Matt smiled for a split second. “Yeah, I know.” The smile didn’t return, not even a flicker. “He treated me awful when I was a kid.”
“He wasn’t a good father to me or Brandon, either. I used to fight with him, where we’d get right in each other’s faces. We still do that, even now.”
Matt glanced over his shoulder. “Brandon seems to get along with him okay.”
Tommy followed his line of sight. Kirby and Brandon were swinging Chance by his hands and feet and making the kid laugh. “Brandon makes more of an effort than I do. He’s the peacekeeper.”
Matt turned back around. “And what are you?”
“The daredevil, I guess. That’s what I’m known for, even within the family. Brandon and I used to refer to you as our lone-wolf brother. We always wondered what you were like.”
“To be honest, I always wanted brothers or sisters, but not strangers who only shared half of my blood.” Matt shifted his stance. “It was hard for me to think of you as anything other than Kirby’s legitimate sons. But now I know that you were just as miserable as I was being his kid.”
Tommy barked out a humorless laugh. “I’m still miserable about it.” He quietly added, “If I was you, I never would’ve forgiven him.”
“I had to work at it, believe me.” Matt blew out a breath. “Mostly I did it for Libby and Chance. I knew that I couldn’t be a strong and loving husband to Libby or a kind and caring father to Chance if I was harboring hatred toward my own dad. I had to make things right. It was important to Libby, too. She’s gotten to know a side of Kirby that no one else has, with how deeply he’s confiding in her for the book. She knows he’s screwed up, but she sees how much he cares and how sorry he is.”
“Sometimes I see it, too. And other times, he just seems like a pompous ass, poking his nose into my life.”
Matt nodded. “When I first reunited with him and told him that Libby and I were getting married, he took credit for our relationship. He actually patted himself on the back about it. He brags about Chance being named after his song, too. But he is wonderful with the boy. Chance thinks he’s cool.”
“I can tell.” Tommy noticed how the kid hung all over Kirby. “He’s not taking credit for anything I’m doing right now. He’s pissed at me for what I’ve got going with Sophie. I know that he told Libby. Did he tell you about it, too?”
“The sperm-donor arrangement?” Matt furrowed his brow. “Yeah, he mentioned it. But I think you have a right to do whatever you want to do.”
“Being a donor suits me.” He glanced back at Kirby, who was still playing happily with Matt’s new stepson. “I don’t want to end up like Kirby, having children I don’t know how to raise. It’s better if Sophie parents the child on her own.”
“I always wanted kids. I was even married once before to a woman who had two little twin girls. But it didn’t work out. She divorced me within six months. She wasn’t who I was meant to be with.”
“I’m not meant to be with anyone. Sophie and I are just friends.” Friends and temporary lovers, he thought. And for now, he was content to have her as his housemate, too. He shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m having a personal discussion like this with you.”
Matt made a tight face. “As much as I hate to say this, I used to think of you as an idiot. I never liked your public persona.”
Tommy laughed in spite of himself. “Sometimes I don’t like it, either.”
Matt laughed, too. “I’ll keep that in mind.” His expression sobered. “It’s going to be tough when the book is released and everyone finds out that I’m Kirby’s son. Dad said that we can do some press conferences ahead of time and announce it beforehand, but it’s still going to disrupt my life. As much as I hated being his secret kid, I got accustomed to it.”
“I guess we’re all accustomed to the roles he has us playing in his life.”
“I used to ban his music at the barn dances at my ranch. I never let the band cover his tunes. Your music was off-limits, too. But I’m letting that rule go now.”
Curious, Tommy asked, “What reason did you give for banning our songs?”
“I never said, but I think people drew their own conclusions, assuming that the Talbots’ music reminded me of something bad from my past. They just didn’t know how bad it really was. I didn’t even tell my ex that I was Kirby’s kid or that you were my brother. Only Libby knows.”
“I’m sorry that you felt that way.” Tommy didn’t want his music to be a source of anyone’s pain. “But I’d love to see your ranch someday.”
“That’d be great. You’re welcome anytime. But if you visit sooner rather than later, we’ll have to stick to a cover story about how we know each other. We can’t admit that we’re brothers until after my identity is revealed.”
“We can just say that we became acquainted through Libby since she’s my dad’s biographer and you’re her fiancé. We can tell everyone that we’re newfound friends.” Tommy paused to add a silly joke. “Unless I’m too much of an idiot for that.”
Matt flashed a teasing smile. “You’re not so bad.”
“Ha. You say that now. You only just met me.” But at least they were off to a good start, taking steps toward the future, where they could actually become real-life friends.
* * *
After the picnic ended, Tommy and Sophie returned to his house. She followed him into his music room, where he tuned one of his prized guitars, and she scanned a music trade magazine from the 1950s. Tommy had a huge collection of them. But he could tell from the way she was absently paging through it, she wouldn’t stay quiet for long. Tommy was in a reflective mood and was being silent. He got like that sometimes, especially after emotional encounters, and today had been chock-full of emotion.
As expected, she set aside the publication and said, “I had a nice time. It seemed like you did, too, after you got over that hump with Matt.”
Without looking up at her, he adjusted the Stratocaster on his lap. It was a prototype of the signature model that had been designed for him, with plans to market them next year. “It turned out better than I expected. But I made a conscious effort to talk to him.”
“Yes, I noticed that you sought him out.”
He finally lifted his gaze. “You were keeping tabs on me?”
“Not the entire time, but I wanted to be sure you were doing okay. I’ve gotten used to having you on my radar.”
It wouldn’t be like that once he started touring again. He wouldn’t be anywhere near her radar. He didn’t want to keep dwelling on that, though, not with as much as he was going to miss traveling with her. But at least he was helping her to have a baby. Whenever he was on the road, he could envision her with her child, being happy as a single mom. “What did you think of Libby?” he asked, taking his mind in another direction.
“I adored her. I mean, really, what’s not to like? She’s upbeat and smart, with a glittery sense of style, white-blond hair, big blue eyes and two perfect little dimples. I can see why Matt fell head over heels. Then again, he’s quite the catch, too.”
Tommy felt a pang of jealousy. “So he impressed you, did he?”
“Oh, my word, yes. Not only is he tall, dark and broodingly handsome, he’s thoroughly devoted to Libby and her son.” Sophie leaned back in her overstuffed chair. “He’s everything they need.”
Tommy got up and placed the guitar back in its case. When he returned to his seat, he said, “I guess you’re going to look for a guy like that someday?”
“Are you serious? I’d never find anyone who wants me that badly. Besides, I just need to focus on being the best single mom I can be.”
“A lot of men would want you, but I’m glad you’ve got your priorities straight.” He couldn’t stand the idea of a stranger coming along and sweeping Sophie off her feet.
“Libby wasn’t looking for anyone, either. But still,
her situation was different from mine. She didn’t set out to be a single parent.” She sent him a coy smile. “And for now, I’m just happy I have you as my baby-making lover.”
“Oh, right.” He scoffed, even if her remark warmed him in all the right places. “Now you’re kissing up to me? After you swooned over my brother?”
She rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t swooning. I just think it’s nice that Matt and Libby found each other. Mostly what she talked about was how amazing Matt is with Chance. Isn’t he just the cutest thing? A ball of energy, but so bright and clever, too.”
“He seemed like a sharp kid. But children have always been a mystery to me.”
“He reminded me of you when you were that age—not as mischievous, but there was just something about him.”
“What I remember most about being six is us being in first grade together. I was afraid that we might not be in the same class, but we were.” For all the good it had done. He’d yapped so much to her, their teacher had separated them, putting him on the opposite sides of the room. “You never got in trouble, but I was always getting a time-out.”
She laughed. “I wasn’t the one disrupting the class, Tommy. You were.”
He shrugged, trying to brush it off. “I can still be disruptive, I guess.”
“You guess?” She wagged a finger at him. “You make everyone crazy with worry. Every time you step out on stage, it’s another broken bone waiting to happen.”
“I’ve never gotten that busted up.” Just a few typical injuries, he thought, and certainly nothing that had stopped him from performing.
“It still makes me crazy.”
“Then we’re even because you make me crazy, too.” If he’d gotten her out of his system years ago, he probably wouldn’t be so damn attached to her now. “Sexy crazy,” he clarified.
She stared at him for a second. “I knew what you meant.”
Before things got awkward, he said, “I guess it’s safe to assume that Matt and Libby are going to have more kids. That Chance will have brothers or sisters.”
“Oh, most definitely. Libby told me that they’re going to get married first, though, and the wedding isn’t scheduled until next year. They want time to plan it right.” Sophie paused for a second, then prattled on. “Libby is originally from California, so she and Chance relocated to Texas to be with Matt. But since she’s been spending so much time here with Kirby on the book, Matt has been looking after Chance when she’s gone. He’s really close to her son.”
“So I gathered.” This was the second time Sophie had mentioned Matt’s tight-knit relationship with the boy.
She tucked her feet under her, getting cozier in her chair. “When Matt and Libby get married, Chance will be your nephew. Kirby already treats him like a grandson.”
“I noticed that, too. But I’m not surprised, not with how my old man is champing at the bit to be a grandpa.” He squinted at her, thinking how pretty she looked, with her now-wrinkled picnic attire and long hair in a ponytail. “It’s funny how people can be crappy parents, and then end up being wonderful grandparents.”
“Some folks mellow with age. And in your dad’s case, I’m sure it has a lot to do with his sobriety.”
Tommy nodded. He’d hated having a drunk and stoned father more than he’d ever hated anything. “I just hope he never starts drinking or using again.”
“He seems really committed to staying clean and sober.”
“For now, he definitely does.” But lots of alcoholics and addicts fell off the wagon. “I think that’s why my mom is able to be friends with him again.”
“It was great that she was at the gathering today. She really liked Matt and Libby. And she thought Chance was a doll, too.” A moment later, she asked, “Did you know that Matt competed in junior rodeos when he was a kid?”
“No. We didn’t talk about anything like that.”
“You ride and rope, too.”
“But I never competed.” He wouldn’t have been able to follow the rules. “I’m not a structured-sports guy. Never was, never will be.”
“I know, but Matt is teaching Chance to ride and rope, and I was thinking that maybe someday you could teach my son or daughter to be a cowboy or a cowgirl, too.”
The gravity of this conversation was making him nervous. What if her child didn’t give two figs about him? It wasn’t as if he was going to be the dad. “You can do that, Soph. You ride and rope as well as I do.”
“Yes, but what I learned, I learned from you. So that’s why I thought you could teach my child, too. That seems like something a family friend could do, and since that’s going to be your role in his or her life...”
“Sure, okay. But only if that’s what the kid wants.” Tommy was already concerned about overstepping his bounds. There weren’t any hard-and-fast rules for family friends, not like there were for dads.
She glanced around the room, settling her gaze on the piano, before returning her attention to him. “Maybe you can teach the baby to play music, too.”
He battled a quick, shaky breath. He hoped her son or daughter didn’t blame him for not knowing how to be a parent. “The way I tried to get you to master ‘Chopsticks’?”
She primly folded her hands on her lap. “At least I tried.”
He chuckled in spite of how he was feeling. “Who are you trying to fool? You were the most impatient student I ever had.”
“I was the only student you ever had,” she countered.
That was true. He didn’t share his skills with just anyone. “Let’s hope that kid of yours inherits musical aptitude from me.”
“I hope it inherits a lot of things from you.”
“You do?”
“Of course,” she softly replied. A heartbeat later, she winced. “But if it’s a boy, it better not be a womanizer. That’s a quality I don’t want my son to have.”
Instead of taking offense, Tommy combed his lusty gaze over her. “I should seduce you for even saying that.”
She turned flirtatious, too, making naughty eyes back at him. “Here, in your music room, amid the instruments I don’t know how to play?”
“Hell, yes.” He stood and dragged her out of her chair, backing her toward the piano. “We’re going to make our own wild brand of music.”
She laughed, and they kissed, hard and rough. After they yanked off each other’s clothes, he pressed her bare butt against the piano keys and said, “If you’re not pregnant already, you sure as fire will be.”
Just as soon as they were done.
Seven
Sophie wanted to cry. On this quiet October morning while she was getting ready for work, her period came.
Determined to stray strong, she pulled herself together and took the elevator to the first floor of the mansion, where a buffet-style breakfast was being served. Tommy had already gone downstairs ahead of her. In fact, he’d gotten up early to ride a new mare he’d bought, so she hadn’t seen him since he’d rolled out of bed. He’d taken her dogs with him, letting them run around in the yard today.
As she reached the dining hall, she spotted Dottie coming toward her. The older woman smiled and said, “Tommy is back from his ride and is having his breakfast in the garden room. He’d like you to join him there.”
“I will. Thanks.” When the urge to cry returned, she bit back the tears. She had no business getting upset after only a month of trying. But still, she felt cheated. She wanted so badly to be pregnant.
“Are you okay?” Dottie asked. “You seem sort of sad.”
“I’m fine. I just have something on my mind.” She couldn’t reveal what was wrong, not without telling Tommy first. “I’m going to grab my food now.”
“All right, hon. Chef made a lovely spread today with the sweet-potato-and-spinach strata you like so well. He enjoys having you here, and so do I. Just let us know if ther
e’s anything else we can do for you.”
“Thank you. That’s sweet. You’ve both been so accommodating.” She wanted to put her head on Dot’s shoulder, but that would provoke the tears she refused to cry. “I’ll talk to you later. Okay?”
“Sure.” Dottie walked away, returning to her household duties.
Sophie fixed herself a plate, taking an extra helping of the dish Chef Bryan had prepared specially for her. She also went for crab cakes and avocado sauce. She added fresh fruit and whole wheat toast, along with a frosty glass of milk. She’d already had coffee in Tommy’s suite.
She put everything on a tray and carried it to the garden room, located just off the dining hall.
Tommy sat at a mosaic-tiled table, surrounded by a spectacular array of plants and flowers, with several fountains bubbling nearby. He looked exceptionally rugged wearing his Western riding gear in this glamorous setting.
He glanced up and noticed her. “Hey, there.”
“Hi.” She put her tray on the table and took the chair across from him. When she unfolded her napkin on her lap, she skimmed her stomach and frowned. Instead of dragging out her news, she hurriedly said, “I just got my period.” To keep those stupid tears at bay, she sipped her milk.
“Damn. Really? I was so sure that we were going to...” He moved around a half-eaten crab cake on his plate. “It’ll happen next time.”
“What if it takes longer than we anticipated? What if it goes on for years or never happens at all?” Nature was difficult to predict, and now a fearful burst of gloom and doom was setting in.
“Come on, Soph,” he admonished. “Don’t talk like that.”
“But what if that’s our fate?” Or more accurately, her fate. He wasn’t the one who wanted a baby. “You’re not going to keep doing this with me forever.”
“I’ll do it as long as it takes. I already told you that.”
“Yes, but years? Come on, Tommy. It’s unrealistic for you to think you could stand it for that long.”
“Stand what? Having you as my lover? Or console you when you get your period?”
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