“A dragon.” She loved it. “Not a horse, or a cow. Or chickens. A dragon. That’s cool.”
“Isn’t it?” Seok replied.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before, Seok. What did it look like when you started?”
His gaze went distant as if he were picturing it in his mind. “The buildings are Queen Anne style, which means lots of eaves and gables. Turrets.” He pointed one long finger toward the barns. “And see how the shingles are set to make designs? I think they were meant to look like the Adirondacks over the lake, but there were so few pictures of the original structure, and the ones that existed were pretty blurry, so it was hard to tell.”
“When I got here, you’d already started. But the turrets had fallen in and the buildings didn’t seem to be connected. There were piles of lumber all around, but none of the other buildings.”
“Originally there were seventy-eight secondary buildings, and there were four barns here, but the fourth was so deteriorated we ended up expanding the center barn with what we could salvage. It’s extremely close to the original structure though.”
“It looks like it’s been here hundreds of years. If it wasn’t for the copper…” she trailed off.
“I know.” He shook his head. “It takes about twenty years for it to turn green, and I could have sped up the process, but there’s something about letting it happen naturally, the way it had when the farm was commissioned, that seemed fitting. I wanted the place to be alive, to be—as authentic as I could make it.”
She studied him as he spoke. Seok didn’t look at either her or Ryan. In the darkness, she could just make out his profile and how he stared ahead.
“You did.” To imagine it all tumbled down on the ground, so deteriorated that the roof had caved in, and look at it now. It was like something out of the pages of a history book. She went to him, wrapped her arms around him, and leaned her head on his back. “You definitely brought it back to life.”
He let out a deep breath, like he’d been holding it for ages. “I wonder what my father would think of it.”
“We’ll bring him here.” No one could see this and not be awed. “He’s going to be so proud.”
And just like that, all the tension returned. “Yeah. Doubtful.”
“What do you mean?” Ryan asked. “Your dad is coming here?”
“So he claims.” Patting her hands, he pulled away, but kept one hand on hers, linking their fingers. He led them back toward the path as if he could see where they were going, even though Nora could barely make out two feet in front of her.
“Why is he coming here?” Ryan asked. He walked behind them, feet shuffling in the gravel. “He’s not expecting you to go back, is he?”
“Of course he does. He’s pissed I’m not returning immediately, and he’s going to be even angrier when he finds that he’s coming all this way for me to say no to his face.”
“Is that what you want?” Ryan asked.
Nora was silent, pretending—sort of—to concentrate on not tripping. Truth was she wondered if how Seok answered Ryan would be the same as what he’d said to her.
“I definitely don’t want any part in the family business. I have no desire to go back to Seoul. This is where my friends are and where Nora is.”
“He expects it of you, though.”
They were closer to the barn and the lighting was better. Seok’s car was parked near the chickens, but the farm was much quieter now, as if everyone were sleeping.
“Does he not understand what you do here?” Nora asked. “All the projects and the buildings. Maybe the same way the word ‘import’ means nothing to me, ‘historical restoration’ means nothing to him.”
“It means nothing to him because he sees it as having nothing to do with him.” He opened the passenger side door for her. “Please sit in front so I can hold your hand and not Ryan’s.” He gave her a grin, so she did. As she got in, she caught Ryan’s eye, and he winked.
“I think Nora brings up a good point. After you and Matisse moved here, you just cut yourself off from him. If he saw all the plaques dedicated to you, I think he’d be proud.”
“Doubt it,” Seok replied to Ryan as he put the car in gear and drove along the maple-lined dirt road. “He’s going to tell me how worthless this effort is and how he’s given me time on my own but now it’s time to take on my responsibilities.”
Nora reached for him, linking their fingers. His tone was light, but it wasn’t funny. Having someone shit on all the hard work he did? And not just someone—some random person he could brush off—his father.
“If he does that, he’s lying and being purposefully blind.” She squeezed his hand and he squeezed her back.
No one answered though, until they came back on the main road that led them into Brownington. “Is your mother coming, too?” Ryan asked.
Gently, Seok removed his hand to brush his hair back from his face. “No. I don’t think so. She doesn’t travel much.”
“She hasn’t left Seoul since your brother died, has she?” he went on.
A jolt went through her body. A brother?
He’d left that out of the little he’d told her. Her heart ached for him. Reid might not have been her biological brother, but his death had hurt. And his betrayal had hurt even more.
“We weren’t close,” Seok said, and she wondered if he meant with his mother or brother.
Staring at him as the streetlights illuminated slices of his face, it occurred to her that he probably meant both. In one way, it hurt her to think he felt so alone, but it was also another thing about him that made him so perfect. Somehow, through all of their struggles the six of them had found each other. And that was pretty amazing.
Chapter 20
Cai
Nora, Ryan, and Seok weren’t home yet, and Cai couldn’t relax until they were. He’d stopped in to see Tyler today. The kid was doing so much better, almost his old self—sarcastic, funny, positive—despite all the things looming.
Like a trial.
And testifying.
“I watched Nora online,” Tyler had said as soon as he’d walked into the group home. He took his hat off his head, flipped it in the air, and then stuffed it back on. “She was good, but boy is she going to piss Dr. Murray off.”
“Yeah,” Cai said, because what was the point of denying it. They were all waiting for the fallout. “But at least it’s all out there now.”
The young man shrugged. “My therapist called and had an online session with me, just in case. Then Ben stopped by to say hello. Now you. I feel like I’m missing something. Did I lose more than my mind?”
Despite himself, Cai chuckled. “No. But I know how it sucks to have your life splashed over the newspaper. So does Nora.”
“And yet…” He lifted his eyebrows.
This kid… “What did you think? Really?”
Tyler jerked his head toward a couple of chairs on the porch, leading the way to a place they could sit without anyone overhearing. As soon as Cai shut the door, he started to talk. “I thought the way she laid it all out in black and white was fucking terrifying. And then when the reporter lady added all the backstory, bringing up Murray’s work with the defense department, and the fucking MKUltra experiments. I’m fucking lucky I didn’t throw myself off the building like Tilly. Or kill people, like Reid. How the hell did he get away with all this?” By the time Tyler finished, he was out of breath and red-faced. “And the worst part is knowing he’s probably going to get away with all of it. You know it, and I know it.”
“I don’t know that,” Cai replied. His jaw ached, and he realized he’d been clenching it. Making an effort to relax, he eased back into the chair. “I don’t think he will. You survived for a reason, Ty, because you’re strong and you’re going to tell your story, too, and he’ll never do this again. No one will.”
“I don’t know man…”
“I do.” Truly. Cai had faith that there was enough anger and outrage that Dr. Daniel Murray
and whoever else was behind this would go to jail. His certainty had seemed to ease Tyler’s anxiety.
Now Cai needed to see Nora, because she was the one who made everything okay for him.
“Have you eaten yet?” Apollo asked.
He nodded, distracted. “I made dinner with the kids at the youth center. What time did they leave?”
Apollo checked his watch. “Early afternoon. Four-thirty?”
“Four thirty-seven!” Matisse called from upstairs.
“I swear the guy has bat hearing,” Apollo muttered, and then glanced expectantly at the stairs, but there was no response.
Headlights illuminated the street and Seok’s car pulled into the driveway. Above him, Matisse stomped down the stairs. He must have been watching, too.
Cai took in the three of them, excited like puppies for Nora to come home.
When she got out of the car, he squinted into the darkness, annoyed he couldn’t see her face. “He must have given them a whole tour.” It was nearing seven. That was a long time to be gone, but the farm and barns were huge.
The first time he’d gone with the guys, they’d spent as many hours exploring everything and listening to Seok as he explained the work he’d done. Nora probably had twice as many questions as they’d had.
The door opened and she came inside, smelling like wind and hay.
“Hi!” She smiled broadly, opening her arms to him. He went right to her, tucked his face against her neck, and breathed in. Just like that, he was fine. “How was work?” She made a move to pull away, but he hugged her closer, not ready to let go yet.
Her arms tightened around him and she leaned into him.
After a long moment, he answered. “Good. Busy. I saw Tyler.” Seok gestured for him to move so he could get inside, so he dragged Nora with him.
Seok and Ryan kicked off their boots and shoes, speaking quietly to Matisse and Apollo.
“How was he?” Nora asked. She didn’t notice the other guys talking. Her focus was entirely on him, but Cai’s attention was split between her and his friends.
What had she asked? Tyler. Right. “He’s good. He saw your interview and thought you did well. He’s staying a few extra weeks at the group home until the end of the spring semester. Then he’s got a place with a couple of guys he met in a class at Brownington.”
Nora frowned. “He lost his scholarship.”
“He did, but I have a feeling not for long. Brownington’s attorney has been in touch with Ben and Tyler.” Ben was a social worker, and Cai’s supervisor. He was assigned to Tyler’s case and had his best interest at heart, the same way he’d had Cai’s when he’d escaped from his father years ago.
“You think they’ll try to buy him off?” She lifted her thumb to her lips, but he caught it before she could chew on it.
“Not necessarily. I think it’s more of a public relations move. Rather than admit they fucked up, they’ll try to make amends by letting Tyler continue with his studies. Ben’s a smart guy, and Tyler can wheel and deal—he’ll come out all right.”
She seemed satisfied with that answer and went to greet Apollo and Matisse, the former who took her hand to lead her to the kitchen.
That left Ryan, Seok, and Cai alone, watching their friends. “My dad is coming to visit,” Seok said.
Whipping his head toward Seok, he studied his friend to see if he was joking. “Seriously?”
Seok pulled his phone out of his back pocket. “He sent me his flight information. He’ll be arriving Friday after noon.”
“Is he staying here?” Cai asked.
Snorting, Seok shook his head. “No. He’s booked a hotel on the waterfront. I’m to make arrangements for dinner. He wants to meet all of you.”
“Did you tell him about Nora?” Cai asked.
Ryan appeared just as interested as he was in the answer.
“I did.”
“And all of us?” Ryan added.
“Are you asking me if I told my dad that I was dating the same girl as my four best friends? No. I didn’t lay it all out like that. I thought I’d do it in person. I just told him I’d found someone and I wasn’t leaving her and my friends. Not all of our families are like Nicole and Guy. How did your mom react, Ry?” Seok asked.
He grimaced. “Not bad, not good. She and my dad assumed it meant I’m gay. Neither asked to meet Nora. I’m in a good place and they’re living their life. I think we’re all fine with a surface relationship.”
Yeah. It wasn’t an easy thing to explain, yet the relationship between all of them was turning out to be as easy as breathing.
In the months since Nora’s accident, Cai had given a lot of thought to their relationship. Anyone looking in from the outside would wonder at how strongly he felt for her. They’d been together less than a year, but for him, it didn’t seem that way. It seemed liked they’d fought a war together, and it had bound them. They weren’t in the midst of new love, they were in something deep.
Cai couldn’t look at her without wanting her. A minute didn’t go by without him thinking of her.
She was everything to him.
Nora’s laugh reached him from the kitchen, and he smiled, heading in that direction. He wanted nothing more than to be with her.
Chapter 21
Nora
All six of them stayed in the kitchen that evening, talking and snacking. Seok participated, but there were times she caught him staring at nothing. When he saw her watching, he’d smile, but she could see his thoughts were all over the place.
Apollo was the first one to give into tiredness. He had class the next morning, so he went to bed.
Nora’s eyelids got heavier just thinking about sleep. Ever since her accident, she seemed to need more sleep than usual. Apollo said that was normal, and she should expect to be tired for a while since her body was still healing and she was working on building up her strength and stamina again. But it was frustrating. She wanted to hang out with the guys, listen to them joke and laugh.
She wanted to be near Seok, just in case he needed her, but he was the one who leaned over, kissed her hair, and whispered, “Go to bed.”
“I’m headed up, too.” Cai stood and stretched his hands over his head. His t-shirt rode up, revealing tanned abs and defined hipbones.
Her gaze went there automatically, and she wasn’t even sorry when he caught her. He was a god and she was a mere mortal, of course she was going to stare.
“Night.” She gave each guy a kiss before accepting Cai’s hand. He led her upstairs and to the room that had been designated at hers. It was really just a place to store her clothes. Most nights she ended up in one of the guys’ beds. There were times they came to hers, but the couple of times she’d been caught in delicate situations, it had happened in her room. It was safer—if things got spicy—for it to happen in the guys’ rooms.
Cai opened her door for her, but followed her inside and shut it behind him. “Will you sleep in my room tonight?”
He leaned against the door as she walked to the bed.
“I just need my PJs,” she replied, starting toward the dresser to get her clothes.
A moment later he was behind her, his warm breath tickling her neck. “You don’t need them.”
She glanced up, catching their reflection in the mirror. He braced himself on either side of her, the muscles in his arms flexing as he kissed her neck.
This wasn’t a version of herself she was used to seeing. Her eyes were bright and skin flushed. Cai towered over her, all golden skin and broad shoulders. His hair hung loose and brushed against his jawline.
His gaze caught hers, and he smiled before leaning down to kiss a trail along her neck. He’d learned that was her hot spot. Kiss her neck and she was a goner.
He moved, releasing his hold on the dresser to touch her belly and drag her back against him. “We need to go to my room.”
She nodded. He took her hand, not allowing her to grab anything, and dragged her toward the door.
“Toothbrush.” Her voice came out breathless.
“Later.”
Seconds later, they were in his room, door closed and locked behind them. Cai was on her immediately. He inhaled the breath straight from her lungs as he cupped her neck, walking her back until the bed hit her legs. She fell back and he came over her, still kissing, kissing, kissing, like his life depended on it.
Cai was rock hard, but he was in no hurry to move them along. Nora loved that about him—the way he concentrated on her. He dipped his head forward until their foreheads touched.
“You’re my favorite thing in the world,” he whispered, and she melted.
“You’re mine.” Did he even know what it meant to hear she was enough for him? For this man who put others before himself and worked so hard to be a good man?
“You make me want to be the best version of myself.”
He sighed, moving down her body until his head hovered over her belly. He bit gently at the edge of her loose shirt, lifting it up until it revealed her stomach. Then he licked her, tongue lapping at her shallow navel, and then up and up until he reached her bra. He pushed it up and aside, enough to free her breast and pull her nipple into his mouth.
Nora moaned as he sucked and squeezed, holding his head to her. Their clothes needed to go. She searched blindly for his shirt, wrenching it upward while wishing he’d worn something with buttons that she could maybe rip apart.
As it was, he pulled away only for a moment, long enough to reach behind him and drag his shirt over his head in that way boys had. Then he was back, massaging her breast with one hand while drawing the other between his lips.
The button on his jeans gave her a little trouble, but she was determined and snaked her hand down until she could grip him. Cai groaned and helped her by pushing them down his legs along with his underwear. She, on the other hand, was still in her clothes, but who cared when she finally had access to him.
His erection was hot and long, and she gripped him hard, the way he’d shown her he liked. Two or three pulls was all he gave her before he jerked away. “Not that way.”
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