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Three
Liam
Holy shit. It was going to be a tough keeping my hands to myself. The way she’d looked at me a second ago, there was something there and it was very much mutual. I’d given her my word that I wouldn’t be one of those creepy guys who assumed just because a woman was attracted to him that gave him liberties to try something.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Grant. I’d promised him an update. When he didn’t answer, I remembered the hot brunette that was sharing his cabin with him. Good for him, I thought before leaving him a message.
“Hey, it’s me. I made it and met the old man. I’ll give you the details later. By the way, Connor and Jeremy, who prefers to be called Kalen, were clueless. Not only didn’t they have any idea about me, which isn’t surprising, they also had no idea about you and Uncle Ted. Though Connor said you flew him somewhere, he hadn’t known you were related. Anyway, you were right. Call me later.”
After ending that call, I made the next one.
“Liam Taylor. Where are you?”
“Hey, Mom. I’m alive. Thanks for asking.”
“Liam. Where are you?” Her tone had grown more serious.
“New York,” I said and sighed, knowing what would come next.
“Because you are a grown man, I won’t give you shit, but I wish you would have told me.”
“I knew what you would say.”
“That he doesn’t deserve to know you. Yeah. I would say that. But if this is important to you, it’s important to me. If you have to meet him, I’ll support you. What I don’t want is for you to be there for some righteous honor on my behalf. I made peace with my choices years ago.”
“Mom. He owes you.”
Though I couldn’t see her, I knew she was shaking her head based on her words. “He owes me nothing. He gave me you. I couldn’t have asked for a better son. I don’t need anything else from him. So don’t do this for me.”
“I already met him.”
She was quiet for moment as if she was waiting for me to go on. “And? What happened?”
“He denied me.”
“Figures.”
“I met my brothers. Connor isn’t so bad. Kalen, I’m not so sure.” The man wore a scowl deeper than Connor’s.
“Kalen?”
“Yeah, Jeremy prefers that name apparently.”
“Were they nice to you?” she asked.
“I don’t know if they believe me.”
“Did they ask you to do a DNA test?”
“No. But they got distracted. Lizzy, that’s Connor’s wife, she went into labor. I took them to the hospital, and they put me up at this fancy hotel. I got a suite. So there’s that.”
“Sounds like they’re open to the possibility that you’re their brother?”
“Who knows? They seemed that way, but I don’t know, this hotel is way across town from them. In a few days, once Lizzy’s back home, they may have changed their minds.”
“I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”
“They’re not,” I said. “I don’t expect a thing. I just wanted to meet the man before he died.”
And there was the claim on his estate. Once I proved who I was, my mother would get everything due to her whether she wanted it or not.
“I should go.” I paused. “Are you going to tell Uncle Ted?
“He should know. Maybe he can call his brother and talk some sense into him.”
“It hasn’t worked before,” I said.
“But now that he’s seen you…”
“We both know he isn’t likely to change his mind unless he has proof. I’m living proof.”
“When are you coming home?”
“When it’s done,” I said.
“Call or send me a text each day, letting me know you’re okay?”
I knew she worried. When I was deployed, it was tough on her. I was all she had, if you didn’t count Uncle Ted and Grant.
“Sure. But don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
After I ended the call, I went into the bedroom. I’d forgotten about Natalie until I heard the shower running. I dropped my bag on the bed, remembering how cute she’d been demanding that she take the couch. Though I’d been honest about not offering to take the couch, I was way too big for it, I had considered offering her to share the bed. It was a king. We could both easily sleep on it and never touch.
Though she’d been bundled up, she was just a slip of a thing. Tiny. Time would tell if she was tiny all over or not. Down, boy.
My phone rang. A glance at the screen said it wasn’t Grant, but Carrie. I walked back into the living room, not sure why other than to give Natalie space.
“Hey,” I said when I answered.
“Liam. Are you still in New York?”
“Yeah,” I clipped.
“Can we talk?”
“I think all was said before.”
“Liam. I’ve always loved you.”
“If you loved me, you wouldn’t have slept with my brother.” I waited a beat. “You know he’s married.”
