“Bribery again?”
“I heard you were reward motivated. I’ll use whatever works.”
Chapter Nine
“If Rick weren’t six years older than your boyfriend, I think he’d try to adopt him,” Royal says as we watch the two of them having an animated conversation at a table in the hotel lounge.
“Shut up.” He’s my brother. I don’t have to expand on that.
He’s not wrong. Rick and Carter are getting along as if they’ve known each other all their lives. The absentminded professor and the drill instructor. I can see it. They both spent their careers shaping young minds. They’re both interested in history. Too interested. By the time we’d wandered from the restaurant to the lounge, they were having an in-depth discussion on historical battle strategies.
I can’t contribute, but I won’t try to put a stop to it either. It means they aren’t talking about me.
Royal managed to escape to the bar to flirt with the bartender. He’s only talking to me now because I’m ordering another round of drinks.
“Why did you call Joey?” I ask him after giving her our order.
Royal leans his elbows on the bar and shrugs. “He deals with kids all the time, and you were acting like one. It made sense.”
I whack his arm and try not to flinch when it hurts my hand. He gives me his signature cocky grin. “See what I mean?” I wait him out with a blank expression. “Fine. I called him because I was worried about you, and he’s the only one you ever talked to about your problems.”
I frown. “That’s not true. He was always too busy working to talk to me.” That and Joey is only serious when it’s business related. In his personal life, he’s like a giant kid. Luckily, he can afford the best toys.
I guess that’s another thing Joey, Royal and I all have in common. We aren’t big fans of adulting.
“Then who did you talk to? I know it wasn’t me.”
I sigh. “You seem to be forgetting how weird and socially awkward I was. I avoided talking to all of you equally. About my problems anyway. You, however, are the only brother on my emergency contact list.”
He smiles and pats my back. “Good point. You were pretty weird. But useful. My little human lie detector.”
That nickname brings back memories. “I still wish you hadn’t come all this way for nothing. Or that you’d called me before abducting Fiona so I could tell you where I was.”
“That’s another thing.” Royal’s big shoulders bunch when he reaches for a bowl of stale pretzels on the counter, popping a handful into his mouth. “What’s going on with that? You meet this guy, and a few hours later you’re staying at his house while he nurses you back to health. And you seem good with it. Hell, you’re glowing.” He points at me. “You. The guy who wouldn’t ask for a ride in a thunderstorm. The guy who is so picky about men we have six months of reading material on you not getting to first base. Is Mr. Dry Spell suddenly Mr. Relationship?”
I grit my teeth as heat fills my cheeks. “Are you reading my diary?”
He snorts again. “It’s online, genius. Don’t kid yourself. We’re all reading it.”
Logically, I know that. But I try not to think about what that means when it comes to my family. “I wouldn’t say Carter nursed me back to health. I told you already, it wasn’t that bad. All he did was help me out when—”
“You’re into him. Admit it.”
“I’m admitting nothing.”
“You don’t have to.” Royal tapped a finger to his temple. “I don’t need your skills to figure this one out. I know you. And you are totally getting some of that kinky, older man action.”
He’s smiling so broadly I almost have to tell him, even if he is a giant pain in the ass. “I won’t say you’re right. But you’re not wrong.”
“I knew it. Man. Never thought I’d see the day JD Green fell in love.”
The bartender smiles as she brings me our drink tray and I lower my voice. “Did I say that, Royal? I didn’t and I’m not going to because that would be crazy. I’ve only known him for a couple of days. He’s only known me when my life is a total disaster.”
Royal is ignoring me in favor of eyeing the bartender. “Some people only need forty-five minutes to know for sure. Isn’t that right, Alicia?”
Her eyes sparkle as she takes in Royal’s broad shoulders. Everything about her body language says she agrees. “I’ll let you know. We still have five minutes left.”
“I’ll leave you to it.” I try not to roll my eyes as I balance the tray.
Royal puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry if we crossed the line by showing up uninvited. And however you feel about him, I’m glad you at least think he’s someone you can trust.”