Well, I know who to talk to about that.”
“Brecken?” Alice asked and laughed.
Funny, sure, but she had to ask. “Do you really have a brother called Brecken Breckenridge?”
“Oh, no, dear,” Alice said.
“Rankin is the oldest,” Darroch explained. “Rankin is mom’s maiden name. And everyone called her dad, my maternal grandfather, Rankin. Got confusing.”
“So he became Brecken?”
“Colloquially,” Benedict said, and put his phone away as they stopped at the curb. “Ready?”
“Blaze?” Darroch asked. “Who booked this? Tripp?”
“I did,” Benedict said. “At your mother’s request.”
“Why would—”
“The salmon,” she said on a gasp.
“Yes!” Alice exclaimed. “They’ve created an entree for us.”
“Wow, really? I think maybe not so many cocktails tonight.”
“Live a little, my dear. You deserve a break.”
Benedict helped his wife out of the car. She expected to go after them, but Darroch pulled her back.
“Salmon? Cocktails?”
“Yes,” she said, happy to be bold. “You haven’t figured it out yet?”
“Figured it out yet?”
She kissed him quick. “Your parents are your competition.”
“My…?”
“My prior engagement was drinks with your folks.”
“Here?”
“No, me and your mom ate here alone before that, on the recommendation of her sons.”
“Darroch,” Benedict said from the sidewalk. “We’re going inside.”
Hand in hers, Darroch moved a few inches closer. “You know what this means?”
“What does it mean, Gentleman?”
His lips curled slowly. “We’re exclusive.”
She flattened her affect. “No.”
That switched off his smugness quick. “No?”
“No. I plan to keep seeing your mom.”
He laughed. “She can’t reach the top shelf either.”
“What’s on the top shelf that’s got you so obsessed?”
“All the best things come from the top shelf, Cherry. You should know, it’s where I found you.”
“On the shelf?” she asked and laughed when his faced dropped. “My hero.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“With the porno mags?”
He squinted. “Do they still print porn magazines?” Like she would know. “I’ll ask Astor. That kid’s probably got his own operation running.”
“You trying to deflect?”
“No, baby!”
“I suppose I should be grateful you scooped me up,” she teased, fighting her smile. “Off the shelf.”
“I’m grateful. Remember I’m the panting dog.”
Letting go of his hand, she slid hers up his body and leaned against him. “You’ve got the cure,” she whispered.
“The only person on the planet who does?”
Without waiting for a response, their mouths met, and the question was forgotten. So was their location and the fact the door was still open to the street.
“Get a room. You can afford it, brother, have some class.”
Their mouths parted in deference to the invading voice.
A guy. Hot guy. Hands in his pockets, bowed over, checking them out. His finger combed hair was probably a million-dollar style, but it hit roguish, rakish playboy on the nose.
“Hey, what you doing here?” Darroch asked, slapping his hand to the guy’s in a familiar shake.
“Demand he treats you better, Savvy. Don’t fall for the good guy act, he’s a player.”
“Says the world champion of charming women out of their underwear.”
“How do you know my name?” she asked.
“Roch talks about you. A lot.”
“Cherry, this is—”
“Tripp, right? The guy always on the go.”
“Smart and pretty. You did good, bro.”
Tripp offered his hand to help her out of the car. He was gracious, gentle, didn’t stop Darroch taking her hand back the moment they were on the sidewalk.
“Come in and eat with us,” Darroch said to his brother.
“No, thanks, Fernando’s not talking to me.”
“What did you do? His daughter or the dirty on his debt?”
“Nothing that fun,” Tripp said, still smiling at her, curiosity pinching his lower eyelids. “You really are beautiful.”
She glanced between the men. “Are you screwing with your brother?”
Because he couldn’t be coming on to her for real.
“No, just surprised.”
“Don’t hit on her,” Darroch said, relaxed. With his humor on, a tease flavored his voice. “Have some class, brother.”
Tripp laughed. “Man, you are possessive of this one. Cabe was right.”
“Yeah, what you doing down here when your thing’s tonight?”
“Not for hours,” Tripp said. “You bringing your girl?”
“Yeah, ‘cause I’m fucking insane. Where were you at tonight? If it was dinner, where’s your date?” He bumped her arm with his. “Tripp can only eat food if there’s a beautiful woman at the table with him.”
“A lot of things I can only do with a beautiful woman present,” Tripp said, full of confidence. “And not to disappoint, but no dinner date. Not yet anyway, I might pick one up on the way upstairs. This is me getting home from last night.”
“Why do I even fucking ask,” Darroch said, smirking and shaking his head. “Is Roxie home?”
“You want her to be? Bring your girl up, we’ll find out.”
“No, raincheck, we have something on tonight.”
“Oh, yeah? Standing me up?” Tripp snickered. “I’d do the same if Savvy was my alternative.” From nowhere, he snapped his fingers. “Sizzle Girl.”
She gasped. “Oh my God! You don’t—you know about that?” Laughter released her tension and anxiety. “Really? How do you know about that?”
“I know things, and I never forget a face or a body,” Tripp said, his gaze traveling down her form. “Where you working now? No way I heard right that you’re still at Breckenridge, you can do so much better.”
“Thanks, but I…” She shook her head. “I don’t do that anymore.”
“‘Cause of this lug? You can do better than him too.”
“No, no, Darroch’s amazing.”
“You must’ve got him on a good day.” They laughed again. “But, seriously, think about it. I can get you representation. Great representation. Whatever you need. I’ve seen it, you can write your own ticket. There’s a shoot in St. Barth’s next week—”
“No, thank you. That chapter of my life is closed. Completely.”
“Shame,” Tripp said. “You ever change your mind…”
“I know where to find you.”
“You’ll never get away with sneaking out on Mom,” Darroch said, getting them moving.
“A double date,” Tripp said, joining them. “Breck better step up his game.”
“Tripp!” the ma?tre d called the moment they crossed the threshold.
“Julian,” Tripp reciprocated and did the double cheek kiss thing. “You know Darroch and his beautiful beau—”
“Savanna, our chef has created a dish just for you.”
“You’ve made an impression already,” Tripp said, strolling along like they had all the time in the world.
Whether it was deliberate or not, the Breckenridges, and their associates, were the most welcoming people. Fundamentally good, so pure of deed, it was difficult to believe people like them existed.