“What, stomping shit?” Laken fired at Rue, getting chuckles from Kodi and Taylin.
“Would you take Monty?” Booker’s lips were twitching.
No one had said anything aloud about his visits to town. He knew well that some, if not all, of his brothers had an idea about his nocturnal trips. They were all far too observant, as the conversation with Jupiter made glaringly obvious.
“Yep.” It was getting harder to hold on to his embarrassment, while starting Booker down, hoping like heck he revealed none of his internal conflict.
“What if Monty doesn’t want to stay at the ranch for weeks—months without knowing when he could come home?” Always the voice of reason, Kari had a valid point.
It was something they would talk about later tonight, after they confirmed he was going. “It’s in his contract. He goes where I go.”
“You can’t fucking force him,” Silas muttered angrily. “Popi would have a fit if you tried to do that!”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “Leave it out, I’m not fucking forcing anyone. Monty knows the score. Hollis pointed it out toall the PAs in the e-mail he sent us all when he allocated them. Or have you lot forgotten that? If I remember right, you all had a bitch about it.”
“We’re getting off track.” Kodi drummed his fingers on the table much like Silas, looking most uncomfortable. “If Rue can wangle it to work being based up on the ranch, then why are we looking for another solution when we have one?”
“Are you sure, Rue? I could go.”
Silas was the obvious choice as it was his ranch, but Monty had shared that Ziggy had a major fear of horses, explaining the fainting episode at the ranch when they were there.
“Would Ziggy want that?” It was a low blow, but he was desperate for them to agree, despite how unsure he was whether this was in his best interest.
“No,” Silas replied, after only a minor hesitation. “If you’re sure, Rue?”
He nodded before Silas had finished speaking.
“As that’s decided, are we done?” Jupiter rose before anyone answered.
“Sit, we aren’t done. If Monty goes, that leaves a gap in Emmy’s childcare—”
“I’ll do it.” Jupiter might as well have said he’d run naked through the building after he’d set fire to it. He didn’t sit down, just stood with raised brows challenging them all. “What?” he finally asked when the deafening silence continued.
It wasn’t really a surprise, Jupiter loved Emmy and spent most of his time, if allowed, when he was home with her. What surprised Rue was how many nights Jupiter stayed home for the privilege when others were out. He was a man whore, yet with Emmy, he was something different.
“It seems we’re done,” Kodi motioned at Jupiter, also getting up.
Rue rose too, ready to leave, eager to get to Monty’s to discover whether what he was proposing fit with Monty and Kendrick.
Preoccupied, he didn’t notice Silas following him to his office until he spoke. “Are you sure about this?”
Rue paused in tidying up his desk to look at his big brother. A brother with whom it had taken a year to really feel like they were family. Silas had persisted, despite Rue’s obstructive behavior, in making him feel he belonged. He’d always be grateful for that, loved him for it.
He witnessed concern and gratitude. “I am. Don’t stress ‘bout it. I went through my workload,”—or he would later—“and there isn’t anything I can’t do from Bayfield for the next six months, at least.” He grinned deliberately. “As long as you don’t let the others pull any shit on me.”
His office filled with Silas’s booming laughter. “Like I can stop them?” Silas spluttered. “But I’ll get Dad on the case if they don’t play fair. He’ll sort them out.”
Rue rolled his eyes. “Good luck with that.”
Chapter Eighteen
Monty
Last night differed from the others, and Monty had got—hypothetically—why Rue had rushed out while he was in the shower. Not even a goodbye kiss—was that too much to ask for?
It seemed it was, and it nagged like a broken tooth, except Monty didn’t want to rock the boat when Rue wasn’t a sure swimmer in the sea of relationships. It was becoming more and more obvious when he didn’t appear to know how to react when he came to Monty’s if sex wasn’t immediately on the cards. It had taken a full week before Rue came into his apartment and didn’t just stand around like a spare part.
Progress was progress.
