Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 78227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Nothing,” I say.
He takes a pull from his beer. “We leave early tomorrow. We want to be on the road by eight.”
“By eight? Why? We’re going to Grand Junction. It’s half an hour away.”
“Actually… Our first gig is in Utah. We end the tour in Grand Junction.”
“Thanks for telling me.” I roll my eyes and take another sip of beer.
“Hey, you just decided to go two hours ago. After telling me you were in and then out and then in and then out and then in again. Don’t even think about trying to weasel out again.”
“I’m not weaseling out.”
Donny’s voice calls from the kitchen. “Callie?”
“We’re out here on the deck,” Callie replies.
Donny joins and eyes the beers. “That looks good.”
“Sure you don’t want me to mix you a margarita?” Jesse scowls.
Callie rises. “Oh, for God’s sake. Will the two of you just get over yourselves?”
“I agree,” I say. “This high school rivalry of yours is what, fifteen years old now?”
“Fourteen,” Jesse says.
“Whatever,” Callie says. “Jesse, Donny is my husband-to-be. And Donny? Jesse is my brother. So the two of you are going to have to get along for my sake. Because you both love me deeply and without question.”
Neither of them responds.
This time I rise. “Are you both freaking kidding me? For God’s sake, shake hands.”
Neither of them move.
“Get off your ass, Jesse,” Callie says. “Stand up and shake hands with my fiancé. And you”—she turns to Donny—“shake hands with my brother. Get over yourselves, because you’re going to be family.”
Jesse stands reluctantly. He takes a step toward Donny. Donny takes a step toward him. They’re still ten feet away from each other.
I roll my eyes. “You guys are acting like a couple of chicks.”
They both raise their eyebrows at me.
“Yeah, I’m serious. This is what teenage girls do. They hold grudges. Guys—especially adult guys—don’t do that. They quarrel, and then they’re drinking buddies the next day. So get over yourselves and act your age.”
That gets them. They shake hands.
“Damn, Rory,” Callie says. “You should’ve said that years ago.”
“Listen.” Jesse withdraws his hand. “It’s no secret that I was angry when you got MVP senior year.”
“It was a toss-up,” Donny says. “I’m not sure I could’ve made the decision between the two of us myself.”
“You got it because of your name, Steel.”
“Maybe I did,” Donny says. “I honestly don’t know, Pike.”
It is possible. Callie and I know that now. The rumors that the Steels own Snow Creek? They may very well be true, but I believe that Donny did not know that at the time. Nor Brock. Nor any of the Steel kids. I can’t say this, however, because Jesse doesn’t know about any of that yet.
“Yeah, well, it pissed me off,” Jesse says.
“I don’t blame you.” Donny rubs his temple. “I’d feel the same way, no doubt.”
“See?” Callie says. “The two of you can get along.”
“I doubt we’ll be best buds,” Jesse says.
“Probably not,” Donny agrees.
“You don’t have to be,” I say. “You just need to get along for Callie’s sake. And you know what? Once you truly let the stupid high school crap go, you may end up finding you have more in common than not.”
“A lawyer and a rocker?” Jesse says. “I doubt it.”
“Two men who love Callie,” I counter.
They seem to soften at my words. Will it last? Who knows?
“I’ll let it go if you will, Pike,” Donny says.
“All right, Steel.”
“And your names are Jesse and Donny,” Callie says. “This Pike and Steel shit has to stop. Besides, my name will be Steel soon.”
“Now that’s just crap,” Donny says. “Guys call each other by their last names all the time.”
“Not guys who are related.”
Donny rolls his eyes. “Fine. Jesse.”
“Don,” Jesse replies.
“That’s better.” Callie takes a seat. “Now, which one of you men is going to get me another beer?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
BROCK
“Dad,” I say again, forcing my voice not to shake, “what the hell are you doing?”
My father stands over Doc Sheraton, who’s seated behind his desk. He holds a gun to the back of Doc’s head.
“Brock?” Doc Sheraton’s voice cracks. “Would you please tell your father to put his gun down?”
“Not a chance,” my father says through gritted teeth. “Brock? Start searching this office.”
“Dad…”
“I had no choice, son. Now do as I say.”
“You realize this is trespassing,” I say.
“Are you going to call a cop?” Dad asks.
Oh my God. How am I in this situation? And what the hell has happened to my father?
“I’m going to tell you a story,” Dad says. “And after I’m done, you will do as I ask, and you will search this office.”
“I’m listening.”
“Doc Sheraton and I were discussing the purchase of some guard dogs,” Dad begins. “We were having a nice conversation, drinking Brittany’s delicious lemonade, when Doc here happened to mention his biggest client.”
“And…” I say.
“A corporate client, by the name of the Fleming Corporation.”