by Jaci Burton
They headed through a side gate and down a pathway. Grant was back there near the porch, talking to someone who was working on renovating the back porch. Concrete was torn up, half the porch was gone and there were a handful of guys back there.
Grant spotted them and waved them over.
“Hang on a sec,” Grant said. “We’re almost done here.”
Then he turned back to the man standing next to him. “We need to make sure we have an adequate fan system in place so when I’m grilling the smoke doesn’t reach the guests who are sitting out here.”
The guy nodded. “Don’t worry. We’ve got that in the plans.”
The two of them talked for a few more minutes, then the guy walked away and Grant came over and hugged them both.
That was one thing about the Cassidy family. They might all be tough athletes, but they were always affectionate with one another. They had their mother—and their father—to thank for that. There had always been loving hugs from Mom. And their dad, Easton Cassidy, was one tough sonofabitch—one of the best quarterbacks to have ever played the game. But their father was also kind and warm and he loved his sons. He’d passed down that affection to all of them, and made sure that even though they all fought like hell with each other, and might hate each other one minute, they loved each other, too.
“How’s the leg?” Grant asked him.
“It healed up fine. It was no big deal to start with. Just a cut. I’ve taken worse in scuffles from you guys.”
Grant nodded. “No doubt. I can’t believe they pulled you from the game for a little blood.”
“Wouldn’t have happened on the football field,” Barrett said. “This is what happens when you play a pussy game like baseball.”
Tucker was used to this bullshit. “We can’t all be smart and play baseball. Some of us only know how to use our bodies to hit, not throw masterful pitches.”
Grant let out a snort. “Good one, Tucker.”
Barrett glared at Grant. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I’m not on anyone’s side when the two of you get going. Come on, let’s head into the house.”
“You’ve done a lot of remodeling already,” Tucker said as Grant led them through the downstairs. “The last time I was here, the media room was still open to the rest of the basement.” Now it was closed off, with a bar and entertainment area in a separate, adjacent space. Grant gave them a sample of the new sound system in the media room. It was outstanding, like being in a movie theater.
“Yeah. Katrina got started right away working on the renovations. The media room and entertainment section is done, and now that spring is here, we’ve dug in and are working on the outside.”
“Seems like you’re making some progress out there. Though it’s kind of a mess right now,” Barrett said.
Grant reached into the fridge, dug out three beers and handed them out. “Yeah. It’s going to take a while because we’re expanding the whole patio area, adding square footage and a built-in kitchen.”
Tucker pulled up a seat and took a long swallow of his beer. “It’s going to look great when it’s done.”
“It will. It’ll be awesome in the summer. I might even invite you over, Tucker.”
“I might even show up. Providing there’s food.”
“Oh, there’ll be food.”
“Yeah, now that you have Katrina in your life. And her little sister.”
Grant nodded at Barrett. “She’s picking Anya up after school today, and the two of them are going to the store to buy food to cook for dinner tonight.”
“Awesome. Where’s Leo?” Tucker asked.
“Football practice.”
Barrett grinned. “I like hearing that. How’s it going?”
“It’s good. He made the team without any influence from me or Dad, despite Dad’s insistence on calling the coach. It was important for Leo to know he could do it on his own. He worked his ass off, running and in the weight room. He put on twenty pounds and sprung up another two inches in height, which sure as hell didn’t hurt him.”
“No shit,” Tucker said. “Thank God for teen boys and growth spurts, huh?”
Grant laughed. “Yeah. When spring practice started, he tried out for wide receiver and made the team.”
“Good for him. We should go watch.”
“You wanna give the kid a complex?” Tucker asked. “The last thing he needs is all of us on the sidelines breathing down his neck.”
“Hey,” Barrett said. “The whole team might need some pointers. Especially the defense, which is my specialty.”
“I agree with Tucker,” Grant said. “I already told the coach I’d lay low. He doesn’t need some pro quarterback showing up and interfering in his practices. He knows what he’s doing.”
Barrett shrugged. “If you say so. But between the three of us—” Barrett looked over at Tucker. “Okay, maybe the two of us and Tucker could just pretend like he knew what he was talking about.”
“Hey. Fuck off. Just because I don’t play football professionally doesn’t mean I don’t know the game, asshole.”
Barrett’s lips curved. “Sure you do. Anyway, we could turn that team into a state champion.”
“I think we’ll stay hands off for a while, so Leo can integrate into the team on his own.”
Barrett raised his hands in the air. “Okay. Dad.”
Grant grinned.
The intercom system buzzed. “Hey, are you all down there?”
Tucker recognized Anya’s voice, Katrina’s little sister.
Grant got up and pushed the button. “Yup.”
“We’re back with food.”
“We’ll be right up,” Grant said.
They headed upstairs. Katrina and Anya were in the kitchen unpacking bags of groceries.
Katrina turned around and smiled, then came over to give Tucker and Barrett hugs. “It’s great to see both of you. You’re just in time to help.”
Barrett looked at him. “This is just like being at Mom’s house.”
Katrina patted Barrett’s arm. “I’m going to take that as a compliment. Now go put these in the pantry.”
Katrina was an internationally famous model, one of the A-list types. Gorgeous and smart, too. Why she was with his doofus of a brother, he had no idea. He sure as hell didn’t see any appeal to Grant. Then again, he wasn’t sleeping with him.
Thank God. Sharing a room with him as a kid had been bad enough. Grant was Katrina’s problem now.
And she had two cool younger siblings, too. They had all bonded with Leo and Anya during the short time they’d known them. It was like they were part of the Cassidy family already.
And getting to be a part of the Cassidys wasn’t easy. But Grant loved Katrina, Leo and Anya. And his acceptance and love for them meant the rest of the Cassidys brought them into their fold.
It helped that they were exceptional people. Easy to like, friendly and fun.
It didn’t hurt that Leo liked sports, and Katrina and Anya were great cooks. Bonus points and all that.
“I hope you guys like seafood,” Anya said, already dragging out pans from the cabinets.
“We’re guys,” Barrett said. “We eat anything.”
Katrina leaned against the counter. “I know guys who are very choosy about what they eat.”
“You’ve met the Cassidys, haven’t you?” Tucker asked. “We really do eat anything.”
“Including things we probably shouldn’t have,” Grant added. “But that was when we were kids. As far as I know, none of us have eaten dirt recently.”
“I wouldn’t say that yet, pretty boy,” Barrett said. “Our teams play each other this year, and I intend to pound your face in the turf.”
“You’ll never get past my offensive line.”
Katrina rolled her eyes. “Here we go again.”
Anya laughed. “You two should record this conversation on a video and just press play every time you see each other.”
“Flynn sa
id to tell you that when you play against San Francisco, you’re going down,” Barrett said. “And he’s going to be the one to take you there.”
Grant grinned. “See how my brothers fear me?”
Tucker laughed and slapped Grant on the back. “You’re the one who wanted to be a quarterback like Dad. Now you get to reap the rewards. And the threats.”
“And that’s why Tucker chose baseball,” Barrett said, snatching a grape from the pile Anya was rinsing in the sink before popping it into his mouth. “Because you couldn’t handle the heat.”
“Oh, I’ve got the heat. I believe you swung and missed at several of my pitches the last time you challenged me.”
“And I believe I nailed you to the ground during our football skirmish.”
“Guys. Guys,” Katrina said. “How about a truce? At least until after dinner?”
Grant slid in behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “You think we’re fighting don’t you?”
“Well, yes.”
Barrett laughed. “Don’t worry, honey. For us, this is a normal conversation at the breakfast table.”
Katrina frowned. “Didn’t it drive your mother crazy?”
“She got used to us over the years,” Tucker said. “As long as no blood was shed, she learned to ignore us.”
Katrina sighed. “I guess it’s something I’ll have to get used to as well, then. But you all make me nervous. It’s like you’re all seconds away from coming to blows.”
“Not a chance.” Grant kissed her on the cheek. “And if we are, we’ll be sure to give you fair warning so you and Anya can remove yourselves to a safe place.”
“Good to know,” Anya said. “Now all of you can get out of the kitchen while we cook.”
Tucker’s lips curved as they all headed into the living room. They’d been like this for years, always bickering about everything, but mainly sports. The Cassidys were nothing if not competitive, obviously a gene passed on from their father.
It had made their lives a lot of fun growing up. And sometimes a giant pain in the ass.
But he’d chosen baseball because he loved the sport, and not for any of the bullshit reasons his brothers always accused him of.
He finished his beer, so he wandered into the kitchen. “Something smells amazing in here.”
Anya looked up from the stove and grinned at him. “Shrimp creole with rice. We’re also doing a corn salad on the side. And Katrina’s baking bread.”
His stomach reacted with a violent grumble. He was starving. “Oh, God. Can we kill off all the other guys, so only the three of us get to eat this?”
Katrina laughed. “I’d kind of like to keep Grant around, if you don’t mind.”
He shrugged. “If you’re going to insist on that.”
Leo showed up a short while later. All the guys ganged up on him to ask him about football. The kid had changed a lot in the past half a year or so. He’d gained muscle and height, as well as confidence. After he took a quick shower, they sat him down in the living room.
“So how’s it going?” Tucker asked.
“It’s good. The practices are great, and we’re hard at it already, even though football season isn’t until fall.”
“That gives you time to get used to the plays and integrate yourself into the team,” Barrett said.
Leo nodded. “Yeah. I’m learning a lot.”
“Any girlfriends yet?”
Leo blushed, peeked over toward the kitchen, then lowered his voice. “I might have my eye on someone.”
Barrett nodded his head, offering up a smug smile. “A cheerleader, right?”
“Actually, no. She’s in my chemistry class.”
“Even better. Nerdy girls are hot.”
Grant shot Barrett a look. “You think anyone with a vagina is hot.”
“Hey, I’m picky about my women.”
“Since when?” Tucker asked. “You racked up more girls in high school and college than you did sacks. And that hasn’t changed since you went pro—and by pro, I mean a pro at going through women.”
“Don’t listen to him, Leo,” Barrett said. “It’s not my fault women find me hot, muscular and irresistible.”
“Gag.” Tucker shook his head. “I just lost my appetite.”
“That’s too bad, because dinner is ready,” Katrina said. “And you all should stop talking about sex and vaginas with my brother.”
“Why?” Barrett asked with a grin. “How else is he going to learn other than from the experts?”
Grant knocked into Barrett with his body. “You’re an asshole.”
“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”
Tucker slung his arm around Leo’s shoulders. “We’ll talk about football and the other thing later.”
Leo offered up a smile and nodded.
Tucker liked the kid. He got good grades in school, was still a little shy, though not as much as he had been when they’d first met on the ranch last summer. He was growing up, and God, kids did that so fast these days. He seemed to have a good head on his shoulders, though, and Tucker knew both Grant and Katrina would make sure it stayed that way.
Dinner was amazing, and Tucker ate way more than he should have.
“Anya, this is great.”
She smiled so hard he thought her face might break. “Thanks. I’ve been playing with making some Southern foods.”
“She’s chosen University of Texas for college,” Grant said. “She’s waiting for her acceptance letter.”
“Oh yeah?” Barrett grinned. “That should make Dad happy. And Grant, of course.”
Grant grinned. “Yeah, it sure does.”
“We haven’t told Easton yet because we don’t want him to be disappointed if I don’t get in,” Anya said.
“I can’t imagine you won’t get in,” Tucker said. “What college wouldn’t want you?”
“Thanks. I also applied to a few other backup colleges, but U of T is what I want.”
Grant smiled. “It’ll make Mia happy to have you there.”
Tucker could already imagine his little sister chaperoning Anya at parties and mixers. He knew Katrina would feel a lot better with Anya attending a college where a Cassidy was already in residence.
“It would make me happy, too.”
“What about you, Leo?” Tucker asked. “Have you given any thoughts to colleges yet?”
Leo shook his head. “My head is filled with a new school, meeting new friends and concentrating on football right now. Plus, I’m on the baseball team, and our team is in first place. I’m hoping we’ll go to the state championships.”
Tucker grinned. “That would be great.”
Leo nodded. “I know, right? Anyway, between that and spring football, it’s pretty much all I can handle.”
“I think he’s got plenty of time. He can start thinking about college next year,” Katrina said.
“Well, when you do, you know we’ll all weigh in with our opinions,” Barrett said.
Leo laughed. “I’ll be happy to hear your opinions. I’ll probably need them, since right now I don’t have any idea.”
They talked about colleges for a while, then helped clear the table and do the dishes. They’d long ago learned from their mother that the kitchen wasn’t just a woman’s place. You ate the food, you either helped prepare it or you cleaned it up. So Barrett and Leo put the food away while Tucker and Grant did dish duty.
After, they walked out back and surveyed the construction work that was going on. Grant and Katrina showed them the plan for the outdoor kitchen and eating area, plus the expansion near the pool.
Leo picked up a football and was tossing it in the air, so Tucker took it and threw him a few.
“You sure you know which end of that is the right one?” Grant asked him.
Tucker wanted to toss out a curse, but with the kids there, he reined in the urge. “Yeah. The pointy end.”
Grant came over and took the ball from him. “Here, you’d better let me take that. M
aybe you can go out there with Leo and take some passes. If you know how to catch.”
“Go fuck yourself, Grant,” he mumbled to his brother before taking a run out to the back of the yard to meet up with Leo.
They played a light game of catch, with Anya and Katrina included, just to work off dinner. But then Barrett tackled Grant, and the women decided they were going inside to make some iced tea, which was the signal for the game to get tougher.
“You in for this?” Tucker asked Leo.
Leo grinned. “Of course.”
He slapped Leo on the back. “Let’s take them down.”
They blindsided Barrett on a trick play. Tucker ran with the ball, then tossed it to Leo, who skirted past a diving Grant and scored.
“Sonofabitch, that kid is fast,” Grant said.
When Leo laughed, Grant said, “I mean, good job, Leo.”
Barrett’s gaze narrowed. “He’s the enemy. Quit telling him he did good.”
“Come on, he’s my kid. I have to tell him when he did a good job.”
Tucker couldn’t help but notice the wide grin on Leo’s face. He’d never had a father figure—or at least one that he remembered. Having Grant in his life now meant the world to him. That made Tucker happy for Leo.
Barrett scored on a toss from Grant after Barrett shoved a shoulder into Tucker and knocked him down—the bastard. So when they had the ball next, Tucker pulled Leo aside.
“How’s your passing?”
“Uh . . . kinda sucks.”
“That’s okay. All you have to do is throw it up in the air. I’ll catch it.” He discussed the play with Leo, then they broke and faced off against Barrett and Grant.
“I’m gonna bury you,” Barrett said to him.
“Quit talking shit and prepare to get your ass kicked,” Tucker said.
Barrett dug in. So did Tucker. Then they were off. Tucker ran like hell, and turned to catch the ball Leo had lofted into the air. He could see the ball, and in a few steps he’d have it.
He ran smack into a pile of discarded rocks. He didn’t have time to stop, so he tumbled over them and banged his head—hard—on the ground.
For a few seconds, everything went black. And everything on his body fucking hurt.
