Page 27 of Kiss Me Forever

His eyes widened. “I didn’t know that. I knew you guys had different fathers, but I didn’t know that your dad had always been there for your brothers.”

I swallowed hard, wondering how detailed I should get into the family lore. “My brothers’ birth father passed away before they were born, and my dad was friends with him. So he sort of came into my mom’s life to take care of her, and it turned into something more a little bit later. My dad didn’t know how to be a dad, but he’d already been living that life without knowing it.” I winced. “Of course, it turns out that Nathan and James’ dad had a secret family and so there’s even more siblings on that side, but in the end, my dad is the best dad I know. And he takes care of all of us. Including my brothers’ half siblings that I just call siblings because it gets confusing if we don’t.”

Reece’s eyes widened comically. “I did not know that family story. I know you Montgomerys have your issues, but hell.”

“I know, right? But it doesn’t matter. Not really. We’re all one big happy family. And I’m somehow the youngest who doesn’t get to walk out of the house without big brothers watching over me.”

“That’s what brothers are supposed to do. My three younger brothers had to deal with me as it is.”

“And now Bella has a bunch of uncles who will love her no matter what. She’s blessed. Even if this isn’t exactly how life was supposed to go. You’ve got all of us behind you. No matter what.”

“Excuse me, I didn’t realize I was interrupting.”

My hand dropped as if I was scalded, and I whirled to see Chelsea standing in the doorway, notebook in hand, her chin raised. The hurt in her gaze blinked away before disdain was all that remained.

What the hell was Duke’s sister doing here? I searched my mind for who we were supposed to meet, and I swallowed hard, nearly choking.

“Hello there. You’re not interrupting anything. We’re discussing bread. Are you here with the Restoration Institute?” Reece said, giving me time to figure out what the hell was going on.

What was Chelsea thinking? With me touching Reece’s arm like that. It was such a betrayal, that I nearly let the tears fall. But no, that was wrong. Duke was gone. He had been the one to leave. He left all of us. And it wasn’t as if I was moving on. Especially not with Reece. And yet I couldn’t help but let the sense of dishonor wrap its spindly claws around my throat.

“Yes. I seem to be the first one here.”

I moved forward and rolled my shoulders back. “Chelsea. It’s good to see you.”

“Is it? For somebody who continues to text me even though you haven’t gotten the hint, you seem to be moving on quite quickly.”

I staggered back as if struck, but before I could say anything at the viciousness of her tone, Reece was in front of me, and I resented him for it.

“The meeting room is across the hall, let me take you there. Ms. Montgomery here was just setting out some of the things she brought from home.”

“I don’t care. If this is how this business is run, I’m not sure the Restoration Institute needs to work with you.”

“Chelsea,” I gasped. “What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me? You continually text us as if we want to hear from you. And yet here you are, touching another man? You constantly try to hook yourself into our lives when you’re not wanted. You seem to have moved on in a blink of an eye.”

“Okay, that’s enough. If you don’t want to work with the Montgomerys, fine. We have a waiting list. However, I remember your name from the documents, and you’re at the bottom of the ladder from what I see. You don’t have the right to make these decisions. Do you?”

“I don’t know who you think you are, but we’re not having this discussion. I wasn’t talking to you.”

“And you don’t get to talk to her like that.”

“Reece. It’s fine.”

“Reece, is it? Well, how long have you been seeing him? Were you fucking him when my brother was alive? Maybe that’s why he did it.”

I hadn’t realized I had even stepped toward her, until I was in her face, shaking.

“Don’t. Don’t dishonor his memory like that.”

“You’re doing it enough for me.”

“And that’s enough of that,” Reece said, as he slid between us, pushing me out of the way. He didn’t touch Chelsea, and for that I was grateful. She was just the type to sue if anyone ever dared crinkle her precious suit.

“Go. Your business is done here.”

“Like we would ever work with some blue collar Montgomery.”