“Come on, ladies. I can see the way you look at him,” I say quietly as we follow behind the other three. “You may as well see what you’ll be getting into if you’re involved with my dad. Being a Summers comes with a lot of perks, but it also comes with the crap. You need to decide whether you want to ride the rollercoaster or get off now,” I warn them gently. I like them both, and I would hate to see them give up so early in the game, but it’s better they decide now than bailing once Dad is all in. They exchange a glance, and with that weird mental telepathy long-term partners are known for, they must come to some kind of agreement because both relax under my arms as I shepherd them into the living area. The dining table is already kind of set with piles of silverware and plates. From the kitchen, I can hear the sounds of Ninja Starfish being butchered, and I wince. Well, I guess Harlow is good at so many things she can't be an amazing singer as well.
“God, what is that sound, and how do we kill it?” Holden and Oliver appear, looking a little worse for wear. Holden is glaring like he’s personally offended by the noise, which I guess is well earned. For a music executive, it probably is a crime against music.
“That’s your girlfriend,” I tell them as I hold out a chair for Molly while Dad does it for Emma before we take our own seats.
Oliver pulls down the reflective shades he was wearing inside the house. “Are you serious? That’s Harlow? No, I’ve heard her sing before, and she sounded nothing like that.”
We all frown at each other as Jacinta walks through the kitchen door, a plate of food in her hand.
“Oh yeah, that explains it,” Kai says as he takes a seat at the table. Much to her disgust, Jazzy is completely tone deaf, but she always gives it a royal try.
“Here, sweetheart, let me take that.” Dad hurries over to her, taking the serving plate from her and putting it in the middle of the table. He then grabs her and holds her at arm’s length to get a really good look at her. “Are you okay?”
She pats him on the cheek before kissing it. “Yes, Dad, I'm fine. Jaxon and I did some soul searching last night when we sobered up.”
“Where is he?” Dad asks, the worry in his eyes clear.
“He’s in the pool.” She moves away from Dad and walks over to both Emma and Molly, giving them kisses on the cheek, then each of us brothers. “I’m glad you're still here; we wanted to talk to you. I’ll go get him and tell him everyone is up.” She moves toward the terrace doors, and I decide that Harlow probably needs some help in the kitchen. Slipping away from my family, I find Thomas in the kitchen, manning the coffee machine, while Harlow is at the stove, frying more bacon and scrambling eggs. I exchange a look with my brother behind her back, trying to ascertain if he’s said anything, but he gives a little shake of his head. The radio is playing in the background, and Harlow is shaking her hips and bopping to it. She looks so cute, her pert ass shaking back and forth in time to the music, that I feel terrible that we’re going to ruin this mood. Stepping up to her back, I lean my body against hers. First, she tenses up, but then she practically melts into me.
“Hey, baby. Anything I can do to help?” I whisper in her ear, unable to stop myself from nuzzling her. She swats me away with a laugh.
“You could butter a few more pieces of toast if you don't mind.” She points to the toaster with another half-full serving tray next to it. “I seem to have lost my assistant. Did you see where she got to?”
“Jazzy has just gone to get Jax out of the pool,” I tell her, and I feel a little of the warm fuzzies when she looks relieved. Instead of being bothered by sharing, it makes me feel good that she cares about and wishes well for the same people that I care about. Right now she’s got so much going on, but it makes me feel better to know that regardless of her own baggage, she still wants to protect them and see them through theirs.
“Thank god. Did you hear her singing? I never would have guessed Miss Perfect Jacinta Summers can’t carry a tune to save her life.” She winces before turning back to the stove, and Thomas and I chuckle with laughter.
“That's a well-kept Summers secret,” Tom adds as he grabs the finished coffee pot off the machine. “She has something on all of us so that we will never tell. Watch out, she’ll be looking for blackmail material on you soon.” He disappears through the kitchen door, leaving it swinging in his wake with Harlow looking contemplatively in his direction, a little frown wrinkling between her eyebrows and her lip clasped between her teeth.
Hmm, looks like she’s not as indifferent about my stoic brother as she tries to pretend.
“You know, every now and then I see these flashes of what I’m guessing he was like before his heart was ripped in two,” she says to me quietly. “I wish I could see them more often.”
“You and me both, baby.” I finish buttering the last couple of pieces of toast and throw them on the tray. “Just keep doing what you're doing, and I’m sure he will return to us in no time.” I kiss her cheek as she turns off the stove, putting the rest of the meal on the last serving tray, then both of us return to the living area for breakfast with our family.
Chapter Nineteen
Harlow
There’s a smile on my lips as I push through the kitchen door with my hip. This new side of Declan is fun and oh so delicious. But the minute I walk into the room, it falls silent. If that’s not a giveaway that something is going on, I don’t know what is. Choosing not to panic, I place the tray I'm carrying on the table.
“Dig in! Don't let it get cold,” I tell everyone. ‘“Whatever the problem is now, we can talk about it after breakfast.” Everyone starts to pass plates and grab their food, and soon the only sound is the clanking of utensils. It’s a sort of tense but peaceful start to the morning, with no one stopping until a noise has us looking over at Jaxon and Jacinta’s entrance. Jaxon is rubbing a towel against his hair, his shirt in the other hand and a towel wrapped around his waist. Hurrying over to them, I grab Jacinta’s hand.
The two of us had such a nice start to the morning, her torturous singing notwithstanding, and I just didn’t want to break that moment between us by asking how she was. Now that we’re with everyone, I feel like it makes more sense to check in. I can’t be the only one who’s wondering how she and Jaxon are doing, and at least this way she won’t have to repeat herself a million times.
“Hey, how are you both this morning?” Jacinta's smile is bright, but her eyes show the truth. I'm pretty sure it's not about what Dad did, but everything they found out about their biological family. I feel a kinship to them at this moment. God knows I’m way too familiar with shitty families, or mothers at least. Their father doesn’t seem like such a bad guy according to Dad.
“We’re okay,” she says airily as she moves past me to the table. I raise an eyebrow in disbelief, but Jaxon gives me a small shake of his head and mouthslater. Well, okay then, all of us are in denial this morning. At least we’ll all have company.
Jaxon and I join the others at the table, and for the next half hour or so, the conversation is pleasant and completely benign. I ask Jacinta about Prada and Coco, and I overhear Declan talking to Holden about the concept for the Ninja Starfish show. But the serenity can’t last, and it’s Emma who’s clearing her throat for our attention after a quietly whispered conversation between her and Dad.
“I’m sorry, Harlow, but we’re going to have to put off your tour. I had to advise the trust of the appearance of the heirs, and I’m afraid it’s sent them into a tizzy.” A pang of disappointment hits me, but I quickly shake it off. It’s not her fault this has happened. “Look on the bright side, you’ll now have direct access to the place once everything gets approved.” She points at the twins, trying to lighten the moment, but they both became somber once she started talking. “I’m not sure how the both of you feel about this, and it’s really none of my business, so I’m not going to probe, but the manager of the trust wanted to meet with you both today. Your dad gave his OK for him to come up this morning, but he wanted me to run it by you guys as well. If you’re not okay with it, I can put them off for a day or two. There will need to be a DNA test, but I trust your dad’s story, so it's merely a formality to appease the proper authorities. The lawyers can tell you more about it when they get here. After that, I’ll start making arrangements to find new accommodations since I’ll no longer be needed to manage the property.” She breaks off, startled when the twins shout in unison.
“No!” They exchange a glance, then Jaxon continues in a quieter voice.
“We wouldn't dream of kicking you out of your home. Stay, please. Jacinta and I… Well, we really aren't ready to pick up and move or anything like that. No matter how close it is to home.” His eyes are practically pleading with Emma to stay.
“Jaxon can keep it if he wants, but I don't want anything to do with that place ever.” Jacinta stubbornly crosses her arms. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m a Summers. Nothing else existed before that. I’ll take whatever tests they want because I know that will help make your life easier, Emma, but that’s the extent of my involvement.”
