THE PHOENIX WEDDING: The Complete 6 Books Series

by CJ Bishop

  The cowboy gazed at the boy from beneath the brim of his hat, seemed to be studying him. Abel saw much more in his stare than an outsider might detect. Clint was a man of few words, but more and more these days, his affection for another could be perceived in his jade green eyes. Clearly, Noah’s fondness for the cowboy was mutual.

  “You don’t have to be nervous,” Abel smiled at the boy. “Everyone will love you. This family adores newcomers.”

  Noah looked at him and returned a wavering smile, then glanced at Clint.

  “If they’ll take me, kid,” Clint drawled. “They’ll take anyone.”

  The three other men laughed. “Ah, you’re not so bad,” Horatio chuckled. “A little rough around the edges, but Axel is smoothing you out.”

  Clint smirked and Abel could imagine the thoughts going through his head.

  “Take my word for it, Noah,” Horatio nodded at the boy. “You hit the jackpot with this family.” He winked. “In more ways than one.”

  The man couldn’t have spoken truer words. The quantity of love that flowed through their family far exceeded their combined monetary value—which was a hell of a lot. Noah wasn’t just entering an extremely loving family, but a damn rich one as well. Abel supposed the kid figured that out, though, as soon as he crawled into the limo back in Chicago and flew to New York on a luxurious private jet.

  Noah relaxed a fraction but the bulk of his nervousness remained as he turned his eyes back to the passing city outside, his brow knit in what appeared to be troubled thought.

  ♦

  “Is there a reason I’m getting the royal treatment?”

  Cole smiled at the man across from him as he poured wine into the glasses. “There is.”

  Chuckling softly, Lex Roaman took his glass and sipped the wine. “Are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?”

  “I suppose I’ll tell you?” Cole laughed quietly and picked up his wine glass. “Carl’s okay with me taking you out to dinner?”

  “Well, after that dance you and Gabe did on stage at the bachelor party, he wasn’t sure he wanted to hand me over to you.” He smiled and sipped more wine. “But I talked him into it.” He raised an eyebrow. “How about Gabe?” Behind his amusement lingered a serious question. Gabe was fully aware of Cole and Lex’s interaction during that whole shit storm that struck without warning.

  Cole sighed. “I didn’t tell him you were my date.” He smiled. “But his only request was that I bring something back for him.”

  Lex nodded and chuckled. “Sounds like Gabe.”

  “But it’s cool,” Cole assured. “He has a special affection for you. Not only because you were instrumental in helping us rescue him from Quinton, but because you were there for me when I needed someone the most.” He gazed at Lex. “That’s something I will never forget. Which brings me to the reason for this dinner.” He sipped his wine and set the glass on the table as Lex gazed back at him inquisitively. “I would be deeply honored if you would agree to be my best man.”

  Lex’s brow raised in mild shock.

  “No pressure.” Cole smiled. “Feel free to decline. I know it’s short notice.”

  Shaking his head slowly, a warm smile brightened the man’s handsome face. “Cole…” he murmured. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Maybe…yes?”

  Lex laughed softly. “Of course. Absolutely. I would be honored stand up there with you on your special day.” He leaned back, grinning. “I’m blown away. Thank you.”

  “Thank you.” Cole smiled and raised his glass. “To the amazing, sexy men who make our life complete.”

  Lex joined the toast, clinking glasses. “Here, here.”

  ♦

  Max was in the entry hall when Horatio came through the front door, followed by the others. Before giving his attention to anyone else, Max hugged his fiancé and kissed him deeply. “I missed you.”

  Horatio smiled and held him tight. “I wasn’t even gone a full day.”

  “I don’t care,” Max insisted and kissed him again. “I missed you the second you walked out the door this morning.”

  The truth be told—Horatio started missing him about the same time. After two decades of not being allowed to openly feel anything for Max, or touch him and kiss him…he found himself craving his constant presence now that he was free to indulge in the man.

  “I missed you, too,” Horatio whispered and planted another light kiss on his lips. “Tonight…I’ll show you just how much.” He grinned against his mouth when Max groaned low, squeezed him tight, then finally released him as they both turned their attention to the other men and Noah.

  Abel stepped forward, his hand on Noah’s back, guiding the boy along with him. “Max…” he said. “I’d like you to meet Noah.”

  Holding out his hand, Max smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Noah.” The boy shook his hand. “Welcome to our home.”

  “Thank you,” Noah said quietly, politely.

  “Is Savannah and Maddy here?” Abel asked.

  Max nodded. “They’re out back.”

  From the kitchen, Gabe emerged then grinned. “Ah, the boys are back.” His baby blue eyes went straight to Noah and his grin softened to a warm smile. “Hey there.” He came forward. “You must be Noah.” He shook the boy’s hand. “I’m Gabe.”

  “Hi,” Noah whispered.

  Abel pursed his lips in a smile and told Noah, “He will tell you that he’s the handsome one of the family, but wait till you meet Dane.”

  “What?” Gabe scowled. “When did Dane become cuter than me?”

  “We always meant to tell you.” Abel grinned. “But thought it might bruise your fragile ego.”

  Gabe rolled his eyes and shook his head, then winked at Noah. “Don’t listen to him, kid. I’m the handsome devil of the family.”

  “Definitely got the devil part down pat,” Devlin chuckled.

  “You see what I got to put up with?” Gabe released an exaggerated sigh and Noah laughed softly.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Abel smirked. “You’re so abused.” He touched Noah’s shoulder. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to Savannah and Maddy.”

  The men watched them until they were down the hall and out the back door, Noah’s limp slowing them just a little.

  Max turned and looked at Devlin. “So there was no improvement in Abel’s father?”

  “No,” Devlin said. “In fact, I think he may have gotten worse. Abel never mentioned anything about his parents physically abusing them, but he sure as hell didn’t hesitate with Noah.”

  “I heard Abel decked him.” Max smiled.

  “Yeah,” Devlin chuckled. “Knocked him on his ass.”

  Max nodded. “That’s my boy.”

  “Of course,” Devlin added. “We may have been in trouble if our cowboy here hadn’t ridden in and saved our butts. I’m not much of a scrapper and Jim Evers is no small guy.”

  Clint chuffed. “You could’a taken him, Doc.”

  “I’m glad we didn’t have to test that theory.” Devlin grinned.

  Max led them into the living room. “So what’s Noah’s situation?” he asked. “Do you think there will be any problem securing legal guardianship?”

  “I’ll get Jensen on it right away,” Horatio said. “Apparently, there’s also a matter of some life insurance from his mother’s death that was put in Noah’s name. We’ll want to make sure he gets it.”

  “Is that why the fucker kept him?” Gabe asked stiffly. “To steal his money?”

  Devlin nodded. “Pretty sure that was it. He sure wasn’t keeping him there out of love or care for the boy.”

  “And he was at least in part responsible for Noah’s limp?”

  Devlin nodded again.

  Twisting his head, Gabe looked at Clint. “And the fucker is still in one piece?”

  “Abel made the call.” Clint remained standing while the others sat. “But the kid said he wouldn’t have cared if I’d hurt him.” His mouth twitched with a shadow of amusem
ent.

  “Well.” Gabe smiled. “He already sounds like one of us. Something tells me he’ll fit in quite nicely.”

  Horatio glanced at Clint as a faint smile played across the cowboy’s lips. “Indeed.”

  Chapter 4

  Maddy and Savannah were sitting on the steps of the back porch when Abel and Noah came out of the house. They both turned at once then stood up, looking at the younger boy. Abel introduced them.

  “So you’re my new little brother?” Savannah smiled, then laughed softly. “Sorry, that kind of made it sound like you were a baby.”

  Noah shrugged and returned a shy smile. “It’s okay.”

  “So what do you like to do?” Maddy asked. “Do you like video games?”

  “Yeah.” Noah nodded. “Especially racing games.”

  Maddy grinned. “Gonna be a NASCAR racer one day?”

  “No,” Noah laughed. “I’d be the first to crash and burn.”

  Abel chuckled. “You and me, both.”

  “Why don’t you show him some of your games?” Savannah suggested to Maddy. “I need to talk to Abel.”

  “Uh-oh.” Maddy smirked at Abel. “You’re in trouble now.” He draped his arm around Noah and nodded. “It’s never a good thing when a girl says she needs to talk to you. Just assume you’re in the wrong and start apologizing.”

  “Hey.” Savannah scowled and lightly smacked his arm. “That isn’t true.”

  “I’m sorry, honey.” Maddy smiled and cowered. “I-I didn’t mean it.”

  “Ugh.” Savannah rolled her eyes as Noah and Abel laughed. “I need more girls in this family so I can have an adult to talk to.”

  “Adulthood is overrated,” Abel insisted.

  Savannah smiled smartly. “How would you know?”

  “Ah!” Maddy cracked up. “Burn!” He squeezed his arm around Noah’s shoulders. “Watch out for this chick.”

  “I’m not a chick,” Savannah sneered. “I’m a woman. Get it straight, boy.”

  Abel scratched his temple, chuckling. “Good luck with this one, Maddy.”

  “The wild fillies are the most fun.” Maddy winked at Savannah.

  “Oh God,” Abel laughed. “She’s going to hurt you.”

  “Not if I run.” Maddy scooted away, drawing Noah with him. “Come on, best get out of the line of fire.” The younger boy grinned, glancing back at Abel and Savannah as Maddy led him inside.

  “He’s not incorrigible at all,” Abel snorted.

  “Yeah.” Savannah stepped up on the porch and leaned against the rail. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to see our dad?”

  He’d known this was coming. “Because I didn’t know what he would be like now. And I wasn’t sure how you would feel about me trying to find our parents. I just wanted to check things out before I mentioned any of it to you.”

  “I get that,” she said quietly. “But you don’t have to treat me with kid gloves, Abel. You could’ve told me. I wouldn’t have been mad at you for wanting to see them.”

  Abel nodded. “I know. And I’m sorry. I guess it’s just habit to try and shield you from potentially bad situations. I didn’t want to get your hopes up that they had changed, then find out they hadn’t.”

  “It would’ve been nice if our dad had turned into a good guy,” she said. “But I don’t need anything from him to make me feel complete. I have you. It’s always been you that I looked up to. And now this family, too.” She took his hands. “I’m glad you went looking for him, for Noah’s sake. But we don’t need him. We have everything right here.”

  “I know,” he murmured. “And I don’t feel any great loss. I didn’t really expect him to be any different. I’m just glad we got Noah out of there.”

  “So am I,” Savannah smiled and released his hands. “He seems like a sweet boy. Max said he really likes Clint.”

  Abel chuckled. “Yeah. He was pretty impressed with our cowboy.”

  “Who isn’t?” Savannah laughed. “He’s so cool.”

  ♦

  “You wanna give me a lift home?” Clint asked Gabriel.

  “Yeah. No problem.” Gabriel nodded. “I need to talk to you about something anyway.”

  After saying their farewells to Max, Horatio, and Devlin, the two men walked out of the living room. Clint paused in the hall then mumbled for Gabriel to give him a minute and walked down the hallway, stopping outside Maddy’s open bedroom door. Inside, the two boys sat on the edge of Maddy’s bed, sifting through video games.

  Clint cleared his throat and the two kids looked up. “I’m heading out,” he told Noah.

  Standing up slowly, resting his weight on his good leg, Noah asked, “When will I see you again?”

  “Soon.” He looked the boy over. “The Doc will take good care of you.” The boy stared back at him. “These are good people, kid. A hell of a family. You don’t have to worry about anything anymore.”

  Noah nodded, though far back behind his dark gaze, anxiety lingered. But it was to be suspected. He would relax soon enough and realize he had, indeed, hit the jackpot.

  “Maybe in a day or two Abel and the Doc will bring you out to my place, let you meet Axel and the others.” Clint was puzzled by his eagerness for Axel and the boy to meet. There was no question that Axel would adore the kid.

  Noah smiled. “I’d like that.”

  Clint nodded. “I’ll see you around.”

  “Bye,” Noah whispered when Clint stepped back out of the doorway and returned to where Gabriel was waiting.

  “Like the kid, do ya?” Gabriel smiled wryly.

  The cowboy narrowed his eyes a bit. “And what if I do?” His mouth quirked, betraying his amusement.

  “Just asking, big boy,” Gabriel chuckled. “I like him, too.”

  When they were in the car and headed toward the suburbs, Clint asked, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

  Gabriel glanced at him, his eyes serious. “You’re my brother, Clint. One of the best a man could ask for. Maybe I never told you this but, I admire the hell out of you. Since the day we met, I looked up to you.” He looked at the street ahead. “And what admiration I felt for you before…it’s increased greatly over these last few months. What you sacrificed to try and protect Axel, the way you look out for us all.” He cast him a warm smile. “Your affection for children and puppies. Whether you know it or not, or believe it or not, you’re the complete package. Axel is one hell of a lucky man.”

  Clint remained silent, uncomfortable with compliments yet loving the hell out of Gabriel nonetheless for his sincere sentiment. Though he wasn’t sold on the “complete package” theory. But he suspected Axel would agree with Gabriel on that. Good thing love was blind.

  “What I’m getting at,” Gabriel murmured as the car paused at a stop sign and he looked at Clint. “Is that I want you to be my best man at my wedding.”

  Clint stared at him, his brow cinched. He hadn’t been expecting this. “Your best man.”

  “Yes.”

  His eyes narrowing a bit, Clint mumbled, “Doesn’t the best man have to give a speech?”

  Gabriel laughed low. “Well, it’s customary that he gives a toast. But it doesn’t have to be a speech.”

  Clint grunted and rubbed his mouth.

  “You can do it.” Gabriel smiled. “It’s just in front of our friends and family. And they all know better than to mess with you.”

  “Not lately,” Clint muttered. “You’re all turning into a bunch of smart-asses.”

  Gabriel chuckled. “That’s true. But even so. You’ll be my best man, won’t you?”

  The honor was great, and Clint felt it to the core of his heart. Since the incident with Quinton Sanitini, Clint had lived with guilt in his gut where Gabriel was concerned. What they had allowed to happen to Gabriel—and done to him themselves—was not something Clint could easily lay to rest, even if Gabriel didn’t place the blame on him and the others. He owed Gabriel more than he could ever pay in this lifetime. If his brother want
ed him to be his best man, nothing in heaven or on earth could make him deny Gabriel his wish.

  Clint looked at him and nodded, a small smile tugging his mouth. “I got your back, brother.”

  ♦

  “This will be your room.” Devlin opened the door and motioned Noah inside. Abel carried his backpack and set it on the bed. The room was bigger than the one back at the duplex. “You can decorate it however you like,” Devlin told him. “We’ll go shopping in a day or so, get you some new clothes, and maybe some accessories for the room, as well.”

  Noah felt like he was dreaming and hoped he wasn’t. He didn’t want to wake up and find out he still lived with Jim. As bad as Abel and Devlin thought he was…the man was way worse. Noah hadn’t told them everything about Jim Evers. If he had, then he would’ve had to tell them the other things, too, and he didn’t know if he could. Not yet, anyway.

  He sat down on the bed and fingered his backpack. “Thank you,” he said quietly looking at the two men. “For everything.” His throat started to hurt and he lowered his eyes. “Even if this isn’t permanent, I’ll never forget what you did for me.”

  Devlin walked over and squatted before him, resting his hands lightly on Noah’s knees. “I told you, Noah,” he murmured. “You’re one of the family now. We don’t let go of family. You don’t have to worry that we’ll change our minds and want to send you away.” He touched Noah’s chin and lifted his face. “This will always be your home, even when you’re grown and out on your own. I promise.”

  The man was sincere; Noah could see it in his eyes. But he didn’t know everything about Noah…or the things Jim had done. Would they send him away for not telling them the whole truth? He wanted to believe this could be a real home—a forever home, like Devlin said. But he didn’t really know these people. What if they couldn’t handle the truth?

  They spent the rest of the afternoon just hanging out and talking. Savannah was still at the other place with Maddy. And Devlin had to take a late afternoon shift at the hospital, leaving Noah alone with Abel. He felt comfortable with Abel, maybe because Abel knew what it was like to live with Jim Evers. Had Jim done the same things in their home as he’d done in Noah’s home?