Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
R eagan stood at Brody’s side as he scribbled down bids for the silent auction. He’d returned to the party with his father. She’d been chatting with Penelope before then and had learned that Pen had done PR for Reese during his and Merina’s marriage and divorce…and again when they’d been remarried.
While Pen chatted about moving to Texas, marrying Zach, and having their daughter, Reagan listened politely. She’d also been watching Octavius interact with his own children. Each of them looked at their father like he hung the moon, and it was obvious how much he loved them. This was no absentee father. He cared deeply and showed up when it mattered.
She’d been turning that idea over in her head since Brody had brought her a flute of champagne. She’d shadowed him as he perused the options for auction. He was a lot like his dad, she realized. Genuine, big-hearted, there when it counted. But, also like his father, he wasn’t a man to be tied down.
“Dad’s staying in town for a few days. So is Dante before he returns to LA.” Brody tossed the pen aside, folded his bid, and shoved it into the waiting black box. “He’s not staying with me or anything. He has a hotel room.”
“At this hotel, I assume. Does he get a family discount?”
“Full comp.” His smile wasn’t full wattage. He seemed…well, not sad but definitely muted.
“I’ve thought more about whether I’ll stay the night or go home,” she told him.
“And?”
“I called Ike and told him I’d be home in the morning. Of course he said it wasn’t necessary, but I have invoices to write, and I want to make sure he has groceries. I can’t let Dottie do everything for him.”
“Sounds like you. Taking care of the people who need you most.” Brody pulled in a breath.
“I belong in Merriweather Springs.”
He gave her a silent nod.
“Jaylyn’s flight is at ten o’clock tonight. I don’t expect you to leave with me. Especially with your dad in town. I’m sure you’d love to spend more time with Dante.”
“Love is a strong word.” His toneless voice made the joke fall flat. She was tempted to make her leaving easier for him, but she needed that energy to make it easier for herself. As it was, there wasn’t much left to give.
“We need to prioritize our families.” And not each other , she thought but didn’t say.
“Dante mentioned cigars with Dad tonight. I could join them.”
“You should. Do some male bonding over stinky cigars. Eat a medium-rare steak.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her so close their lips nearly touched. “You’re sure?”
“Positive,” she breathed, aware of her nipples tingling. He set her off physically no matter what her head and heart thought about the situation.
“Already, I want you again. Unbelievable.”
Her hands on either side of his face, she kissed him and silently agreed.
“ Excuse me ,” Jaylyn said after intentionally clearing her throat. “Get a room. I’m trying to bid on the trip to Cancun.” She made a shooing motion.
“Good news,” Reagan said after she and Brody had stepped aside. “I’ll be able to fly out with you tonight.”
“It’s better for the environment to carpool.” Jaylyn paused mid-pen stroke and smiled. “ Jet pool.”
“Dad and Dante are staying for a few days,” Brody said. “I’ll take the bullet and entertain them while they’re here.”
Jaylyn finished her bid and stuffed it into the box. “I have to fetch my bag from my room and find a town car to take me to the airport. I should have booked one. Can I borrow Bruce?” She batted her dark lashes. “Please?”
“I’ll see if he’s available.” Brody reached for his phone.
“He’s available,” Jaylyn mouthed to Reagan.
A minute later, Brody confirmed their ride. “He has another pickup scheduled—my mom. But he can take you in half an hour. That will include a ride to my apartment so that Reagan can collect her things. Too early?”
“We can drink champagne on the plane while we wait for the pilot. But I’m ordering food too. Do I have a chef for the flight home?” She pecked something into her phone and waited a beat before grinning. “I do, indeed. I’ll text him our requests. Reagan? Poke bowl?”
“Oh, um…”
“And sushi. And crab Rangoons. Or, oh! How about jalape?o poppers?”
“I’m not that hungry, but I’ll have a bite of whatever you order,” Reagan vowed, not wanting to burst Jaylyn’s bubble. “I guess…we should go.”
“I already said goodbye to those knuckleheads.” Jaylyn gestured to her father and Dante who were at the bar laughing over a glass of scotch. “Just this one to go,” she said before throwing herself into Brody’s arms.
“Text me if you need anything,” he told his sister. “And when you’re home safe.” He released Jaylyn and dipped his chin at Reagan. “You too. Promise?”
“I promise.”
He gave her one last kiss goodbye, and then she followed Jaylyn to her hotel room.
After the auction ended, Dante, Octavius, and Brody relocated to their father’s suite rather than going out. O announced that he’d ordered steaks for the three of them and had brought a box of his best cigars. Reagan had painted an accurate picture of their evening. Cigars. Steaks. Check and check.
“What are you going to do with that?” Dante asked as Octavius pulled Jaylyn’s ring from his suit pocket and set it on the breakfast bar.
“Dunno. But no way was my baby girl’s ring going to sell for less than three thousand.”
Dante tilted the ring, the stone in the center catching the light. “Is it a diamond? It’s green.”
“Green diamonds are incredibly rare and incredibly expensive, so…no. But replacing it isn’t a problem if you know the right jeweler.” Octavius lifted his eyebrows. “I won’t be needing a diamond ring in the foreseeable future. Just wanted my baby girl to know she’s valued. Which is why I paid ten for it.”
“You paid ten grand for a ring without a real diamond?” Dante glanced at Brody. “Time to have him evaluated. He’s not thinking straight.”
“You’re one to talk. How can you live in LA?” Octavius pulled three cigars from a wooden box.
Dante handed Brody their sister’s ring. It was made to look like a tree with branches, a larger stone in the center of the trunk, and smaller jewels cut into the shapes of leaves surrounding it. Brody was proud of her. She’d been brave and had stepped out of her comfort zone. The design was unique, one of a kind.
Just like Reagan.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and hopefully the thought from his head. He accepted a glass of scotch from Dante. If only to numb his brain so that he didn’t think about her anymore. The last twenty-four hours had been stressful, which might explain the tightness in his gut. Nothing between him and Reagan had actually changed. They’d had a misunderstanding and had resolved the issue with make-up sex. Everything was great.
Or so he kept telling himself.
After they’d eaten their steaks—turned out ribeye paired with scotch was the key to Brody relaxing—they retired to the balcony to enjoy their smokes.
“Too bad Zander couldn’t be here,” Dante said as he lifted a snifter of brandy.
Brody agreed. He could have used his oldest brother’s advice tonight. No matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he had a niggling feeling that he should have left with Reagan. “He probably didn’t want to leave Chloe.”
“Chloe is capable of travel, I presume,” Octavius said.
“She works, Dad. Like Reagan. She’s”—Brody spun his cigar between his fingers while searching for the right word—“independent. Likes to do things on her own.”
Like buy the house he’d rather gift to her.
“The best kind of women are independent,” O said.
“Not necessarily,” Dante grumbled before sucking on the end of his cigar.
Brody crossed one leg, expecting their dad to give Dante shit, but they both turned on him instead.
“What do you think of this idiot?” O asked Dante, pointing at Brody with his cigar. “In love with a woman and won’t admit it.”
“Maybe he doesn’t know.” Dante shook his head. “He’s a broken man.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You don’t love Reagan?” Dante accused, leaning forward to rest both elbows on his knees.
Brody shifted in his seat before he mumbled a “No” he wasn’t sure he fully meant. Reagan meant a lot to him, but in love with her? That was a leap.
“Pathetic.” Dante sat back in his chair once again before slanting a glance at their father.
“You’re a couple of assholes.” Brody stood to refill his brandy, leaving his smoking cigar in the wide square ashtray between them.
“The apple doesn’t fall far,” O said around his own cigar.
“Crabapple,” Brody corrected. He opened the balcony door when he heard a female voice call out, “Hellooooo?”
Octavius’s head whipped around.
“Is that Keaton Killdeer ?” Dante asked with a smile.
“One and the same!” She pressed a kiss to Brody’s cheek. “Hi, darling. Bruce said you called for a ride home tonight, so I saved him the trouble of dropping me separate. Your apartment is closer to mine than this hotel.”
“Uh-huh,” Brody mumbled. He doubted her showing up had anything to do with proximity.
“Hi, Dante.”
“Hey, Keat.” Dante tilted his face to receive his kiss on the cheek.
Brody’s mom was dressed in wide-leg pants and a tunic, a large-framed pair of glasses perched on top of her head. She dropped a sizable Louis Vuitton bag on the outdoor sofa before settling into the open chair next to O. “Hello, Octavius.”
“Hey, gorgeous.” Octavius had recovered well, leaning over to receive a cheek kiss from Keaton as well. She snagged the cigar from his hand and took a puff.
“It’s been a hell of a day. Bruce said Reagan went home. Why?”
Dante and Octavius looked to Brody for an answer. Brody retook his seat across from his mom. His refill would have to wait.
“Apparently,” he said as he lifted his cigar to his lips, “I’m an idiot.”