A woman like that would never look at his brother in any way—other than with disgust.And it was all Jacob’s fault.
Jacob was just…lazy.And kind of gross.He always had been.
It was their father’s doing; he’d filled Jacob’s head with stupid stories about the so-called ‘good-old days’ growing up on the family ranch—before he’d lost it to Bruce Tyler, anyway.Hell, Kameron knew the truth—had his father not lost the ranch to Tyler, he’d have lost to the bank soon after, anyway.
His father didn’t have much of a head for business.He was better at fixing engines.Phenomenal at it, actually.
The ranch hadn’t been that good at all.Kameron had known that many years ago.He’d been fifteen when they’d lost the ranch.Of course, he remembered how it was.
Jacob stormed out.Kameron just watched him go; his fingers still holding Quinn close.
She kind of shuddered in his hold.Kameron slipped his hand up over her back and pulled her a little closer.“Hey, it’s okay.”
“I just…”
“Yeah?”
“Nothing…I know he’s your brother, but he seemed so…angry.”
Kameron just nodded, then helped her with her coat.He liked fussing over her when he could.The small gesture helped settle him, too.
Jacob had seemed angry.
Hell, he wasalwaysangry lately.
And Kameron didn’t know how to help him.
10
He was beinga dutiful big brother.That was what Cal had told his particular trio of problem sisters.He was going to the community dance tonight to keep an eye on them—they were trouble makers, especially that Claudia one, after all.That was all.
Not like he was going to the community dance because Jules had told him that Augusta Dawn Tyler and her entire crew of devil sisters would be there.
That wasn’t itat all.
Of course it was—it was probably the only real reason he would be caught going to the Masterson community dance tonight.They weren’t exactly his favorite past-time.He’d been many, many times before.But that was before his father—then themayorof Masterson—had done what he had done.And the entire town had been speculating about him and his siblings for a while there.He had gotten a bit soured on Masterson for a while.
And…he hadn’t wanted to run into any Talleys or Tylers, if he was being honest.But now…there was one particularTylerhe was definitely searching out.
First, though…there was a particular sister he needed to have a discussion with.Clancy Eliose Grady wasup to something.Like a good big brother, he was going to find out what.
He just looked at her.Of all of his siblings, this one looked the most like him.She was just…skinny.He couldn’t look at her and not remember the little toddler she’d been when he’d been in high school.His mother had been so sick; Clancy had been the one to miss the most with that phenomenal woman.And it hurt to remember.
For a while there, Cal had been the one practically raising her, while his father was at the hospital with their mother.For years.It wasn’t until he’d moved to college at nineteen, and she’d been in kindergarten, that him being adailypart of her life had stopped.
Now she was living in his house, and damn it, he was going to at least pretend to have rules.“So…when will he be bringing you home?”
“I’m going withEm.Not Barand.I’m not sure Barand and I—well, I’m just not sure.”Clancy smirked at him.The same smirk she shared with Claudia.They were such brats.Cloe was the good one.No denying that.
“And…what time will you be home?Do I need to give you a ride?”
“I think I can handle it.Are you really going to wear that tie?Ties are so formal and stuffy now.Hair looks good though.You are so pretty.”
“So I don’t need to give you a ride?”
“Actually, you do.I told Em I’d meet her there.I did not know you were going.I would ask Claud, but she has a special date today.And couldn’t.Cloe is working.And Cadell—who knows.He’s been extra cranky lately.”
“So I get custody of you.Noted.”Helikedhaving his little sister living in his house.For one thing, it kept her from finding trouble.For another, the house was too empty without people in it.And Cal was lonely.He’d long accepted that.“As a kid, you aren’t half-bad.”
