Lance was the first to speak. “So, this probably couldn’t be more awkward, could it?” He clapped Kade on the back. “The good news is you look so much like us that a blood test isn’t necessary.”
Kade studied the expressions of his two less enthusiastic brothers. “If there is any doubt I’m open to having one done.”
“I’m sure it’s not necessary,” Lance rushed to assure him.
“I’ll make the arrangements,” Ian added smoothly. According to his online bio, Ian worked for the government in international relations. Kade had come across all walks of life given the job he had, but it was rare to meet someone with such a big-city coldness to him. Ian Barrington wasn’t the sort of man he’d eagerly share a beer with at the end of a long day. Which was fine because he didn’t see any of these people spending much time in Bright.
Asher folded his arms across his chest. “It’s difficult to believe you had no idea Pamela and Dave weren’t really your parents.”
Kade mirrored his stance. “They are in every way that matters.”
Asher’s eyes narrowed. “Relax. You’re too old for a custody battle. I’m just curious how much of your story is true and how much has been creatively amended.”
“Why the hell would I lie?” Kade challenged.
Lance interjected, “I think what Asher is trying to say is we’re all interested in your life here.”
Bullshit.
Sounding every bit the government official he was, Ian said, “We need the truth—the whole truth. Right now, the media only knows what we’ve told them: we’re reuniting with estranged branches of our family. If you have skeletons in your closet, Kade, no matter what they are, tell us now so we can control how that information is disseminated—if it ever is.”
“In other words,” Asher said, “keep your mouth shut if the media calls. Don’t talk to anyone about any of this. We’ve got it under control.”
“I don’t need you to handle the press for me,” Kade said. “I’m perfectly capable of—”
“This isn’t about you,” Asher ground out. “You say something stupid and the whole family takes a hit.”
“We’re used to being in the public eye,” Ian added. “The less you say the better.”
“Is this really what we want our first conversation with Kade to be about?” Lance asked, shaking his head.
“Lance, you think life went to shit when he disappeared? His return has the potential of being a real circus.” Asher was unapologetically a dick.
Ian nodded. “Before anything goes further, it’s important to clarify everyone’s role.”
“Role?” What the fuck?
Lance gave Kade a sympathetic look then glared at Asher. “Our family did change when Kade was taken. Some of us took it harder than others, but it’s time for all of us to heal and move on.”
“Move on?” Asher growled. “The press will run with this story if they have a chance to. I don’t want our family tragedy to be fodder for a fucking movie nor does anyone else here. Kade needs to keep his mouth shut.”
Despite how obnoxiously it had been said, Asher had a point. Kade said, “I have no desire to talk to anyone. After you leave, I want things to go back to normal.”
Ian and Asher exchanged a look. A hint of sympathy entered Ian’s expression as he said, “Your life is about to change, Kade.”
Grant joined the group and the conversation. “But we’ll help you make the transition.”
“No transition. I’m here to meet all of you. Nothing more than that.” If they thought he was after their money, he needed to set them straight upfront.
Another man stepped into the conversation as if he belonged there, even though Kade didn’t recognize him. He was impeccably dressed in a suit Kade guessed had cost him what most people made in a year and a smile that said he didn’t give a shit about what anyone thought of that. “I’m sorry, I can’t miss any of this. Go on.”
Asher turned to the man and snapped, “Clay, this is none of your fucking business.”
Clay offered his hand to Kade, completely ignoring Asher. “Clay Landon. Don’t listen to Asher. I never do. There’s no going back, Kade. You’re rich now. Not as wealthy as I am, but if you work with Grant, all your financial woes will be a thing of the past.”
Kade didn’t move. Only once Clay shrugged and dropped his hand, did Kade say, “I don’t have financial problems. I own my own business. I live a comfortable life. My parents will be well cared for. I don’t need anyone’s money.”
Grant intervened in his calm voice. “It’s your money, Kade. Your inheritance.”
Asher shook his head as if disgusted. “You hit the lottery. Why bother to pretend you’d rather be escorting old people into the mountains and kissing their asses for tips when you’ll no longer have to?”
That’s it. Kade dropped his hands and fisted them at his sides. “I like my life here. I’m not looking to change it. And I don’t give a rat’s ass what you think about what I do. In my best scenario of how this works out: getting to know you is over after this conversation, you guys go home, we send Christmas cards, and that’s it.”
Asher’s response was a sarcastic laugh.
Kenzi’s voice broke in, “What’s going on?”
Shaking his head, Asher said, “How fucking sad is this? The one who was stolen is the only one of us with a life he doesn’t want to change.”
Kenzi put her hand on Asher’s arm. “Asher. Stop.”
Kade leaned in, going nose to nose with Asher. “What is your problem?”
Asher met him with equal aggression. “While you were blissfully living here with kangaroos, our family was dealing with your death, or what we were told was your death. Our mother has been through enough, and you’re only adding to it.”
“How am I doing that?” Kade growled.
Asher growled right back. “By making this about you and what you want. I don’t give a shit what you want. She’s been through hell and back because of you. Fucking fake happy.”
Another brother, Andrew, joined the group and moved to stand beside Kade, facing off against Asher at his side. “Back off, Asher. You’re being an ass.”
Asher met Andrew’s gaze, frowned, but didn’t back down. “He needs to know the score. You, of all people, should understand we need to protect the ones we love.”
Angry color filled Andrew’s cheeks, but his eyes never wavered. “Don’t do it, Asher. Don’t fuck with me or Helene. You won’t like the outcome.”
Kenzi inserted herself between Andrew and Asher. “Everyone take a deep breath. This is not easy for anyone.” She looked from Andrew to Asher and back. “I know that beneath all this male posturing, you actually love each other, but Kade doesn’t. How do you think this looks to him? Would you want to be part of this family if this was your first impression of us?”
Asher sighed audibly. “You know I’m right.” He looked at Andrew. “However, what you decide to share or not is none of my business.”
Grant put a hand on Asher’s shoulder. “Everything has a time and a place. It doesn’t all have to be discussed today.”
Asher shrugged his hand off. “I prefer to rip the Band-Aid off.”
Ian rolled his eyes skyward. “We know, Asher. But there’s a place for diplomacy, even here.”
Kenzi shook her head. “No, there’s only room for love and forgiveness. I know you’re confused, Asher, but if your son disappeared and we found him, how would you want us to welcome him home?”
Asher’s eyes sought his wife and child across the patio, and his shoulders slumped. He rubbed his hands over his face. “Fuck.” It was an interesting exchange to watch. Asher brushed off reasonable arguments. Threats escalated his anger. One mention however of his wife and child and he backed right down.
Clay said, “Kade, for Asher that’s practically an apology.”
“Why are you still here?” Asher asked Clay.
Clay smiled and shrugged. “I married into the family, remember?”
Ian moved to stand next to Asher. “There were things that needed to be said, and they have been. Kade understands now how much we all have to lose. I’m sure he also sees how things will go better if he works with us rather than against us.”
Kade looked around at his supposed gene pool. “Maybe we should start with a blood test.”
Asher smiled. “Funny.”
“Not joking,” Kade countered.
Grant nodded to Asher and Ian. “Let’s get a drink.” When no one moved, he said, “It’ll give everyone time to bask in how well today is going so far.”
After the three of them were out of earshot, Kenzi turned to Kade. “Asher comes off strong, but he means well. He’s just worried about our parents and doesn’t know how to handle that.”
Dax gave Kade an I told you so look.
Kenzi caught the action and elbowed Dax then turned to Kade. “You have to understand, as the eldest, Asher remembers our family before you were taken. I don’t. He, Grant, and Ian knew a happier version of our family and losing you changed all that.” She looked over at Lance and Andrew. “We were each affected by your disappearance, and we’re all working through how it feels to have you back. Give us time to figure it out.” Her gaze returned to Kade. “I promise you, we’re worth it.”
“They are. That’s why I’m here.” Clay joked, “Kade, your family is as crazy as they come, but they marry the nicest people. They should have led off with the women.”
Kade sought out Annie in the mix. She was holding a baby, laughing at something one of the women said, and looking perfectly at ease.
Hell, I might actually have something in common with my brothers. Annie’s a hundred times better person than I am.
He frowned. Not that she’s mine.
It might have been because his emotions were running high, but he couldn’t pull his gaze from her. What would happen when the Barringtons went home? Would he and Annie naturally drift back to their separate lives? His gut clenched at the idea.
No, this time will be different.
“Looks like your girlfriend agrees with me,” Clay joked.
“She’s not—” He almost said she wasn’t his girlfriend, but denying her that title didn’t feel right. There was no one else he could imagine at his side for something as monumental as this. In one way or another, he’d loved Annie his whole life. What that meant now he didn’t know. “It’s complicated.”
Dax nodded and put an arm around Kenzi. “It always is.”
“I thought you might need this,” Lance said, returning with two glasses of beer. “Quite a day, huh?”
“You can say that again.” After accepting the drink, Kade downed half of it in one gulp. Annie must have felt Kade’s gaze on her because she turned, smiled, and waved. Kade’s heart began to thud wildly in his chest.
After a general silence fell over the group again, Kenzi said, “Kade, you and Andrew share a lot of similar interests. He loves the outdoors. In fact, he and Helene run a large animal rescue in Florida.”
It was a stretch, but Kade appreciated that Kenzi was trying to build connections between them. He decided to as well. “I read that you had served in the Marines. I’m sure you have jumped out of your fair share of planes.”
“I have,” Andrew said without emotion.
“While you’re here, if you want to try paragliding, I could take you to a great spot.”
Andrew took a step back, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but there, “Sorry, Kade. I’m not the brother you should bond with.” Without saying more, he turned and walked away, joining his wife and her parents.
Kenzi touched Kade’s arm. “He doesn’t mean that, Kade. He needs time too. Why don’t you tell us about your business. You used to run it with your—with Dave—your adoptive father?”
Kade looked across at Annie again. She was still smiling and enjoying herself. He watched her introduce herself to his brothers as they joined that group. It seemed like a much less eventful encounter than what he’d just experienced, and it inspired him to keep trying.
He turned back to Kenzi and began to tell her about his life in Australia. Even though he was counting the minutes until he could leave, he didn’t rush. Sophie joined them, asking questions about his life in general and his childhood. She seemed genuinely happy to hear that it had all been good.
He asked them about Massachusetts and was surprised at how down-to-earth they both sounded. Kenzi said she traveled with Dax when his work took him away and spent time with family or friends when she wasn’t involved in a community project. Sophie said she was cutting back on planning events now that she had grandchildren. She said she loved having babies and chaos in her home again.
“I can imagine Mum saying the same thing. She misses my soccer mates and me hanging at the house after matches. They ate everything in the fridge and made the house smell like a locker room, but she always says she’d trade quiet and clean for a few more of those days.” As soon as he said it he wished he hadn’t. Sophie’s eyes filled with tears. He wasn’t sure if it was because he had called Pamela his mother or because she wished she’d had those experiences with him herself.
Sophie took one of his hands in both of hers. “You love your life here, don’t you?”
He needed to be honest. “I do. I have two really good parents who gave me a great childhood.”
She sniffed and blinked a few times then smiled. “When you’re ready, I’d like to meet them. I meant what I said about being grateful to them for how good they were to you.”
Annie’s arrival saved Kade from having to respond. He released Sophie’s hand. “Still good?” he asked Annie. After the emotional roller coaster he’d just been on, he was exhausted.
“Great. Everyone has been so welcoming.” She searched his eyes. “You?”
Only because their conversation was not private, Kade answered, “I’m glad I came.”
She continued to study his expression then asked, “I don’t know about you, but I’d love to play a game of volleyball. I saw a net on the other side of the pool.” She glanced at Kenzi. “Do you play?”
Kenzi clapped her hands in excitement. “I haven’t in years, but I’d love to.” She looked up at her husband who was dressed in a charcoal suit. “What do you think? You up for it, old man?”
“Anywhere, anytime,” Dax said as he slid off his jacket and began to roll up the sleeves of his dress shirt.
Smiling, Kenzi asked, “Do you think Clay would?”
“If we tell him he can’t, yes,” Dax said dryly.
Kade chuckled. So far, Dax was his favorite Barrington, even though technically he wasn’t one. Volleyball dressed up like everyone is about to head off for an office job—this should be interesting.
Suddenly uncertain, Kenzi turned to Kade. “Do you mind if I ask everyone to join in?”
Kade looked across to where his brothers were gathered. He could refuse. In fact, the day would be a whole lot simpler if he claimed he had somewhere he needed to be and left. Based on his first impression of some of them, leaving made sense.
Annie was still watching him closely. He’d never seen her refuse a challenge simply because it might be difficult, and she wasn’t doing it now. She could have asked to leave. He wouldn’t have judged her for it. That had never been Annie, though, and he doubted it ever would be.
Kade had dated a fair share of women in his life—even thought he’d loved a few of them—but he’d never imagined forever with any of them. His mother and father laughed, fought, made up—and through it all remained supportive of each other. Even after thirty years together, his father still smiled every time his mother walked into the room. They made love look easy. If Kade ever settled down, he wanted it to be with someone who would be a real partner and a best friend as well as a lover.
Someone like Annie.
His traitorous libido unexpectedly threw a variety of provocative images at him. An
nie smiling at him while dropping her shirt to the floor. Annie naked on a blanket by the stream where they used to fish together, beckoning him to join her.
What the hell am I doing?
“Kade?” Annie’s voice jarred him back to reality. “Are you okay?”
Kade ran a hand through his hair. Now that he’d imagined being with Annie, it was hard to shake his desire. “Yes. Sure. Let’s play volleyball.”
“I’ll go get everyone,” Kenzi said.
“Sounds good.” Spiking a few balls at his brothers’ heads would be bloody satisfying too. That brought a smile to his face.
Chapter Eight
‡
Early that evening, Annie fastened her seat belt then waved at the Barringtons gathered on the front veranda. Although she and Kade had started leaving nearly thirty minutes earlier, disengaging had proven more difficult than even Annie had imagined. Sophie had hugged her—two, maybe three times—in farewell. Kenzi had done the same.
It was beautiful and exhausting.
Kade also waved as he pulled away, looking relieved to go. He didn’t say anything for a long time, seeming to need time to process the day—who wouldn’t?
Only when he pulled up in front of her apartment did he finally speak. “I can officially tag that the longest day of my life.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
He flexed his hands on the steering wheel. “With anyone else I’d say no. I’m done. I have nothing left.”
“I came to support you. Don’t feel that you owe me a rehash, Kade.”
He unclipped his seat belt and turned toward her, his eyes burning with emotion and something more. “That’s the thing, I want to talk it out with you. You’re the only part of all of this that makes any sense.”
Annie took a fortifying breath, released her seat belt, and turned in her own seat. This is why I came. This is what he’d do for me. Simple as that. “Then I’m here for as long as you need me.”
Forever Now (The Barrington Billionaires Book 6) Page 6