“She’s in the kitchen with Jordan’s dog and his friend.” Rachel volunteered that helpful bit of information before Jordan could even open his mouth. “We should all go inside now that you’re here, Drew.”
“Finally, I might add,” Jordan grumbled but didn’t miss the soft kiss Ash gave Drew. His mood, already spoiled by Ash’s presence, grew even blacker at the sight of the man’s happy face. His feelings were irrational at best, Jordan knew, but as his mother always said,“It is what it is.”
“You got a dog, Jordy? You never said you planned on getting a dog.” Drew sounded surprised.
“I didn’t plan on it. She sort of found me.”
Rachel cut in. “She’s adorable. And so sweet too.”
They all trooped into Esther’s homey kitchen, where platters of fruit along with Esther’s favorite foods—corned beef, roast beef, and pastrami—were set out. She must’ve spent the whole morning baking, as there were cake plates with her famous chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and other assorted goodies.
Lucas sat at the table, a plate of apple strudel in front of him, along with a big mug, which Jordan knew would have coffee. The man basically lived on caffeine. Sasha sat at his feet, her muzzle resting on his knee as he stroked her head. Esther spotted them, and her eyes lit up.
“There they are; there’s my darling grandson.” She got up to hug Drew.
“Happy birthday, Nana.” Drew kissed her cheek. “We brought you a cake, but I should’ve known you’d bake up a storm.”
She laughed. “Yes, you should, but who am I to deny another piece of cake in the house?” She peered behind him. “Where is that scoundrel of yours? Asher, where are you, darling?”
“Esther, my love. Happy birthday, darling lady.” Jordan watched with disgust as Ash charmed Drew’s grandmother with his old-fashioned, courtly gesture of kissing her hand.
“Come, you two. Come have some coffee, everyone, and Drew, Asher, come meet Jordan’s friend and his sweet dog.” As she approached the table, she took Lucas’s hand in hers. Jordan moved over to make the introduction, but Lucas stood abruptly, dropping his fork so that it clattered on the plate. Sasha jumped up to stand by Esther, whining.
“Lukie?” Ash’s voice cracked. “Is that you, or am I dreaming?”
Instead of greeting them, Lucas stepped backward, his face a mask of indifference, but Jordan, knowing him as he did, could see how affected he was by his pale face, narrowed eyes, and the muscle jumping in his tightly clenched jaw.
“It’s Lucas, and no, you aren’t dreaming. More like a nightmare.”
By now, Sasha had placed herself in front of Lucas and was growling at Ash. Smart dog, Jordan thought to himself.Good girl. “Do you two know each other?” He looked over at Lucas in confusion, and the bitterness and hatred on his face rivaled anything he’d ever seen in his life. “Lucas?”
Drew had come to stand by Ash and take his hand. “Ash, is this—”
“It’s my brother, my foster brother Luke.” Ash took a step toward him. “Luke, please, let me talk to you. I’ve been trying for months.”
Sasha barked, growling deep in her throat at Ash as she pressed against Luke’s legs.
“You’re no brother of mine. You lost that right when you walked out on us.” Lucas snarled in Ash’s face as he brushed right by him like he would a stranger. “Now watch me as I walk out on you. I hope it hurts you as much as it did Brandon and me.”
Jordan stood and watched as Lucas, with Sasha at his heels, strode out of the kitchen and the house, the front door slamming behind him.
Chapter Eight
With a heavy thump, Luke sat on the bottom steps of Esther’s front porch. Sasha crowded in next to him, and he wrapped his arm around the dog’s solid warmth, hugging her close. Spots danced before his eyes, blurring his vision. Nausea threatened, then receded. Eight fucking million people in New York City and he had to find the one person who somehow had a connection to his brother.
No. Not his brother. Not any longer. Never again.
But he knew it wasn’t true. Because the sight and the sound of Ash thrust that yearning he thought he’d buried years ago to the surface. A yearning to once again have a family, have his brothers back in his life. Goddamn it. It was all too much to handle.
“Lucas.”
He glanced up at Jordan’s stricken face. “What are you so upset about? Go back inside with your friends. I didn’t mean to break up your party.”
As usual, Jordan ignored what he said and sat next to him on the step. “Don’t be stupid. This is more important.” Jordan placed his hand on Sasha, smoothing the fur on her head. “So Ash is your brother?”
“My foster brother. It was the three of us—Brandon, Ash, and myself.” A trembling began deep within him. This exposure was what he’d feared the most—strangers pitying him, looking down at him, thinking of him as weak. “Ash left right before he turned eighteen, ran away in fact.”
“That must have been rough for him, leaving home all by himself.” Jordan’s thoughtful voice had lost its usual patronizing tone.
