My chest tightens, but I nod.
“Second,” he continues, “and I say this as a man who deeply loves a woman… There isn’t a single thing you could possibly do during that time that won’t drive Tank absolutely crazy.”
“Really?” I ask uncertainly.
“Absolutely, baby sister,” he says with a grin. “Hell, you could decide not to make love at all, and he’d still be so in love with you that he’d give it up completely if you asked.”
Oh my.
“Trust me on this, Abigail,” he says gently. “Nothing you do will make that man want to divorce you.”
“Thank you, Bubby,” I say as I step into his open arms. “You’re the best brother a girl could ask for.”
“Ouch.”
Laughing, I turn and run straight into my other brother’s arms.
“You know I love you,” I laugh. “I’m just sad you won’t be here when I get back. I miss you, Sammy.”
“I’ll come visit soon, little sister,” he says. “Actually… I was going to wait to tell you both this, but I’ve decided to leave the company I work for and start one of my own here in Palm Springs.”
My eyes widen.
“Really?” I ask hopefully. “You’re not lying?”
“No, little sister,” he laughs as I practically bounce on my toes. “I already bought the building. Now I just need to find a house.”
“I’m so proud of you, Samuel,” Bubby says as he pulls Sammy into a hug.
I roll my eyes.
“You know, for someone who goes by the nameSpike, you still refuse to call us Sammy and Abby,” I tease.
“That’s because you two caused so much trouble growing up that I got used to calling you Samuel and Abigail,” he shoots back.
“Not true,” I protest. “I was an angel. Sammy was the one always dragging me into trouble.”
Mom died when I was five.
Dad had been gone for years before that. I don’t remember ever meeting him.
Spike was only nineteen when the courts gave him custody of Sammy and me. And while Sammy was almost seventeen at the time, he was still technically a minor.
And very much a bratty teenager.
“Touché, little sister,” Sammy laughs. “And thank you, Ethan. I found a place about twenty minutes from here that looks promising. I’m thinking of putting in an offer.”
“You could always stay here with us,” I offer. “We have plenty of empty cabins. I’m sure Bubby wouldn’t mind.”
“I know he wouldn’t,” Sammy says warmly. “But you know I’m too soft for this lifestyle.”
“It’s not as bad as you think,” I smile. “Bubby makes sure his men follow all his rules. There aren’t parties and naked women everywhere like in the movies.”
“I prefer my women modest and my home quiet,” Sammy grins. “But thank you, Abby.”
“Well, I’m really happy you’re moving up here,” I say.
“Me too,” Spike adds. “And the real estate market around here is booming. You’re going to do great, Samuel.”
