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“My sister accused me of having a fling with an engaged man last month, simply by the way I was dressed,” I say, only to watch Layton’s jaw clench and his eyes slice my way.
“She’s crazy smart and incredibly accomplished. And she doesn’t care a lick about whether she hurt me with her accusation. I don’t know what’s going on with you two.” I move my gaze between Layton and his brother. “But let me tell you what the last seventy-two hours have been like in observation.”
I begin ticking off on my fingers. “One, a man loves his brother so much, he calls a complete stranger to ask for help. Two, that man and his fiancée take massive strides to make that help happen. Three, the object of that man’s care wants more for his brother than an impressive résumé when it comes to the end of his life. Are the two of you truly arguing over two amazing options for Braxton’s future? If I understand, this isn’t ditch digger versus sewer cleaner. Am I right? This is between what people dream about and what people buy lotto tickets for. Geez.”
Emberleigh puts out a fist for bumping, and I grin down at my plate after accepting her offer.
“For what it’s worth, most people don’t have families like yours.”
Layton pushes his food around on his plate. “I’m not sorry.”
I sigh. Emberleigh rolls her chin to the sky, and Brax puts both his fists on the table. “I’m shocked. Why would you be sorry?”
“Exactly.”
I look at Emberleigh, and she nods, and we both stand and move away from the table.
When we settle in the living room, she says, “They want the best things for each other, but their styles are so different. Hell, who am I to say that?”
I shrug. “I haven’t been on the ground for thirty hours, and I’ve already put my foot in my mouth. Braxton will wonder why he hired me.”
“No way. That’s exactly why he hired you. You’ll push where you need to push. Whether that’s with Layton or back on one of us in defense of his care, you’re the right person for the job. And…”
Her sing-song tone has me curious.
“There’s more than meets the eye with you two. I’ve never seen Layton anything other than charming. You know that attitude where nothing ruffles a man? The world could crumble, and he’d crack a joke. That was Layton until the accident. Since you came, I see fire in his eyes and a man I haven’t known until now. He’s… different.”
A small smile tugs at my lips. “We get each other.”
She tucks in to the corner of the sofa. “Sometime, I want to hear that story.”
She doesn’t push, doesn’t expect me to spill all the details, and I’m grateful for that. Aside from Bean, I don’t have anyone I dish with.
“Family dynamics are challenging.”
“You can say that again. I know you haven’t been here long and it hasn’t been uneventful, but have you figured out which equipment you need? We can order whenever you’re ready.”
“I’d love to say I’ve considered it. Between the foal, the food, and our epic arguments, my day has been full. Right now, though, aside from a water treadmill, I don’t know. A pool would be perfect, but I haven’t seen one.”
“Why don’t y’all go to Layton’s place at the lake?”
My ears perk, and I sit up taller. This is the first I’m hearing of any of this.
“What are you talking about?”
“Layton has a home out on Lake Travis. Bright lives outside of town on a small property. Exton and Willa bought an old home downtown when they moved back. We’re here. But Layton hasn’t lived in town since he got his contract. At least that’s what I was told. He’s always been a little on the outside. Maybe by his own design.”
That’s a lot of information to take in. A pool for his therapy. A lake so I can see and hear the water. A little privacy for— “That might be perfect.”
“It has a home gym too, so it might be the perfect space for what you need.”
“I’m not postponing anything, but this leg threw a wrench in the works. I’m excited to see if that space can do what we need it to.”
“What space?” Braxton’s voice behind me indicates he’s entered the room.
“Layton’s house,” Emberleigh replies.
I turn to see Layton pulling up the rear. His face is carefully blank.
