“Ow. Get your gorilla arm off my neck.”
“Idiot.” Cade let him go once they got farther from the backdoor. “Look, I’m doing my best to keep Ellie out of this, but you were my buffer between her and the in-laws.”
“I thought you liked Cara.”
“Yeah, I do. But it’s not Cara who wants to come. It’s Bea and her husband, Harry.”
“The nose-picker?”
Cade made a face but ruined it by grinning. “He did that once so long ago, yet when you say that, I can still see him digging for gold.” They both laughed. “Seriously, though, you need to swing by a few more times. Act like you plan to stay here or I’m stuck with the nose picker and the whiner.”
Grant felt for him. Ellie had two sisters. The older was a total pain who complained about everything. The younger was the total package and a lovely woman. “Why can’t Cara visit?”
“Because she and Gina are planning their wedding.”
“Oh, nice.” Grant took a moment then slugged his brother in the arm. “See? That’s how you announce it. Cara and Gina are getting married.”
“Oh my God. Let it go already,” Cade groaned.
“You say, ‘Hey, little brother, your future wife is engaged to be married. Hurry home and stop it!’ You don’t say nothing except to tell me the wedding didn’t work out!”
“For fuck’s sake, I’m sorry, okay?”
“For fuck’s sake, Dad. Breakfast is ready.”
They both turned to see Alex smiling like a cherub.
Cade wiped a hand over his face. “Oh hell.”
“Mom, for fuck’s sake, let’s eat,” Alex yelled.
Grant had to laugh and slung an arm around Cade’s shoulders. “Well, this makes up for it a little bit.”
“Cade Weston,” Ellie yelled from inside. “Get your tush in here, mister.”
“Oh man.” Cade moped. “It’s Thanksgiving and you got me in trouble.”
“You earned it. Next time Piper’s got an issue, and I’m not around, tell me.”
“Fine. But why won’t you be around? I thought you were planning to move back.” Cade looked annoyed. “You said you were.”
“I am. I just have to finish out my contract with the team. Then I’m a free man. And I think I found the perfect house.”
“No kidding.”
Cade apologized on bended knee to his wife while Grant sat with Alex at the table like the gentlemen they were. And all was well for their fancy French toast breakfast. Until Alex asked his dad to pass the damn syrup.
* * *
Two hours later, after spending some quality time with family, Grant hugged everyone goodbye and walked out to his car with his brother. “Hey, I might need to borrow the kid next week. I need to look like I’ve got family man written all over me.”
“Desperate for the boy, eh? It’s not going so good with Piper?” Cade leaned against the car.
Grant didn’t mean to, but his grin escaped without warning.
“Ah, that good.” Cade chuckled.
“She’s it for me, bro. I knew it then, and I know it now. Mrs. Piper Weston just needs time to settle into the idea. She knows I can bring the heat.” He wiggled his brows.
