Declan shrugged. “Sure.”
“It’s a good system,” Callen said at the same time.
“You’re both idiots.”
Probably true. Callen had ended upon the wrong side of a lawyer’s wrath one time too many. Charlie’s victims had armies of people trying to unbury this and get answers to that. Callen had been chased and hounded. Never mind the lack of evidence or the fact he hadn’t seen Charlie in the years before his death. People assumed the son followed in the footsteps of the father.
It annoyed the shit out of him.
But Beck handled his profession with a different touch. He worked hard and believed in justice. Somehow, despite all those early years of running from law enforcement and people serving court papers, Beck found his calling. Callen didn’t get it, but he did appreciate his brother’s smarts. If he combed through documents and worked on options they all had a chance of getting through this property fiasco. He was the right guy to have on their side.
Callen just hoped Walker didn’t step in and fuck it all up. The guy had a habit of operating like that.
“Fine.” Callen exhaled, trying to relieve some of the tightness in his chest. “Impress us with your big lawyer brain.”
Beck laughed. “That’s more like what I’m used to you saying.”
“Really?” Declan asked. “Because that sounded like a compliment.”
Sometimes Declan missed the obvious. “That’s not how I meant it,” Callen said.
“So . . .” Beck dragged the word out until they both focused on him again. “The property issue.”
“We get it.” Declan slumped back against the cushion. “We need to tell Walker.”
“Now. Soon.” Beck shifted the file from one hand to the other. “I want this settled.”
How convenient. “Says the guy who’s running out of town.”
Beck tapped a finger against his forehead. “Honors graduate.”
“Douche,” Callen said over a fake cough.
He wouldn’t mind packing Grace away for a vacation and shifting the responsibility for this job to someone else. But that wasn’t going to happen. He had to stay. Had to deal with whatever bullshit response Walker came up with.
Never one to get flustered or sidetracked, Beck plowed on. “I have a copy of the will and a simplified explanation of the law.”
Declan glanced up at Callen. “Because he thinks we’re dumb.”
“Wait.” Beck held up a hand. “I didn’t actually use that word.”
Between the sarcasm and the dry tone Beck made his point. Now Callen would make his. “Get to it before I punch you in the head.”
The amusement left Beck’s face as he held up the file. “You’d get one shot.”
“That’s all I would need.” An empty boast, since Callen would sooner cut off an arm than hurt his brothers.
“There’s a deed in here to add Walker as an owner, as well as some updated estate paperwork and an agreement we would all need to review if we went that route.”
Sounded logical. A bit like overkill, though Callen trusted this was all necessary, but one part did stick out. “Go back to the agreement.”
“If he agrees to go in on the property with us then we should have our rights and obligations spelled out.” The flat line of Beck’s mouth suggested he wasn’t thrilled with the possibility of a new partner.
That made three of them. Callen hated taking this risk. He understood why they had to, but he didn’t like it. From his talk with Declan the day before, Callen knew he agreed but had reservations.
“We don’t have any kind of agreement between the three of us and we’re fine,” Declan pointed out.
Beck nodded. “Because Callen refused to take a larger portion for putting up the money to stave off the foreclosure and insisted we didn’t need paperwork to, I think the quote was, ‘fuck things up like lawyers do.’”
“Damn right.” That was not why he saved the house. Declan needed a home and Beck needed a purpose. The pieces came together as soon as Callen saw Beck and Declan again after so much time apart. “And we trust each other.”
The house provided the catalyst and the means and Callen had been willing to scrape together every penny from every construction job he’d ever had to make it possible. It’s not as if he’d had big plans for the money anyway. He’d saved it by living frugally. He stockpiled it back when he thought he and Grace had a future together. When they broke up he figured he didn’t need it and gave it up to save Shadow Hill.
No regrets there. The house brought his brothers back to him and would provide a great start when his kid arrived. There were matters to be figured out, like who got what building and whether they should build more structures so everyone had a bit of privacy. But they could work it all out later. So long as Walker let them have a later.
“We don’t trust Walker.” Callen figured he’d say what was on all of their minds. Just put it out there.
“Well.” Beck made a clicking sound with his tongue. “Not yet.”
Not the response Callen expected. “Aren’t you the optimist?”
Beck threw the folder on the coffee table in front of Declan. “I think he’ll come around.”
Callen stopped it from sliding off the far edge by slapping a foot on it. “What the hell are you basing that on?”
“You did,” Beck said.
That didn’t make any sense. Callen didn’t see that he’d changed all that much. “Come on.”
“I’m serious.” Beck started ticking off facts on his fingers. “You arrived at Shadow Hill convinced we should sell and ready to move on. You stayed, you dug in and helped us make a home and family here.”
That was the kind of explanation that stole a man’s indignation. Callen wanted to laugh it off but Beck’s comment struck close to the truth. Shadow Hill was more than a house. It was a home.
Instead of being a smart-ass, Callen kept it simple. “Thanks.”
Declan performed a slow clap. “And that response tight there is personal growth.”
Enough mushy shit. Callen picked up a pillow and lobbed it at Declan’s head. “You can shut the fuck up.”
“If you want to wait on all of this we can, but I won’t be back for a few weeks. Walker could figure the ownership issue out before then, and we really won’t have a justification for keeping it from him.” Beck pointed at the folder. “What’s in there could save us a lot of trouble in the long run.”
Callen had the opposite worry. “Or create some.”
“We’ll do it Beck’s way. He’s the expert.” Declan picked up the folder and started paging through the stack of documents inside. “Let’s just hope Walker doesn’t ask us to explain any of the documents.”
“He’s a lawyer, too.” Callen figured all lawyers knew the same things. If Beck got it, Walker should. At least he hoped it worked that way or he’d be spending a lot of time searching the Internet for answers.
But Beck didn’t go for reassurance. “Not a practicing one, but yes.”
“Uh-huh.” Declan didn’t bother to look up. He was too busy frowning over the lines of black ink in front of him. “I have no idea what that means.”
“I prepared as much as possible for questions.” Beck leaned over and pulled out certain pages as he talked. “Each document has a cover sheet in non-legalese for you to reference.”
Uh, yeah. Callen blew out a long breath. “We’re in trouble because I barely understood that sentence.”
Beck ignored the comment and kept flipping pages. “The sooner we know his move, the sooner we can make plans.”
“To?” Declan asked without looking up.
When silence fell over the room Callen looked up. The smirk greeting him signaled trouble. No way was whatever Beck was about to say going to be good news.
“Well, I assume you two will be getting down on your knees soon.” And he didn’t disappoint.
Shame Callen had no idea what the sentence meant. The possible interpretations on that were . . .
not good. “Uh, what?”
Beck rolled his eyes. “Proposing to your women, dumbass.”
“Ah.” Declan finally tore his attention away from the file and threw it on the table. “Marriage.”
“Is that a yes?” Beck looked from Declan to Callen.
Since Callen had the easier answer, he delivered it. “I’m just waiting on Grace to realize I’m a great catch.”
Beck nodded. “So I won’t rent a tux just yet for yours. What about you, Declan?”
Rather than look up or trade jokes, Declan stared at his hands. “I have to figure out the Marc Baron situation.”
“No you don’t,” Callen said.
This was a rough subject. Declan had become obsessed with reuniting Leah and her father. For some reason, he thought his happiness—his life with Leah—depended on it. Leah didn’t show the same concern. It was as if after a lifetime with her father she knew they’d never bridge the gulf.
Declan’s head snapped up and he looked at Beck. “How do we get in touch with you if we need you?”
“Not your best segue out of a conversation.” When Declan didn’t say anything else, Beck shook his head and moved on. “I’ll be available by phone and you can bring me in via computer chat.”
“Gutsy move to do this long-distance.” Though Callen had to admit he was jealous he couldn’t play the same card.
“All you have to do is deliver the information.” Beck nodded toward the file. “After that it’s up to him.”
“So we just have to wait and see?” Declan asked.
Beck nodded. “Not your best skill, but yes.”
That wasn’t the easiest answer to accept. After years of confusion, Callen liked certainty. “I don’t love that response.”
Declan frowned. “Kind of passive, which is not my thing.”
“It’s Walker’s decision. He has the right to demand the value of his portion.” Beck got up and walked to the other side of his desk. He sat down and started separating piles of documents. “For what it’s worth, I’m betting he doesn’t.”
Callen watched Beck move the files around. The process likely had something to do with work priorities but Callen couldn’t be sure.
There was one thing he did know. “You always were the naïve brother.”
Beck looked up then. “You mean the smartest.”
***
Mallory waited for the yelling to start. She looked from the front door of Gossamer where Leah just came walking in over to the door marked private that lead to a stockroom, a bathroom and the staircase to her studio upstairs.
It was like waiting for a war to start. The clashing would be loud. She almost felt bad for the ladies gathered around the couches for an early morning coffee chat about . . . something. Mallory couldn’t tell and didn’t care so long as they were happy and bought stuff.
“Hey there.” Leah leaned in and gave Mallory a hug. “I have to run around most of the morning for work but do you want to grab some lunch today? I can get takeout and bring it here.”
“That would be awesome.”
Mallory heard the creak of the hinge and glanced at the door behind her. As expected, Walker slipped out, jacket in hand and a satisfied look on his face. She hadn’t expected him to come over this morning. The man brought coffee and bagels and, well, who could resist that combination when delivered by a hot guy in a suit? Especially when getting him out of his clothes and into the bed took about ten seconds.
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Leah’s tone suggested she was really thinking, “This is my nightmare.”
Walker smiled. “And hello to you, Leah.”
She pointed at his pants. “Your zipper is down.”
He followed her gaze and fixed the problem. “Yes, it is.”
No shouting or embarrassment. He clearly had no trouble with everyone knowing what he’d been doing this morning. Mallory loved the change in him. That and just about everything else, except his emotional distancing issue. That character trait made her want to smack him.
But he owned his sexuality and he seemed to enjoy that she owned hers. To look at him you’d think he was all proper and maybe a bit boring under all those clothes. The exact opposite turned out to be true. He never held back.
Neither did she. He stripped and she lost the ability to form a sentence. The mutual appreciation worked for them.
Leah exhaled nice and loud as she peeled off her coat and hung it over the back of one of the empty barstools by the counter. “You seem to be everywhere these days.”
He just stared at her. “I have no idea how to respond to that.”
Well, this was uncomfortable. Not exactly how Mallory liked to spend her mornings. “Do you guys fight like this at home?”
“I avoid her,” Walker said.
“That’s a good plan.” Leah sat on the stool. “Let’s keep doing that.”
Walker put on his jacket and looked like he was going to leave the building. Instead, he stopped in front of Leah. “You have a lot of hate for a guy you never see.”
“You make the Hanovers miserable,” Leah shot back.
They could go round and round on this argument for days. They each had a position and dug in on it. Mallory hoped to head off the potential bloodbath. “Leah, stop.”
Walker talked right over her. “That’s funny because the Hanovers keep telling me I’m one of them.”
Leah’s eyes narrowed. “If you’re going to cause trouble I wish you’d just do it.”
As the conversation heated up Mallory thought about stepping in. Then she stopped. Keeping these two apart and trying to make them both happy had pulled and tugged her until she couldn’t see straight. If they wanted to battle, she would let them battle. It was time for them to be grown-ups and work this out . . . without involving her.
“What do you think I’m planning to do?” he asked Leah.
She tapped her fingernails on the counter for a few seconds before answering. “Arrest Callen. Falsely accuse Declan.”
She had been singing that tune for a long time now. Mallory heard a lot of Callen’s skepticism in Leah’s argument. Maybe they were spending too much time in the same house. His less charming traits seemed to be rubbing off on her.
“You don’t think I would have done those things by now if that was my reason for coming back to town?” Walker asked.
The clicking of Leah’s nails stopped. “Meaning?”
“I was there a month ago and saw the holes in the yard.” Walker leaned in and dropped his voice to a whisper. “I know you guys have some of the items Charlie stole and are keeping it quiet.”
“Your point?”
“If I wanted to get a warrant or turn you all in, I would have done it.” With that, Walker pulled back and finished buttoning his jacket.
Confidence looked sexy on him. Mallory knew from the peeks some of the ladies were sneaking at him that she wasn’t the only one who thought so.
Leah stopped biting her lip. “You’re scary when you make sense.”
“You’re a hard woman to please, Leah Baron.”
The anger seeped out of Leah. “Now you sound like Declan.”
Mallory decided that was too easy. “I’ll skip the obvious comeback.” Something about brothers having similar traits and facial expressions.
She saw the resemblance in so many little ways. How the men could miss it was a mystery. Why she hadn’t uncovered the truth earlier when it was right there in front of her she didn’t know.
Walker winked at her before treating her to a quick kiss on the cheek. “And I’ll see you at closing.”
Before Mallory could say anything or remind him of their deal, he was gone. That man did know how to make an exit.
She glanced back and her gaze clashed with Leah’s. “Hello.”
“Closing?” Leah managed to telegraph a lot of skepticism with that one word.
Not that his comment promised anything fun. No, Walker fell back on his law enforcement side on this one. “He doesn’t l
ike me being here alone at night.”
The clicking sound started again as Leah returned to tapping her fingernails against the counter. “Okay, that’s not annoying.”
“Your praise of him is overwhelming.” Mallory scooted behind the counter and reached for the coffeepot.
“So, you’re dating again? It’s official.” Leah took a mug and rubbed her fingers over the handle. “I mean, he came out of the door to your apartment and was holding his tie, and I won’t even mention the zipper.”
“Good idea.” Mallory didn’t want any smart-ass comments to ruin the memory of her sexy shower with him this morning.
Leah snorted. “I don’t need FBI training to put the pieces together and solve that mystery.”
“We’re sleeping together.” There. She dropped it. The bomb had been ticking, so now it landed. Mallory closed one eye and waited for the explosion.
But Leah stayed calm. Just kept sipping on her coffee. “Dating, getting domestic, sex. Are we saying different things?”
This was a test. Had to be.
Mallory had watched Leah fall for Declan. That woman knew the difference. Knew that love meant sacrifice and understanding and a whole bunch of things that were tough to pull off. “Yes.”
Leah shoved the mug aside as she fingered the small sugar packets stacked in a container in front of her. “Talk to me.”
This was the point where Mallory usually blew off the conversation or steered it to safer ground. But this was Leah, and despite her misgivings about Walker she was the one person Mallory could say anything to and not fear a backlash. The person who would forgive her no matter what.
“He wants to start over.” Mallory repeated Walker’s words. The phrase he said to her every time they were together now.
“Okay.”
“No snotty response?” She’d actually expected at least a moment of “pick someone else” or something similar.
The pink packets formed a tiny fort. “Not since I think you do, too.”
“I’m the one who just insisted we stick to no-strings.” May as well lay that out there, too. Leah had enough to hate about Walker. Mallory didn’t want to add to the pile by suggesting he forced the issue.
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