“What does Dane Masterson think he’s doing right now?”
“That’s Gabe with Clancy.”Dane and Gabe were cousins, around three or four years younger than Cal.Both were doctors now.He thought they were friends of Cadell’s from high school, though.
“I know which damned Masterson is which.”
So why was Cadell so angry at the man holdingEmand not the one getting too wrapped up around Clancy?Which…Gabe had better behave himself.Or Cal would take a page out of the Tylers’ book and reeducate him.
But had Cadell just growled?
He watched his brother watch Auggie’s maddeningly fascinating younger sister.Cadell just kept watching.Getting more and more riled up as Dane pulled Em closer still.
Cadell’s fists were even balled.His brother was beyond pissed right now.Why would a man act like that over another man dancing with a woman?A young, beautiful woman like her?Well, hell.That was what Cadell was doing tonight, wasn’t it?He wasstewing.
That’s when it sank in.Cadellhad a thing for Em.As young as she was.Cadell was definitely not the kind of man she needed right now.Em and Cadell?They’d shred each other to pieces.One of them would be bound to get hurt, and he knew it would be Em.She was just too open-hearted.
“Stay away from her, Cadell, unless you are thinkingpermanent.You are no good for her.You’ll just end up hurting her.”He loved his brother, no doubt about that.But Cadell had a reputation with women—and Cadell preferred a different kind of woman than Em would ever be.He hoped Cadell realized that.“She’s too important to Clancy for you to do anything to hurt her.”
Cadell cursed, then pressed his hands to his eyes.Hell, his brother really did look upset.Just how deep were his feelings for that girl?
“You think I don’t know that?I’m not stupid.I’m too much like Dad to evenlookat a decent woman like Em without hurting her.The things he’s done…I’m not going to be like him.I’m not going to hurt her like he hurt Mom.I’m never going to do that to her.I care about her far too much to even touch her.I know that.Hell, I know it.”
The pain in his brother’s words were real.Damn it.Cal didn’t know how to fix it.He would have no problem with Cadell and Em together—if Cadell was ready for long-term.But his brother had told him repeatedly that he wasn’t looking for a permanent relationship any time soon.Cal had just thought his brother liked his life the way it was, but maybe it was more than that?Cadell didn’t exactly look all that happy right now.No.His brother looked beyond miserable.
Hurting.
Now…it was because of their father, damn it.Why hadn’t Cal figure that out before?
“She doesn’t think she’s attractive?I’ve never heard anything more untrue in my life.And I can’t do a damned thing about it.But I’m not going to just sit here and watch that damned playboy make her his next target.”
Cal sat there after his brother stormed off, watching the crowd, wondering why things had gotten so damned complicated.He wanted his brother happy.He just didn’t know what to do about this now.
And what was it about those Tyler women that captured unsuspecting men and lured them right off a cliff to their doom?Tyler women weredangerous.Far too dangerous for mere mortal men like him and his brother.
He just hoped his younger brother wasn’t going to be next.
But…maybe…Emwould be exactly the kind of woman Cadell needed?His brother was one of thebestmen he knew.He was good-hearted and wouldn’t deliberately hurt anyone.Cadell deserved to be loved for exactly who he was.
By a woman who would challenge him and not let him steamroll her or just give in to him to avoid conflict.Cadell needed a woman who respected him exactly as he was.Intense.Hell, Cadell was just asintenseas Em was, in his own way.They could balance each other very well, when he thought about it.They’d understand the passions in each other, too.
He’d seen his brother’s failed relationships before—Cadell always dated more timid women, like their mother had been.But he really needed a woman with more fire.Like Em.One who could understand the fire in him, as well.Encourage him to try new things, too.
Em also needed a man who saw her for whoshewas, too.They probably would be really good for each other.He hated that his brother didn’t see that.But how could he help the two of them figure it out?
Cal stayed where he was and…planned.Schemed, actually.He just wanted his brother—andEm—to be happy.And now that he thought about it, they could probably be very happy with each other.When the time was right.
13
Jacob watchedhis brother coaxing that damned assistant of his out to the dance floor, where Kameron just held her and swayed.Looking down at her like he was ready to slobber at any moment.Didn’t he realize people saw him being that pathetic over a piece of ass?
Brother had no pride.
Jacob grunted at something one of his friends said to him, swigging the cheap beer, just for the hell of it.He had better shit at home.He didn’t even know why he’d come tonight, except that girl from the chain motel had asked him specifically if he was going to be there.
But she wasn’t there yet, and he didn’t like waiting around for a woman.No matter how hot she was.Fuck that.Girl would learn.
His brother was acting like that girl there had golden tits or something.Like he was going to roll over and not be amanwith her.She was going to lead his brother around by the ball hairs or something.Pathetic.
Jacob waited until the dance was over and that girl was heading off the dance floor toward those three sisters of her.He recognized them from high school.The girl his brother wanted had that blonde twin sister.The one who’d kicked him when he’d been a senior in high school and she’d been like a freshman or something; their lockers had been close to each other.He’d just grabbed her ass because it was right there when she’d bent over.All the guys did it back then.
