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Chapter 20
Eli sat, hand wrapped around a bottle of beer. His mood hadn’t improved after losing a few hundred bucks to Reese playing cards, followed by the arrival of his brothers’ significant others.
“Eli’s either doing a complicated mathematical equation,” Merina said, “or he has regressed to his formerly grouchy state like when we first started having these dinners.”
“He was fine earlier,” Tag said. “Maybe the tequila wore off.”
Eli flipped Tag off.
Alex let out a gruff laugh. “He seems fine to me.”
His family members ringed the table—all of them. Dad and Rhona. Tag sat next to Rachel, who was wearing an incredibly large, sparkling diamond ring Rhona had cooed over for an exhaustingly long time. Reese sat at the table, Merina at his left elbow. Eli sat a seat away from Reese—beside the seat that was empty. The significance wasn’t lost on him.
He was having an unpleasant flashback. Back to one of the earlier dinners where he was thinking about how annoyingly paired off they were. He went around the table again starting with Tag. Engaged. Reese. Married. His eyes narrowed when he reached his father.
“What’s the deal with you two, anyway?” he barked.
Rhona’s eyes went wide, but Alex’s narrowed. “What do you mean, son?”
“I mean you’ve been working together for how long now? And you hang out more often than people who work together. You show up here to dinner together; you have your arm around her right now. What are you doing? Are you getting married? Are you living together? I feel like we should know.”
Could have heard a pin drop. He’d never thought of that phrase as having any literal meaning until this very moment.
Alex wrapped his hand around Rhona’s. They exchanged glances.
“I suppose I’ve been too careful about this,” Alex said. “When you boys lost your mother…” His lips pressed together before he corrected himself. “When we all lost your mother, I swore I would never love another woman. I set my sights on work, on raising you three, and on finding pleasure in business rather than in someone of the opposite sex.” Alex cleared his throat and Rhona squeezed his hand in support. Eli thought back to the times Isa had touched him. In support. With love. It spiked his misery and sank him lower in his chair.
“I’ve been too careful,” Alex repeated. “I gave you boys a good example of how to lead.” He tipped his chin at Reese. “Of how to grab hold of life and let nothing hold you back.” He nodded at Tag. “Of serving your country and never letting anything stand in your way.” He gave Eli a warm smile. “What I haven’t given you is a good example of a man who gives his heart. Rhona pointed out the other day—”
“Respectfully,” she interjected.
“Always respectfully,” Alex said to her, his smile warming. “She mentioned that you boys were hurtling your own challenges when it came to love. And how it makes sense because we all lost someone we loved very much. The loss of your mother makes it more frightening to put ourselves on the line, our hearts on the line. Knowing that love could be snatched from you at any moment is a terrifying reality. For years, I closed myself off from the possibility of love. I was protecting my family—or so I thought. In reality, I believe I was protecting myself. But once you find the woman who challenges you, the one who is willing to stick around even though you’re a caveman…”
Marina and Rachel cracked smiles. Rhona laughed.
“That’s the one you trust with your heart,” Alex said. “Even if it means getting hurt again. Even if it means the future is devastating. Because she’s worth it. Any heartache you are trying to save yourself from pales in comparison to the love of a woman who gives you her entire self.”
No one said a word. Wisdom twinkled in Alex’s eyes, his gaze zeroed in on Eli. Reese, predictably, was the first to break the silence.
“It’s true.”
Six pairs of stunned eyes snapped to the oldest Crane brother.
Reese wrapped his arm around Marina. “Trying to prevent disaster is no way to live life.”
“Hear, hear,” Tag said, raising his beer.
“So?” Rachel leaned closer to Alex, her smile popping her dimples. “Are you two getting married?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t had the courage to ask her yet. I’d hate to steal your thunder.” Alex thumbed Rachel’s chin.
“There’s enough thunder for all of us, don’t you think?” Rachel asked.
After a brief pause, Alex nodded. “You’re right.” He turned to Rhona, who wore a slightly dazed but excited expression. “What do you say? Would you like to marry a sixtysomething, retired hotel magnate with three grown boys and possibly grandkids on the way?”
“Alex.” Rhona gave him a watery smile. “Do you even have to ask?”
Both hands on his face, she stroked his goatee, then pulled his mouth to hers. The table erupted in cheers, and Eli found himself clapping, a reluctant smile on his own face.
