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It was why he’d resisted serious relationships in the past.
“Ready,” he said, grabbing his cognac leather bomber to pull over the navy dress shirt and denims he wore with polished brown boots. As the brothers walked together to the elevator, Cole removed a navy fitted sweater cap to cover his head and ears from the biting cold of winter outdoors.
“Welcome back.” Gabe eyed Cole’s return to more casual attire.
“Thank you,” he said as they rode the elevator down to the lobby. “Now, if the weather will magically warm up so I can get some hours in on my food truck, I will be a very happy man.”
“No, you won’t,” Gabe said as they strode across the massive, busy, sky-lighted lobby and through the automated glass doors of the Midtown Manhattan building.
Cole said nothing in response. There was nothing to say. It was true. He was miserable without her. Again. And this time at his doing.
The brothers climbed into the rear of one of the company’s vehicles as the driver held the door open for them. “Thank you,” both said to Harvey.
They fell silent as Harvey reclaimed his seat and eventually pulled away from the parking spot in front of the building. The mood was tense. Neither was looking forward to this visit to the Cress family townhouse.
It was time for the truth to be revealed.
Cole looked out the tinted window at the city as they neared the prominent and historic Lenox Hill section of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. His brother was silent as well, the investigative file resting on his lap. But Cole didn’t bother to wager what occupied Gabe’s thoughts. He was too focused on his own.
This will not go well.
The driver slowed the SUV to a stop in front of the five-story, ten-thousand-square-foot townhouse. Both men opened their rear doors and exited before Harvey could. “Give us an hour,” Gabe said as Cole stood on the pristine sidewalk and looked up at the towering structure.
For such a huge part of his life, it had been home.
Now he was a visitor.
He opened the wrought-iron gate to jog up the steps, glancing back as his brother did the same. He rang the bell.
“Where’s your key?” Gabe asked, reaching into the pocket of his camel wool coat.
“Respect is earned when respect is given,” Cole explained. “Do you want our parents to feel they can just stroll into our home whenever they please?”
Gabe made a face. “You’re right,” he said, releasing the key back into his pocket.
“Ain’t I always?” Cole asked.
Gabe volleyed back. “Not lately.”
Another Jillian reference.
“I’m regretting talking to you about her,” Cole said just as the elaborate front door opened.
Felice, the new housekeeper, smiled as she stepped back to pull the door wide for them to enter the marbled vestibule. “Hello, Mr. Cress and Mr. Cress,” she said. “It’s good to see you both.”
They gave her warm smiles in greeting before walking the length of the entry hall to step into their parents’ lavish, spacious living room in its shades of light gray and steel-blue against the pale walls.
“Your coats?” she asked, already extending her arm.
Each removed his outer gear and turned it over to her.
“Mr. Cress is awaiting your arrival in the library,” Felice said before turning to hang their coats in the closet. “Everyone is in their suite, preparing for dinner.”
As the men made their way across the hardwood floor to the open kitchen and den area, Cole’s steps slowed as he remembered the excitement he’d felt at knowing Jillian worked there. He had enjoyed teasing and flirting with her as much as when he’d finally bedded her. He smiled at the closed pantry door, pleased no one knew just how much fun he and Jillian had shared in there.
She was gone. A short and plump man in a red chef’s coat was in her place.
The brothers rode the elevator upstairs to the second floor, where the movie theater and library were located. His parents occupied the entire third floor as their private suite, complete with a sitting room, massive walk-in closets, their joint home office, a pantry, and a spa bath. On each of the fourth and fifth floors, a huge den centered three-bedroom suites and another well-stocked pantry.
