Brash opened the door a crack and could see that the two of them were talking in low voices, holding hands.
“Looks like they’ve got some catchin’ up to do. Want some coffee?”
“Okay. Now’s as good a time as any for you to tell me what you’ve done to my company while I’ve been riding your bike and enjoying great Mexican food.”
“Chuy’s?”
Brandon grinned. “Have you ever had the chicken and guac tacos?”
“No. Sounds girly to me. Speakin’ of business. Since I didn’t get any calls from you or my owners, I’m guessin’ things are steady.”
“The worst thing that happened was my stop at the river taco truck. They seemed surprised that I don’t speak Spanish.”
Brash laughed. “I wish I had a video of that.”
“That reminds me. Give me my wallet and phone.”
They fished in pockets and switched. “What about the taco truck reminded you of that?”
“That’s not what reminded me. It was the word ‘video’. You said you wanted a TV like mine in your room at the club, so I went to get you one. But you don’t have enough credit on your MasterCard. It was my first experience of being denied credit. Ever. And I didn’t like it. I’ll take a black American Express any day.”
“Uh-huh. How much was the TV you were tryin’ to buy?”
“Twelve thousand.”
Brash just looked at him like he was crazy.
“Twenty years ago I bought a lot up on the bluff above the river. It has a view northeast overlookin’ downtown, the capitol, the university. It’s beautiful day and night. When I saw it, I knew you’d love it.”
Garland smiled wistfully. “I know I would.”
“I used to hope that someday I’d get the chance to build a house there. For us. Somethin’ you’d like, you know? I don’t have billions, but I’ve got enough to make you comfortable. And happy.”
“Brant…”
“You don’t have to answer right now. You can think about it, but when they let you out of here, I want to take you home with me.”
“Brant. I can’t. Maybe last week. Even three days ago. But this isn’t a head cold. I can’t even walk by myself. I’m not sure that I will I ever…” Her voice broke.
“I don’t care about that, Garland. Maybe you’ll walk. Maybe not. Either way. You’re the only thing I ever wanted, except our sons. And the reason I love them the way I do is ‘cause they’re part you.”
“You say that now, but taking care of a person who’s helpless… It’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“I don’t have to do it by myself. We can get help until you don’t need it anymore. In the meantime, you’ll be busy tellin’ the contractors what kind of house you want.” The tears started rolling again. “Garland. Why is this makin’ you cry?”
“Because I want it so much,” she whispered.
“Then stop bein’ a pussy and say yes.”
Two weeks later, Garland was released from the hospital and taken directly to the airport. Brash and Brandon had flown back to Austin together and made the people who lived in the house next door to Brant’s lot an offer they couldn’t refuse. They figured their mother would like to be close to the house she was building.
They then had the ground floor outfitted for a wheelchair and had their mother’s things moved into the first story. While they were at it, they had the upstairs outfitted for two bachelor brothers to visit. They’d also hired a physical therapist and people to take care of the house and help Garland with what she couldn’t do by herself.
When the Germane jet landed in Austin, Brash and Brandon were there waiting anxiously.
“She looks happier than I’ve ever seen her,” Brandon said.
Brash nodded. “He looks so much younger.”
As they reached the SUV where the boys were waiting, Garland told Brant. “They’re so beautiful.”
“If you say so,” was the most she could get out of Brant, but he did wink at their sons as he reached down to put on the wheelchair brakes. “We have news.”
“What?” Brash and Brandon said it at the same time.
“We’re gettin’ married.” Their pop looked like he’d struck oil.
Brash said, “Shut up!” which made Garland giggle.
A year later, Garland walked into their new house on her own. It was everything she’d ever dreamed of because it was where she and Brant lived together. She’d made sure there was plenty of space for grandchildren to come and stay. Just in case.
Brandon had moved Germane Enterprises headquarters to Austin. He was working less and enjoying life more since becoming an honorary member of the Sons of Sanctuary MC. Brigid finished her master’s degree, but by that time, she was more interested in owning and running a bar than in pursuing a career in social anthropology.
She told Brash, “There’s no better place to conduct cultural research.”
It took the lion’s share of her remaining inheritance to open a bar on 6th and Guadalupe, but she did it with Brash’s assurance that he’d show her how he’d made three other bars profitable.
The two of them sat at the picnic table next to the river taco truck and talked about her future. “And I’ll make sure the club shows up regularly to patronize your fine establishment.”
“Yeah. That’s one of the things that’s got me worried,” she said.
“You won’t have to advertise for Ladies Night. I’ll get Arnold and Brand to show up. All the women will come runnin’. “
She laughed. “In that case maybe I should invest in a male escort service instead.”
“There’s only one male escort you’re in the market for, and you’re lookin’ at him.”
“Yeah?” she teased.
“Yeah. And I suggest we christen your new drinking establishment by havin’ a private party before we open to the general public.”
“What kind of party?”
He wiped his hands on his napkin, reached into his pocket, and said, “This kind.” When his hand came out of his pocket, it was holding up a diamond ring. “You’re the one, Pain. Say yes.”
She looked from the ring into the dark eyes that never failed to captivate. “I’m yours, biker boy.”
Brash chuckled. It was an inside joke because that’s what people close to Brant and Garland heard her say to him so often.
At the reception in Brigid’s new, but yet unopened bar, Brandon gave the bride and groom the deed to the house next door to Brant and Garland, saying, “Somebody needs to keep an eye on those two.”
Watch for The Biker’s Brother, Sons of Sanctuary, Book 2.
End of Book Shit.
Working on dark.
I even managed to pull off a hopeless ending to A Season in Gemini. I was all set to kill off Garland and have her die young of stroke, like her good-for-nothing father. It was all planned. She was going to die while Brash was in New York sobbing by her bedside. The boys were going to have to tell their dad together. Brant was going to be so devastated by the fact that she died before he’d accumulated the cash he thought he needed to woo her back that he was going to retreat into a bottle of Jack and never come up. Ever.
That was the plan.
Then the twins started a relentless campaign. They were always in my ear saying, “Please. Please. Don’t kill our mom! She’s never done anything to you.”
And I caved!
What can I say? When it comes to HEA’s, I’m a sucker for pleas from my characters, especially when lots of shirtless begging is involved.
So, really, I’m not weak-willed when it comes to standing up to the twins. They’re just super persuasive. I mean, who could resist two out-of-this-world gorgeous guys pleading with those big dark eyes, wanting to save their mother? Not me.
I don’t know how much of a chance I stand against these two. They’ll probably just continue to force me submit to their will.
So I’m moving on, setting my trap for CARNAL. And nothing will keep me from the darkness thi
s time.
Two Princes: The Biker and The Billionaire Page 22
