Chapter 31 Regan #2
Rubbing my neck sheepishly, I shrugged. “I couldn’t be there to make sure you were all right. And anyway”—I shot Lachlan a warning look—“I was only following orders.”
“No!” Arro turned on Lachlan, making us all laugh.
Lachlan grinned unrepentantly. “You were fourteen. If boys were going to date you, they needed to know what they’d be facing if they hurt you.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t get asked out again for two years!”
“Well, that was just an accidental bonus.”
Robyn shoved Lachlan playfully on Arro’s behalf, and he roared with laughter, setting them all off. I caught Brodan watching Regan again as she fell against Arro giggling, her dimples so damn appealing. Any amusement I felt died at the definite interest in Brodan’s eyes.
Not long later, when Regan announced it was bedtime for Eilidh and Lewis, I took them up and settled them in as I always did. Eilidh was more hyper than she’d ever been, and I regretted allowing her that final hot cocoa.
“I don’t wanna sleep, Daddy,” she growled at me in the monster voice.
“You have to, Eilidh-Bug. It’s past your bedtime.”
“But I wanna be downstairs!”
“Come on.” I lifted her into bed, pulled up the covers, and settled down beside her in one swift move. “I’ll read The Night Before Christmas to you.”
She harrumphed like an eighty-year-old but couldn’t resist snuggling into me as I slowly made my way through the Christmas book.
Thankfully, despite her excitement, she was also an energetic five-year-old who needed her sleep.
Her eyes closed, lashes thick and casting shadows across her chubby cheeks.
I squeezed her closer, just watching her for a bit, preferring to feel the utter relief of knowing no one could ever take my daughter from me rather than dwell on the panic that one day soon, another female who had become precious to me would slip through my fingers like sand.
A while later, I came downstairs to find the adults—except for Arro, who was driving Mac home—had moved on to a glass of whisky.
Brodan had somehow insinuated himself into a seat next to Regan.
He had his arm stretched along the back of the couch behind her.
I tried not to let it bother me, considering Regan was engaged in conversation with Robyn, but as I sat down at the end of the sectional, I couldn’t stop my eyes from moving to them.
Brodan was chatting with Lachlan but my eagle eyes caught his subtle movement. My brother started drawing circles on Regan’s shoulder.
My gut tightened with anger, and I was about to snap at Brodan when Regan suddenly launched herself off the sofa. “Sorry, have an itch behind my shoulder blades. Robbie, can you get it?” She crouched, and while her sister frowned at Regan’s randomness, she reached up to scratch her back.
“Got it?” Robyn asked.
“Yeah, thanks. I hate those awkward itches.” Regan grinned breezily but I recognized it for what it was—a fake smile. When she returned to the couch, she sat down next to me instead.
My gut unknotted.
I wanted to lay my hand on her thigh in an obnoxious, claiming gesture.
Not long later, Brodan’s cell rang.
“Damn.” He looked at the caller ID. “I need to take this.”
“At this hour?” Lachlan scowled.
“It’s my agent. He’s on LA time. I’ll just be a second.” Brodan got up and strode toward the bifolds that led outside. “Hey, what’s happening?” he asked as he opened the door.
Ice-cold air immediately encased us, and we all shivered. The door closed behind Brodan and the air warmed again.
Five minutes later, when he still hadn’t come back, my annoyance grew. It wasn’t just about his flirting with Regan; it was the fact that he hadn’t seen his family in half a year, and he couldn’t go one night without shoptalk? Aggravated, I got up and strode toward the bifolds.
“Thane,” Lachlan called in warning.
I waved him off and slipped outside onto the deck.
My breath puffed in the air as soon as I shut the doors behind me.
It was fucking baltic. Shivering, I turned to find Brodan sitting on the stairs at the bottom of the deck.
No phone in hand. Just staring out at the blackness beyond.
While I could smell the sea and hear it lapping at the rocks below, I couldn’t see a damn thing, which was why the kids were never allowed out here in the pitch-black.
“What are you doing?” I sat down beside my brother, the icy wood seeping into the arse of my trousers. “It’s bloody freezing.”
Brodan shrugged. “I like it. I’ve been filming in a desert for months. This is refreshing. It’s home.”
The sound of longing in his voice made me frown. “Then why are you never here?”
“Because I have a life, a career.”
I made a huffing sound but didn’t reply.
“Anyway, you’re all doing well without me. I’ve never seen Lachlan so happy.”
“Aye, Robyn is good for him.”
“She’s pretty great.” He flicked me a smirk. “Her sister is tasty. Can’t imagine it’s a hardship having her around.”
That jealousy and anger flared inside me again. “You’ll stay away from Regan.”
Brodan snorted. “It’s just harmless flirting.”
“It’ll stop. You’re making her uncomfortable.”
“I’m making her uncomfortable, brother, or I’m making you uncomfortable?
” All amusement fled Brodan’s expression as he stared into my eyes.
“I’m not an idiot. Our family might not have noticed, but I certainly have.
You watch her like a hawk. And she watches you back.
A man doesn’t look at his brother like he wants to rip off his head for staring at a woman, unless he himself is fucking said woman. ”
“Brodan,” I warned.
My brother held up a hand to cut me off.
“I won’t tell anyone.” He stood and stared down at me.
“But have you really thought this through, Thane? She’s a lot younger than you, she’s gorgeous, and she’s barely experienced life.
I just …” he sighed heavily. “I don’t want you to get hurt.
Watch yourself there.” He patted my shoulder and strode back up onto the deck to disappear inside.
I bowed my head, fighting a million emotions, few of them pretty. Finally, knowing they’d all wonder where I was, I took a deep, calming breath before I forced myself to return inside.