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Marcus climbed to his feet, staring at his brother. “You’ve never struck me before.”
“I never felt I had the need to, but lately, well, I’ve been itching to do that for quite some time.”
“Mother is going to be furious.”
Reece snorted. “Go ahead. Tattle to Mum and Dad. The last I checked I was a grown adult. I don’t live for parental approval anymore.”
Marcus grabbed his things, heading toward the door. “I’m going to leave you alone until you calm down.”
“Do you think this problem between us is going to go away in a few hours, Marcus?”
“No, I’m going to my room. I’ll make some calls. Perhaps I can negotiate some other types of roles for you.”
“That would be appreciated.”
“In the meantime, read over that script. You can’t back out of it.”
“Do what you can for me, and I’ll do what you ask.”
Marcus nodded, spying his reflection in the hall mirror as he passed. There was a bruise coming up on his cheek. He shook his head, walking out the door.
Reece turned back to the window, staring at the skyline. “That one was for you, Nicole.”
~ ~ ~
Nicole was working in the back office at her father’s hardware store, going over the inventory lists. She was helping while her brother was out of town. Thad had taken his family to Baltimore to visit his wife’s parents and would be gone another three days.
She was counting their supply of wire ties when her dad entered the room. He fiddled around on the desk, searching for an invoice. When he finally located it, he turned toward her.
“How are you doing, Coley?”
She stopped counting, marking the tally in her ledger. “I’m okay. Why do you ask?” She knew the family was worried about her. She’d been close-mouthed about her sojourn at the beach.
“You’ve been awful quiet since you came home from the Isle. Did things not go well?”
She dropped the clipboard on a shelf, facing him completely. “I think things went as well as expected. He came, he conquered, he accused, and he left—in that order.”
Nicholas sucked air through his teeth. “What happened exactly?”
“Daddy, I’m not going to fill you in on all the horny details.”
He closed his eyes. “I don’t want to hear about your sex life, Nicole. Did you talk to the man to work out your misunderstandings?”
She nodded, contemplating the floorboards. “Yes. Things were good until his brother called and told him about my little investment.”
He winced. “I take it he now knows about the cottage?”
Her lips pursed. “He knows I own it. That’s all he wants to know. He didn’t let me explain. He just assumed the worst of me.”
“So what happened?”
“I told him to get out. He went. I haven’t talked to him since.”
Nicholas studied her. “You look tired. Have you been sleeping?”
Her shoulders drooped. “It seems all I do is sleep. As soon as I leave here, I’m going home to bed. I must be coming down with something.” She laid her hand against her forehead.
“You’re not sick. You’re depressed, Coley. Have you been writing?” She shook her head. “You’re definitely depressed.”
