“And friends with my brother.”
“Yes,” Jase said at the same time Cole mumbled, “We’ll see.”
“Trouble in paradise?” One side of Shep’s mouth curved. “Did one of you lads break the bro code? Skim a little from the other’s milk?”
“Shut up, Shep.”
“Nothing like that,” Jase clarified. “It’s my sister.”
“You dishonored a friend’s sister?” Shep nudged Cole’s shoulder. “I didn’t think you had it in you, buddy.”
“Do you ever get sick of being a jerk?” Cole asked his brother.
“Nope,” Shep said with a laugh. “It’s my superpower.”
“A jerk is handling the reopening of the ski mountain?” Jase downed the remainder of his drink. “Perfect.”
“Sienna is the only thing I care about right now.” Cole leaned his elbows on the bar and bent his head forward. “You should have seen how she looked at me.”
Jase sighed. “I know exactly how she looked at you because it was the same way with me.”
“Not the same,” Cole muttered. “You’re not in love with her.”
Shep whistled low under his breath.
“Hell, no, I’m notinlove with her. She’s my sis—” Jase stopped, sucked a breath. “Did you say you’re in love with her? With my sister?”
“That explains everything,” Shep said. He took another sip of whiskey. “If you love this chick, then of course you messed it up.”
“She’s not a chick,” Cole snapped, then turned to his brother. “Don’t call her that.”
“Yeah,” Jase agreed. “Show some respect.”
Shep held up his hands. “Got it.”
“What do you mean, of course I messed it up?”
“Tell me what happened.”
Cole pressed his lips together. “There was something she didn’t know that I knew and when she realized I knew before she knew—”
“He lied to her.” Jase rose from his stool.
“I didn’t lie,” Cole countered. “I just didn’t tell her that you’d lied.”
“It was for her own good,” Jase said, shaking his head.
“I thought so, too,” Cole said.
“Like all of Dad’s lies were for Mom’s own good?” Shep asked.
Cole shook his head. “Don’t go there.”
“Isn’t that what he told her?” Shep took another long drink. “That’s what he told all of us.” His tone was disgusted. “He ruined her.” He tipped his glass toward Cole. “And this ch...woman probably got off easy. How long were you together anyway?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Cole said. “What matters is that I should have told her from the start.”
“What was the big lie anyway?” Shep asked.
