His brother only smiled at that. "And I had an unholy fear that if you'd really meant it, the love of my life would have hightailed it out of town when you crook your little finger," he shook his head at the look on Cade's face. "Perhaps not, Sarah-Jane is a smart girl and she loves me. But I envied your ability to just do as you damn well pleased. You decided you wanted to model and hell, you did it. Acting, joining in a band and you'd gone like a shot. You never allowed anything to shackle you."
Cade tossed back his drink and felt the bitterness corroding his very soul. "Look where it got me."
"It wasn't your fault."
"Y'all keep saying that." He flexed his hands before fisting them. "I knew she was falling in love with me and my damn ego wouldn't let me recognize how deep she was going under. I strung her along, was careless with her feelings and she almost paid with her life."
Kevin's heart twisted at the agonized look on his face. "You told her the rules. If I know you and I think I do, you would have laid things out for her. No attachments."
"That makes me an asshole." His mind flashed back to an innocent young girl he had met at a party some five years ago. She had fallen under his spell as well and he had found himself drowning under hers. For the first time. Because of that, he had ignored her calls and went onto the next target. He could look back on his life and just curl up in shame.
"It makes you human." His brother corrected. "You and Kat are – well you're who you are. With your incredibly good looks, you sometimes tend to be careless about other people's feelings. But you're never heartless."
"Your effort to make me feel better is failing miserably."
"I'm just stating facts."
"Let me ask you this." Strolling towards the cabinet, Cade poured another finger of whiskey. "Do you think I can manage the job?" he turned to stare at his brother. "And don't damn lie, I can tell if you are."
Kevin hesitated, torn between being honest and trying to spare his brother's feelings. "I think you can pretty well do anything you set your mind to. That's another thing I admire about you—the ability to dig your heels in and accomplish anything you set out to do."
"Thanks."
"But—"
"Jesus!" Cade muttered.
"But," Kevin pushed on mildly, "the task you've assigned yourself is daunting. We have more or less given up on that house. It's going to take a hell of a lot to try and revive it."
"That's what I need right now. Something to sink my teeth into – to take my complete focus."
Kevin rolled the glass between his palm and studied his brother thoughtfully. The younger man's face was ridiculously beautiful and just saved from being downright perfect by the slight bump on the bridge of his nose where he had fallen on a patch of ice while skating in Maine. Instead of detracting from his looks, it only added character.
Women swarmed him like bees to honey, and Kevin couldn't say he blamed him for taking what was so freely offered. "What? No more female companionship?"
He grimaced at that. "Staying away for the moment. I've had more than my fair share."
"Along with mine and a dozen other men," Kevin muttered.
"You were always a geek," Cade reminded him with a grin.
"And happy for it." Tossing back his drink, he strolled over to clap his brother on the back. "Welcome home. We've missed your ugly mug around here."
"I figured you were happy to get rid of me. Sarah-Jane was starting to weaken." He winced when fingers dug into his shoulder blades.
"Stay away from what's mine. I'd hate to mess up that pretty face of yours." He brought him in for a hug. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to give me a shout."
"Oh, count on it." Cade finished the drink and put away the glass. "Now I'm turning in. See you in the morning."
"Board meeting at 0800."
Cade winced and nodded. "Got it."
Kevin watched him leave the room and closed the door. Sitting on the edge of the desk, he stared at the closed door in contemplative silence. He missed his devil may care brother but was happy that something had woken him up before it was too late. It had been too late, hadn't it? He looked up as the doors slid open again, his face splitting in a wide and welcoming smile. "Just the face I was hoping to see." He opened his arms and his wife walked right in.
"How is he?" Sara-Jane asked quietly as she nuzzled his throat.
"Suffering." Kevin rubbed her back gently. "Reflective and regretting his part in it."
