Not that he wanted to play bodyguard much. Protecting Liana was one thing, but he wasn’t really cut out for being in the public eye with celebrity after celebrity. But now that he’d done it, he could sub-contract that more easily. Recruit the right kind of guys. He knew enough reservists who would leap at the chance, and still keep their heads about them when they got nicknames and fangirls.
Who would he trust with Liana?
He gritted his teeth. Nobody was the short answer.
When his flight landed in Toronto, he made his way to customs. Nothing to declare, other than an overactive sense of big brotherly guilt and a weird ache in his chest where he held all his feelings about Liana.
The border agent wasn’t interested in either, he assumed, so he kept his thoughts to himself.
He stopped before going through the last security gate to pull out his car keys and parking stub, then shouldered his backpack again.
Time to go home.
But as the sliding doors opened into the arrivals terminal, he slowed to a stop, because there in a row were his three brothers, each holding a sign.
Jake’s said,FOSTER.
Matt’s said,#ARMGUY.
And Sean’s said,BRO.
“You little bastards,” he said, hopping over the barrier to join them.
“You’re not the only one who gets to surprise people, you big softie.” Sean held out his hand, and Dean took it. He didn’t miss that his brother’s grip was stronger than usual. Point made.
Then he pulled his baby brother in tight for a crushing hug. “When did you grow all the way up?”
“No clue. Happens to us all at some point, eh?”
“I guess.” He stepped back far enough to look the kid—the man—in the eye. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You too. You look fucking happy.”
“Sure am. Even more so now that I’ve seen you. You want to ride back with me?”
Sean shook his head. “Let’s have dinner.”
“What?”
“We’ve been talking.” Sean pointed to Matt, who pointed to Jake, who shrugged.
“He’s doing nothing but packing and shopping and working out for the next few days. Meanwhile…”
“What?” Dean really didn’t get it.
Matt rolled his eyes. “There’s this woman that you’ve got a limited amount of time with on the other side of the continent…it’s kind of a no-brainer, man.”
Sean nodded. “And I want to take your truck back for you, because you’re an idiot to pay for another month of parking fees. So we’ll eat, then we think you need to get back on a plane.”
“I don’t. I’ve got a couple days.” But his heart had already leapt at the thought of surprising Liana with an early return. He could feel a goofy grin spreading across his face and his brothers hooted and hollered at him.
It was official.
Grown men blushed.
“Come on. Let’s go find some steaks to demolish and you can tell us what it’s like to join the Old Man Club with Jake.”
“I think if there’s a club, maybe it’s a Responsible Older Brothers Association.”
